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The Reading

1 Peter 1. 3 - 9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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
Catherine, Reader at St Mary's.

Until recently, I did not feel qualified to speak at this particular service. Until recently I had experienced
no major bereavements myself. What could I possibly offer to anyone who had suffered great loss? In
the past 5 years all that has changed. This time last year, we finally packed the car with the last of my
parents’ things, handed over the keys to the estate agent and said goodbye to the house that had been my
parents’ home since 2006. It was 2 years since my dad had died, my mum having died 20 months earlier.
Now I know what it is like to arrange a funeral. To fill in endless paperwork for banks, insurance and
utility companies. What it is like to spend hours on hold wondering how supportive this particular
organisation’s bereavement team will be. To go through your loved one’s private financial affairs with a
toothcomb for HMRC. What it is like to see your loved one’s home reduced gradually to a shell as you
discard or find homes for their possessions. To have to do all this, whilst still maintaining the ordinary
tasks of your own daily life. And what it is like to do all this with your loved one gone.

My experience of bereavement may not match yours. I can only speak from the experience of a middle-
aged daughter who has said goodbye to much loved parents. And even so, my dad’s death was a very

different kind of bereavement to my mum’s. For they were unique individuals, as are you and I. And as
every relationship between two people is different, so every bereavement will necessarily also be
different. So please take, or leave what I have to say, as you find helpful.

What have I learnt about bereavement so far?

Firstly, there is so much to do. Many, many decisions to be made. Life suddenly gets very busy,
with little time for anything else, including for grieving. It is exhausting. You often feel
completely overwhelmed. At times like this do be kind to yourself. It’s fine to drop the least
important commitments, to say “no” to things, to take a step back from others. Pace yourself if
you can. Take as long as you need.

You learn a lot more about your loved one than you knew before. What was private is now known
to you – for better or worse. Wading through their stuff can be like doing an archaeological dig,
with fascinating insights into random episodes in their life. As the condolence cards come in, you
learn other things from people who knew them in a different context to you. It helps to give a
fuller picture of who your loved one was. Celebrate this.

There will be sadness and regret. Times when you wish you’d said or done more, or less, or just
differently. Times when you have questions about an event, a person or a thing that only they
knew. Times when you want to thank them for something you’ve only just discovered. Times
happening now that your loved one is no longer around to share. Acknowledge the feelings that
arise from all this. Share them with a trusted friend, or simply offer them up to God.

You carry your loved ones within you. You carry them whenever you continue some of their
traditions, enjoy the things they used to enjoy, when you use the items of theirs that you kept. You
carry them when you are faced with a particular situation or problem and think back to what they
might have said or done when faced with something similar. For while you remember them, they
are never really gone from your life.

Bereavement is ongoing, but changes over time. I do not know how my own loss will look ten
years further down the line. But I think it profoundly changes who you are, rewires your brain as
you absorb and accommodate the loss. I have found it to be a time of personal reflection and
change. I find now that I reflect much more on my own mortality – there is more urgency to the
fact that life is finite. I reflect much more on the awesome mystery of life itself – what is this
thing that is life, and why? What is important in life becomes more central, more refined, more
pared down to the essentials. And it’s ultimately part of the journey towards letting go ourselves.
It is, to paraphrase part of this evening’s Bible reading, part of the journey of living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead towards the inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us.

The Prayers

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith.

We give you thanks for the lives of those who we have loved and lost.
For all that we were to each other and all that we shared together.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Comfort us in our times of grief and help us to help each other in our sadness.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Guide and uphold us through the loneliness and darkness of loss, especially when it feels like our pain will never come to an end.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

But when the time is right, Lord give us the courage to live again, for our own sake and for those who love and need us, secure in the knowledge that those we have lost, rest in peace with you.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church,
Living and departed in the Lord Jesus, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom.
Amen.

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here: 26 11 01 All Saints Sunday Eucharist

Read this week's church news: 26.10.25 Church News

The Readings

1 John 3.1-3

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he^* is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Matthew 5.1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Dr Beth Keith

The Prayers

United in the company of all the faithful
and looking for the coming of the kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God,
the source of all life and holiness.

Merciful Lord,
strengthen all people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Bless Pete and Leah our bishops and all ministers of your Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy temple in the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit,
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ
from glory to glory.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain,
that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Remember in your mercy all those gone before us
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity;
preserve in your faith your servants on earth,
guide us to your kingdom
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Hasten the day when many will come
from east and west, from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here:  26 10 25 Last Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

Read this week's church news: 26.10.25 Church News

The Readings

Leviticus 19.1-2, 15-18

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbour. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbour: I am the Lord.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbour, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

Matthew 22.34-end

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ‘What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
“The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet’ ”?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?’ No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Dr Matthew Rhodes, Associate Priest.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

Let us pray for the Church, for the world, for our communities,
and for all those in need, remembering the words of Jesus in
today's Gospel:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your mind... You shall love your
neighbour as yourself."

Heavenly Father, We pray for your Church throughout the
world, and for all who seek to follow your Son, Jesus Christ.
In our Gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that the whole of the
Law and the Prophets rests upon two commandments: to love
you, and to love one another.

Help us to remember that our Christian faith is not simply a
matter of attending worship, observing traditions, or knowing
the scriptures, important though these things are. It is also
about how we live our lives, how we treat others, and how we
respond to the needs of the world around us.

Give wisdom and courage to all who lead your Church, and
help us, as members of Christ's body, to be witnesses to your
love through our words and actions.

May our churches be places of welcome, understanding and
compassion, where all may encounter your grace.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Lord of justice and peace, In our reading from Leviticus, we are
reminded that we must not judge unjustly, show favouritism, or
allow hatred and resentment to take root in our hearts.

We pray for the leaders of nations, for those who exercise
authority, and for all who have the responsibility of making
decisions which affect the lives of others.

In a world where division, conflict and injustice seem so often to
dominate the news, we pray that those in power may be guided
by wisdom, honesty and a genuine concern for the people they
serve. We remember especially those caught up in warfare,
those forced to flee their homes, those who suffer persecution,
and those whose voices are seldom heard.

Help us to recognise that our neighbours are not simply those
who live next door, or those who share our beliefs and values,
but all those with whom we share this world. May the
commandment to love our neighbour challenge prejudice,
overcome hostility, and encourage reconciliation wherever
there is division.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Loving Father, We pray for our own communities, for our
families, friends and neighbours, and for the places in which we
live and work. Leviticus reminds us not to bear grudges or seek
revenge, but to love our neighbours as ourselves. These are
simple words, but we know that putting them into practice is not
always easy.

We all experience disagreements, disappointments and
occasions when we feel that we have been treated unfairly.
Sometimes it is easier to hold on to resentment than to offer
forgiveness.Help us to recognise these feelings within
ourselves, and give us the grace to respond with patience,
understanding and kindness. We pray for those who feel
isolated or forgotten, for those struggling with the pressures of
daily life, and for those who depend upon the kindness of
others. Open our eyes to the opportunities we have, often in
quite small and ordinary ways, to make a difference to another
person's life.

Remind us that loving our neighbour is not just an ideal to
admire, but a calling to be lived out each day.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of compassion and healing, We bring before you all who
are suffering in body, mind or spirit. We remember those who
are ill, those awaiting treatment or diagnosis, those living with
chronic pain or disability, and those who struggle with anxiety,
depression or loneliness.

We pray too for those who care for them, whether
professionally or within their own families, especially those who
are exhausted by the demands placed upon them.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Help us to
understand that this includes offering kindness to those who
are struggling, but also recognising our own need for care, rest
and compassion.

In a moment of quiet, we bring before you those known
personally to us who are in need of your comfort and healing.

May they know your presence in their difficulties, find strength
for the days ahead, and experience your love through the care
and concern of those around them.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Eternal Father, We remember before you those who have died,
especially those who have died recently, and those whose
anniversaries fall at this time. We give thanks for the love they
shared, for the ways in which they touched our lives, and for
the memories which remain with us.

We pray for all who mourn, especially those for whom grief is
still fresh, and those who carry the sadness of loss quietly,
perhaps many years after a loved one's death.

Comfort them with the knowledge of your enduring love, and
with the hope of the resurrection promised to us through Jesus
Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

And in a moment of silence, we bring before you the concerns
of our own heart, and a desire to find guidance in the words of
today’s scriptures.

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

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here:  26 10 18 Luke the Evangelist

Read this week's church news: 26.10.18 Church News

The Readings

Isaiah 35.3-6

Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;

Luke 10.1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Dr Alan Billings.

Today the world-wide Christian church remembers a doctor who wrote a
gospel. Luke.

When we say a doctor, we shouldn’t picture someone in a white coat with a
stethoscope round their neck. The physicians at the time of Jesus may well
have known less about medicine and illness - at any rate the science of them
- than you or me. But they would have had the same commitment as the
modern doctor to the welfare of the patient.

When men – it was a male profession – when men qualified as doctors in the
ancient world they affirmed the so-called Hippocratic oath. This dated back to
the fourth or fifth century before Christ and is the earliest form of medical
ethics. The physician swore to uphold what we now call patient confidentiality
and to do nothing that would cause harm to his patient.

This could put doctors who worked for the powerful in a difficult spot when
they were asked, for example, to prepare poison for a political assassination
or judicial execution.

Keeping confidentiality and not doing harm to patients have been key to
doctor’s professional ethics to this day. And there was one other
characteristic of the doctor throughout the ages which I think also shows itself
in Luke’s gospel.

You wouldn’t become a doctor then, perhaps not now, unless you had an
interest in people. Not just people’s medical problems, but people. It’s often
said now that the doctor doesn’t treat an illness but a person with an illness.
Doctor’s are interested in, curious about, people.

When I think about the way Luke writes the story of Jesus, as compared with
the other gospel writers, I find that same interest in people: women as well as
men; older people as well as children.

It’s Luke who gives the fullest account of the birth of Jesus in a manger in
Bethlehem. It’s Luke who tells us that two people in their eighties – Simeon
and Anna – greet Jesus when his parents bring him to the temple as a baby.
It’s Luke who recounts how Jesus came, perhaps for his bar mitzvah in
Jerusalem at the age of 12 and was left behind by his parents when they
returned with the rest of the villagers to Nazareth. And so on.

So what is Luke telling us in the gospel for today that we might not pick up
from the other gospels?

We tend to think that as Jesus makes his way, teaching and healing, from
Galilee to Jerusalem, he is accompanied by twelve men, the apostles. But
Luke tells the story a little differently. His doctor’s interest and curiosity about
people lead him to note and speak about a wider group of disciples. This
included women. He tells us the women were part of the travelling disciple
group from the beginning. As my wife once said, Of course there were
women. Who else did the shopping and the cooking? Indeed – which is why
there were women at the tomb on Good Friday and on Easter morning.
And here in today’s gospel Luke speaks of 70 people, chosen from that wider
disciple group. Now seventy people don’t just appear as if by magic. They
must have been with Jesus all along, mentored on the road together with the
twelve who were closest to Jesus.

The task of the 70 was to alert people in the villages ahead that Jesus was
coming. These are days when there is no radio or TV or newspapers, no
social media. So they will tell people that Jesus, the young Rabbi from
Nazareth, is coming and he will be worth hearing. I daresay they would give
some personal testimony as well: ‘His words inspired me. Made me hopeful
again. Restored my faith. You’ll want to meet him.’ They prepared the ground
for Christ’s coming.

So is there any message in this for us today?

Well, our situation is quite different. But there is surely a similar role for us,
Christ’s latter day disciples, to prepare the ground.

Wouldn’t our equivalent be to say to family, or friend, or neighbour, or
colleague, if the opportunity arose, ‘I go to St Mary’s because I find the
prayer, the scripture readings, receiving the sacrament, the quiet time, the
singing, helpful. It gives meaning and shape to my life. I come away
refreshed, revived, hopeful, each week. You should try it.’

In that way we can prepare the ground. That could be our part in helping
someone to know that the kingdom of God can be near.

The Prayers

Encouraged by our fellowship with the apostles and evangelists,
let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, your Son called the saints to leave the past behind
them and to follow him as his disciples in the way of the cross. Look
with mercy upon those whom he calls today, marks with the cross
and makes his disciples within the Church.
We pray especially for all those elected to General Synod over the last few weeks, may they make decisions for the benefit of all.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son told his disciples not to be afraid and at Easter breathed on
them his gift of peace. Look with mercy upon the world into which
he sent them out, and give it that peace for which it longs.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son formed around him a company who were no longer
servants but friends, and he called all those who obeyed him his
brother and sister and mother. Look with mercy upon our families
and our friends and upon the communities in which we share.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son sent out disciples to preach and heal the sick. Look with
mercy on all those who yearn to hear the good news of salvation,
and renew among your people the gifts of healing.
In a few moments of silence we pray for all those known to us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son promised to those who followed him that they would sit
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and would share the
banquet of the kingdom. According to your promise, look with
mercy on those who have walked with Christ in this life and now
have passed through death.
In silence we give thanks for those from our own lives.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

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

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here: 26 10 11 19th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

Read this week's church news: 26.10.11 Church News

The Readings

Isaiah 25. 1 - 9 

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death for ever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Matthew 21.23-32

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Prayers

Prepared by Catherine, Reader at St Mary's.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here:  26 10 04 Harvest Festival Eucharist

Read this week's Church News

The Readings

Deuteronomy 28.1-14

If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom—if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them.

Luke 12.16-30

Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;* yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Shan Rush.

The Prayers

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch unceasingly over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make them wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us.
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We remember those who have died,
whom we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

Merciful Father:
Accept these prayers
For the sake you Son
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council

Watch this week's service on YouTube

Download the order of service here:  26 09 27 17th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

Ezekiel 18.1-4, 25-end

The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Matthew 21.23-32

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Prayers

Prepared by David, Reader at St Mary's.

This morning’s prayers draw on a Song of Francis of Assisi.

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
to you be praise, glory, honour and all blessing.
Only to you, Most High, do they belong
and no one is worthy to call upon your name.
We give thanks for your gift of life. Help us to live ours in fulfilment of your calling for us.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

May you be praised, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially brother sun,
through whom you lighten the day for us.
He is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
he signifies you, O Most High.
Be praised, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars:
clear and precious and lovely, they are formed in heaven.
We give thanks for vast wonders of the universe. Help us to grow in knowledge, but equally in wisdom and understanding.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for brother wind;
for air and clouds, clear skies and all weathers,
by which you give sustenance to your creatures.
We give thanks for the gift of changing seasons. Help us to recognise our dependency on fragile weather patterns and ocean currents.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for sister water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for brother fire,
by whom the night is illumined for us:
he is beautiful and cheerful, full of power and strength.
We give thanks for the essentials of life, food and water, shelter and warm. Help us to share these equitably with all our siblings.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth,
who sustains and governs us
and produces diverse fruits
and coloured flowers and grass.
We give thanks for the difference in colour, texture and shape found in creation. Help us to rejoice in it and steward it wisely.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, by all those who forgive for love of you
and who bear weakness and tribulation.
Blessed are those who bear them in peace:
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
We give thanks for those who bring healing and care. Help us to support the lonely, the anxious and the suffering.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, the death of the body,
from which no one living is able to flee;
Blessed are those who are found doing your most holy will,
for the second death will do them no harm.
We give thanks for those who have died. Help us to live knowing they rest in your eternal care.
God of life:
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

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The Readings

2 Corinthians 4.1-6

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 9.9-13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner^* in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting^* with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 Kath, Reader at St Mary's.

Today we are celebrating the feast of St Matthew. If you have been coming to church for any length of time you will, no doubt be familiar with hearing many readings from his Gospel and if you’re fairly new to church, you soon will be familiar with it because it’s one of four gospels that we read from regularly in our services. Coincidentally it happens to be my personal favourite. Perhaps this is because, being one of Jesus’ twelve original disciples, Matthew tells the stories about him so well and there is a great deal of wisdom in there too.

Well we may be familiar with hearing from what Matthew wrote in his gospel but how much do we actually know about who he was and what he did? The Bible doesn’t tell us a great deal so I’ve had to rely on other sources, who are far more knowledgeable than I am, for my research. Hopefully what I’ve discovered will provide some background and context about Matthew’s life and work, and in so doing help us to relate to him more meaningfully.

Perhaps we can start with one of the things we do know and have just heard in our reading, namely that Matthew was a tax collector. He was a Galilean Jew and he worked in Capernaum where Jesus had been staying for a time. In our own times, and indeed throughout much of history, paying tax is not generally popular and I think it’s fair to say that the Inland Revenue probably doesn’t have the biggest fan club, but in Matthew’s time tax collectors, or publicans as they were known, were really hated. So much so that they were excluded from religious worship and shunned in civic life and in business. One of the ways the tax system worked was that the Romans, who were an occupying power, set the rates of tax and the publicans bought the right to collect the taxes. They made their money by charging extra on top of the basic rate and needless to say, some of them were very greedy and corrupt. Some were not above using violence and intimidation to enforce collection of the debts and, if they wanted it, they had the backing of the Romans, who were not exactly known for their subtlety or delicacy in such matters. No wonder the tax collectors were hated. Whatever kind of tax collector Matthew was, when Jesus said “follow me”, he left his booth and followed him.

We can only wonder what Matthew thought as he walked away from the life he had known up to that point and the financial security it had given him. Perhaps he was tired of being hated and grabbed at the chance Jesus was giving him to change. It seems he promptly invited fellow tax collectors to join him as he ate with Jesus and they came. Maybe they could hardly believe that Jesus was choosing to be in their company. When the Pharisees learned that Jesus was mixing with these “sinners” they made it very clear that they didn’t approve. As far as they were concerned these men were social pariahs who were beyond redemption. Rather hypocritical in a way because all complex societies need funds in order to function and taxing is the usual way of getting these funds. Looking down on those who do the dirty work of collecting the money so that others can keep their hands and consciences clean is hardly fair. But then some of the Pharisees didn’t seem to have a problem with fairness or being hypocritical. However, Jesus is quick to put them straight about why he is spending time with these so called “sinners” and how they, the Pharisees, were missing the point.

As one of Jesus twelve disciples, Matthew travelled with him and learned from his teachings. After Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, Matthew originally preached and taught among the Jews in Judea who had converted to Christianity but later he is thought to have taken Christ’s teachings to other countries, possibly as far as modern day Iran. He is venerated in quite a number of churches and faiths, some of whom believe that he was martyred around AD 68.

Given his background it probably won’t surprise you to know that Matthew is the patron saint of accountants, bankers, tax collectors, civil servants and more obscurely of perfumers. Also he is the patron saint of Osorno in Chile and Salerno in Italy where his tomb lies in the cathedral.

It seems Matthew was respected by his fellow disciples who called him Levi. But according to St Jerome he called himself Matthew and he never shied away from being open about his past role as a tax collector. His attitude was if Christ forgave and chose him then there was hope for everyone. I think this is his most powerful personal message throughout the ages and it still holds true for us to us today.

Amen.

The Prayers

Encouraged by our fellowship with all the saints,
let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, your Son called the saints to leave the past behind them
and to follow him as his disciples in the way of the cross.
Look with mercy upon those whom he calls today, marks with the cross
and makes his disciples within the Church.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son told his disciples not to be afraid and at Easter breathed on
them his gift of peace. Look with mercy upon the world into which
he sent them out, and give it that peace for which it longs.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son formed around him a company who were no longer
servants but friends, and he called all those who obeyed him his
brother and sister and mother. Look with mercy upon our families
and our friends and upon the communities in which we share.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son sent out disciples to preach and heal the sick. Look with
mercy on all those who yearn to hear the good news of salvation,
and renew among your people the gifts of healing.
We pray for Lucy and Paul’s grandson and family.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son promised to those who followed him that they would sit
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and would share the
banquet of the kingdom. According to your promise, look with
mercy on those who have walked with Christ in this life and now
have passed through death.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Almighty God,
Grant that your Church
may faithfully hold and make known
the faith that has come to us through the apostles,
that with them and all your saints
we may inherit the glories of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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

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Download the order of service here: 26 09 13 15th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

Colossians 1.15−20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Matthew 8.23–27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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

By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry!

I expect you recognise those words - the first verse of William Blake’s poem
The Tyger!

In the following verses, Blake poses a question. If God created the tiger – a
magnificent but ferocious and frightening beast – what does that tell us about
God and his creative work?

Blake goes on to picture God as a blacksmith, hammering out the shape and
sinews of the tiger in some deep, distant and fiery furnace.

But what is this God that could bring into being something so terrifying as a
tiger?

And then comes a verse which, when I first read it as a fifteen year old,
completely knocked me sideways. He writes this:

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Did he who made the lamb, make thee?

Can the one who made something as innocent and gentle as a lamb also
have brought into being a creature as terrifying and violent as a tiger? And did
he smile? Was he pleased?

Blake doesn’t answer these questions but he does make us stop and think
about the creation – in all its aspects – the gentleness of the lamb; but also
the ferocity of the tiger – and the tiger stands for all aspects of nature that are
terrifying and violent. Nature red in tooth and claw. Earthquakes and storms
at sea.

We need to think about this because otherwise we could have a cosy but
inadequate understanding of God and nature and our place in nature.
Something we see in some favourite Christian hymns. Hymns like
All things bright and beautiful.

Lovely hymn, lovely tune. But it teeters all the time towards the sentimental:

Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colours,
he made their tiny wings.

And it can lead us, subconsciously perhaps, to suppose that God made the
natural world as a sort of stage on which our human lives are played out.
Ours is the important story. Nature is just the scenery and the props that we
can manipulate any way we want.

But there is more to nature than things bright and beautiful. There is also the
tiger. And there’s nothing about tigers in All things bright and beautiful –
though in fairness, the hymn was written for children.

Blake’s poem makes us think then about nature in all its aspects. Because if
we are serious in saying that God is the creator of all things, then that
includes the tiger as well as the lamb. And we do think God created all things.
We shall say so shortly in the creed.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

In the world into which Jesus came, that idea that there was one God who
made all things in heaven and earth – that was a minority belief. It was the
faith of the Jews, but it was not what most people around them believed. The
pagan world was full of gods and goddesses who could be held responsible
for this or that in the natural world. But Jews believed, as we believe, in the
one creator of all that is, seen and unseen, responsible for everything.

And because we human beings are only one small part of God’s creation we
must suppose that he has a purpose for the whole of it, and not just for our
human story, or just for the parts we are comfortable with – the lamb but not
the tiger.

And that brings us to the disciples in the boat with Jesus on the Sea of
Galilee. This is their wake up moment. When Jesus emerges from sleep and
speaks, they have to ask themselves: ‘Who is it that can rebuke the winds
and the sea?’ And the answer is clear: Only the one that made heaven and
earth, can do this. And in that moment the disciples’ understanding of who
Jesus is must change.

Christ is one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Therefore, as the psalmist says, though the waters rage and swell, we will not
fear. Because our God is the God who holds the whole of creation in his
hands, the tiger and the lamb.

The Prayers

Prepared by Paul

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council

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The Readings

Isaiah 61. 10 - end

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

Luke 1.46-55

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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

By The Rt Revd Leah Vasey-Saunders, Bishop of Doncaster.

The Prayers

Let us proclaim the greatness of the Lord
and rejoice together in the God who saves us.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Your prophet of old foretold a day when a virgin would conceive
and bear a son who would be called God-with-us.
Help us to look forward to your deliverance
and to seek the fullness of your kingdom.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Your angel declared to Mary that she was to be
the mother of the Saviour.
Help us all to be open to your word
and obedient to your will.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Mary rejoiced with her cousin Elizabeth and sang your praise,
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’
Help us to live joyful lives that sing your praise.
We pray today for Hanna and Mariam
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Mary bore a son of David’s line,
a king whose reign would never end.
Bless all the nations of the world with Christ’s gift of peace.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

The child Jesus grew in wisdom and stature
in the home of Mary and Joseph.
Strengthen our homes and families,
and keep under your protection all those whom we love.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

The apostle John saw a vision of a woman in heaven,
robed with the sun.
Bring us with all those who have died in the faith of Christ
to share the joy of heaven with Mary and all the saints.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

At the foot of the cross of Christ stood his mother,
and from the cross she received his lifeless body in her arms.
Give comfort and healing to all who suffer
and all who watch the suffering of those they love.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Almighty and everlasting God,
your handmaid Mary magnified your name
and rejoiced in your saving love:
trusting in that same love,
we ask all these our prayers
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) 2010 The Archbishops' Council