5th September 2021
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity Church, Stirling, as we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Here you can find resources for our Sunday liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are. The readings for this Sunday and some of the prayers of our liturgy can be found on the downloadable pew sheet.
Preparation
As the whole of creation looks with eager longing for the redemption of humankind, let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our Creator God, the Father who is the maker of all things, the Son through whom all things are made, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who renews the face of the earth.
Organ Prelude – Ashley Grote: Be still
Opening
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Opening Responses
Believing that God made and loves the world, we gather.
That it may be restored to fulfil God’s purposes, we pray.
To seek a wisdom deeper than our own, we listen.
To honour God who gave us a voice, we worship.
© 2021 Wild Goose Resource Group
Gloria reflection – Johann Gottfried Walther: Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr
Collect
God of our salvation,
be with us when we call upon you,
and bless us with your steadfast loving kindness:
restore in us the beauty of your creation
and keep intact the gifts you have restored,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First reading: Isaiah 35.4-7a (read by Andrew Tyler)
Psalm 146 (please join in saying the psalm, pausing shortly at the *asterisk)
Refrain:I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.
Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God;
Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;
Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.
The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous; the Lord cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.
The Lord shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah!
Refrain: I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
Second reading: James 2.1-10,14-17 (read by Andrew Tyler)
Gospel: Mark 7.24-37 (The Rector)
Sermon (The Rector)
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord,
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
Intercessions led by Andrew Pont
Confession and Absolution
Loving God, you are the source of all that is, creating and sustaining every living thing.
Called to be good stewards of your creation, we acknowledge the ways in which we have marred your image within us, as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Silence
God our Father, we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil.
For the sake of your Son who died for us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God, who is both power and love,
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Peace
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
In church we continue with the Liturgy of the Sacrament
Offertory – Orlando Gibbons: A Short Voluntary
Offertory Prayer
Eucharistic Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The Lord’s Prayer
Please join in the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Agnus Dei: Organ Reflection – Georg Philip Telemann: O Lamme Gottes, unschuldig
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
A Blessing is pronounced:
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord:
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Organ Postlude – William Croft: Voluntary in D minor
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity Church, Stirling for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
THIS WEEK
Today, 4 p.m.
Nations’ Climate Sunday Service
Churches Prepare for COP26
Watch live on climatesunday.org/nationsclimatesundayservice
Sunday 12th September
FESTIVAL OF DEDICATION
10.30 Sung Eucharist
online resources will be available on this website
Readings
Genesis 28.11-18
1 Peter 2.1-10
John 10.22-29
Rise to the moment: Prayer and Action for COP26
The climate crisis is a storm we all face, but we’re not all in the same boat. For some, the storm is stronger and the waves are already breaking.
Every day, people living in poverty battle the worst of a crisis they did not create. This is deeply unjust. But a better way is possible.
Together we can tackle the inequalities in wealth and power that have led to this climate crisis – starting now.
In November 2021, the UK Government will host the United Nations’ key climate talks, COP26. This is a decade-defining opportunity to impact and influence the decisions made. We must ensure our global neighbours are heard.
That’s why Christian Aid is joining together with Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) for Rise to the Moment – a journey of prayer and action in the run up to COP26.
Together we can amplify our prophetic voices and create one unified movement for change. From now on, every moment matters and every action counts in the fight for climate justice.
Will you rise to the moment? Join in with the Christian Aid prayer boat activity in the run-up to COP26:
STEP 1: Write a prayer on a piece of scrap paper (ideally A5)
Focus your prayer on one of the following themes:
- The impact the climate crisis is currently having on vulnerable communities around the world.
- The safe passage of the YCCN volunteers as they take part in the relay.
- The willingness of decision makers to listen to our calls for climate justice and make bold commitments to change at COP26.
STEP 2: Fold your piece of paper into a boat
Step-by-step instructions for folding your piece of paper into an origami boat can be found at: christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-chain
STEP 3: Bring your boat to HT to add to our display
Thousands of boats from across the UK will come together in a special installation at COP26 to deliver your prayers and messages to world leaders.
We’ll send the boats collected at HT.
To add your boat individually (or encourage others to do so), send it to PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT.
Please ensure your boats arrive by 15 October to be part of the fleet.