The week in Bible reading and prayer
Churches open for private prayer
Monday 9 – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Tuesday 10 – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Wednesday 11 – Tarleton, 11am-2pm
Thursday 12 – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Friday 13 – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Saturday 14 – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Sunday 8th November – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Today’s readings – Wisdom of Solomon 6.12-16, Psalm 70, 1 Thessalonians 4.13-end & Matthew 25.1-13.
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Old Testament Wisdom of Solomon 6.12-16
12 Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. 13 She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. 14 One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate.
15 To fix ones thoughts on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will be free form care, 16 because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
Psalm 70
Refrain (R): You are my helper and deliverer
1 Be pleased, O God to deliver me; O Lord, make help to help me.
2 Let those who seek my life be ashamed and altogether dismayed;
let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced. R
3 Let those who say to me, ‘Aha!’ and gloat over me turn back, because they are ashamed.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who seek your salvation say for ever, ‘Great is the Lord!’ R
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me speedily, O God.
6 You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. R
Epistle 1 Thessalonians 4.13-end
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.
15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Gospel: Matthew 25.1-13
25 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Call to Pray and Give
In this month when we have our Call to Pray and Give, we ask, Lord Jesus, that you would help all in our churches to bless our communities in your name. Help us to give generously of our time, skills and money so that your Church can flourish and continue its work.
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.
🙏🏼 The faithful departed: Audrey Alice Hodge & Ian McLeod
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Jeffrey Abram, John Marsh Barron, Charles Christopherson, Ethel Davidson, Leonard Jarvis, Harold Gant, Willi Homer, Lorna Kivi, Alwyn Shotton, Jack Fairclough Spencer, Elaine Williams & Daniel Wright.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those who gave their lives in the service of this country and pray for survivors, their families and for all who feel lonely & isolated.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in The Chimes and The Cloisters.
Monday – Margery Kempe, mystic, c1440.
Today’s readings – Titus 1.1-9, Psalm 24.1-6 & Luke 17.1-6.
🙏🏼 We give thanks and pray for research & laboratory staff.
Tuesday – Leo the Great, bishop, teacher of the faith, 461.
Today’s readings – Titus 2.1-8,11-14, Ps. 37.3-5,30-32 & Luke 17.7-10.
🙏🏼 We pray for those keeping communication going.
Wednesday – Martin, bishop, c397.
Today’s readings – Titus 3.1-7, Ps. 23 & Luke 17.11-19.
🙏🏼 We pray for public health professionals.
Thursday
Today’s readings – Philemon 7-20, Ps.146.4-end & Luke 17.20-25.
🙏🏼 We pray for those in food production & distribution and for food banks.
Friday – Charles Simeon, priest, evangelical divine, 1836
Today’s readings – 2 John 4-9, Ps. 119.1-8 & Luke 17.26-end.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those whose talents inspire our worship.
Saturday – Samuel Seabury, bishop, 1796.
Today’s readings – 3 John. 5-8, Ps. 112 & Luke 18.1-8.
🙏🏼 We pray for those working in Test and Trace.
Next Sunday: 2nd Sunday before Advent.
Today’s readings – Zephaniah, 1.7,12-end, Psalm 90.1-8, 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 & Matthew 25.14-30.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in The Gravel and The Marshes Lane and give thanks for those who stand up for justice.
