Sunday 6th June 2021 (1st Sunday after Trinity)
The sermon, readings and prayers were recorded at the morning service on 6th June 2021. Other videos are from earlier services - we have a new liturgy, now that Eastertide has finished, but those videos are still being edited.
Before you begin, take a moment to pray. Ask your heavenly Father to show you the grace of Jesus, and to fill you afresh with his Holy Spirit. Think of a few other members of the church (if you are from St George’s) and pray also for them.
Start of Service
As mentioned above, we have a new liturgy but - until those videos have been produced - the website has the ‘old’ Easter-season ones.
CALL TO WORSHIP
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This is the day that the LORD has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it. [Psalm 118:24]
Praise the LORD, O all you nations;
all you peoples, sing his praise.
For his love is great towards us;
his commitment lasts always.
He is faithful now and ever.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! [Psalm 117 from Sing Psalms]
As you come to Jesus, the living Stone, you are living stones being built into
a temple of the Spirit, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God’s special possession,
so that we may declare the praises of him
who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Once you were not a people
but now we are God’s people.
Once you had not received mercy
but now we have received mercy.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires,
which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives in this world that,
even if you are accused of doing wrong, people may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day he visits us. Amen. [1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-12]
Please sit.
CONFESSION
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
You have been born again, not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit,
hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind. [1 Peter 1:3-4, 23, 2:1]
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry 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 grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name.
Amen.
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness,
for by his wounds you have been healed. [1 Peter 2:24]
May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive you your sins and make you holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The first hymn is not at all well known but the tune will be familiar and the words are inspired by today’s Bible reading in 1 Peter 2.
bible readings and sermon
Today our sermon series continues in 1 Peter, as we focus on 1 Peter 2:4-12. The Gospel reading is Matthew 21:33-46
After the sermon, take time to respond to God’s Word to you. Whenever we hear from God a good practice is to think of TSP (“teaspoon”):
T for Thank You - what do you need to praise God for?
S for Sorry - what do you need to confess?
P for Please - what do you need to ask of God, for yourself and others?
creed and prayers
Today the prayers are led by Alistair Hornal.
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 forever.
Amen.
commissioning and blessing
You have come to Jesus Christ, the living Stone,
rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him.
We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, God’s special possession,
so that we may declare the praises of him
who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires,
which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives in this world that,
even if you are accused of doing wrong, people may see your good deeds
and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Amen. [1 Peter 2:4,9,11-12]
The end of all things is near.
Lord, make us alert and of sober mind,
so that we may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,
as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
In all things may God be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power, for ever and ever. Amen. [1 Peter 4:7-8,10,11]
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the eternal covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen. [Hebrews 13:20-21]
Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
If you are not a regular member of St George’s but want to connect with us, please please contact us via this page. We have Evening Prayer using Zoom every day (except Saturdays) at 5pm and you are welcome to join us. Contact us for details. Our Prayer page gives you Bible readings and reflections for each day and many of us are finding these such an encouragement.
Find out more about hope during the coronavirus pandemic.