Weekly Readings and Prayers
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9th November 2025 Third Sunday before Advent
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Collect
Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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First Reading Job 19.23-27a
O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book! O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock for ever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
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Psalm 17.1-9
1 Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint; : listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.
2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; : let your eyes behold what is right.
3 Weigh my heart, examine me by night, : refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.
4 My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards; : I have heeded the words of your lips.
5 My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments; : my feet have not stumbled in your paths.
6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; : incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.
7 Show me your marvellous loving-kindness, : O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; : hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9 From the wicked who assault me, : from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.
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.
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Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 2.1-5,13-17
As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
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Gospel Luke 20.27-38
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die any more, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’
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Post Communion Prayer
God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
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Prayers for the week
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O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger's hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe'er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to thee, Praise from the air, the land and sea.
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We pray this week that you will help us to work together, as fellow disciples with a common mission. and for those who live in Elmbank Avenue, Englefield Close and Englehurst.
Sunday 9th November Remembrance Sunday
God of truth and justice we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.
Monday 10th November
We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of the nation, that they may have discipline and discernment, courage and compassion.
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Tuesday 11th November Remembrance Day
God our Father, on this Remembrance Day — as every day — we thank you for your great love for us. And so, we pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict: for members of the armed forces, past and present.
Wednesday 12th November
Merciful God, to leaders, policy shapers, decision makers, grant wisdom and compassion. Hold them to account when their actions discriminate and dehumanise
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Thursday 13th November
God of creation, hear the sound of your creation groaning, and of our prayers offered up as the injustice of climate emergency makes living conditions unbearable for many.
Friday 14th November
God, You have told us what is good and have made clear what you require of us. We pray that you remind us of our shared responsibility to work to build a better world for all.
Saturday 15th November
Lord, you call us to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation. We pray for all who suffer because of injustice, conflict or prejudice.
Heavenly Father, please accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
​​At all our services we pray for those who are sick, in need and for the bereaved by name. Please do let us know if you would like specific prayer for anyone, and they will be included on our prayer list.