Theme: ‘Reaching for the goal’
Preparation
Opening
Opening Hymn: All creatures of our God and King
Opening Prayers
Creator God, who calls us to follow,
we are on journeys,
individual journeys and shared journeys,
experiences that are ours alone and ours together.
Guide us on our journey this day
and help us to keep our eyes on the goal.
Amen.
Lord God,
as we journey towards the goal you set before us,
we see glimpses of who you are,
often too deep and unimaginable
to grasp fully the depth of your being.
What we see and feel spurs us on
in our journey to discover more of you.
Amen.
A Prayer of Confession
God of the journey of life,
the mystery of our very being,
we confess that the journey we take
gets disrupted and we get sidetracked.
We go off on wild goose chases that lead us nowhere,
up blind alleys and into bad and barren places.
We find our way back to you in sorrow for our failings
and in penitence for our wanderings.
May we be enriched by your welcome,
relieved by your forgiveness
and comforted by your all-embracing love.
Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lord God, we are all so different, each our own being;
and yet you love and care for us all,
you nurture and protect us.
How can we not be thankful to you
for all that the journey with you offers!
We thank you that you guide us,
in unexpected ways, to find the right way in life.
We thank you that when we wander, you draw us back to you,
give us new direction and encourage us to follow where you lead.
We thank you that you know our individual needs and quirks,
and yearn for us to be on the journey of life with you.
We thank you that the pains of life can be overshadowed
by the joy of walking with you.
For all these blessings and more,
we give you thanks and praise.
Amen.
Readings
Response: The heavens are telling the glory of God
The Bible Reading: St Paul’s Letter to the church in Philippi 3.4b-14
Paul sets out his credentials by citing the marks of his Jewish identity. Remaking his identity ‘in Christ’ is a big project that he has not yet fully achieved – but it is his ultimate goal.
Reflection:
- What are the goals you are reaching for ?
- How does it feel to have heaven as a ‘goal’ ?
Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-46
Audio reflection: based on the Gospel Reading:
Transcript of Reflection on Matthew 21_33-46
Prayer
Prayers of Intercession:
God of one and God of all, we pray for:
those who don’t know who they are,
who can’t understand themselves or their place in society –
God of all, we pray for them.
Those who don’t ‘fit in’,
who are or seem to be different –
God of all, we pray for them.
Those who don’t know where they come from,
their heritage or home, their family or bloodline –
God of all, we pray for them.
Those who feel lost and isolated, confused and afraid,
rudderless or homeless, strangers in a strange land –
God of all, we pray for them.
Those who wish they were someone else,
or somewhere else, in some other time and place –
God of all, we pray for them.
In your great mercy, Lord,
hear our prayers and grant surer journeys for them all.
Amen.
Collect for Trinity17:
Gracious God, you call us to fullness of life: deliver us from unbelief and banish our anxieties with the liberating love of 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: Christ is our cornerstone
Organ Voluntary: