Services for the coming week
Sunday, 1st October, Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (Walsingham Pilgrimage)
8.00 am Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00 am Parish Communion
6.00 pm Evensong
Monday, 2nd October
7.00 pm Levisham Harvest Worship
Wednesday, 4 October
10.00 am Holy Communion
2.00 pm Funeral
Sunday, 8th October Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
8.00 am Holy Communion BCP
9.30 am Holy Communion at Levisham
10.00 am Family Communion
10.45 am Holy Communion at Lockton
12.30 pm Baptism
6.00 pm Evensong
Welcome to our worship for
Sunday, 1st October
Bidding Prayers
Loving Father, we are your sheep, we listen to your voice. We come to you with open hearts knowing you will hear the prayers we place before you.
As the cost-of-living crisis leads to painful choices for many households facing soaring food and energy prices, we pray for all those that are hungry, anxious, and afraid. May they find the support and resources they need.
We pray for all parents and grandparents as they guide and protect children, teaching them good values so that they feel supported through life. May we appreciate parents and recognise the huge role they play in creating a caring society.
As numbers of the UK's most precious animals and plants continue to fall, due to a countrywide nature-loss crisis, we pray the government commits to increasing the amount of habitat for nature to thrive.
As we mark the memorial of St Francis of Assisi on Wednesday 4 October, let us take the time to appreciate the beauty around us and do all we can do protect and restore our common home.
We pray for a moment for our own personal petitions…
Lord, we look to you for answers, we hear your call. Help us to be guided by your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
As the cost-of-living crisis leads to painful choices for many households facing soaring food and energy prices, we pray for all those that are hungry, anxious, and afraid. May they find the support and resources they need.
We pray for all parents and grandparents as they guide and protect children, teaching them good values so that they feel supported through life. May we appreciate parents and recognise the huge role they play in creating a caring society.
As numbers of the UK's most precious animals and plants continue to fall, due to a countrywide nature-loss crisis, we pray the government commits to increasing the amount of habitat for nature to thrive.
As we mark the memorial of St Francis of Assisi on Wednesday 4 October, let us take the time to appreciate the beauty around us and do all we can do protect and restore our common home.
We pray for a moment for our own personal petitions…
Lord, we look to you for answers, we hear your call. Help us to be guided by your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Collect
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city where we shall see you face to face;
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
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city where we shall see you face to face;
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
Readings for Today
First Reading: Ezekiel 18. 1-4, 25-end
The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
Psalm 25
Response: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God, in you 1 trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies triumph over me. Let none who look to you be put to shame, but let the treacherous be shamed and frustrated. R
Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you have I hoped all the day long. R
Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions, but think on me in your goodness, O Lord, according to your steadfast love. R
Gracious and upright is the Lord; therefore shall he teach sinners in the way. He will guide the humble in doing right and teach his way to the lowly. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. R
Second Reading: Philippians 2. 1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21. 23-32
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
Psalm 25
Response: To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; O my God, in you 1 trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies triumph over me. Let none who look to you be put to shame, but let the treacherous be shamed and frustrated. R
Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you have I hoped all the day long. R
Remember, Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions, but think on me in your goodness, O Lord, according to your steadfast love. R
Gracious and upright is the Lord; therefore shall he teach sinners in the way. He will guide the humble in doing right and teach his way to the lowly. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. R
Second Reading: Philippians 2. 1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21. 23-32
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Thoughts on the readings for this week.
From 'Common Worship: Living Word'
“Even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:32
In September 1935 the Nuremberg laws removed the civil rights of Jewish people in Germany. Two weeks later the Confessing Church (a division of the German Protestant Church) held its synod. A few people present (including Dietrich Bonhoeffer) wanted the Church to actively oppose the Nazi persecution of the Jews, but most wanted to avoid the issue. In the end the synod passed a resolution supporting Jewish Christians, but failed to condemn the persecution of all Jews. The leaders were more worried about state interference in church affairs and disagreements within the Church than fighting oppression. If not exactly blind to the injustices of the Nuremberg Laws, most of the church leaders were unable or unwilling to act against them, and effectively colluded with the regime.
In today’s Gospel reading, the chief priests and elders are in a similar position to those church leaders in 1930s Germany. They are living under Roman occupation, and, while not entirely supporting the values of Rome, they are unwilling to oppose the regime and are in effect colluding with it.
When Jesus arrives in the Temple, the authorities immediately challenge him because, as far as they are concerned, he has already proved to be disruptive and provocative. Earlier in the week he stirred up the crowds as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Then he visited the Temple, where he threw out the money-changers and dove-sellers and set up an impromptu clinic to heal the blind and lame. He has been challenging the authorities and putting their position in relation to Rome in jeopardy. They have clearly decided that he must go and they are now trying to entrap him so that they can charge him with blasphemy. Like the German church leaders, they are more worried about splits within their religion and challenges to their authority than challenging oppression or acknowledging Jesus as Lord. So the Temple authorities ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
But Jesus, as usual, deftly avoids the trap and sets his own by asking them a question: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” The chief priests and elders don’t know what to say. They had ignored John’s calls for repentance, so if they say “from heaven”, their hypocrisy will be self-evident. But they are afraid of the crowds, who did believe John and recognised him as a prophet. If they say that John’s baptism was human, they could be attacked. So they dodge the question and claim not to know the answer. Jesus then underlines their hypocrisy with a parable.
There is a father who has two sons. The first refuses to do what his dad wants, but later changes his mind and does it anyway. This son represents the tax collectors – who in the Roman empire were usually thugs and often former prisoners and prostitutes. They lived outside the Jewish law, but when they heard John preach they believed him and changed their ways.
The second son says that he will do what their father wants, but doesn’t. He represents the chief priests and elders, the religious professionals who are supposed to follow God and have promised to do God’s will. When they heard John preach, however, they did not change their ways and continued to allow Rome to rule them and acted in their own personal interests, rather than listening to John’s God-given message.
The implications are clear. Those who listen and change, even if they are despised and marginalised, are going to be first in the kingdom of God. Those who fail to listen, who think they already know what God wants, or who are too concerned for their own interests to recognise that they may be wrong, will be last.
We too are called to listen to God’s message and respond to God’s authority. Throughout his ministry, Jesus sought those who were oppressed and marginalised and called them to repentance. But he also challenged the leaders who failed to recognise their part in colluding with oppression. Where in our lives do we need to really listen to Jesus’s message of freedom from oppression, to respond and change our ways?
In September 1935 the Nuremberg laws removed the civil rights of Jewish people in Germany. Two weeks later the Confessing Church (a division of the German Protestant Church) held its synod. A few people present (including Dietrich Bonhoeffer) wanted the Church to actively oppose the Nazi persecution of the Jews, but most wanted to avoid the issue. In the end the synod passed a resolution supporting Jewish Christians, but failed to condemn the persecution of all Jews. The leaders were more worried about state interference in church affairs and disagreements within the Church than fighting oppression. If not exactly blind to the injustices of the Nuremberg Laws, most of the church leaders were unable or unwilling to act against them, and effectively colluded with the regime.
In today’s Gospel reading, the chief priests and elders are in a similar position to those church leaders in 1930s Germany. They are living under Roman occupation, and, while not entirely supporting the values of Rome, they are unwilling to oppose the regime and are in effect colluding with it.
When Jesus arrives in the Temple, the authorities immediately challenge him because, as far as they are concerned, he has already proved to be disruptive and provocative. Earlier in the week he stirred up the crowds as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Then he visited the Temple, where he threw out the money-changers and dove-sellers and set up an impromptu clinic to heal the blind and lame. He has been challenging the authorities and putting their position in relation to Rome in jeopardy. They have clearly decided that he must go and they are now trying to entrap him so that they can charge him with blasphemy. Like the German church leaders, they are more worried about splits within their religion and challenges to their authority than challenging oppression or acknowledging Jesus as Lord. So the Temple authorities ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
But Jesus, as usual, deftly avoids the trap and sets his own by asking them a question: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” The chief priests and elders don’t know what to say. They had ignored John’s calls for repentance, so if they say “from heaven”, their hypocrisy will be self-evident. But they are afraid of the crowds, who did believe John and recognised him as a prophet. If they say that John’s baptism was human, they could be attacked. So they dodge the question and claim not to know the answer. Jesus then underlines their hypocrisy with a parable.
There is a father who has two sons. The first refuses to do what his dad wants, but later changes his mind and does it anyway. This son represents the tax collectors – who in the Roman empire were usually thugs and often former prisoners and prostitutes. They lived outside the Jewish law, but when they heard John preach they believed him and changed their ways.
The second son says that he will do what their father wants, but doesn’t. He represents the chief priests and elders, the religious professionals who are supposed to follow God and have promised to do God’s will. When they heard John preach, however, they did not change their ways and continued to allow Rome to rule them and acted in their own personal interests, rather than listening to John’s God-given message.
The implications are clear. Those who listen and change, even if they are despised and marginalised, are going to be first in the kingdom of God. Those who fail to listen, who think they already know what God wants, or who are too concerned for their own interests to recognise that they may be wrong, will be last.
We too are called to listen to God’s message and respond to God’s authority. Throughout his ministry, Jesus sought those who were oppressed and marginalised and called them to repentance. But he also challenged the leaders who failed to recognise their part in colluding with oppression. Where in our lives do we need to really listen to Jesus’s message of freedom from oppression, to respond and change our ways?
Prayers for this week.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.
Let us pray for the church throughout the world and for the community in which we live. May we take heed to the message of today’s gospel reading. Make us mindful of the hurt that exists among some groups of people and show us the way to heal the breaches between communities, groups of friends and some families. Help us to forgive others and dissolve the resentments that may exist. May we build bridges to a better understanding of each other.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Lord we live in a world where so many are struggling because of war, disaster or poverty. Show us how we can play a part in mending our broken and troubled world. Help us to see others through your eyes, so that we have the understanding to take action with more urgency. We pray for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco and the devastating floods in Libya. We ask that those who have survived these catastrophes find strength to rebuild their lives and hope for the future. We pray too for those taking aid to these communities. Many people are working in extremely difficult circumstances and need the support of all governments around the world.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Creative God, help us to do our best to take care of the world that we live in. Help us to act now for the good of future generations and all your creatures. Help us to become instruments of a new creation, founded on the covenant of your love. We continue to pray for The Great Green Wall project in Africa. We ask that the eleven countries that the wall affects, receive global support and financial backing. We particularly seek guidance for the scientists who are hard at work restoring the land that was once rich with biodiversity and vegetation but due to climate change is now a rapidly degrading environment. We pray that more and more land can be made fertile and thereby support life for the poorest people in Africa.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Loving God, help those we know and love to turn away from habits which are harmful to them. Help them to turn to you in times of crisis, rather than reaching for quick-fix solutions. Lord, we also bring to you those we know who are ill or suffering in any way. Give them healing and restore them in body, mind and spirit. Mighty God, we remember in your presence all those who have died, and particularly those we have known and loved. Thank you for them and thank you for your promise of eternal life and peace. Be close to those who are recently bereaved, strengthen them with the knowledge that you are always there to lean on and to be carried through difficult times.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Gracious God, as we go out into the world, we pray that we may reflect your love and forgiveness in our families, our church and our community; so that the world can witness that we are followers of Christ and draw others into his loving care.
Merciful God, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ.
Let us pray for the church throughout the world and for the community in which we live. May we take heed to the message of today’s gospel reading. Make us mindful of the hurt that exists among some groups of people and show us the way to heal the breaches between communities, groups of friends and some families. Help us to forgive others and dissolve the resentments that may exist. May we build bridges to a better understanding of each other.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Lord we live in a world where so many are struggling because of war, disaster or poverty. Show us how we can play a part in mending our broken and troubled world. Help us to see others through your eyes, so that we have the understanding to take action with more urgency. We pray for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco and the devastating floods in Libya. We ask that those who have survived these catastrophes find strength to rebuild their lives and hope for the future. We pray too for those taking aid to these communities. Many people are working in extremely difficult circumstances and need the support of all governments around the world.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Creative God, help us to do our best to take care of the world that we live in. Help us to act now for the good of future generations and all your creatures. Help us to become instruments of a new creation, founded on the covenant of your love. We continue to pray for The Great Green Wall project in Africa. We ask that the eleven countries that the wall affects, receive global support and financial backing. We particularly seek guidance for the scientists who are hard at work restoring the land that was once rich with biodiversity and vegetation but due to climate change is now a rapidly degrading environment. We pray that more and more land can be made fertile and thereby support life for the poorest people in Africa.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Loving God, help those we know and love to turn away from habits which are harmful to them. Help them to turn to you in times of crisis, rather than reaching for quick-fix solutions. Lord, we also bring to you those we know who are ill or suffering in any way. Give them healing and restore them in body, mind and spirit. Mighty God, we remember in your presence all those who have died, and particularly those we have known and loved. Thank you for them and thank you for your promise of eternal life and peace. Be close to those who are recently bereaved, strengthen them with the knowledge that you are always there to lean on and to be carried through difficult times.
Lord in your mercy…. Hear our prayer
Gracious God, as we go out into the world, we pray that we may reflect your love and forgiveness in our families, our church and our community; so that the world can witness that we are followers of Christ and draw others into his loving care.
Merciful God, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our saviour Jesus Christ.
Please pray for:-
the sick, and those who care for them, including Robert Heal, Tony Lindsay, Patricia Bennett, Patricia Gordon-Duff, Kathleen Pape, Steve Bulmer and Brian Westgate.
those who have lit candles and those for whom candles have been lit
those who have recently died, including Richard Cooper, Lorraine Ellen Turney, Angus Macdonald and Derek Booth
and those whose anniversary of death falls at this time, including Rosemary Callow
Post Communion Prayer
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us,
and make us continually to be given to all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
and make us continually to be given to all good works;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
From The Church of England
You are invited to our Live service on Sunday from 9am on our website, Facebook or YouTube . It will be available for playback immediately after as well.
All of our weekly service content is manually subtitled and contains British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation throughout.
CHURCH GIVING
A few people have asked how they can support the church financially if they can't do their normal weekly giving. Please continue to use Pam’s letterbox to drop off church donations – either envelopes, cheques (made payable to PCC of Pickering Parish Church) or other loose cash (In a sealed envelope marked for the Church). If you are unable to go outside, please ring, and we will see if there is an alternative way to collect.
Pam Robb at 16 Garden Way, Pickering, YO18 8BG. 07769 801708
WITH VERY MANY THANKS.
