The Greeting
In the name of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
We are drawn together as God’s family,
from Whitkirk, Colton and beyond
to offer praise and thanksgiving
to ask the forgiveness of our sins
to hear and receive God’s holy word
to pray for the needs of the world
that through the Son Jesus Christ
we may give ourselves to God’s service.
Based on the Opening Prayer for Morning Prayer from the Anglican Prayer Book of South Africa
Words of Welcome and Introduction
Hymn
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name!
Come, Christians, follow where our Saviour trod,
o’er death victorious, Christ the Son of God:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name!
Each new disciple of the Crucified
is called to bear the seal of him who died:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name!
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw us unto thee:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name!
So let the world proclaim with one accord
the praises of our ever-living Lord:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name!
Prayers of Penitence
In penitence for our sins let us turn to Christ,
that he may fill us with his new life.
Lord Jesus, you came that we might learn from you
and find rest for our souls.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you came that we might have abundant life.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you came that you might set us free.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Collect
For The Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Let us pray.
Silence is kept.
O God,
you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,
that we, running the way of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Reading from the Bible
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.
We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
Romans 12.1-8
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
From heav’n you came, helpless babe,
entered our world, your glory veiled;
not to be served but to serve,
and give your life that we might live.
This is our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.
There in the garden of tears,
my heavy load he chose to bear;
his heart with sorrow was torn,
‘Yet not my will but yours,’ he said.
This is our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.
Come see his hands and his feet,
the scars that speak of sacrifice,
hands that flung stars into space
to cruel nails surrendered.
This is our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.
So let us learn how to serve,
and in our lives enthrone him;
each other’s needs to prefer,
for it is Christ we’re serving.
This is our God, the Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.
Gospel
Alleluia, alleluia.
Let the message of Christ, in all its richness,
find a home with you;
through him give thanks to God.
Alleluia.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’
Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 16.13-20
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Preached by Lynne Pickersgill our Lay Reader.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Written and led by Marsha Thorndike, and ending with…
United with the Church across the world, let us pray with confidence using the words our Saviour taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hymn
Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.
O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt his name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.
The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliv’rance he affords to all
who on his succour trust.
O make but trial of his love;
experience will decide
how blest are they, and only they,
who in his truth confide.
Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you his service your delight,
your wants shall be his care.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
the God whom we adore,
be glory as it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Closing Prayer and Responses
Let us pray
Silence is kept.
Lord, transform us by your love,
that we may know and do your will,
that we may live and work to your praise and glory,
through Christ, the King of glory,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
We thank you, O God,
for you are gracious.
You have loved us from the beginning of time
and you remember us in times of trouble and of joy.
Your mercy endures for ever.
We thank you, O God,
for you came to us in Jesus Christ,
who has redeemed the world
and saves us from our sins.
Your mercy endures for ever.
We thank you, O God,
for you have sent your Holy Spirit,
who comforts us and leads us into all truth.
Your mercy endures for ever.
Amen.
Dear friends, seek for peace:
peace in your heart, peace in your spirit,
peace in your mind, peace in your home.
From ‘Traces of Glory’ by David Adam.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Hymn
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This our song shall ever be;
for we have no hope, nor Saviour,
if we have not hope in thee.
All for Jesus! thou wilt give us
strength to serve thee, hour by hour:
none can move us from thy presence
while we trust thy love and pow’r.
All for Jesus! at thine altar
thou dost give us sweet content;
there, dear Saviour, we receive thee
in thy holy sacrament.
All for Jesus! thou hast loved us,
all for Jesus! thou hast died,
all for Jesus! thou art with us,
all for Jesus, glorified!
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This the Church’s song shall be,
till, at last, the flock are gathered
one in love and one in thee.
The Blessing
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
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“Lift High The Cross”
© Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd
“From Heaven You Came”
© 1983 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
“All For Jesus!”
© Novello & Co. Ltd
“Chorale Prelude: Caswall”
© 1957, 2013 Oxford University Press
CCL licence: 668063