Sunday 20th September 2020

     

 

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

HYMN: Angel voices ever singing

PRAYER

Hidden God, we worship you.
By ourselves, we could not know you;
No human wisdom can discover you,
No argument lead to you,
No enterprise reveal you;
In the wealth of its knowledge the world fails to find you.
But you came to search for us in the frailty of a human life;
You trusted yourself to the fragile faith of wavering disciples.

We praise you that in your very weakness we can know you:
That stumbling blocks become stepping stones,
And the foolishness of the cross the very truth that quickens us to life.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

Matthew 20; 1-16

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 marketplace; 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

Reflection

HYMN: Praise, I will praise you Lord

PRAYER

O God, from your providing hand even the dissatisfied and grumbling
receive what they need for their lives.
Teach us your ways of justice and lead us to practice your generosity,
so that we may live a life worthy of the gospel made known through your Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen

God of mercy and healing, you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive the petitions of your people that all who are troubled may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Life-giving God, heal our lives, that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds and offer you thanks from generation to generation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

PRAYER IN TIME OF CRISIS

Lord Jesus, 
In the midst of a storm,
You said, ‘Peace, be still’.
Bid our anxious fears subside,
Sustain your church in faith, hope and love.
Bring our nation, and our world through this tumult.
Grant wisdom to those with heavy responsibilities,
And healing and hope to all those who are infected.
Amen.

HYMN: O Jesus, I have promised

BENEDICTION

May God, who is the ground of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you lead the life of faith until, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may overflow with hope.

And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you
today, and in all the days to come. AMEN

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