Trinity 8 / Pentecost 9
26/07/2026
SENTENCE FROM SCRIPTURE:
Sing to the Lord; sing praises to him. (Psalm 105)
HYMN-
[Note: this song, though it has the same name as the one we’re singing in the church today, is not the same one; the one we’re using in church doesn’t seem to be available on video. This one is different to the style of those we normally use, but we hope you’ll enjoy it, nonetheless.]
GREETING
Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are 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.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.”
The second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. Amen. Lord, have mercy.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
God is love and we are God’s children. There is no room for fear in love. We love because God loved us first.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
SILENCE
God our Father,
we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil,
for the sake of your Son who died for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
ABSOLUTION
God, who is both power and love,
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
GLORIA sung by Sue St Joseph
COLLECT
O God,
whose providence orders all things in heaven and earth:
keep from us everything harmful,
and lead us to all that is good;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen
PROCLAIMING & RECEIVING GOD’S WORD
FIRST READING Genesis 29.15–28, read by Robyn Brotherston
15 Laban said to Jacob, ‘Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?’ 16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, ‘I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.’ 19 Laban said, ‘It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.’ ✝
20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, ‘Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.’ 22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?’ 26 Laban said, ‘This is not done in our country – giving the younger before the firstborn. 27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.’ 28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
SECOND READING Romans 8.26–39, read by David Kerr
26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, 39 nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
GRADUAL HYMN
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 13.31–33, 44–52 [sorry: no video for this]
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Matthew, chapter 13, beginning at verse 31
Glory to Christ our Saviour
www.giphy.com
31 Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’ 33 He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.
44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
www.giphy.com
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52 And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.
SERMON
Online Reflection 26th July 2026
In our reading this morning from the Gospel of Matthew, we are given a series of parables, each one beginning with the phrase: “The Kingdom of heaven is like … “ – a grouping together by Matthew of parables, probably told by Jesus at varying times during His earthly ministry. Clearly Matthew brings them together here because of that common theme, each one offering us teaching about the nature of the Kingdom of heaven.
And so, we have first the parable of the mustard seed – the smallest seed growing into the spreading branches of a tree in which birds can nest.
And then, the parable of the yeast, at work unseen within the dough and that which makes the dough rise. When we read those words, “The Kingdom of heaven…” we would be forgiven for thinking that this relates only to that which comes beyond the grave. Yet, Jesus begins His earthly ministry as He emerges from the desert of temptation declaring that in Him the Kingdom is drawn near. The Kingdom, it seems to me, is meant to be and become an earthly reality and not just a heavenly expectation. And that Kingdom is meant, I believe, to be one of peace, justice, love, truth, hope and life for all people. Yet when we look at our world today, we realise how far short of that Kingdom vision we find ourselves. But this, I believe, is the journey that we are on – towards that Kingdom. And we are challenged to play our part in the building of that Kingdom here, where we are, in our world today. And perhaps these first two parables encourage us by emphasising that it is in and from the little things, the unnoticed, the hidden things, of our everyday lives that the Kingdom can grow: fundamentally the ways in which we relate one to another in love, care and kindness; building relationships and working to break through the barriers that divide.
Then we are given two parables – of the treasure and of the pearl, which emphasise the value, the worth of the Kingdom; two parables (leaving aside perhaps the questionable morality of the man reburying the treasure he has found!) which tell us that this Kingdom is worth working for.
Then, finally, we have the parable of the fisherman’s net and with it that lurid picture of a final judgment, with its fiery furnace and ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (images of which Matthew seems particularly fond!) Frankly, we’re given here a picture which sits uncomfortably with us – which sits uncomfortably alongside so much of what the Gospel tells us of the nature of God, who is love; who is come to us in Jesus, living dying and rising. And we are left with unanswered and unanswerable questions. When faced with such questions, all we can do is hold on to that of which we are sure and certain – accepting that mystery, and those unanswered questions will remain. We hold on to the truth that God is love; that He loves each and all; that He loves you and me; that He shows that love in His gift of Jesus. And in Him is our life.
And this truth, this conviction, Paul expresses wonderfully for us in this morning’s reading from his letter to the Romans [Ch 8 vv 38 & 39]: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Amen.
THE 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,
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of 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.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified.
He 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
Prayers of Intercession 26 July 2026
‘Thy Kingdom come’
“Let us still ourselves and acknowledge God’s presence.
We bring before God our concerns for the world, in words spoken, in the thoughts of our minds and in the wishes of our hearts.
Lord , in your mercy …..Hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church: that we in St John’s may faithfully live the Christian faith while finding new ways to communicate and express Your love to each new generation. May we seek to cast the nets wide and be ready and willing to welcome all into your kingdom.
May we be renewed in the joy of our faith — that we may rediscover the treasure we have been given in Christ.
Patient God, we pray for the leaders of the nations, the governments and local leaders: that they may seek the treasure hidden in the dignity of every human person and work to protect and serve their peoples, so they may live in a place of provision , freedom and safety.
We pray for the growth of a desire for peace in the world and for a laying down of weapons, for brave people to stand up, speak out, and for hearts to be changed.
Lord, in your mercy …Hear our prayer.
Lord God, we pray for all those affected by the recent heat, wildfires and natural disasters around the world.
We pray for all who are helping in the rescue and recovery, may they have all the supplies and resources and support they need,
And Lord, we pray that You guide us into the support we can offer, whether prayer, financial, practical or political, and bring us to be caring for all who are our neighbours in the world, that Your kingdom may come…
Lord, in your mercy …Hear our prayer.
Loving God, we thank you for our families and friends, for the people with whom we live, work and share our daily lives.
We pray for those who are lonely, isolated because of age or ill-health, and those who find it difficult to make friends or be accepted.
Show us how we can share the love and gifts we have received from You with others, that they may encounter Your kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy, …hear our prayer
We remember this morning those who are sick or struggling in mind, body or spirit and pray that they may know Your healing presence.
We especially pray for those known to ourselves and the congregation of St John’s ……
We remember those who have recently died…
May all those who mourn know the comfort of your Holy Spirit with them.
Lord, in your mercy, …hear our prayer
Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ who taught us to pray together
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Do not bring us
to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN –
DISMISSAL
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen
