The Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Welcome to our written service for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

All are very welcome to use this written service for home worship. Here you can find the readings for today, prayers and intercessions, a hymn and an anthem. Should you wish to listen to our sermons, you can find recent sermons here.

Let us start by remembering Ukraine with this prayer:

A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.  We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell 

Opening Prayer

Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
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.  Amen.

The Readings

Genesis 18: 20-32
Colossians 2: 6-15
Luke 11: 1-13

Our care for God’s world

As Christians we believe that we are not only a part of God’s Creation, but have a responsibility of stewardship over this world upon which we live. Governments and others might disagree but science and experience tells us that this world is being damaged through our neglect and selfishness.

Creator God, who placed this planet
and all its resources into our care,
encourage those who now remind us
of our responsibilities, both to you
and future generations, to do all
that is necessary, whatever the cost,
to save this world that we call home,
so our children and theirs might not
look back, both in shame and anger,
at what we, in denial, have failed to do. Amen.

John Birch, faithandworship.com

The Anthem

The Intercessions

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we come together before you to express our thanks for your many gifts and blessings, but also to bring our requests for the wider community, and for ourselves. Through the action of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts and minds, ignite our will to pray and help us grow in understanding of the role and power of prayer.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Teach us Lord, through examples in scripture, that prayer is not limited in form and at its most effective is based on a trusting personal relationship and fully open communication with you. According to our readings in Genesis and St. Luke’s Gospel today, we can be respectfully emboldened in our approach to you and encouraged to pray with perseverance.  Help us also to understand that the answer to prayer may not necessarily come in the form and timeframe that we personally expect.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Creator God, when we see communities destroyed by war, our souls cry out to you for peace. Grant to our national and political leaders the vision to rise above ideological, sectarian interests. Give them the will to work towards banishing armed conflict and towards a peace that enables the alleviation of homelessness, displacement, poverty, hunger, and disease.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer

Increasingly, nature with its countless ecosystems is being disrupted by the growing forces of wind, fire, drought and flood.  Help us to reflect on our own contributions to this changing planetary climate. Through dialog that commits to action, Lord, help us each to develop ways of reducing our own carbon footprints that together we may make a positive difference to enhanced stewardship of our world.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

 

 

We pray for your blessing on our bishops, Robert, David, and Dick in their leadership and pastoral roles. Grant them the wisdom so to govern and guide their diocesan affairs that your kingdom may grow and flourish. Bless our chaplain Bruce and inspire his guidance as we seek to develop our chaplaincy in relevance and service to you and the people of Haarlem.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Lord, the expression of a shared faith can take many forms. Once again, we join with our diocesan brothers and sisters in praying for the welfare and outreach of the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church and its Bishop, Carlos Lopez-Lozano, and for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Look also with favour on the work of our Diocesan Safeguarding team as they strive to help ensure that we can live and work safely in our chaplaincies.    

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

Look with mercy upon the sick and distressed amongst our chaplaincy families and their communities. We especially commend to your care all who have been placed on our chaplaincy healing list (remembering..)  Grant a strong assurance of your presence and, according to your will, bring comfort and healing.

Grant everlasting rest to all who have passed from this mortal life ( ……) and give comfort to their bereaved families and friends.

Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer.

As we move into the coming week, Tuesday is the anniversary day of one of our patron saints, St Anne and her husband St. Joachim, parents of the Virgin Mary. Often seen as the patrons of grandparents, help us to reflect on the roles and support given by grandparents in our lives and to our families.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers which we offer in the name of your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Hymn for today

Closing Prayers