Worshipping at Home 16th October 2022
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Trinity 18 - 16th October 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!

‘Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.’ These are the words of a popular 18th century hymn. They were inspired by the author seeking refuge in a storm. Both our psalm and Gospel reading today talk of God calming the storm. 
Whatever the weather, may our time of worship together steady our boat and restore our strength as we navigate the ‘choppy waters’ of each week.


Psalm 107: 1-3, 23-32

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;
they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Acclamation

We worship our holy God.
We honour him with heart, mind and strength.
We delight in the love of our God
for he is gentle and understanding.
May the embrace of our God surround us 
and fill us with heavenly joy.

The Collect Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, 
increase in us your gift of faith that, 
forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, 
we may run the way of your commandments 
and win the crown of everlasting joy; 
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. 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 18: 1-8 (The Parable of the persistent widow.)

 

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: ‘In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.”



‘For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!”’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?’

Thought for the Day

Walking around Markets we come across all kinds of stalls, but can you imagine coming across a stall where a judge sits and hears people’s complaints and then passes judgement. This is the way it used to be, and Jesus gives us a comical image of a persistent widow haranguing a judge in order to get what she wants. But once we have stopped chuckling at the scene, what are we to make of this Parable? Luke helpfully sets out the purpose of the Parable – we should always pray and not give up. 

No doubt this Parable has been used many times as the basis of praying for something over and over again. And yet part of us will feel uncomfortable with this advice. Is it really our place to go on and on at God? There is a twist to this teaching as Jesus uses it to call for patience in our praying when he says, ‘And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?’ So, here we have two possible lessons arising from the Parable – to be persistent in prayer, and to be patient in prayer. But there is a third point lurking behind the scenes that may well be of greatest help in our praying because it shines a light on the nature of the one to whom we pray.

Recently, one of our weekly Collect Prayers seemed to suggest that in order to have our prayers answered we should only ask for things we know God wants to give. That seems fair enough, except that it might seem like a spiritual game of ‘Pin the tail on the donkey’. The Parable of the persistent widow might be teaching us that God is open to persuasion – that not everything is fore-ordained and fixed. It could well be that God is inviting us to engage with him in hot debate as we collaborate with one another in influencing the world. In the Old Testament there are a few passages that talk about God changing his mind as the result of the prayers of a righteous person. Maybe, just maybe, prayer is about us and God working it out together and influencing each other.

Let us Pray

God of power and justice, like Jeremiah you weep over those who wander from you, turn aside to other gods, and enter into chaos and destruction. By your tears and through your mercy, teach us your ways and write them on our hearts so that we may follow faithfully the path you show us. Amen.

Holy One, we lift our eyes to you in hope and awe. Grant that we may reject all apathy of spirit, all impatience and anxiety, so that, with the persistence of the widow, we may lift our voice again and again to seek your justice. Amen.

Lord, bless our journey through this coming week. May the pace be steady, paths made safe, no obstacles impede, and conversations with fellow travellers be fruitful and uplifting. Lord, bless our journey through this coming week. 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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