The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

We welcome you to this written service, the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity. Here you can worship from home using our prayers, today’s readings and links to music chosen for this service.

Opening Prayer

Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The Readings

Isaiah 35: 4-7a
James 2: 1-10,14-17
Mark 7: 24-end

The Anthem

Holy is the true light – William Harris
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLr12AX7mEs 

 

Intercessions

Heavenly Father, we thank You that we may once again come to worship You in Your house;
And we thank you too for the inestimable benefit of our faith, our sure foundation and hope.
But we live in trying and testing times, where the world at large seems to be spinning out of control, where the powers-that-be only strive for more power, where Your essence of Love is being overshadowed by self-interest, where Your commandments and traditional social standards are becoming irrelevant – and we feel increasingly concerned for the future.
So we pray to You, Heavenly Father for the world, now beginning to feel the impact of climate change everywhere,
we see too in so many lands the suffering of peoples under repressive and loveless regimes,
the confusion and disruption to existing cultures by large scale migration;
the unforeseeable consequences of globalisation, the diabolical threat of cyber-crime;
and the continuing threat of Covid-19 causing health, economic and social confusion;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all Christians at this time, particularly those Christians suffering persecution for their faith, in hostile lands, Afghanistan and other Muslim countries, China and the many other totalitarian countries;
protect this harvest of souls O God, and strengthen them by Your Holy Spirit;
We pray for the Church, seemingly silent and powerless in the face of the high waves in which it is now sailing;
And we pray for ourselves in this place, and for our loved ones, that, as You have promised that when we see such great things come to pass, we should look up in hope, as our redemption draws nigh;
Guide and strengthen Your shepherds, O God, to guide and protect the flocks in their care;
In particular we pray for our Chaplaincy, as we prepare for a new Chaplain, and for the visiting ministers caring for this flock;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all sick and suffering, and for the bereaved, particularly for those of our own congregation, for those on our Chaplaincy Prayer List;
and for those for whom we personally wish to pray …..
Comfort, O God, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in Your everlasting arms;
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, you have promised to provide light in the darkness for those who trust in you, give us the grace to understand what you would have us do, and the courage and strength to do it;
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

The Hymn

NEH 376: I heard the voice of Jesus say
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUVCpF8-VuE

 

Closing Prayers

Blessed are you, Sovereign God, creator of all,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
You founded the earth in the beginning
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
In the fullness of time you made us in your image,
and in these last days you have spoken to us
in your Son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.
As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us
let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,
your Spirit ever renew our lives
and your praises ever be on our lips.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever. 

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.