Sunday 1 August 2021

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost COLLECT Gracious Father, your Son Jesus Christ came from heaven to be the true bread: evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Reading Ephesians 4: 1-3 1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. THE GOSPEL according to John 6: 24-35 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." 28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. PRAYER IN THE TIME OF 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 BLESSING Go out from here and live lives worthy of the one calling which we all share. In humility, gentleness and patience, speak only what is true and loving and so grow into the unity that is ours in Christ. And may God the creator reshape your hearts; May Christ Jesus, the bread of life, sustain you always; and may the Holy Spirit unite you in the bond of peace. COMMISSIONING Go in peace with courage, to love and serve the Lord. Amen, Amen, Amen In the name of Christ. Amen. Amen, Amen.