St Peter’s welcomes back the Revd Preb Irena Edgcumbe, who will preside over this monthly communion service.

Music comes from cellist Joseph Spooner (Nigel Osborne, ‘Adagio for Vedran Smailović’, J.S. Bach, ‘Allemande’, Suite no. 3, BWV 1009).

Service Sheet

21 Trinity 1 Ordinary time

Gospel

Mark 3.20-35

The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his companions could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’

Sermon

From Rev Irena Edgecumbe

Intercessions

From Jay Wilkes

We pray for all clergy known to us and their families, in training, in parishes, in the Diocese and in their retirement.

We pray for Matthew as he spends some time recovering and preparing for his curacy. Keep him , Oh Lord safe and healthy during this time. We pray for your rich blessing on Sandra and the family.

We pray for Irena.  Today we have our first baptisms since January 2021. We lift before God the two families of Poppy and Larkin being presented for baaptism.

Whilst we are unable to be present at the ceremony today which will occur after this service, our congregation has welcomed these two families regularly on Sunday mornings. We promise to help these children develop a life-long and living relationship with Jesus.

Lord in the silence

Hear our prayer.

Help us to nurture a spirit of faith. Through your Holy Spirit, help us to see our church and community from an eternal perspective.

Help us to receive your grace and so to be able to reach more people with the news of Jesus our saviour.

We ask that you O Lord will guide us in our search for a new vicar praying especially for the process of shortlisting later this month.

We pray for those who lead the children’s work as they meet to plan over the summer. May they foster a spirit of thanksgiving and trust you O lord to provide helpers.

Lord in the silence

Hear our prayer

We pray for the Governments of the world and particularly for the G7 Summit in Cornwall next week. We have turned away from our role as stewards of the earth and protectors of the vulnerable and needy.  May a spirit of co-operation prevail.  We ask for progress in discussions about extending access to Covid vaccinations to all countries of the world.

We pray for our leaders to make wise decisions over the next few weeks about timing of any lifting of restrictions.

Lord in the silence

Hear our prayer

We pray for the sick. We lift before you people adjusting to a diagnosis, those waiting anxiously for help, those recovering from operations and those who find themselves in the terminal stages of disease. We pray for carers especially when feelings are difficult and situations less than ideal. We pray that people who are solitary may find patience and peace. We name them silently now before Jesus our healer.

Lord in the silence

Hear our prayer

We pray to any known to us who have recently died. May they rest in peace.

AMEN