Sunday 29 August 2021

14th Sunday after Pentecost Collect O God of eternal light, your word is truth: make us quick to listen and slow to speak that the word implanted in us will take root to nourish all we say and do; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen READING James 1:17-27 19 Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. 20 For human anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, rid yourselves of everything sordid and of every wicked excess, and welcome in all humility the word that is implanted in you and is able to save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word and not just hearers who only deceive themselves. GOSPEL according to Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 5 So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" 6 He said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' 8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition." 14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile." 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 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 – 29/04/2021. Blessing Go out, and be doers of the Word. Cleanse your hearts of all pollution, be quick to listen and learn, welcome the Word that God implants in you, and bring it to birth in acts of righteousness and compassion. And may God pour grace upon you and bless you forever; May Christ Jesus reveal to you the truth of God’s ways; and may the Holy Spirit fill your life with passion and love. Commissioning/Sending Go in peace with courage, to love and serve the Lord. Amen, Amen, Amen In the name of Christ. Amen. Amen, Amen.