Theme: ‘Make my joy complete’
Preparation
Opening
Opening Hymn: Angel voices, ever singing
Opening Prayer
Generous, hospitable God, who turns no one away,
welcome each one of us now
in this time of worship
and embrace us in your being.
Amen.
A Prayer of Confession
We sometimes think that the more we have the happier we will be.
‘If only’, then all will be well.
We sometimes turn the other way, closing our eyes and ears,
ignoring what we see, choosing to neglect those asking for help.
Sometimes we refuse a helping hand to those in need
– we want to do ‘our thing’ instead.
We do not want to confess these things
but, Lord God, in this moment, in this place,
in this space that we’ve been given,
give us the desire to confess our failings and our sins,
renew us from within and set us free from all that shackles us.
Set us free to be the human beings you would have us be.
Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
I’m grateful, Lord God, that you love me and care for me,
that Jesus lived and died for me.
I’m grateful that you are interested in me,
even me with all my faults and failings.
Thank you for sharing my life and my living,
for being within my hopes and dreams.
Thank you for giving me purpose and meaning.
Thank you for showing me how to live a life of goodness and truth, a life of caring and sharing.
Thank you for your generosity and abundance
even if I fail to see it.
Thank you, God, for being you
and thank you for making me, me.
Amen.
Readings
Response: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul
The Bible Reading: St Paul’s Letter to the church in Philippi 2.1-13
Living faith like it matters means having the same mind as Christ – who, leaving behind his former identity and taking on that of the lowest in society, let himself be humiliated on a cross.
Reflection:
- When do find joy in helping others ?
- What does ‘supporting others’ look like in our church family ?
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21.23-32
Audio reflection: based on the Gospel:
Prayer
Prayers of Intercession:
So often we want to pray for others.
But sometimes, God, we don’t know how.
We can’t remember names or numbers;
other issues weigh heavily on our hearts.
Thank goodness, God,
that you know what we mean when we pray.
So, we bring in this moment
those names and faces, images and desires for others
that pop in and out of our minds throughout the day:
the old lady at the bus stop who needed a hand up the step;
the young mum at the checkout trying to contain her four kids;
the chap up the road who’s lost his dog and is calling for him;
the teachers struggling to understand the needs of those in their class;
the doctors who wants to give us more time but who simply can’t;
the young families who can’t make ends meet;
those without work, who can’t find new jobs;
those helping people to find work, knowing it is an uphill struggle;
those with mental health issues and seeking help,
or who are afraid and ashamed to seek help,
or who are ignored and can’t get help.
So, God, for all these people and countless others,
we offer our prayers.
We know you do not need reminding,
but you do need willing workers – even us –
to help them know your love and have their needs met.
Hear our ramblings, O God.
Amen.
Collect for Trinity16:
Almighty Lord of creation whose glory is around and within us: open our eyes to your wonders that we may serve you with reverence and know your peace at our lives’ end through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.
Affirmation of Faith:
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A sending out prayer
May we go, Lord God,
to meet the needs of others
and share the love we have from you.
Amen.
Closing Hymn: Ye holy angels bright
Organ Voluntary: