Weekly Readings and Prayers
Sunday 6th October 2024 Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Collect
O God, forasmuch as without you we are not able to please you; mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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.
First Reading Genesis 2. 18–24
Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
PSALM 8
1 O Lord our governor, : how glorious is your name in all the world!
2 Your majesty above the heavens is praised : out of the mouths of babes at the breast.
3 You have founded a stronghold against your foes, : that you might still the enemy and the avenger.
4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, : the moon and the stars that you have ordained,
5 What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them; : mere human beings, that you should seek them out?
6 You have made them little lower than the angels : and crown them with glory and honour.
7 You have given them dominion over the works of your hands : and put all things under their feet,
8 All sheep and oxen, : even the wild beasts of the field,
9 The birds of the air, the fish of the sea : and whatsoever moves in the paths of the sea.
10 O Lord our governor, : how glorious is your name in all the world!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son : and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning is now : and shall be for ever. Amen.
Second Reading Hebrews 1. 1-4, 2. 5-12
Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere, ‘What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honour, subjecting all things under their feet.’ Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’
Gospel Mark 10. 2-16
Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’ People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Post Communion Prayer
Holy and blessed God, you have fed us with the body and blood of your Son and filled us with your Holy Spirit: may we honour you, not only with our lips but in lives dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers for the week
"Jesus said: 'Let the children come to me'" (Mark 10:14)
We pray this week for those who live in Queenswood Crescent, Ravenfield and Ridgemead Road.
Sunday 6th October
We praise God for the place of children in his Kingdom and we pray for children and families who have links with St Jude's.
Monday 7th October
We pray for our own families and most especially for the children of our families, including those we know to be in any kind of need.
Tuesday 8th October
We give thanks for all those who teach the children and young people of our community.
Wednesday 9th October
We pray for the children and young people who belong to the uniformed organisations in our village and for those who give of their time and energy to lead those groups.
Thursday 10th October
We give thanks for the children baptised in St Jude's this year and pray that as they grow up they may come to a personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday 11th October
We pray for those who are childless and who have longed for children. We pray too for those who have been bereaved of children at any age, from early pregnancy loss to adulthood.
Saturday 12th October
We praise God for the joy of harvest celebration and we ask his blessing as we share fellowship over food and as we worship him together.
Heavenly Father, please accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
At all our church services we pray for those who are sick, in need and for the bereaved by name. Please let us know if you would like a specific prayer for anyone and they will be included in the prayer list.