The Greeting
In the beginning
before time, before people,
before the world began.
God was.
Here and now
among us, beside us,
enlisting the people of earth
for the purposes of heaven.
God is.
In the future,
when we have turned to dust
and all we know has found its fulfilment.
God will be.
Not denying the world, but delighting in it,
not condemning the world, but redeeming it,
through Jesus Christ,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
God was,
God is,
God will be.
From the Morning Liturgy A – The Iona Community
We come from scattered lives to meet with God.
Let us recognise his presence with us.
Silence is kept.
As God’s people we have gathered:
let us worship him together.
Words of Welcome and Introduction
Hymn
Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
O, hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at thy word,
who walkèdst on the foaming deep,
and calm, amidst its rage, didst sleep:
O, hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
O, hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and pow’r,
our brethren shield in danger’s hour.
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them whereso’er they go,
and evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Prayers of Penitence
The grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all.
Let us come to him, in sorrow for our sins,
seeking healing and salvation.
cf Titus 2.11
We need your healing, merciful God;
Give us true repentance.
Some sins are plain to us,
Some escape us,
Some we cannot face.
Forgive us;
Set us free to hear your word to us;
Set us free to serve you.
Amen.
From St. James’ Piccadilly
May the almighty and merciful Lord
grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins,
time for amendment of life,
and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Collect
For The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Let us pray.
Silence is kept.
Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
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 forever.
Amen.
Reading from the Bible
A reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’
Romans 10.5-15a
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
Be still, my soul: the Lord is at thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly friend,
through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake,
all now mysterious shall be clear at last.
Be still, my soul: the tempests still obey
his voice, who ruled them once on Galilee.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be for ever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
sorrow forgotten, love’s pure joy restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Gospel
Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord endures for ever.
The word of the Lord is the good news announced to you.
Alleluia.
cf 1 Peter 1.25
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord.
Immediately after feeding the crowd with the five loaves and two fish, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
Matthew 14.22-33
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Preached by The Reverend Hannah Smith, Priest in Charge of St. Wilfrid’s Halton and St. Philip’s Osmondthorpe
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Though he was divine,
he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
and was obedient to death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high,
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
cf Philippians 2.6-11
Prayers of intercession
Written and led by Gemma Burton, 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
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here;
come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of Light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place,
he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Closing Prayer and Responses
Let us pray.
Silence is kept.
Almighty God,
we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and a strength to our lives.
Take us and use us
to love and serve
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
For all that God can do within us,
for all that God can do without us,
Thanks be to God.
For all in whom Christ lived before us,
for all in whom Christ lives beside us,
Thanks be to God.
For all the Spirit wants to bring us,
for where the Spirit wants to send us.
Thanks be to God.
Christ has promised to be with us
in the world as in our worship.
Amen.
From the Morning Liturgy A – The Iona Community
Hymn
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine.
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.
Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain.
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgments,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children:
praise the Lord, all people, praise!
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days!
The Blessing
The Lord bless you and watch over you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you,
the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace;
cf Numbers 6.24,25
and the blessing of God Almighty
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
rest upon you, your homes and those whom you love
this day and always.
Amen.
Let us bless the Lord:
thanks be to God.
Blessing, honour and glory be yours,
here and everywhere,
now and for ever.
Amen.
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“Be Still, My Soul”
Music © Breitkopf and Hartel
“Be Still, For The Presence of The Lord”
© 1986 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music
“Fill Your Hearts with Joy and Gladness”
Words © Timothy Dudley-Smith
Music © 1993 Kevin Mayhew Limited
“A Celtic Lullaby”
© 1994 Kevin Mayhew Limited
CCL licence: 668063