Parish Life

20/09/2009 Pentecost 16

Sentence

Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.

Mark 9.35

Collect

God and Father of all, you have taught us through your Son that the last shall be first, and have made a little child the measure of your kingdom: give us the wisdom from above, so that we may understand that in your sight the one who serves is the greatest of all. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

First Reading

A reading from the Book of Proverbs Reading: Prov 31:10-31

10 A capable wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the ships of the merchant,

she brings her food from far away.

15 She rises while it is still night

and provides food for her household

and tasks for her servant-girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength,

and makes her arms strong.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19 She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20 She opens her hand to the poor,

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,

for all her household are clothed in crimson.

22 She makes herself coverings;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the city gates,

taking his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;

she supplies the merchant with sashes.

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27 She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her happy;

her husband too, and he praises her:

29 "Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the city gates.

For the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

Psalm: Ps 1

1 Blessed are they who have not walked in the counsel of the ungodly:

nor followed the way of sinners, nor taken their seat amongst the scornful.

2 But their delight is in the law of the Lord:

and on that law will they ponder day and night.

3 They are like trees planted beside streams of water:

that yield their fruit in due season.

4 Their leaves also shall not wither:

and look, whatever they do, it shall prosper.

5 As for the ungodly, it is not so with them:

they are like the chaff which the wind scatters.

6 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand up at the judgement:

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

7 For the Lord cares for the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of St James Reading: James 3:1-12

3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

For the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, Alleluia. Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son, Alleluia

Gospel Reading

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to St Mark Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

For the gospel of the Lord,

praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH

Raymond Terrace

- Parish Life at St John's Raymond Terrace-

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