Sunday: Genesis 50.15-21, Psalm 103.1-13 & Romans 14.1-12.
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.
Old Testament: Genesis 50.15-21
15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’
16 So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’
19 But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
New Testament: Matthew 18.21-35
21 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’
22 Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
23 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.
24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made.
26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.
28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” 29 Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt.
31 When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?”
34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’
Hymn
All my hope on God is founded,
all my trust he shall renew;
he, my guide through changing order,
only good and only true:
God unknown, he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
all that human toil can fashion,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power, hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
Day by day our mighty giver
grants to us his gifts of love;
in his will our souls find pleasure,
leading to our home above:
love shall stand at his hand,
joy shall wait for his command.
Still from Earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done;
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son:
hear Christ’s call, one and all –
we who follow shall not fall.
Prayer intentions:
🙏🏼 For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Bishop John, Colin Brown, Jack Dalton, Eric Gore, Jimmy Johnstone, Santau Ka, Paddy MacDonagh, Ruth Middlesborough & Donald Sephton
🙏🏼 For the faithful departed: Barry Bryant
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Henry Ashcroft, Roy Johnson, Terry Prayle & Marjorie Eileen Rohrer.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer, we pray for those in Spencers Drive and St Helen’s Well.
Monday: Holy Cross Day – Numbers 21.4-9, Psalm 22.23-28, Philippians 2.6-11 & John 3.13-17.
🙏🏼 for the building up of the body of Christ in our communities.
Tuesday: Cyprian, bishop, martyr, 258 – 1 Corinthians 12.12-14,27-end, Ps. 100 & Luke 7.11-17.
🙏🏼 for those who stand up for justice, locally and nationally.
Wednesday: Ninian, bishop, apostle to the Picts, c432 – 1 Corinthians 12.31b-end of 13, Ps. 33.1-12 & Luke7.31-35.
🙏🏼 for those grieving the loss of a loved one.
Thursday: Hildegard, abbess, visionary, 1179 – 1 Corinthians 15.12.20, Ps. 118.1-2.17-20 & Luke 7.36-end.
🙏🏼 for Rufford PCC.
Friday – 1 Corinthians 15.12-20, Ps. 17.1-8 & Luke 8.1-3.
🙏🏼 for those struggling with mental health during the pandemic.
Saturday: Theodore, archbishop, 690 – 1 Corinthians 15.35-37,42-49, Ps. 30.1-5 & Luke 8.4-15.
🙏🏼 for our national government; that they make wise and compassionate decisions.
Next Sunday, Harvest – Deuteronomy 8.7-18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9.6-end & Luke 12.16-30. For Trinity 15 – Jonah 3.10-end of 4, Psalm 145.1-8, Philippians 1.21-end & Matthew 20.1-16.
🙏🏼 give thanks for our harvest and pray for those around the world whose harvests have been ravaged by war, natural events and the effects of the pandemic.
This weeks services:
Sunday 13 September Trinity 14
8am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton
10.30am Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Wednesday 16:
10am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton
Thursday 17:
7pm Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford, then Rufford PCC
Sunday 20 September Harvest at Tarleton and Trinity 15 at Rufford
8am Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
10.30am: Harvest Festival Eucharist, Holy Trinity, Tarleton
All services need to be booked in advance.
For worship at Rufford, please ring Roy on (01704) 821464,
for Tarleton, Neil on (01772) 816390.
