The week in Bible reading and prayer/ Pew Sheet 25/07/21

Churches open for private prayer every day

Sunday 25th July: JAMES THE APOSTLE

8am Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford;
9.15am Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford;
10.45am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton; also streamed live on the benefice Facebook page.

The Collect.

Merciful God, whose holy apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ and followed him even to death: help us, forsaking the false attractions of the world, to be ready at all times to answer your call without delay; 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.

First Reading: Acts 11.27-12.2

11 27 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29 The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
12 About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. 2 He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

From Psalm 24. Refrain: Such are the ones that seek your face, O Lord.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Refrain. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? Those with clean hands and a pure heart, who desire not worthless things. Refrain. They shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves them. Such are the ones who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob. Refrain.

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4.7-15

4 7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. 15 Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Gospel: Matthew 20.20-28

20 20 The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. 21 And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ 22 But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’
23 He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’
24 When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 26 It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

Prayer intentions

🙏🏼We pray for the Youth Learning Community and for those living in Meadoway and Meolsgate Avenue

🙏🏼 For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Colin Brown, Wayne Jackett,
Mark Kinley, Gemma Jones, Bill & Brenda Lloyd, Paddy MacDonagh, Lillian Magrath, Ruth Middlesborough, Donald & Mary Sephton and Amanda Soady

🙏🏼For the faithful departed: Robert West

🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Cynthia Mary Barton, Frank Broadbent, Jim Chadwick, Susan Elizabeth Chicken, William Edwin Colling, William Dandy, Paul Flömer, Elizabeth Gottard, Mary Gregson, Winston Kitchener Hynam, Ernest William Iddon, Betty Rimmer, Katie Anne Schofield, James Robert Shaw, John Robert Shaw & Jack Stazicker

Monday 26th July: Anne & Joachim, parents of the BVM

Exodus 312.15-24,30-34, Ps. 106.19-23 & Matthew 13.31-35

🙏🏼 We pray for schools and academies to be beacons

Tuesday 27th July: Brooke Foss Westcott, bishop, teacher of the faith,1901

Exodus 33.7-11,34.5-9,28, Ps. 103.8-12 & Matthew 13.36-43

🙏🏼 We pray for schools and academies to equip pupils to spread the gospel.

Wednesday 28th July

10am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton;

Exodus 34.29-end, Psalm 99 & Matthew 13.34-46. We he pray for chaplains in schools and colleges

Thursday 29th July: Mary, Martha & Lazarus, companions of our Lord

7pm: Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford

Exodus 40.16-21,34-end, Psalm 84.1-6 & Matthew 13.47-53

🙏🏼 We pray for the diocese’s parish help.

Friday 30th July: William Wilberforce, social reformer, Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson, anti-slavery campaigners, 1833,1797, 1846

Leviticus 23.1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37, Psalm 81.1-8 & Matthew 13.54-end

🙏🏼We pray for clergy and their families.

Saturday 31st July: Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, 1556

Exodus 24.3-8, Psalm 50.1-6,14-15 & Matthew 13.24-30

🙏🏼We pray for those working in Clayton House

Next Sunday 1st August: Trinity+9

8am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton;
9.15am Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford;
10.45am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton; also streamed live on the benefice Facebook page.

Exodus 16.2-4,9-15, Psalm 78.23-29, Ephesians 4.1-16 & John 6.24-35

🙏🏼 We pray for our teachers, recovering from the Summer term, and preparing for the Autumn return and for those living in Merecrest Drive & Middle Meanygate.

The week in Bible reading and prayer/ Pew Sheet 25/07/21