SUNDAY 22 November - Benefice of Harston, Hauxton and Newton

Sunday 22 November

Christ The King

Welcome

Music

Holy Overshadowing

Opening sentences

Confession

Lord Jesus Christ:

The kingdom is yours,

but we turn away from your just rule:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

The power is yours,

but we trust in our own power and strength:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

The glory is yours,

but we fall short of the glory of God:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Hymn

10,000 reasons

Reading

2 Corinthians 4:1,,6-9

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

And so many times over the course of human history has darkness seemed stifling, and daily life a struggle. and our own being as fragile and ordinary as a clay pot. Think of those pictures that John gave us a couple of weeks ago, the woman who anointed Jesus feet with expensive perfume and cried at the knowledge of the darkness she had known, and the light he brought.

And we’ve remembered this month those who have died, those near and dear to us, and those who we didn’t know but admire, for their courage in the face of conflict. Just as we applauded our own health care workers who have worked in terrible situations this year. For we have known the reality of qualities of life and character that keep people going when it’s hard, we have laughed, and loved, and created and grown things and stretched ourselves this year with challenges. We’ve recognised goodness and stamina in people like Captain Tom. We have seen light in the darkness, we have known some of the treasures of darkness.

Gospel

John 9:1-9

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Then he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So, the man went and washed and came back seeing!

How have our eyes been opened by this pandemic?

How have we felt vulnerable?

What wrongs need to be righted?

How can we, like Jesus, be present to people?

Music

Open the eyes of my heart

Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Prayers

Loving God we come before you in adoration and praise for all that you have done for us.

At this difficult time, it can sometimes feel that we are alone and that you are not with us.

But you have promised you will always be there and will never abandon us and for that we are thankful.

And we give you thanks for all your gifts to us.

Christ the King,

You are our Saviour and Lord,

in our stumbling be our shield.

In our tiredness be our Rest

Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our Prayer

Loving God we come before you now to pray for our world. The world which you created, in which there is so much trouble. We pray for world leaders as they seek to do the best they possibly can in leading us through the pandemic. Give them guidance and wisdom in all their decision-making.

We pray for the church across the world as it seeks to serve and to share the good news amidst the pandemic. Give strength and peace to our church leaders as they seek to guide us throughout this difficult time. May they find rest and renewal in you when they need it. We pray for our own churches and for the day in which we can all safely meet together for worship once more.

We pray for all those who are in need of our prayers at this time, those in hospital and those who care for them, those struggling with mental health problems, those who feel alone with no one to whom they can turn. We pray for those on the frontline who are working to overcome the virus. May they know your peace, strength and love. We bring before you our concerns for people we know who are in need of our prayers at this time.

We commend to you those who have died, knowing that you welcome them home with open arms. We place them into your care knowing that we will be reunited with them one day. Comfort those who mourn their loss and may they know your presence with them at this difficult time.

We pray for ourselves. You alone know what we need right now. Give us what we need to face the days ahead as we continue to wrestle with this pandemic which affects us all in some way or another.

Christ, Light of the World,

meet us in our place of darkness.

Collect

God the Father,

help us to hear the call of Christ the King

and to follow in his service,

whose kingdom has no end;

for he reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, one glory.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.