In three Sundays time we will return to our beautiful church for worship. We very much hope that all members and friends who are here on Tenerife will join us for the 11am Eucharist on the 26th July. Fr Ron, who has had to spend most of the lockdown time in the UK, due to the closure of Spain’s borders, arrived on Tuesday. For the time being, we will be continuing the midweek letter on our website, and the Sunday page.
Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Fr Ron’s reflection on today’s readings
The Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 55:10-13
“As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
The Epistle Reading – Romans 8:1-11
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
The Gospel Reading – Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Intercessions for Fifth Sunday after Trinity Year A – 12th July 2020
Everlasting God, we bring our prayers to you, Lord of all nations, asking that your blessing of love and peace may be known to all people everywhere. Help us to bear abundant fruit from the seeds of potential that you have planted within us.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Holy God, we pray for your church, especially for the people you have called to be prophets and teachers in our generation. We pray that they will be strengthened and protected by the Holy Spirit and that through them your Church will reveal the good news of salvation and draw all people together under your rule of justice and mercy.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
As we start to move forward to meet once again into our Church buildings, we pray that we may do it safely and sensibly and in ways that help those who are still unsure about attending that this is not a problem and that we and God will understand their reticence.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, we are your chosen stewards of this beautiful world; you provide us with seed and soil to sow them in but sometimes we abuse this privilege and so we look to you for forgiveness for the damage we have done to this earth and pray that you would show us ways of healing the wounds that we have inflicted on the land, ourselves and on each other.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we pray that in our communities all will be welcome and accepted regardless of nationality, colour, gender or status and that we will seek always to serve you and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in one another.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, we raise before you all those who seek healing of body, mind or spirit asking that they will sense the touch of your loving hands and feel your peace and presence alongside them, each and every step of their journey towards healing and wholeness (add names of those requesting prayer).
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we remember before you all those who have died. May they see your salvation and find their peace and final rest in you and we especially pray for those who were a formative part of our lives, who made us who we are and who we still miss (add names of the recently departed or on Anniversary list).
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Faithful God, we offer you these prayers for ourselves and for others. We ask you to accept them and to use them, and us so that your will may be done on earth and more of your kingdom revealed to those who seek you.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Thanks to the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy for sharing their prayers for this Sunday.
