INTRODUCTION
Good morning everyone, today we are celebrating Jesus calling his disciples, in church we have our youth service and they will present the readings and prayers. I have included these in this service so the wording may be a little different than your own bible. Next Sunday is the team service at Canon Slade everyone is welcome, all ages and I know Jo is preparing an activity for the younger ones. We will be having breakfast at 9.30 for a 10am start. Please let us know if you are coming so that we can ensure there is enough food for everyone and of course enough chairs. Of course if at the last minute you decide to come we won’t turn anyone away.
TYC will also meet at St. Andrews next Sunday evening, anyone year 6 and above is welcome.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Lord God, we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight. We are sorry and repent. Have mercy on us according to your love. Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin. Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 sin 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
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, 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 6. 1-8
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a very high throne. His long robe filled the Temple. Burning heavenly creatures stood above him. Each creature had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces. They used two wings to cover their feet. And they used two wings for flying. Each creature was calling to the others:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heaven’s armies.
His glory fills the whole earth.”
Their voices caused the frame around the door to shake. The Temple filled with smoke.
I said, “Oh, no! I will be destroyed. I am not pure. And I live among people who are not pure. But I have seen the King, the Lord of heaven’s armies.”
On the altar there was a fire. One of the burning heavenly creatures used a pair of tongs to take a hot coal from the fire. Then he flew to me with the hot coal in his hand. The creature touched my mouth with the hot coal. Then he said, “Look. Your guilt is taken away because this hot coal has touched your lips. Your sin is taken away.”
Then I heard the Lord’s voice. He said, “Whom can I send? Who will go for us?”
So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you O Lord
LUKE 5. 1-11
One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee. Many people were pressing all around him. They wanted to hear the word of God. Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Jesus got into one of the boats, the one which belonged to Simon. Jesus asked Simon to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down in the boat and continued to teach the people on the shore.
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water. If you will put your nets in the water, you will catch some fish.”
Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, but we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water; so I will.” The fishermen did as Jesus told them. And they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full that they were almost sinking.
The fishermen were all amazed at the many fish they caught. When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed too. (James and John were Simon’s partners.)
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be fishermen for men.” When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
This is the Gospel of the Lord, Praise to you O Christ.
REFLECTION
The different gospels tell rather different stories of the call of the disciples – which is understandable. They wish to make rather different points and it is unlikely that the fishermen simply downed nets and followed Jesus in one single moment, as Mark summarises. Luke has told us that Jesus has met Simon, been to his house and healed his mother-in-law. More generally Jesus has become known for the healings and miracles. The crowd were interested to hear Jesus teaching, and Jesus asks the rather weary fishermen if he can stand in their boat so he can teach the people. And then ..
The turning point is this miraculous catch of fish. The one who has healed people now does something that makes the experience fishermen think again – telling them to put out their nets. Morning is not the time to fish; night fishing is what these fishermen did, because that was their best time to fish. Against their better judgement they put out their nets again (which they have just tidied away! – so more work needed to get them in and clean afterwards!)
This catch is big enough for both boats and more. It is like no other catch they have had. Simon has enough insight to see that Jesus is different and he falls down at his feet, a sinner in the presence of the holy.
And then we get this strange idea of the disciples catching people. This was not an unknown metaphor or image, but Jesus gives these fishermen a new role; it is an image that they can understand from their background.
Luke presents the call of Peter rather like the account of the call of Isaiah in the OT, except that Isaiah is called from the Temple and Peter called from his ordinary workplace, and the glory of God is now the miraculous power of God. Luke also has echoes of Abraham who left his family and home at the call of God. It is life-changing in its offer and its demand.
For us – have we sensed the holy majesty of Jesus? Have we responded? Has it changed us?
Rev Peter.
THE CREED
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
During the intercessions, we pray for the church, our country, our government, people in difficulty and those who have died. You can use your own prayers or if you prefer here are some on today’s theme.
Let us pray…… Thank you God for calling us to be with you, to love you and serve you. We ask you to bless all who serve you in our churches and in our lives, our Bishops David and Mark, our clergy, Peter, Marcus and Hannah, and our lay ministers here at St Maxentius. We think of the disciples that were called by Jesus and hope that we can do your work too and help to spread your word.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
Lord we ask for your blessing for all who do not have enough to eat or are without energy or water and food. We remember those that are poor and those who live in places where they are ignored, laughed at or abused. We pray for those who have lost their way and especially we remember the street children of the world and those who live in horrible conditions.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We give thanks that you have called us to know you and pray that are homes reflect our love for you and each other. We remember homes where there is unhappiness and sadness, where there is anger or violence or where there is neglect. May we all know your love and help each other in your name.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are called to heal the sick and injured, especially our doctors, nurses, carers, ambulance and emergency services. We pray for those who are ill in hospital and at home and those who are finding it difficult to cope on their own. Lord we ask you to call them and give them strength and especially today Ann Hall.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are no longer with us, but are with you in your kingdom, may they be at peace and sharing your kingdom with the saints and those who have gone before them. We remember those whose anniversaries fall at this time Nellie Cowsill and Thomas Henry Council and any others known to us.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.
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 this day 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
We are called and loved by God the Father and kept safe by Jesus Christ. May Mercy, peace and love be ours in abundance, from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
