The Greeting

We gather today, to hear the word of God.

Holy Spirit, come.

We might hear God’s voice in scripture and in prayer.

Holy Spirit, come.

We might witness flames of fire, as the Apostles did.

Holy Spirit, come.

We might see God’s presence in visions and signs.

Holy Spirit, come.

We might see a glimpse of God’s glory.

Holy Spirit, come.

Come among us today.  Amen.

Hymn 581 Tune Here I am, Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin, my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,

I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,

give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them, my hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

David Schutte

We say sorry for the things we have done wrong

Loving God, we confess that we are not living in the freedom that you offer to those who have been baptized: that we are sometimes overwhelmed by guilt and envy; that we are consumed by anger and greed; that we are inhibited by anxiety and fear; that we are sometimes passive or resentful or unforgiving.  God of justice, hear our prayer for mercy, grant us forgiveness and give us your peace. Amen.

We are forgiven

May the God of love forgive us, lift our burdens from us,

heal and strengthen us by his spirit; that we may journey in love,

to live our lives freely and lightly. Amen.

The Collect

Merciful God, whose holy apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ and followed him even to death: help us, forsaking the false attractions of the world, to be ready at all times to answer your call without delay; 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.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Acts 11.27 – 12.2

Hymn 492 Tune Paderborn

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,

and publish abroad his wonderful name;

the name all-victorious of Jesus extol;

his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

God ruleth on high, almighty to save;

And still he is nigh, his presence we have;

the great congregation his triumph shall sing,

ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

“Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!”

let all cry aloud, and honour the Son;

the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,

fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.

Then let us adore and give him his right:

all glory and power, all wisdom and might,

all honour and blessing with angels above

and thanks never-ceasing, and infinite love.

Charles Wesley

A reading from the Gospel according to St Matthew.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, ‘What do you want?’ She said to him, ‘Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?’ They said to him, ‘We are able.’ He said to them, ‘You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 9: 9-13

Address – What do we believe? (we say together)

We believe in God the Father, the source of all life, by whom every family in heaven and earth has been created.

We believe in God the Son, our friend and brother Jesus, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with his power, and makes Jesus known in the world.

We believe and trust in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hymn 643 Tune Slane

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

thou my best thought in the day and the night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,

I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;

thou my great Father, and I thy true heir;

thou in me dwelling, and I in thy care.

Be thou my breast-plate, my sword for the fight;

be thou my armour, and be thou my might;

thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower,

raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,

thou mine inheritance through all my days;

thou, and thou only, the first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure thou art!

High King of heaven, when the battle is done,

grant heaven’s joy to me, O bright heaven’s sun,

Christ of my own heart, whatever befall,

still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Early Irish

We say our prayers

Thankful that we are called to be God’s people at this time, and in this place, we pray for the needs and cares of our church, our community, our land and our world.

We pray for the community of believers in this place; and for all those who are gathered to worship you, and for those who lead our church. Uphold them today, and strengthen them in their ministry.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our country, for those who lead our nation, and those who protect it, for those with the vision to see how it can be better.  Give us a vision of the kingdom of heaven, coming among us.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We remember all those who are sick and suffering today, those people we know, and those whose names we don’t know. We pray for all those whose lives are overshadowed by coronavirus, and for the advancement of medical science.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for our world, east and west, north and south; for those longing for peace, who live at war with their neighbours, and for those with the power to bring peace to the nations.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, may we grow in love for you and one another, and give us the courage and strength to do your will on earth, so that your kingdom may come.

Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

We pray for the coming of that kingdom, in the words our Saviour gave us.

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.

Hymn 584 (and collection) Tune St Andrew

Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult

of our life’s wild, restless sea;

day by day his voice is sounding,

saying “Christian, follow me.”

As of old apostles heard it

by the Galilean lake,

turned from home and toil and kindred,

leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship

of the vain world’s golden store,

from each idol that would keep us,

saying “Christian, love me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows,

days of toil and hours of ease,

still he calls, in cares and pleasures,

“Christian, love me more than these.”

Jesus calls us; by thy mercies,

Saviour, may we hear thy call,

give our hearts to thine obedience,

serve and love you best of all.

Cecil Frances (Mrs) Alexander

We pray together

We are God’s people, chosen and marked by love.  We rejoice to share in God’s family name, and delight to be created for glory.  We are baptized by water and the Spirit, and released into the fullness of life.  All that we have, and all that we are, we offer in humble thanks to the God of our salvation.  Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Conclusion

May the Father from whom every family in earth and heaven receives its name, strengthen you with his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith and that, knowing his love, broad and long, deep and high, beyond all knowledge, you may be filled with all the fullness of God:

So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.                                  2 Corinthians 13: 14