The week in Bible reading and prayer.
Sunday 1st November – ALL SAINTS DAY
8am Eucharist – Holy Trinity, Tarleton
10.30am: Eucharist – St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Today’s readings – Revelation 7.19-end, Psalm 34.1-10, 1 John 3.1-3 & Matthew 5.1-12
The Collect
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; 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 – Revelation 7.9-end
7 9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Psalm 34.1-10 Refrain: Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous.
Epistle – I John 3.1-3
3 1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Gospel – Matthew 5.1-12
5 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Prayer intentions
For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft; Margaret Baxter,
Margaret Bolton, Colin Brown, Jack Dalton, Bill Duggan, Jimmy Johnstone, Paddy MacDonagh, Ian MacLeod, Tony Morgan, Ruth Middlesborough & Donald Sephton.
Year’s mind: Elizabeth Baker, Dorothy Mary Baron, Charles Christopherson, Steven Anthony Cookson, William Harold Corbett, Ethel Davidson, Peter Geoffrey Hodgson,Leonard Jarvis, Lorna Kivi, James Townsend Leacy, Sadie Molyneaux, Jesse Newhouse, Alwyn Shotton, Jack Fairclough Spencer, Elaine Williams & Elizabeth Wilson.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for the Saints and in our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in Tabby Nook and The Beeches.
Monday 2nd November – Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls‘ Day)
7.30pm Requiem Mass, St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
Today’s readings – Lamentations 3.17-26,31-33, Psalm 23, Romans 5.5-11 & John 5.19-25.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for the example of those who have influenced us.
Tuesday 3rd November – Richard Hooker, Priest, Teacher of the faith, 1600.
Today’s readings – Philippians 2.5-11, Ps. 22.22-27 & Luke 14.15-24.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those who led us into deeper faith.
Wednesday 4th November
10am Eucharist: Holy Trinity, Tarleton.
Today’s readings – Philippians 2.12-18, Ps. 27.1-5 & Luke 14.25-33.
🙏🏼 We pray for mature Christians and for those whose work & life have been disrupted by the pandemic.
St. Mary’s Church, Rufford are creating a display of Remembrance memorabilia including details of those from the village who died in war.
The church will be open to view the exhibits on Thursday 5th, Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th, Tuesday 10th and Wednesday 11th November (10.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.)
Thursday 5th November
7pm Eucharist: St Mary the Virgin, Rufford.
Today’s readings – Philippians 3.3-8a, Ps. 105.1-7 & Luke 15.1-10.
🙏🏼 We pray for all who are still self-isolating and for those who are running and using food banks.
Friday 6th November – William Temple, A/Bishop, 1944.
Today’s readings – Philippians 3.17-4.1, Ps. 122 & Luke 16.1-8.
🙏🏼 We pray for our current and retired Arch-Bishops, especially for their work in the House of Lords.
Saturday – Willibrod of York, Apostle of Frisia, 739.
Today’s readings – Philippians 4.10-19, Ps. 112 & Luke 16.9-15.
🙏🏼 We pray for Christians in Holland, North Germany and for those struggling with their mental health.
Next Sunday – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY.
8am Eucharist, St Mary the Virgin, Rufford
10.15am: Eucharist then Act of Remembrance: Holy Trinity, Tarleton.
Today’s readings – Wisdom 6.12-16, Psalm 70, 1 Thessalonians 4.13-end & Matthew 25.1-13.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those who gave their lives in the service of this country and pray for survivors & families. In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in The Chimes and The Cloisters.
Please note
All services need to be booked in advance. For worship at Rufford, please ring Roy on (01704) 821464 and for Tarleton, ring Neil on (01772) 816390.
