Sunday Service - 19 July

Welcome to our Service - 19 July

This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.

To the right is Alistair’s talk. It can be watched separately or as part of the rest of the service.

If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.

NOTICE:

NOTICE: Opening the church for private prayer and public worship.

The wardens, PCC and the vicar have made the decision to open the church for personal and private prayer on Sunday afternoons, 4 - 5:30pm in July and August. Please do join us if you can.

Furthermore we have also decided to continue with our current pattern of online and remote worship throughout July and August with a new pattern of public worship at St Gabriel’s starting in September. This will likely include offering worship provision for those who choose to stay at home and a simple Holy Communion in the church building each Sunday. The first Sunday for this will be the 6th September. The time is still to be confirmed.

Thank you for your patience and your continued prayers. We are very thankful for the way that many have continued to worship and gathered through our online services and Zoom services and for those who have contributed to these services.

SERVICE

Opening Prayer:

O Lord, open our lips

and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us.

O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning is now

and shall be for ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord.

The Lord’s name be praised.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTKIqmdfHSk

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;

as Thou hast been Thou for ever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided;

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness...

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness...

Words: Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960)

Music: William M Runyan (1870-1957)

CONFESSION

The gospel calls us to turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.

As we offer ourselves to him in penitence and faith, we renew our confidence and trust in his mercy.

God our Father, we are sorry for the times when we have used your gifts carelessly, and acted ungratefully.

Hear our prayer, and in your mercy:

forgive us and help us.

We enjoy the fruits of the harvest, but sometimes forget that you have given them to us.

Father, in your mercy:

forgive us and help us.

We belong to a people who are full and satisfied, but ignore the cry of the hungry.

Father, in your mercy:

forgive us and help us.

We are thoughtless, and do not care enough for the world you have made.

Father, in your mercy:

forgive us and help us.

We store up goods for ourselves alone, as if there were no God and no heaven.

Father, in your mercy:

forgive us and help us.

ASOLUTION

The Lord enrich us with his grace,

and nourish us with his blessing;

the Lord defend us in trouble and keep us from all evil;

the Lord accept our prayers,

and absolve us from our offences,

for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.

COLLECT

Creator God,

you made us all in your image:

may we discern you in all that we see,

and serve you in all that we do;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rPGn_KTYuU

ABBA FATHER, let me be

Yours and Yours alone.

May my will forever be

Ever more Your own.

Never let my heart grow cold,

Never let me go.

Abba Father, let me be

Yours and Yours alone.

Dave Bilbrough.

READINGS

Rom. 8. 12 - 25 New International Version - UK

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that[c] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Matt. 13. 24 - 30, 36 - 43 New International Version UK

The Parable of the Weeds

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’

“‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Stuart Ibbotson - See the video above.

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

O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

When I call answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

Come and listen to me.

Jacques Berthier/Taizé.

PRAYERS - written by John Gough

Father we continue to pray for all involved in the care of Covid patients in hospital and also for the community teams that are providing follow up Therapy with people that are suffering with on-going chest problems and the struggles with Fatigue. There are people that will have long term issues because of this virus and the impact on their daily functioning. We pray that you will pour out your healing spirit on them and be close to them in these difficult times.

We pray for all the scientists across the world who are involved in the work to find and develop a vaccine for this virus. We pray and hope that there will be enough volunteers that come forward to take part in the clinical trials that will take place. We ask that you grant wisdom to all involved in this critical work.

Father we pray for our Church and Parish here in Greystones, as we look forward to the time when we are able to return to full worshipping again, we pray for all the work that will have to be done in planning and preparation for this to eventually take place.

We give thanks that we are able to now open the church later on a Sunday afternoon for private prayer. Thank you for all who have volunteered to be there to open the church to enable for this to take place and we ask for your blessing on all who will attend for prayer.

We give thanks for the Mini Prayer groups that have been set up over the summer period that will allow members of our church family to keep in touch with each other and for all prayers raised to you dear lord.

Father we pray for Epic Adventure the online Holiday club that will be taking place from the 3rd to the 7th of August. Bless all the work that will be done in preparation for this, for the activity packs that will be distributed to all the families taking part and for the daily Zoom gatherings. May all children and families who are not yet part of our church family but are taking part in the holiday club will come to know you lord and experience your amazing love for them.

Father we continue to pray for all the church family that are sick and housebound and we pray for all who are on our hearts and in our personal prayers at this time. We ask that you grant blessing and healing with the outpouring of your spirit.

Father we pray for Alistair, Catherine and the children as they go away on holiday this weekend, grant them safe journeys, that they have a lovely time together and the weather will be kind for them.

Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of you son our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your Kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen

SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iB30gCqAc

Lord, the light of your love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness shining,

Jesus Light of the world shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth You now bring us,

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine

Fill this land with the Father's glory,

Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire,

Flow, river, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your word Lord

And let there be light.

2 Lord, I come to Your awesome presence

From the shadows into Your radiance,

By the blood I may enter Your brightness,

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine...

3 As we gaze on Your kingly brightness

So our faces display Your likeness,

Ever changing from glory to glory

Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story,

Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine Jesus, shine...

OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,

the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;

for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.

SING:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDeiy9-t2GE

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine:

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of Salvation, purchase of God,

born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Saviour all the day long.

This is my story, this is my song,

praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

visions of rapture burst on my sight;

angels descending, bring from above

echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

This is my story…

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blest;

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story…

Fanny Crosby

CCLI: 22324

BLESSING

Almighty God, who raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to your right hand on high: may we know your resurrection power in our daily lives and look with hope to that day when we shall see you face to face and share in your glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: one God, now and for ever.

The Father, whose glory fills the heavens, cleanse you by his holiness and send you to proclaim his word. Amen.

The Son, who has ascended to the heights, pour upon you the riches of his grace. Amen.

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, equip you and strengthen you in your ministry. Amen.

And blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Stuart Ibbotson preaches on Matt. 13. 24 - 30, 36 - 43