Collect, Readings and Prayers for the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Collect
Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence:
give us pure hearts and steadfast wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
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.
Readings
Exodus 12:1-14
The First Passover Instituted
12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: 2 This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. 4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbour in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. 7 They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. 10 You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgements: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14 This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
OR
Ezekiel 33:7-11
The word of the Lord came to me: 7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
God’s Justice and Mercy
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Romans 13:8-14
Love for One Another
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
An Urgent Appeal
11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; 13 let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Matthew 18:15-20
Reproving Another Who Sins
Jesus spoke to his disciples:15 ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
Prayers
Everlasting God, Lord of compassion and gracious understanding, we come with an openness to express our concerns for the Church and the world, and to thank you, for your goodness.
- The Praises of God - a prayer by St Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
And your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong, you are great,
You are the Most High, you are almighty.
You, holy Father, are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love, you are wisdom.
You are humility, you are endurance.
You are rest, you are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches and you suffice for us.
You are beauty, you are gentleness.
You are our protector,
You are our guardian and defender,
You are courage, you are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, great and wonderful Lord,
God almighty, merciful Saviour. Amen.
- Creator God, we pray for our world, and in particular for the areas of conflict in the Middle East, in Africa and in the Ukraine. where through television, we see the misery and tragedy brought about by wrong choices and brought into our homes day by day. We pray for wisdom and compassion in all negotiations and decisions taken by our world and local leaders; and ask that there be humility in leadership and responsibility for right action shared by all. Amen
- Loving God, you are among us in our petty disputes and disagreements. Open our hearts to your reconciling grace and heal the hurts in us and in others that our divisions, evil intentions, injuries and harsh words bring.
Help us examine our relationships. Give us the grace to seek peace, move past division, and work actively for reconciliation with those around us and dear Father help us to use our influence and the talents you have given us to bring peace, joy and fun into people’s lives, instead of stirring up strife. Amen
- God the compassionate one, whose loving care extends to all the world, we remember this day your children of many nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger, greed and hatred through acts of war or terrorism. Console those who continue to suffer and grieve, and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future. Show our leaders the way to use their power to serve the good of all for the healing of the nations. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all things to himself. Amen.
- Loving God, help us to realize that true peace-making can only become a reality in our world today if it is first a matter in our hearts. Help us to use our resources wisely in the service of others. We ask for the gifts of civility and charity so that we can treat others with respect and love. We ask for the gifts of faith and hope to strengthen our spirits by placing our trust in You rather than ourselves. We ask for the gifts of courage and compassion that will move us into action to help those in need throughout the world. We ask for the gifts of humility and kindness so that we may put the needs and interests of others ahead of our own. We ask for the gifts of patience and perseverance to endure the long struggle for justice. We ask for all of this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
- God of all compassion, we lift up the people of Nepal and Venezuela in this time of deep sorrow and need.
Comfort those who grieve, strengthen the injured, and protect all who remain in danger.
Grant wisdom, safety, and endurance to the rescue teams, medical staff, and aid workers labouring tirelessly on the ground.
Open blocked roads, provide clean water, food, and shelter, and surround every displaced family with your enduring peace and provision.
In your mercy, bring healing to damaged lands and renewed hope to broken hearts. Amen
- Loving God, we pray for all those who are unwell in body, mind or spirit. We pray for healing and comfort for those in need and patience and compassion for those who care for them. We hold before you one person that we know who needs your healing touch today.
Almighty God, we ask you to draw close to them and all who are ill, so that they may be aware of your healing presence, and we ask you to provide your peace and comfort for them at this time. Amen
Creator God,
risen Christ,
life-giving Spirit,
You weep with those who weep,
you comfort those who mourn,
you bring beauty from the ashes,
you bring life from death,
your presence brings peace and joy.
For those who mourn and grieve and
need hope,
may they know your invitation to join
with you in the dance of life. Amen.