17th august - 9th sunday after trinity

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The Collect: 

Almighty God, who   sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and   light of your Church:

open our hearts to   the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in   love and joy and peace; 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:
Holy Father, who gathered us here around the table of your Son to   share this meal with the whole household of God: in that new world where you   reveal the fullness of your peace, gather   people of every race and language to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus   Christ our Lord. Amen   

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah   23:23-29
Am I   a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? 24 Who   can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I   not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. 25 I   have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying,   ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long?   Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and   who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? 27 They   plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one   another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. 28 Let   the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word   speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says   the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, says   the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Gospel Reading: Luke 12:49-56

‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish   it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with   which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do   you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but   rather division! 52 From now on, five in one   household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they   will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother   against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her   daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

54 He also   said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately   say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 55 And   when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”;   and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how   to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to   interpret the present time?      

 Please Pray for Gill Fitch, Joseph,  Poppy Allard, John Meers, Jen,  Michael Kirk,  Alice Mills, Martyn Bowles, Claire 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, John Cooper, Derek Wood, Rev Peter Ashman,  and those for whom an anniversary of death falls at this time,    Dennis White and Thelma Finch. 

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

Parish Notices: 

Baptism
Lucian Clark – Sun. 31st  August at 11.45am - Lyminge