Whitewater Benefice

Introduction

Welcome to our online worship for Sunday 19th July - Trinity 6.

You may like to light a candle as a reminder that the love of God is like a light in our darkness.

Music: For the little organ book is played by Richard Joyce

Welcome To Worship

Welcome to our worship as we are gathered in heart and spirit if not in physical proximity with one another. It is a reminder that the church is not the building but rather it is the people of God who are the church.

The Greeting

Faithful One, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives. For the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Hymn

For all the saints

Confession

Lord God, our maker and our redeemer,
this is your world and we are your people:
come among us and save us.
We have wilfully misused your gifts of creation;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.

We have seen the ill-treatment of others
and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.

We have condoned evil and dishonesty
and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.

We have heard the good news of Christ,
but have failed to share it with others;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.

We have not loved you with all our heart,
nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.

Absolution

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and keep us in eternal life.
Amen.

Collect

Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43)

24Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.27The owner’s servants came to him and said,
‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
29‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Talk

Hymn

There's a wideness in God's mercy
Link to There's a wideness in God's mercy (from YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen
 

Prayers

Prayers of Intercession

Our Gospel reading today talks about a field with weeds growing among the crops.  As well as the end times references in the reading this also reminds us that life is not a bed of roses and that there will be troubles to face on life’s journey. Let us pray to our Father that he will guide and help us and others on that journey.

Father help us to trust in you whatever troubles life may throw at us.
We pray especially at this time for all those affected by Covid-19,
Those who are ill, physically or mentally due to the virus,
Those who still need to self isolate,
Those who have lost loved ones,
Those whose financial position has suffered.
We pray that all those in authority – political and medical – will make decisions with wisdom, showing both courage and humility as required.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer

In these difficult times around the globe it is important that your people show your love to the world and so we pray for your worldwide church.  We ask you to bless all those who have acknowledged you as their saviour, regardless of denomination.  May all your followers be united as your one body to do your bidding on earth, preaching the good news and setting the captives free.

We pray for your church in this area as lockdown eases and we start to open the churches for prayer.  We ask that people will show patience and understanding as we learn together the best way of operating in these different times.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer

Although the world is focussed on Covid at the moment other problems don’t go away.  We pray for other situations around the world causing people to suffer – wars and conflicts, droughts and famines, brutal authoritarian regimes.

We also remember there are people who have limited or no freedom – people who are effectively or literally prisoners. For those serving time for crimes committed, for those who are in prison for their faith, and also for the people of North Korea who are prisoners in their own country.  Lord bring your justice, love and peace to the world and all its peoples.

Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer

We also pray for people who may appear free but who have weeds growing in their life which may slowly be destroying them; for alcoholics, drug users, compulsive gamblers and other addicts.  Lord help them break free from those habits and experience true freedom with you.

We pray for the professionals who help addicts, we pray for all those who work in the care sector and for everyone working in the NHS.  May they all know how much they are appreciated but also may they know your love and strength to carry on when tired and weary.

We pray for those whose health is not what they wish it to be.  For those suffering with Covid but also for all those with the other illnesses and ailments that don’t stop when there is a new virus.  We think about all those known to us who are suffering, mentally or physically, or undergoing treatment, praying especially for those listed in our pew sheet and in a few moments of silence anyone known personally to us….

Oh Lord hear their cry and comfort and protect them at this time.  Give them peace and freedom from pain Lord.

Father we ask you to hear our prayers today, strengthen our resolve to continue praying for your kingdom to come.

Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray,

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.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen

The Peace

May the God of peace make you perfect and holy,
that you may be kept safe and blameless
in spirit, soul and body,
for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The peace of the Lord be always with you Amen.

Reflecting on Holy Communion

Holy communion is available on Sunday night at 6pm in St John's Church, Hook.

At this time when we cannot easily gather to share Holy Communion with one another we take some time to reflect on what it means to each of us that Jesus gave his own life that we might live life in freedom.

1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 26

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Offertory

Consider all that God has done for you, especially as you see this in Jesus. ‘Count your blessings’ and respond with appropriate generosity from your material wealth.
Amen

Giving to our Churches

See our giving page for more information about how you can give to our churches

Please select your chosen Parish for details:

Blessing

The Lord God almighty is our Father:
he loves us and tenderly cares for us.
The Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour:
he has redeemed us and will defend us to the end.
The Lord, the Holy Spirit, is among us:
he will lead us in God’s holy way.
And the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you now and always.
Amen.

Hymn

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine
Link to Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine (from YouTube, opens in a new tab)

Copyright details

Services and Prayers for the Church of England. Common Worship. Church House Publishing. The Archbishops’ Council. 2000. Daily Prayer, 2005.
Readings taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Music:
Organ music played by Richard Joyce:
1. “For the little organ book” written by Sir Hubert Parry and included in a book of remembrance written by12 of his friends and played at his funeral in St Paul’s Cathedral on October 16th, 1918.
2. Lascia ch'io pianga by G F Handel “let me weep” from his opera Rinaldo.
Hymns from YouTube & BBC under appropriate licensing
CCLI - St Johns Hook, 827213