Sunday 10 October 2021 | Theme: Excellent gift of love

20th Sunday after Pentecost COLLECT Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worthless: pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love without which whoever lives is counted dead before you; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever. Amen READING from Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 3 How I wish I knew where to find him and knew how to go where he is. 4 I would state my case before him and present all the arguments in my favour. 5 I want to know what he would say and how he would answer me. 6 Would God use all his strength against me? No, he would listen as I spoke. 8 I have searched in the East, but God is not there; I have not found him when I searched in the West. 9 God has been at work in the North and the South, but still I have not seen him. 16-17 Almighty God has destroyed my courage. It is God, not the dark, that makes me afraid— even though the darkness has made me blind. READING from Hebrews 4: 12-16 12 The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. 13 There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves. 14 Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God—Jesus, the Son of God. 15 Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. 16 Let us have confidence, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. THE GOSPEL according to Mark 10: 17-31 17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.'" 20 He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." PRAYER FOR COVID Author of life, Saviour of the nations COVID is humbling, your grace is sufficient. The deaths, we mourn; For the recoveries, we give thanks; The compassionate care, we applaud; For the vaccines, we are grateful; For compliance, we plead; For the common good, we pray; In the healing name of Jesus. Amen © Rodney Whiteman – 29/04/2021. BENEDICTION Go now in the confidence of people who have found mercy. Follow Jesus, keeping the commandments, letting go of all that binds you to the ways of this world, and investing everything in God’s realm. And may God come close to you and keep you safe; May Christ Jesus reward your faithfulness a hundredfold; and may the Holy