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Sunday  2nd July 2023

 

4th Sunday After Trinity

 

Readings:  Genesis 22: 1 -14

                   Romans 6:  12 - end

                   Matthew 10: 40--42

 

The Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom

nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us

your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through

things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this,

heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with

you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

Prayer for the Week – 4th Sunday After Trinity – Matthew 10: 40-42

‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me’ (10: 40).

Who can change the human heart?

Is it worth the try, or is it pre-determined?

Our beings fixed by nature or by nurture,

So that once we find ourselves in adulthood

There’s little we can do to change ourselves:

We are the people who we are, no more, no less.

 Listen, for God says ‘no’ to this!

Genes do not set the Universe in stone,

The precious human spirit is not restrained

By memories or sin: predetermined by our past!

Flexibility and change is built inside each one of us,

So living may be liberty; the soul may be set free!

 The Gospel says; ‘Be liberated, change!’

This Word secures the freedom of the human heart,

And Christ has forever changed hate to love,

Loss to gain, dark to light, and fear to trust;

For when the barriers break we find true liberty

Not within ourselves, but in the very heart of God.

 So, Christ our Liberator,

Quench our thirst for love,

Satisfy our need to be known,

Assure us that we are indeed prophets of welcome,

And let us proclaim this peace in God’s name.

(Paul Ashby and Elsa Cook, adapted).

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