Sunday 16th July
Trinity 6 – Seed
The Parable of the Sower. At the 9.30am worship the first part of the reading is before the talk and the second part of the reading is after the talk.
8am
A Service of the Word led by Rochelle
First Reading: Psalm 119.105–112
Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light upon my path.
I have sworn and will fulfil it,
to keep your righteous judgements.
I am troubled above measure;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
Accept the freewill offering of my mouth, O Lord,
and teach me your judgements.
My soul is ever in my hand,
yet I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I have not strayed from your commandments.
Your testimonies have I claimed as my heritage for ever;
for they are the very joy of my heart.
I have applied my heart to fulfil your statutes:
always, even to the end.
Second Reading: Romans 8.1–11
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law — indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13.1–9,18–23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’
‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’
9.30am
A communion worship for all ages led by Canon John
Welcomer – Lisa-Dawn Johnston
Welcome and Preparation
Song 1 – Great Big God (guitar/keys)
Confession and Absolution
Song 2 – Great is the Lord and Most Worthy of Praise (keys)
Bible Reading (Part 1): Matthew 13.1–9
Read by Dudley Cottingham
The first Bible reading is from the International Children’s Bible, Matthew Chapter 13, Verses 1 to 9.
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
Large crowds gathered around him.
So Jesus got into a boat and sat,
while the people stayed on the shore.
Then Jesus used stories to teach them many things.
He said: “A farmer went out to plant his seed.
While he was planting, some seed fell by the road.
The birds came and ate all that seed.
Some seed fell on rocky ground,
where there wasn’t enough dirt.
That seed grew very fast,
because the ground was not deep.
But when the sun rose, the plants dried up
because they did not have deep roots.
Some other seed fell among thorny weeds.
The weeds grew and choked the good plants.
Some other seed fell on good ground
where it grew and became grain.
Some plants made 100 times more grain.
Other plants made 60 times more grain,
and some made 30 times more grain.
Let those with ears use them and listen!”
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Talk – Canon John
Bible Reading (Part 2): Matthew 13.18–23
Read by Dudley Cottingham
The first Bible reading is from the International Children’s Bible, Matthew Chapter 13, Verses 18 to 23.
“So listen to the meaning of that story about the farmer.
What is the seed that fell by the road?
That seed is like the person who hears the teaching
about the kingdom but does not understand it.
The Evil One comes and takes away the things
that were planted in that person’s heart.
And what is the seed that fell on rocky ground?
That seed is like the person who hears
the teaching and quickly accepts it with joy.
But he does not let the teaching go deep into his life.
He keeps it only a short time.
When trouble or persecution comes because
of the teaching he accepted,
then he quickly gives up.
And what is the seed that fell among the thorny weeds?
That seed is like the person who hears the teaching
but lets worries about this life and love of money
stop that teaching from growing.
So the teaching does not produce fruit in that person’s life.
But what is the seed that fell on the good ground?
That seed is like the person who hears
the teaching and understands it.
That person grows and produces fruit,
sometimes 100 times more,
sometimes 60 times more,
and sometimes 30 times more.”
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Song 3 – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (keys/organ)
Prayers
Read by Lisa-Dawn Johnston
Peace and Communion
Eucharistic Minister – Rochelle Simons
Hymn 4 – During Communion – Lord of all Hopefulness (keys?)
Saying Thank you
Notices, Dismissal Prayer, and Blessing
Hymn 5 – There is a Redeemer (organ)
Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord
9am (COE)
Leader: Terry
Preacher: Anne
10.30am (HTC)
Leader: Jenny
Preacher: John
11am (SPC)
No Worship