The Collect

Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; 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 Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Jeremiah 2.4-13

Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after  worthless things, and became worthless themselves? They did not say, ‘Where is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?’ I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land,
and made my heritage an abomination. The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit. Therefore once more I accuse you, says the Lord, and I accuse your children’s children. Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with  care; see if there has ever been such a thing. Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the Lord, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.

Psalm 81.1,10-16

Sing merrily to God our strength, *shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; *open your mouth wide and I shall fill it.’
But my people would not hear my voice * and Israel would not obey me.
So I sent them away in the stubbornness of their hearts, *and let them walk after their own counsels.
O that my people would listen to me, * that Israel would walk in my ways!
Then I should soon put down their enemies * and turn my hand against their adversaries.
Those who hate the Lord would be humbled before him, * and their punishment would last for ever.
But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat *and with honey from the rock would I satisfy them.

Second Reading: Hebrews 13.1-8,15-16

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow-prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Gospel Reading: Luke 14.1,7-14

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. ‘When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, “Give this person your place,” and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, “Friend, move up higher”; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Prayers of Intercession

Last week’s theme of grace continues, but we are brought up short: ‘though God’s grace cannot be earned, there is cost involved in receiving it’. And ‘we can take honour for ourselves, in which case it will not last, or we can receive it as a gift, which requires patient waiting….How hard we find it to give without thought of reward! But this mirrors God’s attitude to us, and challenges the principle of reciprocity…communities awash with self-giving openness, moral integrity, respect and gratitude are as attractive now as they have ever been.’ Revd Dr Ian Paul, ‘The Ministry of the Word’ pp 294-6. Jane Williams quotes George Herbert (Love bade me welcome… guilty of dust and sin). And the RSCM sums up: ‘meals in Jesus’ parables are so often about who’s in and who’s out, so for Jesus there is no such thing as a simple dinner invitation, only another test set by those who want to see where he places himself in the social and religious pecking order. However, Jesus is not concerned with securing his own status, but rather with ensuring that all people – even those on the margins – are welcomed to the feast that really matters.

¶The Church of Christ

Lord, we ask you to inspire your whole Church to focus on the example of your Son as servant-king. When he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, he mocked our dream of pomp and glory and showed us that the way of humble service is also the way of true greatness. Through the fountain of your living water, help us to follow him and share with others the message of your divine love. *

Lord, pour your grace upon us that we may do your will: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

Lord, when our human society seems ever more polarised between the rich and powerful, and the poor and powerless, we ask you to inspire the strong to strengthen the weak. When our world seems divided between those who consume a vast proportion of our resources, and those who must glean a living from the remainder of your bounty, we ask you to develop, in those who have much, the desire to help those who have little. Help us to create a virtuous circle where each part of human society cherishes every other part and delights in living together in harmony.

Lord, pour your grace upon us that we may do your will: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶The local community

Lord, help us to look around us. Help us, we pray, to be more aware of the needs of those whom we live amongst. Let us be ready to do all we can for those who call for help, as well as those who may need us without being willing to call on us openly. Bless us with the grace of hospitality, mindful that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that some have thereby entertained angels unaware. And help us to do all that we can to build up our community.

Lord, pour your grace upon us that we may do your will: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶Those who suffer

Lord, we ask you to be with those that suffer, whether the pain be mental or physical. We pray for all those who have been made to feel insignificant, or of no value in our world; all those who feel that there is no place for them at the table. Knowing that those who are down need fear no fall, we ask you to raise them up, through your grace, to all that they can be. And let them feel the reality of your everlasting arms underneath.

Lord, pour your grace upon us that we may do your will: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

¶The communion of saints

Lord, we give you thanks that you have triumphed over death and offer us life eternal. We pray for all those who were dear to us in this life and whom we long to be united with on that further shore.

Lord, pour your grace upon us that we may do your will: in your mercy, hear our prayer.

*Based on a prayer in ‘Patterns and Prayers for Christian Worship‘.