Readings and Prayers
20 September 2020
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

 

You can download a copy of the regular service booklet here

You can watch a 'Zoom' recording of the service here

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We welcome back Canon Henry Whyte as our preacher today

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard' Matthew 20.1

_{'September' (Roundel), glass, Norwich, c 1480 (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London}

Music

You can watch a video of Sam Barber playing Hymne au Soleil  by Vierne here

First Hymn

You can watch a video of Sam Barber playing 'Father, Lord of all creation' here

The Collect

God, who of thy generous mercy didst send the Holy Spirit
   upon thy Church in the burning fire of thy love:
grant that thy people may be fervent
   in the fellowship of the gospel
that, ever abiding in thee,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

 

Gospel

Matthew 20. 1-16 The Labourers in the Vineyard

‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

Sermon

You can read the sermon by Canon Henry Whyte here
 

Prayers for the week

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs
 
We give thanks for the work of all who have helped to convey our church, St Alfege, to the cusp of a new beginning and thereby incubating the spiritual rebirth of  our community.
 
Give us eyes to discern the emerging world order, give us ears to heed hitherto-ignored voices.  Heal those elements of our past whose amelioration will help to refashion our future.
 
Bless and strengthen all those who help us to cherish our good health.

We pray for all people who have fallen sick and are in need of remedy; grant them the ease and comfort of your inestimable love, remembering especially Kenneth Dobson,  Barry Graney, John Kelly, Jordan Morley, Anthony, Aminta Prowse, Sue Ralfe, Alan Reid, Moira Skingley and Thang van Le.
 
We commend into your keeping all those who have died this week especially Matthew Caseby
asking strength, comfort and blessing for his grieving family

Music

 
You can watch a video of Sam Barber playing Andante Religioso from Organ Sonata No 4  by Mendelssohn here
 

Post Communion Prayer

Keep, we beseech thee, O Lord,
   thy Church with thy perpetual mercy;
and, because our human frailty without thee cannot but fall, 
keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful
and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation
through  Jesus Christ our Lord.
 

Final Hymn

The Blessing