Churches open for private prayer:
Monday 9th – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Tuesday 10th – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Wednesday 11th – Tarleton, 11am-2pm
Thursday 12th – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Friday 13th – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Saturday 14 th – Rufford, 10am-2pm
The week in Bible reading and prayer
Sunday 15th November – 2nd Sunday before Advent
Worship online (Facebook) at 10.30am
Today’s readings – Zephaniah 1.7,12-end, Psalm 90.1-8, 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11 & Matthew 25.14-30.
The Collect
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Old Testament – Zephaniah 1.7,12-end
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.
12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.” 13 Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. 15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.
17 I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
Psalm 90.1-8,12
Refrain: Satisfy us by your loving-kindness, so shall we rejoice and be glad.
Gospel – Matthew 25.14-30
25 14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.
17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Prayer intentions
🙏🏼 We pray for those who stand up for justice and in our cycle of prayer, we pray for those living in The Gravel and The Marshes Lane.
🙏🏼 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: Mary Elizabeth Becconsall, Andrew Glenn Jackett, Gladys Jarvis, Robert Latham, Walter Amos Moss & Ernest Richard Williams
Monday – Margaret, queen, philanthropist, 1093.
Today’s readings – Revelation 1.1-4,2.1-5, Ps.1 & Luke 18.35-end
🙏🏼 We pray for Christians in Scotland and for those struggling to make ends meet.
Tuesday – Hugh, bishop, 1200.
Today’s readings – Revelation 3.1-6,14-end, Ps. 15 & Luke 19.1-10.
🙏🏼 We pray for all who work for sufferers from leprosy and for our own communities.
Wednesday – Elizabeth of Hungary.
Today’s readings – Revelation 4, Ps. 150 & Luke 19.11-28.
🙏🏼 We give thanks for those who support the poor from a position of power and pray for Christian health care workers and Chaplains.
Thursday – Hilda, abbess, 680.
Today’s readings – Revelation 5.1-10, Ps.149.1-5 & Luke 19.41-44.
🙏🏼 We pray for those working for Christian unity and for our national government.
Friday – Edmond, King, Martyr, 870.
Today’s readings – Revelation 10.8-11, Ps. 119.65-72 & Luke 19.45-48.
🙏🏼 We pray for Christians in east Anglia, for those without a permanent home, and those helping them.
Saturday
Today’s readings – Revelation 11.4-12, Ps. 144.1-9 & Luke 20.27-40.
🙏🏼 We pray for the economy of our nations and for the Chancellor of the Exchequer & the Treasury.
Next Sunday: CHRIST THE KING.
Today’s readings – Ezekiel 34. 11-16, Psalm 95.1-7, Ephesians 1.15-end & Matthew 25.31-end.
🙏🏼 We pray for all who live in fear of death, or who are gripped by anxiety or despair. In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in The Mews and The Spinney.
