Sunday 13 November 2022 | Discovering the nuance of scripture

23rd Sunday after Pentecost Theme: By your endurance you will gain your souls. A Worship Song - Tune: Women of strength Father God, we adore you Grace-filled Jesus, we praise you. Holy Spirit, you are honoured Triune God, we worship you. In your image, you created With your body, you redeemed. In presence, you enfold us With your love, and grace and peace. You have called us, to be your people Covenanted in your name Through your word, you form and shape us For your purpose, in the world. In your presence, you prepared a table Sacramental, grace to fed In your Spirit, iyou sustain us To follow Christ, in every deed Glory be, to God the Father Son and Spirit, we believe From beginning, through the ages Let it be, Amen, Amen COLLECT God of all time, in Christ you make all things new: grant us wisdom to interpret the signs of the times, courage to stand firm in the time of trail and faith to witness to your truth and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. READING Isaiah 65: 17-25 The new Jerusalem I make will be full of joy, and her people will be happy. 19 I myself will be filled with joy because of Jerusalem and her people. There will be no weeping there, no calling for help. 20 Babies will no longer die in infancy, and all people will live out their life span. Those who live to be a hundred will be considered young. To die before that would be a sign that I had punished them. 21-22 People will build houses and get to live in them—they will not be used by someone else. READING 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.” 11 We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. GOSPEL according to Luke 21: 5-19 5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls. PRAYER for Africa God, refresh Africa and all the world, Protect and grow our children. Convict with justice and truth, all our leaders And fill all hearts with your peace. For Jesus Christ sake. Amen. BENEDICTION & COMMISSIONING/SENDING Go now and tell the world what God does.