The Third Sunday before Lent
Welcome to our written service on the Third Sunday before Lent. Here you can worship from home following today’s readings, prayers and links to music.
We open this service with our prayer for Peace as we look to a future without war and conflict.
A Prayer for Peace
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; 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.
Opening Hymn
Hymn 345 – Christ is the King, O friends rejoice
The Collect for today
Eternal God, whose Son went among the crowds and brought healing with his touch: help us to show his love, in your Church as we gather together, and by our lives as they are transformed into the image of Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Psalm
The Anthem
Anthem: Teach me, O Lord – Thomas Attwood
The Readings
Isaiah 58: 1-9a
1 Corinthians 2: 1-12
Matthew 5: 13-20
Hymn
Hymn 438 – Praise to God whose word was spoken
Intercessions
Heavenly Father, look with mercy upon our world, suffering enormous and increasing problems, physically, socially and morally;
We pray for its earthly leaders, those who are seeking solutions to these problems, and those only seeking after power. Give them all some awareness of You their Maker, and of Your laws, and touch their hearts with humility and love to serve their peoples.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray especially for the Church world-wide, chosen by You and sent into the world to be its guiding conscience; help and empower it to be a beacon in the wilderness, a ‘light to lighten the gentiles’.
As Christian leaders struggle against ever increasing pressure to adopt the world’s standards, strengthen them and guide them in this struggle, to witness to You and uphold Your laws;
Here we pray especially for King Charles and King Willem Alexander.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves, for courage and strength in maintaining our Christian principles in this increasingly materialistic and challenging world, that we may trust in Your promise that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither can we imagine the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him”;
Help us, each in our own way to witness ‘with clean hands and a pure heart’ in the world, in our community.
Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all in distress at this time,
for those suffering the atrocities being perpetrated in the many areas in the world;
for the sick and suffering; the mentally ill, the lonely, and the bereaved ….;
We pray for 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.
We pray for the souls of the faithful departed this life in the faith of Christ,
may they rest in Your peace and awake to a joyful resurrection;
Heavenly Father, fill us with the hope of our Lord’s return, and that peace of mind that passes all understanding.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen
Final Hymn
Hymn 490 – Judge eternal, throned in splendour
Closing Prayers
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to seek for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen.
Ignatius of Loyola (1556)
Merciful Lord,
grant your people grace to withstand the temptations
of the world, the flesh and the devil,
and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May God our Redeemer show us compassion and love. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
