Collect for the day
O Lord . we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 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
The Readings
EPISTLE READING: A READING FROM THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO TIMOTHY
CHAPTER 1 VERSES 1 – 14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
To Timothy my beloved child:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God – whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did – when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure lives in you. For this reason, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and self-discipline.
Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the holy Spirit living in us.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 137
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 As for our lyres, we hung them up on the willows that grow in that land.
3 For there our captors asked for a song, our tormentors called for mirth: “Sing us one of the songs of Zion”.
4 How shall we sing the Lord´s song in a strange land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
6 Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I set not Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7 Remember, O Lord, against the people of Edom the day of Jerusalem, how they said, “Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.”
8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy the one who repays you for all you have done to us;
9 Who takes your little ones, and dashes them against the rock.
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
The Gospel Reading
HEAR THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST LUKE CHAPTER 17 VERSES 5 – 10
Glory to you O Lord
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.
Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
Intercessions
Please remember in your prayers, all those of our community who are unwell, or who have asked for our prayers.
Please remember in your prayers, those who have died recently,
and whose anniversary falls at this time and those who still mourn their passing.
Please continue to pray for the people of the Ukraine, especially those displaced by the conflict.
Final Prayer
Almighty God, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law: grant that we may love you with our whole heart and our neighbours as ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Welcome to all our visitors today
The Offertory Collection will be collected from the pews today.
During the service we will be offering the Common Cup. If you wish to take the communion wine please pass to the left of the altar after receiving the Communion wafer and then leave to return to your seat on that side of the church. Please do not dip the Communion Wafer in the cup of wine. The cup is for sharing only. If you do not feel comfortable sharing the Common Cup please pass to the right hand side of the altar and return to your seat on that side of the church.
CRUZ ROJA
Please continue to donate non-perishable food items for distribution to families in need. If you prefer to donate money you can put it in the Cruz Roja collection tin situated at the exit door.