14 June 2020 First Sunday after Trinity Green
The Eucharist
The Greeting
The president greets the people
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
and also with you.
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Invitation to Confession
Brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate,
let us call to mind our sins.
God our Father, full of grace and truth, we confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins, time for amendment of life, and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Readings Acts 11.19-30 Matthew 9.35 - 10.8(9-23)
The love of God has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
We dwell in him and he in us.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvellous works.
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come.
Collect of the Day
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen.
Gospel Matthew 9.35 - 10.8(9-23)
35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’
1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. 9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town.
16See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’
Reflection
We might feel a little jealous about the disciples, they are being given the freedom to roam in a way that is far from our recent experience. Not just allowed to roam but encouraged to talk and visit strangers. Gosh – no Covid 19 restrictions for them!
I have a friend who is a GP and she tells me much of the practice of learning to be a doctor is “see one, do one, teach one!” Rather like the disciples in this passage I think, they have seen Jesus performing all that he was asking of them, but he was the Messiah after all!
Although the passage starts well, for Jesus is trusting the disciples with his work: proclaiming the good news, healing, - so far ok! Then he continues raising the dead and cleansing lepers and casting out demons, whoa! Things have suddenly got serious. This ministry lark is life and death – literally! Jesus is asking them not to have a chat over a cup of tea about God but asking them to leave everything they know for the adventure of following his commands. How brave those disciples were to accept the challenge? Or foolish?
Then Jesus tells the disciples about the cost of following his request – no going prepared but accepting all that they needed to live from those they ministered among. At least the wages would be good? No: they will be flogged, dragged, hated, persecuted. It is these sorts of passages that show Jesus’ power and the love he brought forth from the disciples. They will not be lauded with cheers and achieve financial gain. So why do this? Why risk self and life unless you were convinced of the power and promise of Jesus?
As we change into the new phases of unlocking the nation, what is Jesus asking from you? To give an extravagant welcome to those in need, to remember the poor and the places of sanctuary and help to support them? To be true to prayer and to reading scriptures? Maybe it is as simple as being reminded what the Lord requires of us: To act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8). What does that look like in Cornwall in the summer of 2020?
Prayers
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the peace that comes from God alone, for the unity of all peoples, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of Christ, for Philip our Bishop, and for the whole people of God, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the nations of the world, for Elizabeth our Queen and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For this community, for our neighbours and our friends, Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, for the sick and suffering, and for all in any need, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them,
Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For the dying, for those who mourn, for the faithful whom we entrust to the Lord in hope, as we look forward to the day when we share the fullness of the resurrection, Let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Rejoicing in the communion of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to God. Silence is kept.
For yours is the majesty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
Words of introduction to the peace are used concluding with:
The peace of the Lord be always with you And also with you.
A prayer is said over the bread and wine
Blessed be God, by whose grace creation is renewed,
by whose love heaven is opened,
by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is always right to give you thanks, God our Creator, loving and faithful, holy and strong. You made us and the whole universe, and filled your world with life.
You sent your Son to live among us, Jesus our Saviour, Mary’s child. He suffered on the cross; he died to save us from our sins; he rose in glory from the dead.
You send your Spirit to bring new life to the world and clothe us with power from on high. And so we join the angels to celebrate and say:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Father, on the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his friends. He took the bread, and thanked you. He broke it, and gave it to them, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine. He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, the new promise of God’s unfailing love. Do this to remember me.
Great is the mystery of faith
Jesus Christ has died. Jesus Christ is risen. Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine, and remember his death and resurrection, send your Holy Spirit, that we who share these gifts may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Pour your Spirit on us that we may love one another, work for the healing of the earth, and share the good news of Jesus, as we wait for his coming in glory. For honour and praise belong to you, Father, with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit: one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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 Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us, light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.
Giving of Communion
Christ is the true bread which has come down from heaven.
Lord, give us this bread always.
St. Alphonsus Liguori in the 18th century:
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
The priest receives the bread and wine on behalf of the community
Final Prayer
Eternal Father, we thank you for being our guide and our support: may our worship together, though physically far apart, strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen