A Service to use at home based on Morning Prayer Number 16 – 4th Sunday after Trinity

CALL TO WORSHIP says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING As Jesus praised his Father in heaven, so do we. We praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden things from the wise, and revealed them to us, your children, through Jesus, your most precious Son. We praise you Lord. Amen

CONFESSION Jesus says, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ So we turn away from our sin and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you through our own fault, in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are heartily sorry and repent of all our sins. For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Blessed is the Lord, for he has heard the voice of our prayer. Therefore shall our hearts dance for joy and in our song we will praise the Lord

As we rejoice in the gift of this day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen

READINGS Readings for this week are: Romans 7:15-25 and Matthew 11:16-19 & 25-30 :18-26 Matthew 9:32-end :1-7 Matthew 10:7-15 Matthew 10:16-23 Matthew 10:24-33 During the week we continue our journey with Matthew and hear about Jesus healing folk and then recap on previous Sundays’ readings about Jesus sending out his disciples.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We believe in , from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.

We believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

PRAYERS Lord God, we lift your children before you. May they find rest for their souls.

We pray for all in authority, that they will be respectfully aware of the weight on their shoulders, and pray that they will act responsibly for the people they serve. We pray for them in their private lives too, with the worries and cares that only they can see.

We pray for our friends, family, and colleagues, especially those who are unwell or have financial concerns at this time. We pray that as we walk alongside them, you will use us to bring them close to you, and they will learn of your love.

We pray that we might be sensitive to the needs of those around us – the people we see every day in the shops, waiting in queues, walking in the streets. We have no idea what burdens they are carrying, or if they need a kind word or look from you that perhaps we can give. Lord God, we lift your children before you. May they find rest for their souls.

THE LORD’S PRAYER 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen

THE GRACE Bearing in mind that we are in communion with each other even though we are apart: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

A FINAL PRAYER Lord, often life seems to be rushing by and we have no time to pause. Thank you for the pause this time has given us, the opportunity to think, to read, to come to you in prayer. Bless me with your presence, Lord. Amen

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If you are feeling low: Lord, you know how weary and bowed down I fell sometimes. I claim your rest for my soul. I come to you in my emptiness and cry to you for your fullness. Rescue me and fill me, Lord. Amen

Material taken from ‘Common Worship: services and prayers for the Church of England’, copyright The Archbishops’ Council 2000, and Roots