The Churches of the Parish of Berkswich
in the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield
Sunday 20th September, 2020
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
Live-streamed Eucharist with Hymns sung at home
Today we especially rejoice to be gathered not only at home but also in church once more. Please note that current guidance does not permit the singing of hymns in the church building – those at home, please sing loudly for those in the church building who can’t (you will still be muted!).
The gathering
As we come together in worship today, we are reminded that God deals with all of us with grace and with love and without favour.
Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore.
Open now the crystal fountain
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fiery cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through:
strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side:
songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.
William Williams (1717-1791)
The greeting
X In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Act of Penitence
God knows all our failures and imperfections, so let us confess our sins and be assured of God’s mercy.
We have sought reward and recognition and believed we were deserving of it.:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We have sought precedence over others and believed we were worthy of it.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We have thought too much of ourselves and too little of the needs of others.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Words of forgiveness
The Lord enrich you with his grace, and nourish you with his blessing; the Lord defend you in trouble and keep you from all evil ; the Lord accept your prayers, and absolve X you from your offences, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The Collect for the day
God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel that,
always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
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 Exodus 16:2-15
A reading from the book of the Exodus
God responds to the grumbling of the Israelites by sending them manna from heaven. God wishes to teach the people obedience and there are strict instructions related to the gathering of the manna.
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’ Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.” ‘ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said,
‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’ In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel reading
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 21:23-32
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus makes it clear that entry into the kingdom of heaven cannot be earned by work or good deeds. It is solely by the grace and generosity of God.
‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?”
They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Homily
Affirmation of faith
I believe in God the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.
He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
We lift our hearts in prayer to our generous and forgiving God,
who deals with us justly and mercifully, and with everlasting love.
Lord, hear us
Lord, graciously hear us.
at the end
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
The liturgy of the sacrament
The Peace
We are all one in unity with Christ.
May we remain together in peace, friendship and love
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may exchange a sign of peace.
Offertory Prayer
Blessed be God, who feeds the hungry,
who raises the poor, who fills our praise.
Blessed be God forever
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ,
your living Word,
through whom you have created all things;
who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh;
as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin,
he lived on earth and went about among us;
he opened wide his arms for us on the cross;
he put an end to death by dying for us;
and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life;
so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
X Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your X Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. X
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. X
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.
Praise to you Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Thomas, St Chad, all the saints to feast at your table in heaven. Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever. X Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray in the words that Jesus taught his disciples:
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.
Breaking of the bread
The priest breaks the consecrated bread, saying
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share your resurrection.
Live in us,
that we may live in you
An act of Spiritual Communion
Those at home, as they look on to the consecrated elements - the Body and Blood of Our Lord present in the Bread and Wine, are invited to say these words
In union, dear Father, with Christian
people throughout the world and across
the centuries gathered to make
Eucharist, hearing your holy Word and
receiving the Precious Body and Blood,
I offer you praise and thanksgiving.
Even though I am exiled from tasting
the Bread of Heaven and drinking the
Cup of Life I pray that you will unite me
with all the baptised and with your Son
who gave his life for us.
Come Lord Jesus, dwell in me and send
your Holy Spirit that I may be filled
with your presence.
Those in church are invited to receive communion in one kind only. When you remove your mask, please ensure you wash your hands before and after receiving. Please do not say Amen when the host is given to you. As people in church receive, an organ voluntary will play.
Prayer after communion
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.
The dismissal
Go to the world! Go into all the earth.
Go preach the cross where Christ renews life’s worth.
baptizing as the sign of our rebirth.
Alleluia!
Go to the world! Go into every place.
Go live the Word of Christ’s redeeming grace.
Go seek God’s presence in each time and space.
Alleluia!
Go to the world! Go struggle, bless and pray;
the nights of tears give way to joyous day.
As servant Church, you follow Christ’s own way.
Alleluia!
Go to the world! Go as the ones I send,
for I am with you till the age shall end,
when all the hosts of glory cry ‘Amen’!
Alleluia!
Sylvia G Dunstan (1955-1993)
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
As you go out into the world,
may you be thankful for the gifts and opportunities that you have been given by God’s grace.
May you use these gifts in the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth.
And the blessing of God almighty, the X Father, the Son,
nd the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
As one body, please may we all meet together in church again soon, in the name of Christ. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgment (where not already indicated above):
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
CCLI Streaming licence: 1169112 Copyright licence: 202876
