Third Sunday after Pentecost
26th June 2022
13th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Year C
2nd Sunday after Trinity
Proper 8
ORDER OF SERVICE
You can click to expand or minimize the order of service below.
All are requested to join in wherever text is GREEN or when instructed by Fr. David.
Where the is shown, all are encouraged to make the sign of the cross.
Where the is shown all are encouraged to strike their breast with a closed hand following the actions of Fr. David.
Where the is shown all are encouraged to tap their breast with an open hand following the actions of Fr. David.
HYMN:Jesus, where’er thy people meet, There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Jesus, where’er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where’er they seek thee, thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.
For thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee when they come,
And going, take thee to their home.
Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew,
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.
Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
O rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!
BLESSED BE GOD: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen
From Easter to Pentecost:
Allelulia. Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia
In Lent and other penitential occasions:
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins;
His mercy endures for ever.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts be open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
This prayer is omitted during Lent and Advent:
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Holy God, holy and mighty , holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE FIRST READING
A reading from the book of 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
15Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
19So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” 21He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
THE RESPONSE
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord,
my good above all other.”
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods *
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; *
in your presence there is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
THE SECOND READING
A reading from the book of Galatians
13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
All stand for the Acclamation and Gospel reading.
ACCLAMATION
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
You have the message of eternal life.
Alleluia!
THE GOSPEL
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Luke
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
After the Gospel reading
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
THE HOMILY
The cost of discipleship is the central theme of the Gospel text from Luke, chapter 9.
In the text, Jesus has “set his face towards Jerusalem.” He was journeying toward Jerusalem to fulfil God’s plan for his life, a plan involving a cross and crucifixion on Calvary. We know this, but back then, of course, for the disciples, it was as yet unknown.
Jesus is resolute and determined about where his life, and death, are taking him. For the others, like us, they would need to follow without that absolute knowledge of the details of life’s journey, and therein lies the heart of our faith.
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, he encounters three would-be followers. Along the road, the first man said, Lord, I’m ready to follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”
To another, Jesus said, “follow me,” and the man replied, “I’ll come along but first I need to take care of some family business. I have to bury my father.” To this, Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus was pretty harsh with these chaps. Surely Jesus would be reasonable. He could have been more reasonable, couldn’t he? What does he expect? Burying one’s father, and going home to say goodbye to family and friends, are perfectly normal things to want to do. Yet, in his words to his would-be followers, Jesus is making it quite clear what the cost of following him is.
As modern-day followers of Jesus, we, too, stand under his words. We, too, must face the cost of discipleship.
Our journey, the Christian life, parallels the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem. Jesus is telling us, upfront, that our journey with him will not be an easy one. If we follow in the way of Jesus, we can not expect to have an easier road to travel than the Master does. For as the Father has sent Jesus, even so he sends us. Signing up with Jesus means that everything becomes secondary to serving the Kingdom of God and sharing the gospel. The following will come with a cost. He tells us we will be less secure than foxes and birds.
Jesus is letting his followers know the urgency of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom’s call is more urgent than the need to bury our parents and more urgent than saying farewell to friends. The text strikes a chord of dissonance in us because family and friends are important. They are the most important things in the world, in terms of our human affairs. By saying they are secondary to the Kingdom, Jesus is telling us that God’s affairs take priority over human affairs, no matter how important they may be.
In his words about counting the cost, Jesus is not trying to be “harsh” or “nonchalant”. He is not being “mean,” he’s being Lord.
Our understanding of ‘having a Lord’ these days is very different to Jesus’ time or even the time when the scriptures were translated.
We are not knights with arms emblazoned on our shields, nor serf tenant-farmers with badges on our tabards as we reluctantly follow our landlord Baron into battle in an obligation, in his pursuit of power or wealth or courtly influence, and yet “To have a Lord, is to have a Lord.” That is to say, one’s primary allegiance is to that Lord. Service to the Lord takes priority over everything else, doesn’t it?
Jesus is not against “burying the dead,” nor is he anti- “family values.” He was speaking to those would-be followers of his own experience. He, too, was serving God. He, too, made the Kingdom his top priority. He, too, left his parents. He, too, went away from his hometown Nazareth and all his friends. He knew of what he spoke.
He had counted the cost. He would not ask any would-be followers to do things he, himself, had not already done. Or to go to places he, himself, had not already gone. Jesus demonstrated in a way leaders today are sorely lacking.
As Christians who are coming to the end of the first quarter of the 21st Century, it would be easy to think the cost of discipleship has been lowered. We don’t have to literally follow our Lord. After all, we’ve come a long way, haven’t we?
There are almost a billion Christians worldwide, not just a tiny band of followers like back then. We have extensive and complex church structures, giant cathedrals, many bishops, priests and many more deacons.
In some parts of the world, the pews are filled to the brim and even have some “mega-churches” with literally thousands of followers singing His name. We have church agencies and charities; we have church-run websites, Facebook pages, zoom-based worship, church streams and virtual churches with God-dedicated computer networks.
It would be easy to say, “Relax, Jesus, have a well-earned rest; you’ve got plenty of modern high-tech disciples with many terabytes of computing beeping and buzzing just for you. So, as individuals, we don’t have to worry about it, do we? We don’t have to worry about leaving home and hearth. Even if, in this congregation, many of us have chosen to do so for all manner of reasons and ended up together a long way from where we might call home; for most Christians, this is not the case. All the bases are covered, aren’t they?
Unfortunately, the cost of discipleship is not time-conditioned. We are under the same word as the first disciples.
We, too, are less secure in the world than foxes and birds. If we feel more confident than foxes and birds, perhaps we spend too much time burying our dead, chatting with friends, and looking back over the plough. In today’s modern context, this might mean we spend too much time reinforcing our beliefs within the biased bubbles that the social media algorithms present to us.
These torrents of ideas only reaffirm our perspective by presenting us with similar views of people who ‘think like us’.
They allow us time and again to see memories we have shared in the past, giving us time and again the opportunity to look back over the ground we have already ploughed and, more often than not, we should have left in the past.
In our second reading from Galatians, Paul tells us of the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. He says, “For freedom, Christ has set us free, stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” The freedom of God, the freedom of Jesus, the freedom Paul was talking about, is not freedom from the cost of discipleship but freedom for it.
We do not plough and look back; ploughing means going forward, not being defined by or held captive by our past notions or, indeed, the people we used to be.
Life in Christ is a forward-looking journey, encouraging us to be the best version of ourselves.
The Journey of life in Christ is about continuous improvement and always looking forward, and it is never easy – it requires constant determination and sacrifice.
Yet the Lord who has called us to follow will stay with us along the way;…of this, if we allow our faith to grow, we can be assured.
Amen
THE NICENE CREED
Please stand for the Nicene Creed.
Let us together affirm the faith of the Church.
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 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
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.
INTERCESSION
To follow
THE CONFESSION
THE CONFESSION:
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy, welcoming sinners and inviting them to the Lord’s table.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, confident in God’s forgiveness.
Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed, and in what we have failed to do: we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves; we repent and are sorry for all our sins , Father forgive us, strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
**(Note: all are encouraged to strike their breast 3 times following the lead of Fr. David as he utters the words: ‘sorry for all our sins’)**
THE PEACE:
THE PEACE:
The congregation stands.
We are the Body of Christ.
His Spirit is with us.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Please greet each other with a sign of peace.
HYMN: Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old Was strong to heal and save;
Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
Was strong to heal and save;
It triumphed o’er disease and death,
O’er darkness and the grave;
To thee they went, the blind, the dumb,
The palsied and the lame,
The leper with his tainted life,
The sick with fevered frame.
And lo! Thy touch brought life and health,
Gave speech, and strength, and sight;
And youth renewed and frenzy calmed
Owned thee, the lord of light;
And now, O Lord, be near to bless,
Almighty as of yore,
In crowded streets, by restless couch,
As by Gennesereth’s shore.
Be thou our great deliverer still,
Thou Lord of life and death;
Restore and quicken, soothe and bless
With thine almighty breath;
To hands that work, and eyes that see,
Give wisdom’s heavenly lore,
That whole and sick, and weak and strong,
May praise thee evermore.
THE OFFERTORY
THE OFFERTORY
Blessed are you, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have these gifts to share. Accept and use our offerings for your glory and the service of your kingdom.
Blessed be God forever.
Let us pray
We do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table, but you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.
CLICK HERE FOR EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put an end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.
Proper Preface
Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice, made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.
As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of [N and] all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Let us pray with confidence to the Father, as our Saviour has taught us:
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.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
**(Note: All are encouraged to tap their breast three times following the example of Fr. David as he utters the words ‘…have mercy, …have mercy and …grant us peace’)**
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
This is the Lamb of God , who takes away the sins of the world;
Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
**(Note: All are encouraged to strike breast following the example of Fr. David as all utter the words ‘not worthy’)**
After Communion the celebrant and the congregation say
Let us pray.
Father of all we give you thanks and praise that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us in this hope that we have grasped; so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name.
Father, we offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Lord. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit , be amongst you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.
HYMN: Father, who in Jesus found us, God, whose love is all around us,
Father, who in Jesus found us,
God, whose love is all around us,
Who to freedom now unbound us,
Keep our hearts with joy aflame.
For the sacramental breaking,
For the honour of partaking,
For your life our lives remaking,
Young and old, we praise thy name.
From the service of this table
Lead us to a life more stable,
For our witness make us able;
Blessings on our work we claim.
Through our calling closely knitted,
Daily to your praise committed,
For a life of service fitted,
Let us now your love proclaim.
Music
Here is the music for this week’s hymns, if you would like to practice beforehand.
Performed by Fr. David Price
NOTE: The introductory music is Fugue in C major BWV 545 – Bach
