Collect
Collec
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; 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
Epistle: 2 Timothy, 3. 14 – 4.5
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that God’s servant may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Psalm 121
1. I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
2. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3. He will not let your foot slip -he who watches over you will not slumber;
4. indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5. The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6. the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
8. the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the
beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen
Gospel: Luke 18. 1 – 8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about people. And there was a widow in that town that kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary”.
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about people, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Intercessions
Please pray for those who are unwell: Jonathan Copping, John and Sylvia Stuart, Jean Musgrave, Wendy Packwood, Martin Smith, Jonathan Adrian Griffiths, Aidan O’Farrell, Lindsay and Madeleine Spencer, Sheila True and Kate True and Callum Joyce
And we give thanks for the lives of those whose anniversary occurs at this time Winifred Potier, John Brain, Betty Wrightson, John Hughes, Irene Jolly, Ian Jennings and Trevor Hoyle
Gift Aid
If you are a UK taxpayer, All Saints, at no extra cost to you, can receive from the Chancellor of the Exchequer an additional 25% of your gift. Just use the yellow Gift Aid envelope and write your details on it. Thank you so much.
There will be a Bring and Share lunch on Sunday 3rd November after the 11am service as we celebrate All Saints Day. Please advise Carin Lindstrom if you are willing to provide food.
A warm welcome to you if you are visiting us today.
Please join us in the garden after the service for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
We praise and thank you, O Christ, for this sacred feast: for here we receive you, here the memory of your passion is renewed, here our minds are filled with grace, and here a pledge of future glory is given, when we shall feast at that table where you reign with all your saints forever. Amen.