The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer
Making the love of God known in our community & homes
Week commencing 5th July 2020
The Fourth Sunday after Trinity
Dear Friends,
Well wouldn’t you know it, just as we thought things were changing for the better, our close neighbour Leicester has been forced into a further lockdown, a reminder if we needed one that this virus hasn’t gone away. But it isn’t all bad news. We have slowly and carefully started to open up the church, Monday and Friday for private prayer and on the 12th July we will have our first Sunday service, although in a much reduced format that will mirror our online service that will still continue and by the time you read this we will have had our first Family Service online. Please be assured that we have done everything possible to abide by the current diocesan advice to keep everyone safe.
Another positive is Tom’s bible study meetings on Zoom on Thursday evenings at 7.30 pm. The subject is “Where O Death Is Your Sting?” For sure some people find this a difficult subject to discuss but it proved to be extremely thought provoking, so much so that three of us continued the discussion the next day for about an hour. The great thing about these study groups is that we can all learn from each other without fear of being judged or feel silly about asking a question that may seem obvious to others. Of course, as Christians, we can’t talk about death without thinking about life after death, the wonderful promise that we are only experiencing phase one of our existence, there is far more to come, better than we can ever imagine. At this point it is worth repeating these words from Revelations 21 “Now God’s home is with human beings! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared” (Good News Bible). Comfortable words indeed.
Coincidently I have just finished re-reading Tom Wright’s book “Simply Good News” (Why the gospel is news and what makes it good) which covers in part this very subject. It ends with a chapter headed “Praying the good news” reminding us of the power of the Lords Prayer and highlighting the verse “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven”. He goes on to say once we are grasped by the good news, we must learn to be shaped by the good news. In prayer, especially this prayer, we learn to become good news. Wishing you all every blessing, Mike
Daily Psalms
Sunday, 5th July – Psalm 145.8-15
Monday, 6th July – Psalm 80
Tuesday, 7th July – Psalm 89.1-18
Wednesday 8th July – Psalm 119.105-128
Thursday, 9th July – Psalm 92
Friday, 10th July – Psalm 88
Saturday, 11th July – Psalm 97
Prayers
Lord, you have taught us that we are all members one of another. We thank you for the community of which we are part and ask you to guide us to be more aware of our neighbours’ needs and ways in which we might help. Give us the grace to overlook petty annoyances and to build on all that is positive in our relationship, that we may love them as we love ourselves, with genuine forbearance and kindness.
Amen.
Lord, we pray for all those who suffer. We think of all who are ill and all those who are disturbed or troubled. Give wise heads and tender hearts to all who care for them, and help them to be agents of your healing power. Help us all to see your face in everyone we meet and to include them as part of our community, always demonstrating that they are loved and wanted.
Amen
O God, the protector of all that trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us Your mercy; that, You being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord.
Amen
Our Prayer List
In company with the other churches in the town, each week we pray for a different street: this week is Copse Close
We remember those who are ill or need our prayers at this time, especially:
Ray Bunce, Lilly Mannion, Mick French, Sandra Bennett, Charlotte and Becky, Masie Newman, Yvonne Desroches, Joyce Lucas
We pray for the souls of those who have died:
Albert Croft
We remember those whose anniversaries of death are at this time:
Carol Haynes, George Thurlow
Collect
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
First Reading
Romans 7.15-25a
15I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. 17But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, 23but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Gospel
Matthew 11.16-19,25-30
At that time Jesus said, 16‘To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,
17“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not mourn.”
18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.
25I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burdenis light.’.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ
Prayer after Communion
Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us at the table of life and hope:
teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Hymn for today
(1) What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
ev’ry thing to Him in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
ev’rything to God in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Jesus only is our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
thou wilt find a solace there
Contact details:
The Rector: The Revd Jez Safford, The Rectory, Preston Court, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5LR. Telephone: 01536 723810.Email: jez.safford766@gmail.com.
Assistant Curate: The Revd Tom Houston, 3 Virginia Crescent, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GB. Telephone: 01536 685664. Email: houston89@hotmail.co.uk
Safeguarding Officer: Lucy Lorentzen, 3 Clipson Close, Burton Latimer,
NN15 5GH. Telephone: 07944597181. Email: lucy@lorentzen.co.uk
Website: www.stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk or visit us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stmarysburtonlatimer.co.uk
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
© St Mary the Virgin Burton Latimer, 2011.
CCL Licence No. 480320
Internet Order of Service for use at home.
Welcome
Lighting of the candle(s)
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
The Collect
The minister prays the collect on your weekly sheet
All Amen.
Reading
Please see the weekly sheet.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Reflection
Invitation to Confession
The minister
You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins,
and are in love and charity with your neighbours,
and intend to lead a new life,
following the commandments of God,
and walking from this day forward in his holy ways:
draw near with faith,
and take this holy sacrament to your comfort;
and make your humble confession to almighty God.
Confession
All Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen
Absolution
The minister says
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who in his great mercy
has promised forgiveness of sins
to all those who with heartfelt repentance and true faith turn to him:
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and bring you to everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Please refer to the weekly sheet
Eucharist Prayer
Have your bread a wine ready
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Father, on the night before he died,
Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
the new promise of God’s unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.
Jesus Christ has died.
All Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
All Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
All Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine,
and remember his death and resurrection,
send your Holy Spirit,
that we who share these gifts, though apart but together now in you,
may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us
that we may love one another,
work for the healing of the earth,
and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory.
For honour and praise belong to you, Father,
with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit:
one God, for ever and ever.
All Amen
We take communion.
Prayer after Communion
Post communion prayer available on your sheet
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
All Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Blessing
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
All Amen.