Trinity 16 / Pentecost 17 / Creation 5 / Harvest
Sunday, 05/10/2025
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OPENING SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE –
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases (Lamentations 3,22)
HYMN-
GREETING
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
God is love and we are God’s children. There is no room for fear in love. We love because God loved us first.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
SILENCE
God our Father,
we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil,
for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
ABSOLUTION
God, who is both power and love,
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
GLORIA sung by Dougie Byers
COLLECT
God, in whom all things are possible,
You crown the year with your goodness
and give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory,
so that none may hunger, none may thirst,
and all may cherish the gifts of your creation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever Amen
PROCLAIMING & RECEIVING GOD’S WORD
FIRST READING Lamentations 1.1–6, read by Margaret Morton
1 How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal. 2 She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.
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3 Judah has gone into exile with suffering and hard servitude; she lives now among the nations, and finds no resting-place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress. ✝ 4 The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to the festivals; all her gates are desolate, her priests groan; her young girls grieve, and her lot is bitter. 5 Her foes have become the masters, her enemies prosper, because the LORD has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions; her children have gone away, captives before the foe. 6 From daughter Zion has departed all her majesty. Her princes have become like stags that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer.
SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1.1–14, read by Peter Boreham
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God – whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did – when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;
7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do.
But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
GRADUAL HYMN
GOSPEL Luke 12, 22-34, read by Rev Dr Steven Ballard
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke Chapter 12,. beginning at verse 22
Glory to Christ our Saviour
22 Jesus 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. 23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. 24 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! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?[a] 26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,[b] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 28 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! 29 And do not keep seeking what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. 30 For it is the nations[c] of the world that seek all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his[d] kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.
SERMON
One of the greatest links to a Christian attitude to creation, to share at for Harvest, is the ‘Canticle of the Sun’ which was written by Saint Francis of Assisi in the months before he died 800 years ago on 3rd October 1225.
https://franciscanfriarscresson.org/the-canticle-of-the-sun
Here is a link so you can read it:
https://franciscanfriarscresson.org/the-canticle-of-the-sun
Francis’ attitude and rapport with creation, where all parts are united in a sibling relationship; everything and everyone is in a designed entanglement of awe, love and praise, is divinely inspired. It moves us away from our consumerist society to the realm of the Kingdom of God.
Following this thought and the bidding of the Gospel for today:
‘Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (Luke 12: 33-34)
we are challenged to make ‘purses’ (new styles of living)….
Purses:
- of joyful, awe filled worship, rooted in the beauty and gratitude for the world around us;
- built of simplicity and humility, detached from material excess, reminding ourselves of the of our inter-relatedness and stewardship of the glory around us in this world;
- Built of harmony and belonging as a necessary and integrated part of this world ;
- That remind us daily of the sacredness of everything around us: a holy gift of God;
- Above all purses which enable us to find peace and meaning in our own sacred mortality.
We are left to ask whether our own attitude to life and style of living reflects this Gospel style and if not, why?
THE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Almighty God,
You rule over all creation with wisdom and love. Encourage us to be strong in faith and to walk with You out of the wilderness into the light.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Loving living God, we pray for all who are affected by natural disasters, for those places where flooding, earthquakes and severe weather causes damaging effects to the lives of so many.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
We pray for all of those affected by the devastation of climate change, for those affected by the monsoon in India, earthquakes in Afghanistan and Myanmar and landslides in Sudan and South Korea.
Give us strength to restore what is broken and hope to carry light through the storm.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
At this time when many parts of our world are not at peace, we take a moment to gather our thoughts and lift our prayers to You.
We pray for Israel, Palestine, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Myanmar, Syria, and all places where conflict, fear, and division prevail.
Lord, please bring healing to those lands—where there is destruction, let there be rebuilding; where there is hatred, bring reconciliation; where there is despair, restore hope.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, bless Archbishop Sarah in her new calling. Strengthen her for the challenges she will face; fill her with wisdom, courage, and steadfast faith, that she may lead with grace and bear witness to your truth.
https://www.scotland.anglican.org
Let us pray for the union between the Scottish episcopal church and the Anglican Communion
Though we are many we are one body for we all share in one bread
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We pray for our church during this time of interregnum. We give thanks for Jim, our Interim Priest, and for all who support him in helping us to continue worshipping and walking together in faith.
We pray for the vacancy committee as they seek discernment and unity in their work to find a new rector to lead us into the next chapter of our journey.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Gracious and loving God,
We give You thanks for the children and young people of our church family. We celebrate their joy, energy, and the promise of their future.
Bless them as they grow in faith, wisdom, and love.
Bless all who offer their time, gifts, and energy, for the leaders, volunteers, and helpers. Let their service be fruitful and life-giving.
Help us to be a church that nurtures, supports, and celebrates our young people. May everything we do point them toward Your grace and love.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who face daily struggles—for those who are burdened with pain, grief, or loneliness. We remember those suffering in body, mind, or spirit.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
We pray for all of those on our own minds and in our hearts.
In a moment of silence, we remember those who have departed this life, and those whose anniversary falls at this time.
We give thanks for those we knew well and loved deeply, for those we only met briefly, and for those we never had the chance to know.
Loving Father, take away the sting of grief and hold in Your care all who mourn.
We give thanks for the lives of those who have died.
Though they have departed this life, they live on in our hearts and in Your eternal kingdom.
May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Loving, Living God,
Help us to live daily in Your service—to do good for others, to walk humbly with You, and to be lights in Your world.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Do not bring us
to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN –
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen
