Croeso! Welcome to you all this Sunday morning.
Please do make yourself known to me if you are popping in or if I can help in any way.
Yn enw'r Tad,
a'r Mab,
a'r Ysbryd Glan.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN
Our opening hymn today is: Praise my soul the King of Heaven
Heavenly Father, all hearts are open to you.
No secrets are hidden from you.
Purify us with the love of your Holy Spirit
That we may love and worship you faithfully,
through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
Lord, have mercy Lord, have Mercy
Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Heavenly Father,
we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and have failed to do
what we ought to have done.
We are sorry and truly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ
who died for us, forgive us all that is past,
and lead us in his way
to walk as children of light. AMEN
May God our Father,
who by the Lord Jesus Christ
has reconciled the world to himself
and forgives the sins of all who truly repent,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
and grant us the grace and power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN
The Gloria.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer,
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. AMEN
Collect : Fourth Sunday after Pentecost/ Trinity 3
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 and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN
Reading
The Gospel of Christ according to St Matthew
Glory to you. O Lord.
Matthew 11: 16-29: 25-30 (NRSV)
16 “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,
17 ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”[a]
25 At that time Jesus said, “I thank[b] you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[c] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
Homily
Are you good with choices? I am the world’s worst about making up my mind over something and will defer it if at all possible. Do I want the wall painted in this shade or the other, do I fancy veggie meal for tea or fish and so it goes on. I can always remember being asked by a doctor whilst visiting hospital once, did I like things hot or cold? My answer I am ashamed to say was in between - warm. Do you like hot chocolate or an ice lolly, he went on patiently, and again my response was not enlightening, I don’t like either. All of this to investigate tummy problems I had! My poor parents!
But I do tend to be the same even today, wanting to allow others to select what they want, rather than pushing myself forward with a definite answer. It isn’t that I am deliberately trying to be awkward or difficult but rather honest, thinking of others and dependable. I always think my choice perhaps isn’t in some situations important. That is not to say I won’t put my foot down if it is of real concern, and action or leadership is needed. After all, I had to make definite decisions in life, marriage, children, my vocation, my discerning of where God wanted me to be etc.
Our Gospel today is about choices, do you do this or not. Is it faith or not? The Biblical writers were keen to make clear, that there is an alternative before everyone, a decision, a choice to be made, is it to believe in God or is it to disbelieve? It is not a dictated response we are humans and have free wills. The Biblical writers though, would also state that to belief is a gift from God and to disbelieve is also the result of God’s action. This might be harder for us to understand. Jesus is to make known God’s law and that all can learn his law, to love one another as he has loved them.
To try and carry out the work of Christ as he would have us, is demanding work and it is costly for us, it will tire and drain us all at times. However, Jesus using his experience as a carpenter and using the common everyday experiences that the disciples can understand and relate to, a yoke, not for one ox, but for the pair of oxen, when made well it fits, enables sharing and doesn’t hurt the oxen. The cost of the choice of following Christ will demand, but it will not weaken our strength or resolve, but rather enable us to show forth the way of love to our neighbour as much as to ourselves. We too share in this service as we select whether to follow Christ or not.
Intercessions and Lord's Prayer
I
Holy God, and Lord of the Dance, we raise our prayers to you in the power of the Spirit which unites us with Christ Jesus.
Faithful God, we pray for all people who seek to follow your way in their lives. Let your church speak your word of truth with confidence and in unity, so that those who are searching and listening will be able to see and hear clearly your message of love and peace.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Creator God, we pray for people and nations whose troubles, brought about by the global pandemic, drown out your music of harmony and where the violent heat of anger seeks to destroy your word of peace.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, we pray for the people around us in our neighbourhoods and our places of work. Give us sensitivity and insight into their needs and vulnerabilities so that we may learn truly to love our neighbours as ourselves. Help us to be responsible and sensible in all our interaction with those around us so that we do not increase the chance of infecting, or being infected by, those we meet.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we pray for people we know who are ill, anxious or bereaved, and for those that are weary and burdened. We pray that you will lead them, and us, in peace towards healing and wholeness of mind and spirit.We bring before you all those whom we know in need of your healing.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, many people die by for many different reasons each day. We return thanks for their lives especially when they have revealed what it means to choose to follow you.
We pray for all we know who have recently died and for those who have theri anniversaries at this time. may they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God, we offer ourselves to you. Show us as we go out into the world how we can best be can serve you and make your love known.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Hymn
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and ever more. AMEN
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Ewch mewn tangnefedd i garu a gwasanaethu'r Arglwydd.
If you would like to donate £5 to the overall work of the 12 churches in the parish, please carefully text: GIVE5 to 70970. Thank you, diolch.
