The Christian Community of St Giles-on-the-Hill
welcomes you to worship with them on
Sunday 30th July 2023
Eighth Sunday after Trinity
THERE IS NO SERVICE AT ST GILES TODAY
WE THANK THE CONGREGATION OF ST GEORGE TOMBLAND
FOR WELCOMING US TO THEIR MASS AT 11.00 AM TODAY
ON THIS FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH.
Practice at 10.00am for everyone who would like to sing with the 3Gs Choir.
Collect:
Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
1st Reading: 1 Kings 3.5-12
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.’
Psalm 119.129-136
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The opening of your word gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and draw in my breath,
as I long for your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
Order my steps by your word,
and let no wickedness have dominion over me.
Redeem me from earthly oppressors
so that I may keep your commandments.
Show the light of your countenance upon your servant
and teach me your statutes.
My eyes run down with streams of water,
because the wicked do not keep your law.
2nd Reading: Romans 8:26-end
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.’
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.’
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Post Communion Prayer:
Strengthen for service, Lord,
the hands that have taken holy things;
may the ears which have heard your word be deaf to clamour and dispute;
may the tongues which have sung your praise be free from deceit;
may the eyes which have seen the tokens of your love shine with the light of hope;
and may the bodies which have been fed with your body be refreshed with the fullness of your life;
glory to you for ever.
DIARY FOR THE WEEK
Tuesday 1 August 12 noon Mass – Fr Alaric Lewis
Friday 4 August 10.00am Mass – Revd Annie Blyth
Saturday 5 August 11am-2pm Church open
Sunday 6 August 10.30am Sung Mass with Healing Ministry – Fr Peter Varney (Transfiguration)
Next Sunday’s readings: Daniel 7.9-10, 13-14; Psalm 97; 2 Peter 1.16-19; Luke 9.28-36
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Thursday 3 August 7.30pm Colegate Talk with Professor Christopher Joby at St George Colegate
Sunday 13 August 10.30am Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The St Giles Singers will be joining us to sing:
Song of Mary by Richard Shephard
Ave Maria by Philip Stopford
Mass of St Thomas by David Thorne
NOTICES
If you are new to St Giles do take a look at our website or follow us on Twitter to find out more about us.
Colegate Talk on Thursday 3 August at 7.30pm with Professor Christopher Joby at St George Colegate.
Newsletter via email You can easily set this up on the church website at https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com – scroll down to the bottom of the page to where it says ‘Follow Blog via Email’, enter your email address in the box and click on the FOLLOW button. You will then receive this service sheet plus further details in an email every week, usually on the Saturday preceding the Sunday service.
Our July charity is the Church Urban Fund, a national charity working with local leaders, churches and other faith groups all over England, and equipping people and churches to make a difference in the area where they live. For more information please look on the notice board at the back of church or go to the charity’s website at https://cuf.org.uk. Do please give generously, gift-aided if you can, as this increases the amount you give at no extra cost to yourself!
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
Newsletter and Fairtrade Kate Baldry 01362 695503 click to email
Church website https://stgileschurch.wordpress.com
Twitter @stgilesnorwich
St Giles Church, Norwich 