Saint Alban’s
Hall Road, North Hull
Loving God, serving our community, growing disciples
By order of the Archbishops, all public services are cancelled for the time being.
We continue to pray for all, especially those in our parish at this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 28th June
St Peter and St Paul
We celebrate the feast of the apostles from whom we derive our Christian faith. The Lord stood by them and gave them power, so that through them the whole message might be proclaimed for all the world to hear.
Collect
O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day,
grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 12:1-11
King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 33(34):2-9
R. From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. R.
Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. R.
Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. R.
The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. R.
Second reading : 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone.
I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
Intercessions
We pray for confidence and faith, to take the good news out into the world with no expectation of any reward, but with faith in God’s grace and assurance that we have a part to play in God’s plan.
We pray for those who reject the word when they hear it; who meet Christ’s disciples with hostility and hatred. May the Holy Spirit soften their souls, enabling them to receive and welcome the word of God.
We pray for the Church; that those who form the body of Christ might be inspired and uplifted in their outreach and mission, and that their love of God might in turn inspire and uplift others.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; Norman Jessney, Florence Watson, Harry Gillard, Christine Hopper, Theresa Crosby, Boris Petrovs, Cathleen Gillard, Freddie Curbeson, Kenneth Hatwell.
Post-communion Prayer
Grant us, O Lord, who have been renewed by this Sacrament,
so to live in the Church, that, persevering in the breaking of the Bread and in the teaching of the Apostles,
we may be one heart and one soul, made steadfast in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 5th July
4th Sunday after Trinity
Our Lord has every claim to the title and majesty of kingship, and yet he comes to us in humility and gentleness.
We pray that this spirit of Christ may also be in us.
Collect
Gracious Father,
by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world:
draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
First reading : Zechariah 9:9-10
The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14
R. I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
I will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever. R.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. R.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God. R.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. R.
Second reading : Romans 8:9,11-13
Your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him, and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Intercessions
We give thanks for the times when we have sensed God’s power breaking through in our lives beyond what we could have imagined.
We pray to God that a way of peace may be found for areas of the world locked in long-term conflict that defies human solution.
We pray that God may bless churches, Christian organisations and leaders who feel marginal and powerless with fruitfulness in their ministry.
We pray that God may bring rest and restore hope those who are wearied by burdens of responsibility, grief, poverty or ill health.
We pray that God may find the way to the heart of anyone we know who seems determined to resist God.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; Frank Stansfield, Dorothy Hopper, Valda Berry, Ivy Hasnip, Elsie Henson, Genesta Wildbore, Judy Mould, George Puckering.
Post-communion Prayer
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 12th July
5th Sunday after Trinity
We celebrate Christ who came to sow the seed of God’s word in the world, and we rejoice with him as we see everywhere around us the first-fruits of the Spirit.
Collect
Almighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit,
and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First reading : Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 64(65):10-14
R. Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.
You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. R.
And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers; you bless its growth. R.
You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps, in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. R.
The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks, the valleys are decked with wheat.
They shout for joy, yes, they sing. R.
Second reading : Romans 8:18-23
I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 13:1-9
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’
Intercessions
We pray for those who proclaim the word of God throughout the world in their preaching, teaching, writing and broadcasting.
We pray for all who proclaim the word of God in the way they live and love their neighbour as themselves.
We pray for those who proclaim the word of God through their ministries of healing and care for those who are weak, ill and vulnerable.
We pray that all who proclaim God’s word may themselves be encouraged, nurtured, renewed and made joyful by the love of the God they serve.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; William Davis, Evelyn Lee, Doreen Fawcett.
Post-communion Prayer
Grant, O Lord, we beseech you, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by your governance,
that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hall Road, North Hull
Loving God, serving our community, growing disciples
By order of the Archbishops, all public services are cancelled for the time being.
We continue to pray for all, especially those in our parish at this time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 28th June
St Peter and St Paul
We celebrate the feast of the apostles from whom we derive our Christian faith. The Lord stood by them and gave them power, so that through them the whole message might be proclaimed for all the world to hear.
Collect
O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day,
grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Acts 12:1-11
King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.
On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 33(34):2-9
R. From all my terrors the Lord set me free.
I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. R.
Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. R.
Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress. R.
The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is happy who seeks refuge in him. R.
Second reading : 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18
My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone.
I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.
And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’
Intercessions
We pray for confidence and faith, to take the good news out into the world with no expectation of any reward, but with faith in God’s grace and assurance that we have a part to play in God’s plan.
We pray for those who reject the word when they hear it; who meet Christ’s disciples with hostility and hatred. May the Holy Spirit soften their souls, enabling them to receive and welcome the word of God.
We pray for the Church; that those who form the body of Christ might be inspired and uplifted in their outreach and mission, and that their love of God might in turn inspire and uplift others.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; Norman Jessney, Florence Watson, Harry Gillard, Christine Hopper, Theresa Crosby, Boris Petrovs, Cathleen Gillard, Freddie Curbeson, Kenneth Hatwell.
Post-communion Prayer
Grant us, O Lord, who have been renewed by this Sacrament,
so to live in the Church, that, persevering in the breaking of the Bread and in the teaching of the Apostles,
we may be one heart and one soul, made steadfast in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 5th July
4th Sunday after Trinity
Our Lord has every claim to the title and majesty of kingship, and yet he comes to us in humility and gentleness.
We pray that this spirit of Christ may also be in us.
Collect
Gracious Father,
by the obedience of Jesus you brought salvation to our wayward world:
draw us into harmony with your will, that we may find all things restored in him,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
First reading : Zechariah 9:9-10
The Lord says this:
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim and horses from Jerusalem; the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14
R. I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
I will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever. R.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. R.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God. R.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. R.
Second reading : Romans 8:9,11-13
Your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him, and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Intercessions
We give thanks for the times when we have sensed God’s power breaking through in our lives beyond what we could have imagined.
We pray to God that a way of peace may be found for areas of the world locked in long-term conflict that defies human solution.
We pray that God may bless churches, Christian organisations and leaders who feel marginal and powerless with fruitfulness in their ministry.
We pray that God may bring rest and restore hope those who are wearied by burdens of responsibility, grief, poverty or ill health.
We pray that God may find the way to the heart of anyone we know who seems determined to resist God.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; Frank Stansfield, Dorothy Hopper, Valda Berry, Ivy Hasnip, Elsie Henson, Genesta Wildbore, Judy Mould, George Puckering.
Post-communion Prayer
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday 12th July
5th Sunday after Trinity
We celebrate Christ who came to sow the seed of God’s word in the world, and we rejoice with him as we see everywhere around us the first-fruits of the Spirit.
Collect
Almighty God, send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit,
and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First reading : Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 64(65):10-14
R. Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.
You care for the earth, give it water, you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over to provide its grain. R.
And thus you provide for the earth; you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers; you bless its growth. R.
You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps, in the pastures of the wilderness it flows. R.
The hills are girded with joy, the meadows covered with flocks, the valleys are decked with wheat.
They shout for joy, yes, they sing. R.
Second reading : Romans 8:18-23
I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.
Alleluia!
Gospel : Matthew 13:1-9
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.
He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’
Intercessions
We pray for those who proclaim the word of God throughout the world in their preaching, teaching, writing and broadcasting.
We pray for all who proclaim the word of God in the way they live and love their neighbour as themselves.
We pray for those who proclaim the word of God through their ministries of healing and care for those who are weak, ill and vulnerable.
We pray that all who proclaim God’s word may themselves be encouraged, nurtured, renewed and made joyful by the love of the God they serve.
We pray for those infected by the coronavirus around the world, for those who care for them, for health specialists and the authorities who are working to halt the spread of infection, and for all who at this time are feeling anxious.
We pray for those who are sick, bereaved and the lonely, and for those who care for them, that they might find comfort and know God’s love.
We pray for all who have died recently, together with all whose years mind occurs this week; William Davis, Evelyn Lee, Doreen Fawcett.
Post-communion Prayer
Grant, O Lord, we beseech you, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by your governance,
that your Church may joyfully serve you in all godly quietness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
