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Sunday 17 November 2019 2nd Sunday before Advent / Year C

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Heavenly Father,

whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil

and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:

grant that we, having this hope,

may purify ourselves even as he is pure;

that when he shall appear in power and great glory

we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;

where he is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

or

Heavenly Lord,

you long for the world’s salvation:

stir us from apathy,

restrain us from excess

and revive in us new hope

that all creation will one day be healed

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings
Malachi 4.1-2a

4See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 98

1  Sing to the Lord a new song, •
   for he has done marvellous things.
2  His own right hand and his holy arm •
   have won for him the victory.
3  The Lord has made known his salvation; •
   his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4  He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
      towards the house of Israel, •
   and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
5  Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; •
   break into singing and make music.
6  Make music to the Lord with the lyre, •
   with the lyre and the voice of melody.
7  With trumpets and the sound of the horn •
   sound praises before the Lord, the King.
8  Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, •
   the world and all that dwell upon it.
9  Let the rivers clap their hands •
   and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
      for he comes to judge the earth.
10  In righteousness shall he judge the world •
   and the peoples with equity.

2 Thessalonians 3.6-13

6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.
Luke 21.5-19

5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

7 They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’8And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them.

9 ‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ 10Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

12 ‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance;15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion

Gracious Lord,

in this holy sacrament

you give substance to our hope:

bring us at the last

to that fullness of life for which we long;

through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

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Sunday 10 November 2019 3rd Sunday before Advent Remembrance Sunday / Year C

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Almighty Father,

whose will is to restore all things

in your beloved Son, the King of all:

govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,

and bring the families of the nations,

divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,

to be subject to his just and gentle rule;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

or

God, our refuge and strength,

bring near the day when wars shall cease

and poverty and pain shall end,

that earth may know the peace of heaven

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings
Job 19.23-27a

23 ‘O that my words were written down!
   O that they were inscribed in a book! 
24 O that with an iron pen and with lead
   they were engraved on a rock for ever! 
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
   and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; 
26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
   then in my flesh I shall see God, 
27 whom I shall see on my side,
   and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
   My heart faints within me!

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 17.1-9

1  Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; •
   listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2  Let my vindication come forth from your presence; •
   let your eyes behold what is right.
3  Weigh my heart, examine me by night, •
   refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4  My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; •
   I have heeded the words of your lips.
5  My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; •
   my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6  I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; •
   incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7  Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, •
   O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
      from those who rise up against them.
8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; •
   hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9  From the wicked who assault me, •
   from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.

[or Psalm 17.1-8]

1  Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; •
   listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2  Let my vindication come forth from your presence; •
   let your eyes behold what is right.
3  Weigh my heart, examine me by night, •
   refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4  My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; •
   I have heeded the words of your lips.
5  My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; •
   my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6  I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; •
   incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7  Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, •
   O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
      from those who rise up against them.
8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; •
   hide me under the shadow of your wings,

2 Thessalonians 2.1-5, 13-end

2As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters,2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.
Luke 20.27-38

27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the manshall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’

34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion

God of peace,

whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom

and restored the broken to wholeness of life:

look with compassion on the anguish of the world,

and by your healing power

make whole both people and nations;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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Sunday 10 November 2019 3rd Sunday before Advent Remembrance Sunday / Year C

by

Almighty Father,

whose will is to restore all things

in your beloved Son, the King of all:

govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,

and bring the families of the nations,

divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,

to be subject to his just and gentle rule;

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

or

God, our refuge and strength,

bring near the day when wars shall cease

and poverty and pain shall end,

that earth may know the peace of heaven

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings
Job 19.23-27a

23 ‘O that my words were written down!
   O that they were inscribed in a book! 
24 O that with an iron pen and with lead
   they were engraved on a rock for ever! 
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
   and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; 
26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed,
   then in my flesh I shall see God, 
27 whom I shall see on my side,
   and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
   My heart faints within me!

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 17.1-9

1  Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; •
   listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2  Let my vindication come forth from your presence; •
   let your eyes behold what is right.
3  Weigh my heart, examine me by night, •
   refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4  My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; •
   I have heeded the words of your lips.
5  My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; •
   my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6  I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; •
   incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7  Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, •
   O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
      from those who rise up against them.
8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; •
   hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9  From the wicked who assault me, •
   from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.

[or Psalm 17.1-8]

1  Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; •
   listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2  Let my vindication come forth from your presence; •
   let your eyes behold what is right.
3  Weigh my heart, examine me by night, •
   refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4  My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; •
   I have heeded the words of your lips.
5  My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; •
   my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6  I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; •
   incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7  Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, •
   O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
      from those who rise up against them.
8  Keep me as the apple of your eye; •
   hide me under the shadow of your wings,

2 Thessalonians 2.1-5, 13-end

2As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters,2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?

13 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.
Luke 20.27-38

27 Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him 28and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the manshall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.29Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; 30then the second 31and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. 32Finally the woman also died. 33In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’

34 Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; 35but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion

God of peace,

whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom

and restored the broken to wholeness of life:

look with compassion on the anguish of the world,

and by your healing power

make whole both people and nations;

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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Friday 1 November 2019 Alternative 1 of 3 Last after Trinity / All Saints’ Day All Saints’ Day or Year C

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Reading Notes: All Saints’ Day is celebrated either on Friday 1 November or on Sunday 3 November; if the latter there may be a supplementary celebration on 1 November. Use this provision if All Saints’ Day is celebrated on Friday 1 November only.

Collect

Almighty God,

you have knit together your elect

in one communion and fellowship

in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:

grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints

in all virtuous and godly living

that we may come to those inexpressible joys

that you have prepared for those who truly love you;

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.

or

God of holiness,

your glory is proclaimed in every age:

as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,

inspire us to follow their example

with boldness and joy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings

Daniel 7.1-3, 15-18

7

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: 2I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, 3and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. 16I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: 17‘As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.’

This is the word of the Lord.

AllThanks be to God.

Psalm 149

1  Alleluia.

      O sing to the Lord a new song; •

   sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.

2  Let Israel rejoice in their maker; •

   let the children of Zion be joyful in their king.

3  Let them praise his name in the dance; •

   let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre.

4  For the Lord has pleasure in his people •

   and adorns the poor with salvation.

5  Let the faithful be joyful in glory; •

   let them rejoice in their ranks,

6  With the praises of God in their mouths •

   and a two-edged sword in their hands;

7  To execute vengeance on the nations •

   and punishment on the peoples;

8  To bind their kings in chains •

   and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9  To execute on them the judgement decreed: •

   such honour have all his faithful servants.

      Alleluia.

Ephesians 1.11-end

11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

This is the word of the Lord.

AllThanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

AllGlory to you, O Lord.

Luke 6.20-31

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:

‘Blessed are you who are poor,

   for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 ‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,

   for you will be filled.

‘Blessed are you who weep now,

   for you will laugh.

22 ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

24 ‘But woe to you who are rich,

   for you have received your consolation.

25 ‘Woe to you who are full now,

   for you will be hungry.

‘Woe to you who are laughing now,

   for you will mourn and weep.

26 ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

27 ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

AllPraise to you, O Christ.

Post Communion

God, the source of all holiness and giver of all good things:

may we who have shared at this table

as strangers and pilgrims here on earth

be welcomed with all your saints

to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Sunday 3 November 2019 Alternative 1 of 2 4th Sunday before Advent / Year C

by

Reading Notes: All Saints’ Day is celebrated either on Friday 1 November or on Sunday 3 November; if the latter there may be a supplementary celebration on 1 November. Use this provision if All Saints’ Day is celebrated on Friday 1 November only.

Collect

Almighty and eternal God,

you have kindled the flame of love in the hearts of the saints:

grant to us the same faith and power of love,

that, as we rejoice in their triumphs,

we may be sustained by their example and fellowship;

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.

or

God of glory,

touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit,

that we with all creation

may rejoice to sing your praise;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings

Isaiah 1.10-18

10 Hear the word of the Lord,

   you rulers of Sodom!

Listen to the teaching of our God,

   you people of Gomorrah!

11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?

   says the Lord;

I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams

   and the fat of fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls,

   or of lambs, or of goats.

12 When you come to appear before me,

   who asked this from your hand?

   Trample my courts no more;

13 bringing offerings is futile;

   incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation—

   I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.

14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals

   my soul hates;

they have become a burden to me,

   I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you stretch out your hands,

   I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,

   I will not listen;

   your hands are full of blood.

16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

   remove the evil of your doings

   from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

17   learn to do good;

seek justice,

   rescue the oppressed,

defend the orphan,

   plead for the widow.

18 Come now, let us argue it out,

   says the Lord:

though your sins are like scarlet,

   they shall be like snow;

though they are red like crimson,

   they shall become like wool.

This is the word of the Lord.

AllThanks be to God.

Psalm 32.1-8

1  Happy the one whose transgression is forgiven, •

   and whose sin is covered.

2  Happy the one to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, •

   and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3  For I held my tongue; •

   my bones wasted away

      through my groaning all the day long.

4  Your hand was heavy upon me day and night; •

   my moisture was dried up like the drought in summer.

5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you •

   and my iniquity I did not hide.

6  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ •

   and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

7  Therefore let all the faithful make their prayers to you

      in time of trouble; •

   in the great water flood, it shall not reach them.

8  You are a place for me to hide in;

      you preserve me from trouble; •

   you surround me with songs of deliverance.

2 Thessalonians 1

1

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.

5 This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering. 6For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marvelled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfil by his power every good resolve and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the word of the Lord.

AllThanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

AllGlory to you, O Lord.

Luke 19.1-10

19

He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycomore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ 6So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ 8Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ 9Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

AllPraise to you, O Christ.

Post Communion

Lord of heaven,

in this eucharist you have brought us near to an innumerable company of angels and to the spirits of the saints made perfect:

as in this food of our earthly pilgrimage we have shared their fellowship,

so may we come to share their joy in heaven;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Sunday 27 October 2019 Alternative 1 of 3 Last Sunday after Trinity Proper 25 Year C

by

Blessed Lord,

who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:

help us so to hear them,

to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them

that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

or

Merciful God,

teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,

that trusting in your word

and obeying your will

we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings
Continuous:
Joel 2.23-end

23 O children of Zion, be glad
   and rejoice in the Lord your God;
for he has given the early rain for your vindication,
   he has poured down for you abundant rain,
   the early and the later rain, as before. 
24 The threshing-floors shall be full of grain,
   the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. 

25 I will repay you for the years
   that the swarming locust has eaten,
the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
   my great army, which I sent against you. 

26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
   and praise the name of the Lord your God,
   who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. 
27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
   and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again
   be put to shame. 

28 Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions. 
29 Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 

30 I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 65

1  Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; •
   to you that answer prayer shall vows be paid.
2  To you shall all flesh come to confess their sins; •
   when our misdeeds prevail against us,
      you will purge them away.
3  Happy are they whom you choose
      and draw to your courts to dwell there. •
   We shall be satisfied with the blessings of your house,
      even of your holy temple.
4  With wonders you will answer us in your righteousness,
      O God of our salvation, •
   O hope of all the ends of the earth
      and of the farthest seas.
5  In your strength you set fast the mountains •
   and are girded about with might.
6  You still the raging of the seas, •
   the roaring of their waves
      and the clamour of the peoples.
7  Those who dwell at the ends of the earth
      tremble at your marvels; •
   the gates of the morning and evening sing your praise.
8  You visit the earth and water it; •
   you make it very plenteous.
9  The river of God is full of water; •
   you prepare grain for your people,
      for so you provide for the earth.
10  You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; •
   you soften the ground with showers and bless its increase.
11  You crown the year with your goodness, •
   and your paths overflow with plenty.
12  May the pastures of the wilderness flow with goodness •
   and the hills be girded with joy.
13  May the meadows be clothed with flocks of sheep •
   and the valleys stand so thick with corn
      that they shall laugh and sing.

[or Psalm 65.1-7]

1  Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; •
   to you that answer prayer shall vows be paid.
2  To you shall all flesh come to confess their sins; •
   when our misdeeds prevail against us,
      you will purge them away.
3  Happy are they whom you choose
      and draw to your courts to dwell there. •
   We shall be satisfied with the blessings of your house,
      even of your holy temple.
4  With wonders you will answer us in your righteousness,
      O God of our salvation, •
   O hope of all the ends of the earth
      and of the farthest seas.
5  In your strength you set fast the mountains •
   and are girded about with might.
6  You still the raging of the seas, •
   the roaring of their waves
      and the clamour of the peoples.
7  Those who dwell at the ends of the earth
      tremble at your marvels; •
   the gates of the morning and evening sing your praise.

2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18

6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 

16 At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Related:
Ecclesiasticus 35.12-17

12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
   and as generously as you can afford. 
13 For the Lord is the one who repays,
   and he will repay you sevenfold.

14 Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it; 
15   and do not rely on a dishonest sacrifice;
for the Lord is the judge,
   and with him there is no partiality. 
16 He will not show partiality to the poor;
   but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged. 
17 He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
   or the widow when she pours out her complaint.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
or Jeremiah 14.7-10, 19-end

7 Although our iniquities testify against us,
   act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
   and we have sinned against you. 
8 O hope of Israel,
   its saviour in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
   like a traveller turning aside for the night? 
9 Why should you be like someone confused,
   like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
   and we are called by your name;
   do not forsake us! 

10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
   they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them,
   now he will remember their iniquity
   and punish their sins. 

19 Have you completely rejected Judah?
   Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
   so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
   for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. 
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
   the iniquity of our ancestors,
   for we have sinned against you. 
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
   do not dishonour your glorious throne;
   remember and do not break your covenant with us. 
22 Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
   Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God?
   We set our hope on you,
   for it is you who do all this.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 84.1-7

1  How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! •
   My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord;
      my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2  The sparrow has found her a house
      and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: •
   at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
3  Blessed are they who dwell in your house: •
   they will always be praising you.
4  Blessed are those whose strength is in you, •
   in whose heart are the highways to Zion,
5  Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, •
   and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.
6  They will go from strength to strength •
   and appear before God in Zion.
7  O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; •
   listen, O God of Jacob.

2 Timothy 4.6-8, 16-18

6 As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 

16 At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.
Luke 18.9-14

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion

God of all grace,

your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry

with the bread of his life

and the word of his kingdom:

renew your people with your heavenly grace,

and in all our weakness

sustain us by your true and living bread;

who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

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Sunday 20 October 2019 Alternative 1 of 2 18th Sunday after Trinity Proper 24 Year C

by
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 for ever.

or

God, our judge and saviour,

teach us to be open to your truth

and to trust in your love,

that we may live each day

with confidence in the salvation which is given

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings
Continuous:
Jeremiah 31.27-34

27 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. 28And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the Lord. 29In those days they shall no longer say:
‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,
   and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 
30But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.

31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. 

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 119.97-104

97  Lord, how I love your law! •
   All the day long it is my study.
98  Your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, •
   for they are ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than all my teachers, •
   for your testimonies are my meditation.
100  I am wiser than the aged, •
   because I keep your commandments.
101  I restrain my feet from every evil way, •
   that I may keep your word.
102  I have not turned aside from your judgements, •
   for you have been my teacher.
103  How sweet are your words on my tongue! •
   They are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104  Through your commandments I get understanding; •
   therefore I hate all lying ways.

2 Timothy 3.14-4.5

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

4In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Related:
Genesis 32.22-31

22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.23He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ 29Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ 31The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Psalm 121

1  I lift up my eyes to the hills; •
   from where is my help to come?
2  My help comes from the Lord, •
   the maker of heaven and earth.
3  He will not suffer your foot to stumble; •
   he who watches over you will not sleep.
4  Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel •
   shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5  The Lord himself watches over you; •
   the Lord is your shade at your right hand,
6  So that the sun shall not strike you by day, •
   neither the moon by night.
7  The Lord shall keep you from all evil; •
   it is he who shall keep your soul.
8  The Lord shall keep watch over your going out
      and your coming in, •
   from this time forth for evermore.

2 Timothy 3.14-4.5

14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

4In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

This is the word of the Lord.
AllThanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.
Luke 18.1-8

18Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.” ’ 6And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
AllPraise to you, O Christ.
Post Communion

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 for ever.