Worshipping at Home 4th September 2022
Home Worshipping 

Trinity 12 - 4th September 2022 

The First Hymn
Welcome!
Is there somebody who fulfils two roles in your life? For example, a friend who is also your doctor, or your coach, or your boss! We know Jesus by many titles: he is our Saviour, our Lord, the Son of God, and also our friend. As we worship together, let us enjoy the many ways in which we engage with the one who is everything to us. 
 

Psalm 84 
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favour and honour. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Acclamation

Glory to the holy and undivided Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Three persons and yet one God.
Perfectly one from before time began;
One in being and one in glory;
Dwelling in love, 
three persons, one God

The Collect Prayer

God of constant mercy,
who sent your Son to save us:
remind us of your goodness, 
increase your grace within us 
that our thankfulness may grow, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
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 14: 25-33 (The price and the prize of discipleship.)

 

Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.



‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”


‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Thought for the Day

When I was very young, I remember my mother trying to give me a spoonful of cod-liver oil. If I took my medicine, the reward was a bar of chocolate. The challenge for me was to grab the chocolate and run, leaving the medicine on the spoon. Over the years the pharmaceutical industry has found ways of sugar-coating many a vile tasting medicine. 

Over the years no doubt we have heard the teachings of Jesus, and his call for us to follow him. For most of the time the demands of faith are presented to us within the comfort of a church Service, on a take it or leave it basis. Commandments are watered down to sound like guidelines. Calls to action are presented without any sense of urgency. We can arrive at church comfortable, and leave still comfortable, albeit with some food for thought. If faith is a journey, then we are given the impression that we can saunter. God often calls, and we are content to put him on hold. And then all our complacency is shattered when we come across a Bible passage like this week’s gospel. 

Let’s not be put off by the references to hating people. The phrase means making a strong choice – to wholeheartedly love what you choose over and above anything else. Choosing to follow Jesus is a major decision. We can’t enter into it casually. We take the leap of faith with our eyes open! A fully costed commitment. But should following Jesus require such a profound decision? Are we not just committing ourselves to worshipping, praying, reading our Bibles and doing good? Well, being a Christian involves all of these things, but we cannot overlook Jesus’ call for us to ‘carry our cross’ – to give our lives to the cause of building God’s Kingdom – to work for the salvation of the world. 

Let us Pray

God of life, whose love enfolds us, and spirit fills us, we praise your holy name. God of joy, whose sunrise wakes us, and sunset amazes us, we praise your holy name. God of hope, whose promise sustains us, and power upholds us, we praise your holy name. God of love, whose patience humbles us, and touch can heal us, we praise your holy name. God of peace, who breaks down barriers, and walls that divide us, we praise your holy name. God of eternity, who has always loved us, and by grace has saved us, we praise your holy name. Amen.

Source of life and blessing, root us in obedience to you and nourish us by your ever-flowing Spirit, that, perceiving only the good we might do, our lives may be fruitful, our labour productive, and our service useful, in communion with Jesus, our Lord. Amen.   

Be a bright flame before us, O God a guiding star above us. Be a smooth path below us, a kindly shepherd behind us today, and for ever. Alone with none but you, our God, we journey on my way; what need we fear when you are near, O Lord of night and day? More secure are we within your hand than if a multitude did round us stand. 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

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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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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