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The Readings
Isaiah 65.1-9
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, "Here I am, here I am,"to a nation that did not call on my name.
I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;
a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks;
who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you."
These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
See, it is written before me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their laps their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the Lord;
because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions.
Thus says the Lord:
As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, "Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,"
so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.
Luke 8.26-39
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As Jesus stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me"— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying,
"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Scripture quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon James Wilson.
The Prayers
Prepared by Kath.
God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith. We give you thanks for the many wonderful gifts you have given us. Help us to truly appreciate all that we have and to look after our world for this generation and the generations to come. May we take seriously the warnings about climate change and do all that we can to prevent this.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Father, we pray for your church throughout the world and for those of other faiths who worship you. Give us the grace and willingness to work together for the greater good and to lead in all areas of life by good example, showing that difference does not have to mean conflict as some would have us believe.
We pray for our bishops Pete and Leah, for the diocese of Sheffield and especially for the congregations and communities of our mission partnership of St Mark’s, St John’s and St Mary’s, giving thanks for the time, talents and gifts that make them the special places that they are.
Lord, in your mercy,,
Hear our prayer.
We continue to pray for our increasingly troubled and turbulent world and for all peoples who are caught up in and suffering because of wars, oppression and need. Especially we pray for the peoples of Ukraine & Russia, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran & Israel at this perilous time for them and for those affected by conflicts in Africa, about which we hear so little. Father, guide us and especially our leaders to know what is right and strengthen the nations to work together for it, so that everyone can live in peace. Please be with all who are courageous in standing against tyranny and corruption and help us to value and defend the freedom and liberty we have rather than taking it for granted because it really is precious. Many people long for democracy we have but are denied it.
We pray for all involved in the debates about assisted dying and about welfare reforms. May there be patience, a willingness to listen with an open heart & mind and respect for the thoughts, feelings and points of view of others. Above all may there be compassion and kindness for those affected by the decisions that will come from these debates.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are ill and those who are nearing the end of their lives. May they receive the care, comfort and compassion they need. We pray for those who accompany them on their journey who also need our loving care and support.
In a moment of quiet let us call to mind anyone known to us who is in special need of our prayers at this time and let us also pray for ourselves and our own needs and concerns.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We remember all who have died, some recently and some long ago. We pray that they are at peace and that those who love and miss them will be comforted in their loss. We pray for the victims of the terrible air crash in India and for their loved ones who miss and mourn for them.
Again in a short time of quiet let us remember those special to us who are no longer with us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council