Opening Prayers

 

God the Father forgives us in Christ and heals us by the Holy Spirit. Let us therefore put away all anger and bitterness, all slander and malice, and confess our sins to God our redeemer.

 

Father, you come to meet us when we return to you:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

 

Spirit, you give us life and peace:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

God of truth,

help us to keep your law of love

and to walk in ways of wisdom,

that we may find true life

in Jesus Christ your Son.

Amen.

 

Readings

Genesis 18.1-15

Read by Boachie Dankwah

 

Romans 5.1-8

Read by Delores Greenaway

 

Gospel Reading

 

Matthew 9.35-10.8

 

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

 

 

Reflection

 

There is an icon in the church porch by the Russian painter, Andrei Rublev, painted around 1410. It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre – but is often interpreted as an icon of the Trinity. It is sometimes called the icon of the Old Testament Trinity. The image is full of symbolism – designed to take the viewer into the Mystery of the Trinity.

Imagine being seated in the presence of God looking over the whole earth…Imagine the things you might see… how beautiful and fragile the planet, how wretched and agonising the world is for millions of people, how malicious human hearts can be. But the world is too huge for any of us to hold. We can only ever glimpse the expanse of God’s world. But when we accept the invitation to be seated with God for a while, we are given insight into the little world/s we inhabit.

 

Into the Sacred Three immerse us

into their power and peace place us

may their breath be ours to live,

may their love be ours to give.

Into the Sacred Three immerse us.

 

Intercessions

Prepared by Paul Snow

 

 

Hymns

 

All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the LORD with cheerful voice.
Serve him with joy, his praises tell,
come now before him and rejoice!

Know that the LORD is God indeed;
he formed us all without our aid.
We are the flock he surely feeds,
the sheep who by his hand were made.

O enter then his gates with joy,
within his courts his praise proclaim!
Let thankful songs your tongues employ.
O bless and magnify his name!

Because the LORD our God is good,
his mercy is forever sure.
His faithfulness at all times stood
and shall from age to age endure.

 

 

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
 

Here I am, Lord.  Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

                              

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. ……

 

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

  Here I am, Lord. …..

 

 

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us:
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.

Piano from Romee

 

 

 

Closing Prayers

 

 

Eternal Father,

we thank you for nourishing us

with these heavenly gifts:

may our communion strengthen us in faith,

build us up in hope,

and make us grow in love;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

AMEN

 

We bless you for the Triune God

We bless you for the sun:

its source of fire,

its beams of light,

its rays of warmth.

 

We bless you for the water:

when it is ice,

when it is steam,

when it is flowing free.

We bless you for the human being:

the being who thinks,

the being who acts,

the being who feels.

 

We bless you for the Triune God:

the Triune who creates,

the Triune who takes flesh,

the Triune who transforms.

Read this week’s Vicar’s Message.