Tuesday, 28 July 2020

The Seventh Sunday After Trinity



Spirit, in our weakness be our strength.
We do not know how to pray as we ought.
As we love you, work in us that which is good;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
 Lord, make us the people you want us to be.
Guide us in what you would have us do.
We pray for all those who are new to faith or who are seeking to grow their faith.
For all seekers and enquirers.
Lord, your will be done, your kingdom come in us.

We pray for all who are suffering hardship or persecution,
for all who are in peril and danger.
We name those that are especially on our hearts today.
Strengthen all who seek to bring in your kingdom by striving for peace, for justice, for freedom.
Lord, your will be done, your kingdom come in us.

Lord, we give you thanks for all who have shared the riches of your kingdom with us,
for those who have been examples to us, and who have taught us the faith.
We pray for all who seek to pass on these riches to others in their communities.
Lord, your will be done. Your kingdom come in us.

We pray for those known to us who have fallen into sickness or disability.
We pray for those losing mobility, their carers and comforters.
Lord, your will be done, your kingdom come in us.
We give you thanks that in Christ, you have bought us to the great riches of your kingdom.
We pray for the saints and all the faithful departed, that we may be one with you in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, your will be done, your kingdom come in us.

Our Bible readings for this week:
Romans 8: 26-39
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Collect
Generous God, you give us gifts and make them grow;
though our faith is small as a mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Blessing
The love of God enfold us,
the power of Christ protect us,
the leading of the Spirit guide us.
 May the blessing of God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit remain with us through all our days.
 Amen

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