22nd june - 1st sunday after trinity
The Word
The Collect:
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; 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
Post Communion Prayer:
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts: may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65: 1-9.
I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am’, to a nation that did not call on my name. 2 I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks; 4 who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine’s flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels; 5 who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.’ These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. 6 See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps 7 their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together, says the Lord; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. 8 Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it’, so I will do for my servants’ sake, and not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.
Gospel Reading: Luke 8:26-39
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’- 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss. 32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Please Pray for Joseph, Jenni, Poppy Allard, Rev Sharon, John Meers, Jen, Scott McGuiness, Michael Kirk, Alison Mackonochie, Alice Mills, Gilly Bartram, Martyn Bowles, Claire & Jessica Laker.
Please contact the Benefice Administrator Alison Dale 07985025381 or beneficeadmin@elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk to add people to the prayers.
Please pray for the departed, and those for whom an anniversary of death falls at this time,
Ian Friend and Stephen Jiles Hall.
To arrange for Funerals, Thanksgivings, Blessings, Renewal of Vows and
all other services please contact the Rector – revcarolbates@gmail.com 0777 239 4855
For Baptisms and Weddings please contact the Benefice Administrator -beneficeadmin@elhamvalleygroupofchurches.co.uk 07985025381
Benefice Notices:
Benefice Service – 29th June, 10am at St Peter, Swingfield. Parking is on-street only - please consider car-sharing.
Parish Notices: Baptisms-
Alfred Roberts – Sunday 22nd June at 1pm – St Martin, Acrise
Jack O’Brien – Sunday 6th July at 9.30am – St Mary the Virgin, Elham
Remi Burrows – Sunday 6th July at 11.45am – St Oswald, Paddlesworth
Funeral - Mary Walker – Friday 27th June at 10.30am – St Mary & St Ethelburga, Lyminge
