The Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Join with us to worship with this written service for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Let us begin with a prayer for peace, remembering the words of St Francis.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
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Opening Hymn NEH 263
All creatures of our God and King
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The Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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The Readings
Genesis 24: 34-38,42-49
Romans 7: 15-25a
Matthew 11: 16-19,25-end
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Anthem
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Hymn NEH 376
The Intercessions
Gracious Heavenly Father, we come before you with our intercessions, recalling a message from the Letter to the Romans today. We are mindful of the strife within and the frequent struggle to put into action what we believe is right, rather than what is convenient. Help us, we pray, to have the conviction of the values grounded in our faith, and the courage to apply them in our daily lives. May we trust in the guidance of the Word and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit promised by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
We plead again for peace. War and rumour of war cast dark shadows on our earth, with all the loss, pain and suffering they entail. Whilst much of our focus now centres on Ukraine and its afflicted peoples, we are mindful of the many other conflicts elsewhere. In your mercy, grant an end to these cruel hostilities and let peace and reconciliation prevail.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Look upon our Heads of State, Willem Alexander and Charles, and their governments. As they wrestle with the complex problems thrust upon them by an ever-changing human society, grant them wisdom, patience, and skill. Help them to rise above fraction and party politics that their governance may be for the benefit of all their citizens. At this time, we especially pray for the rapid resolution of the situations arising from the fall of the Netherlands Government. We also ask that any new political constellation may find an effective and sympathetic policy for the treatment of asylum seekers and other refugees.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
We pray for our Bishops and Clergy, and their lay staffs. Give them the leadership abilities and spiritual skills necessary to feed and nourish their flocks in all the corners of the expansive domain in which they are called and elected to lead.
With our diocese, we pray for the relationship with the Lutheran Churches of the Porvoo Agreement, for the work of the Porvoo Contact Group, and for the Lutheran Church in Great Britain. We thank you for the coming-together that has been achieved and we seek your blessing on continuing progress. At the same time, we pray for the relationship with the USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) and its work for the support and development of churches.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Lord Jesus, in your earthly life you brought healing and restoration to many that came to you or were brought by others. We pray that you will grant healing and comfort to our members, family, and friends, who are ill or in distress. Give to those who treat and minister to them skill, sympathy, and patience, and let a warm sense of your presence enfold them, bringing comfort and relief.
We especially commend to you those on our prayer list, and we ask that you hear us when we pray on their behalf.
Take into your everlasting care souls who have departed this mortal life, bringing comfort and reassurance to the bereaved they leave behind.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
At the outset of the summer holiday period, we give you heartfelt thanks for a season that has passed. We thank you for the worship opportunities, for the quality of the music expressed by our choir, with the inspiring beauty and enrichment of its sound. We thank you for all who have contributed to the supporting social events, with their fun and enjoyment, helping to bind us together in love, as a family of families, diverse and fully inclusive. And we thank you for the coordination and guidance of our Chaplain, Bruce. Grant that we may continue to grow in faith and outreach, increasing our numbers and impact in the community. Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
As we humbly bring before you these expressions of gratitude and words of request,
Merciful Father, accept these prayers that we offer, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ
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Closing Hymn NEH 440
Closing Prayers
