The Christian Community of St Giles-on-the-Hill
welcomes you to worship with them on
Sunday 16th June 2024
Third Sunday after Trinity
Jesus said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”
10.30am Sung Mass The President and Preacher today is Fr Alaric Lewis. The service is set out in the service booklet. Hymns are from the New English Hymnal.
Introit Hymn: 495 God is working his purpose out
Collect:
Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
1st Reading: Ezekiel 17.22-end
Thus says the Lord God:
I myself will take a sprig
from the lofty top of a cedar;
I will set it out.
I will break off a tender one
from the topmost of its young twigs;
I myself will plant it
on a high and lofty mountain.
On the mountain height of Israel
I will plant it,
in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit,
and become a noble cedar.
Under it every kind of bird will live;
in the shade of its branches will nest
winged creatures of every kind.
All the trees of the field shall know
that I am the Lord.
I bring low the high tree,
I make high the low tree;
I dry up the green tree
and make the dry tree flourish.
I the Lord have spoken;
I will accomplish it.
Psalm 92.1-4, 12-end
It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord
and to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
To tell of your love early in the morning
and of your faithfulness in the night-time,
Upon the ten-stringed instrument, upon the harp,
and to the melody of the lyre.
For you, Lord, have made me glad by your acts,
and I sing aloud at the works of your hands.
The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
Such as are planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
they shall be vigorous and in full leaf;
That they may show that the Lord is true;
he is my rock,
and there is no unrighteousness in him.
2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5.6-17
So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord – for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Welcome with meekness the implanted word
that has the power to save your souls.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Gospel: Mark 4.26-34
Such a large crowd gathered around Jesus that he got into a boat and began to teach them using many parables. Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’
Jesus also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Offertory Hymn: 498 Son of God, eternal Saviour
Communion Hymn: 353 Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Post Communion Prayer:
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Recessional Hymn: 436 Praise, my soul the King of heaven
Organ Voluntary: Chappell – Songs of Praise
ASSISTANTS AT THE EUCHARIST
1st Reading Jonathan Tidnam 2nd Reading Kate Baldry Intercessions Fr Alaric Chalice Pat Emsell Servers Karen Kiddell and Frederico de Oliveira Organist Ian Graydon
DIARY FOR THE WEEK
Tuesday 18 June 12 noon Said Mass
Friday 21 June 10.00am Said Mass
Sunday 23 June 10.30am Sung Mass – Fr Selwyn Tillett (Trinity 4)
Readings for next Sunday: Job 38.1-11; Psalm 107.1-3, 23-32; 2 Corinthians 6.1-13; Mark 4.35-end
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
17-23 June Refugee Week (See notices below)
Sunday 30 June 9.30am Tri-church Service at St George Colegate. N.B. No service at St Giles
Friday 5 July 10.30am Rosary Prayers led by Paul Yallop after Mass
Saturday 6 July 2.00 for 2.30pm Quiz in aid of church funds (see below)
Sunday 1 September 10.30am Tri-church Sung Patronal Mass for St Giles Day with guest speaker and the St Giles Singers.
NOTICES
We welcome any newcomers to St Giles today. Please make yourself known to the priest or the churchwardens and join us for a cup of coffee or tea after the service. Do take a look at our website, explore A Church Near You or follow us on X to find out more.
Fairtrade Stall Please visit the Stall after Mass – there are some new items to see!
Refugee Week is this week It is the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary. It’s been running in the UK since 1998 and is always the week around World Refugee Day (20 June). There is more information at the back of church and on their website.
Our June charity is Water Aid who work with their supporters, partners and local communities to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere. You can find more information on their website. Please give generously via our charity box at the back of church.
A quiz will be held on Saturday 6th July in aid of St Giles Church funds. Teams are invited to come along on the day and join in the fun! The maximum number in a team will be six people and you can book a table in advance (though this is not essential) by calling Jennifer Gerrard on 07917 756626. Prosecco and strawberries will be served as half-time refreshments and there will be a prize for the winning team. A raffle will also be held with a variety of prizes. The cost is £6 per person which includes refreshments. The quiz will start promptly at 2.30pm so please join us from 2pm to secure your table and maybe buy some raffle tickets? We will happily accept entry payment by card but could you please have cash available for the raffle – this keeps things simple. Thank you in advance for your support!
Due to re-paving work in Tombland which is likely to cause problems with access to the church, Alaric has decided to cancel the service at St George on June 23rd. The congregation will be invited to attend either Colegate or St Giles. We hope to welcome some of our friends to our Mass next week.
Priest-in-Charge Father Alaric Mark Lewis, also Rector of the Benefice of Colegate and Tombland 01603 663757 click to email – day off Monday
Churchwardens Rowena Atkinson 01603 455729 Bob Emsell 01603 439632
Pastoral Care Liaison Lesley Warne 07792 971662 click to email
Newsletter and Fairtrade Kate Baldry 01362 695503 click to email
Church website https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com
A Church Near You
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St Giles Church, Norwich 