Morning Service for Trinity 9 2023
HYMN Like a mighty river flowing H&S 55
1. Like a mighty river flowing,
like a flower in beauty growing,
far beyond all human knowing
is the perfect peace of God.
2. Like the hills serene and even,
like the coursing clouds of heaven,
like the heart that’s been forgiven
is the perfect peace of God.
3. Like the summer breezes playing,
like the tall trees softly swaying,
like the lips of silent praying
is the perfect peace of God
4. Like the morning sun ascended,
like the scents of evening blended,
like a friendship never ended
is the perfect peace of God
5. Like the azure ocean swelling,
like the jewel all-excelling,
far beyond our human telling
is the perfect peace of God.
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
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
We recall our Lord’s command to love and in a moment of silence we confess
the many ways we fail to keep his command:
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen
May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
FIRST READING – Genesis 32.22-31
The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
HYMN El-Shaddai H&S 25
El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai, El-Elyon na Adonai,
Age to age you’re still the same,
by the power of the name.
El-Shaddai, El-Shaddai, Erkamka na Adonai,
We will praise and lift you high, El-Shaddai.
1. Through your love and through the ram,
you saved the son of Abraham.
Through the power of your hand,
turned the sea into dry land.
To the outcast on her knees,
you were the God who really sees,
and by your might,
you set your children free.
Chorus
2. Through the years you made it clear,
that the time of Christ was near,
though the people couldn’t see
what Messiah ought to be.
Though your word contained the plan,
they just could not understand.
Your most awesome work was done
through the frailty of your Son.
Chorus
GOSPEL – Matthew 14.13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
SERMON
There is a story of a boy who, hearing of Albert Schweitzer and his work in Lambaréné hospital in Gabon used his pocket money to buy a bottle of aspirin and asked the US Airforce to drop it over his hospital. The story got out and four and half tons of medical supplies were eventually airlifted to Schweitzer’s hospital. He said, “I never thought that one child could do so much.” At the heart of the feeding of the 5,000 is one boy offering to share his lunch. A fact omitted by St Matthew – there’s no boy in his account.
What Matthew does retain from Mark, is that it starts with Jesus withdrawing from the crowds and seeking a place to be alone with God. And that brings us to the story of Jacob at the ford of the River Jabbock. Context here is all. Jacob’s crossing of this river is his return home, where he must face his brother, Esau. He has left the service of Laban, and through shrewd dealing and clever husbandry he has a significant fortune in livestock and people. He has a clan of 11 children from his two wives and their two maid servants; he has retainers and herds of camels, donkeys, goats and sheep. He is wealthy and successful and he now needs a place he can call home, and to find that place he must face his brother. Esau hasn’t been idle either, he has a force of 400 men – Jacob has wealth, Esau has power. Jacob is justifiably frightened to meet his brother whom he last saw breathing threats of murder and revenge, having been cheated out of his father’s blessing.
He prepares the ground by sending on ahead of him large numbers of animals as gifts for Esau, in three waves he sends them across the Jabbock. Then, in the dead of night, he sends his family ahead of him. He is left alone, and alone he crosses and faces a man whom he must wrestle to get across. The struggle is endless, neither will let the other go. Jacob will not give up. Eventually, the man dislocates Jacob’s hip, but still Jacob will not give up. The man demands that he let him go as the dawn is breaking and the darkness of the night in Palestine is lifting, but Jacob won’t let go, even in great pain, he demands first a blessing. Only then does the stranger ask him his name, the dubious name of Jacob, ‘heal/trickster/over-reacher/supplanter’, that he was given at birth, as he contended with his twin brother at their delivery. The stranger changes Jacob’s name to Israel, some say ‘God preserves/God protects’, others, ‘he struggles with God’ – such is the challenge of etymology in Hebrew [I sra el – or Y = he; Sara = permits, perseveres, strives; El = God]. The text gives its own meaning, ‘as you have struggled with God and man and have overcome’. Jacob asks for the stranger’s name, which he doesn’t get, but is left with the profound realisation that he has seen God – face to face. Jacob leaves Penu’el [face of God] with a blessing, but also crippled.
All that is interesting, but there is more, and it is in the more that the story becomes fully realised. Jacob has still to meet his brother, and he fears that the result will be worse than a limp. But Esau runs to meet Jacob and embraces him, and kisses him. Esau has forgiven him. They both weep. Esau declines the gifts as unnecessary, though Jacob insists. Esau wishes to accompany Jacob from there, but Jacob politely finds excuses to leave him and heads off in another direction – he is still the shrewd and wary Jacob.
What Jacob says at their meeting is the heart of his whole story, “To see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favourably.” And Jacob should know! He has had two encounters with the divine, one in a wrestling match he couldn’t win, but wouldn’t lose, the other in the forgiveness of a wronged brother. The one has left him blessed, but crippled, the other humbled.
The juxtaposition of the two meetings should cause us to ponder on the ways we encounter God, in our own struggle not to let go, but also in the generous love of those around us.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen. 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
HYMN Bread is blessed and broken H&S 16
1. Bread is blessed and broken,
wine is blessed and poured:
take this and remember
Christ the Lord.
2. Share the food of heaven
earth cannot afford.
Here is grace in essence
Christ the Lord
3. Know yourself forgiven,
find yourself restored,
meet a friend for ever
Christ the Lord
4. God has kept his promise
sealed by sign and word:
here, for those who want him
Christ the Lord
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Katherine Royle
Lord, You are the deepest wisdom, The deepest truth, The deepest love, You are within us, Lead us in your way.
We pray that as individuals we will invite you into our lives each day. Help us to reflect you in the things we think, say and do. Please forgive us when we fail and help us not to become discouraged. Let us not only see others with your eyes but also to see ourselves as you see us and to appreciate that we are unique to you.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
It is disturbing when we look at the difficult problems the world is facing. Wars, persecution, poverty and global warming among them. It is not always easy to know how to support or help. Give us the ability to listen to your prompting and show us how to pray. Please give comfort and hope to all who suffer.
We lift up government leaders around the world and ask that you restrain those whose actions cause harm and grief to others. We pray for a way forward that enables leaders to work together constructively.
We pray for people in government or in positions of authority and influence in this country. Please give them guidance and wisdom and lead them in the decisions they make. Help them to act responsibly and with integrity.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We think of those we know personally who may be finding life a struggle at this time, through physical or mental illness, grief, relationship problems or financial difficulties. We pray that they will experience you being beside them, easing their burdens and giving them hope. We can take a moment to pray for people on our hearts……..
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We end with a prayer taken from The SPCK Book of Prayer:
Eternal God and Father, help us to entrust the past to your mercy, the present to your love and the future to your wisdom, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who is the same yesterday and today and forever. Amen
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
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.
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The Lord God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
the holy and undivided Trinity,
guard you, save you, and bring you to that heavenly city,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
HYMN God is love, let heaven adore him NEH 364 – Abbot’s Leigh
1. Hail Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine,
King, whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace.
Angels, saints and nations sing:
‘Praised be Jesus Christ, our King;
Lord of life, earth, sky and sea,
King of love on Calvary.’
2. King whose name creation thrills,
rule our minds, our hearts, our wills,
till in peace each nation rings
with thy praises, King of kings.
Chorus
3. King most holy, King of truth,
guide the lowly, guide the youth;
Christ thou King of glory bright,
be to us eternal light.
Chorus
4. Shepherd-King, o’er mountains steep,
homeward bring the wandering sheep,
shelter in one royal fold
states and kingdoms, new and old.
Chorus
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