Here below we have an outline of our service for you to follow at home if you can’t be with us. Choose a quiet reflective space and to make it more meaningful have a cross, bible and candle to make your sacred space.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning everyone, I hope this finds you well, today is the last Sunday in the Trinity season and we go into the countdown to advent. Christmas then feels frighteningly close, but it is a reminder for us to prepare for this major event in our church calendar, also to remind us to get organised for this Holy season.
The children are having classes for admission to Holy Communion and confirmation and we have a record number of 21 seeking admission to Holy Communion, they are enthusiastic and are very keen to learn and be a part of our church which is so refreshing to see. We have 5 for Confirmation and they are already very knowledgeable and a great credit to themselves and their parents. The first Sunday of the month will be a youth service and we hope to get the involved in these services, so watch out for them and keep them in your prayers.
Mother’s Union had a meeting last week and have decided to meet in church at 2 pm on Tuesday November 9th and Tuesday December 7th after that they will reconvene in March to miss the cold and bad weather. Hopefully this is a start to them getting back to regular meetings next year and being in church gives them more space and air to stay Covid safe.
Intercessions this week are by Mark Pearson and the reflection by Rev Hannah, many thanks to them for their contribution.
Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and forever. Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
Almighty God our heavenly Father we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father. We worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ only son of the Father Lord God Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One , you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING
ISAIAH 55, 1-11
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the word of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you O Lord
MARK 10. 46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ
REFLECTION
The story of Bartimaeus in the Gospel of Mark is the final story we hear of Jesus being on his way before he enters into Jerusalem, setting off the chain of events that leads him to the cross. He encounters Bartimaeus on the road.
Bartimaeus is a character who exists outside the city walls and outside of the social strata because of his blindness, yet his story and more importantly his attitude is one that we should take note of. Bartimaeus, upon hearing that Jesus is passing by, is insistent that he be noticed and calls out to Jesus. He calls Jesus by name and uses the term ‘Son of David’. Bartimaeus was clear about who he believed Jesus to be and so when requested that he come forward, he was more than eager, springing up to meet Jesus.
Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants him to do. This is the same question that he asked James and John in our Gospel episode last week. Their request was for Jesus to grant them eternal glory with him. Here Bartimaeus had called from the side of the road for Jesus to simply have mercy on him. When asked directly, Bartimaeus asks to be able to see again. For us it seems obvious that this is his request. But it could also be seen as quite the challenge. Having been used to a life of begging, if healed, Bartimaeus’ life would be changed forever. Nevertheless, Bartimeaus asks to be healed.
Jesus’ response of “Go; your faith has made you well” signifies to us that Bartimaeus is indeed healed. Despite not being able to see before this encounter, his eyes were already opened to who Jesus was, more so than even the disciples. Bartimaeus casts off his only possession, his cloak, and follows Jesus. In the very next passage we find Jesus entering Jerusalem and starting the chain of events that will end up at the cross. Bartimaeus truly exemplifies the disciple who sees where the way ahead leads and yet still follows and believes Jesus.
Reflecting on this short encounter it is my hope that we might all be able to seek a bit of Bartimaeus’ attitude in our own lives. To be able to identify and proclaim who Jesus is. To confidently answer when Jesus asks “what do you want me to do?” without seeking glory, to have faith in him that we might be saved and after having him change our lives, to be able to follow him wholly.
Rev Hannah
THE 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 being with the Father, through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and 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 and the Son, who with the Father and the Son was worshipped and glorified, who 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Here we pray for the church, for the world, those in need and those who have died, you can follow your own prayers or these below on today’s theme.
In the power of the spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.
Everlasting God, we thank you that your written Word continues to inspire us, showing us who you are, how you love us, how we should live and what we can be. We give you thanks for all preachers of the word, for translators of the Bible and for Bible publishers. We pray for all who produce Bible guides, commentaries and study notes. We ask you to bless all who read and study the Scriptures. We pray that we all may know the true and living Word that is Christ our Lord. May we know him as present in our lives and with us always.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
We pray for all who are involved in giving us information through the television news, newspapers and websites, for all who communicate with us through the written or spoken word. We remember all who suffer from deafness or who are unable to speak. We pray for all who have difficulty in communicating and who are often misunderstood.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
We give thanks for those who taught us to read and write. We ask your blessing on our friends and our loved ones. We pray that we may learn to be sensitive and caring for each other.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
We give thanks for our vision, our sight and insight. We pray for all who suffer from blindness or restricted vision. We remember those who have lost sight of you or have no hope for the future. We ask your blessing upon all who are ill, who are in pain or in sorrow at this time. We pray for all who are bereaved and all who are lonely.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Loving God we pray for all who have died; especially those who encouraged us in our faith by their Biblical understanding and teaching. As we pray for them, may they in turn continue to pray for us that we may stay true to our faith and by our example give similar encouragement to others. We pray for all those who have died this week and those whose anniversaries fall at this time, Mary Sylvia Clinton, Donald Berry, Emma Scowcroft, Rev William G. Thompson, Joan Nightingale and John Robert Eckersley.May they all share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer
Holy God hear these and all our prayers and let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 forever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
May the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us. Amen.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give us peace. .Amen.
May the Lord God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the holy and undivided Trinity, guard us, save us and bring us to that heavenly city, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
