Worshipping at Home 10th July 2022
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Trinity 4 - 10th July 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!

Faith is a word that is full of meaning. We call the list of things we believe ‘our Faith’. We describe our relationship with God as a matter of faith. There are also moments when we talk about the power of faith. How often do we wish we had ‘more faith’. By faith we could move mountains. In our time of worship let us enjoy and explore the richness of faith in all its many facets. 


Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved." By your favour, O Lord, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed. To you, O Lord, I cried, and to the Lord I made supplication: "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!" You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Acclamation

O Lord our God, 
the skies are ringing with your praise;
All the earth draws close to you in worship.
O Lord our God, 
the world was made at your command;
in you all things now hold together.
To him who sits on the throne, 
the Lamb of God, be praise and glory 
and power for ever. Amen!

The Collect Prayer

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, 
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: 
increase and multiply upon us your mercy; 
that with you as our ruler and guide 
we may so pass through things temporal 
that we lose not our hold on things eternal; 
grant this, heavenly Father, 
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, 
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

Luke 10: 25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)

 

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’ He answered, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers.


They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.


The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.

Thought for the Day

There are many who find the Creeds of the Church challenging, but in contrast they readily embrace the moral values associated with the Christian Faith. When asked to explain what they mean by Christian values, and the Christian way of life, they may well refer to the parable of the Good Samaritan. Being a Good Samaritan has become synonymous with being a good person. Even the word Samaritan, on its own, stands for support for the people in greatest need. 

The parable, of course, allows for such interpretations, but it also speaks of so much more. One of the key ways of getting to the heart of the message is to remember who Jesus was having a conversation with. He was addressing an expert in the Law. At the end of the parable, Jesus asks the expert in the Law who the champion of the story is. The answer is extraordinary – so extraordinary that the expert can’t even bring himself to give a full answer. He can’t bring himself to say ‘the Samaritan’ (someone whom he wouldn’t agree with or get on with) but settles for saying ‘the one who had mercy on him’. And then Jesus strikes the moral blow when he says, ‘Go and do likewise’. 

This is saying that being merciful is more commendable than doing what is conventionally seen to be the appropriate, even lawful, thing. It is fitting to end with a popular Shakespearian quote, “The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'T is mightiest in the mightiest;” (The Merchant of Venice IV/I)

Let us Pray

Divine Judge, you framed the earth with love and mercy and declared it good; yet we, desiring to justify ourselves, judge others harshly, without knowledge or understanding. Keep us faithful in prayer that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will, and not ignore or pass by another's need, but plumb the depths of love in showing mercy. Amen.

Spirit of God, present with us, living in us, revealed through us, wisdom, guidance, power and peace. Spirit of God, fill us anew each day we ask, that our lives might overflow for you. Amen.

Circle me Lord, keep hope near, and evil afar.” Circle me Lord, keep light near, and darkness afar.” Circle me Lord, keep peace within, keep fear out.” Circle me Lord, keep hope within, keep doubt without. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

(Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.)
The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent / Priest in charge

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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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