Author: Revd. Karen Mitchell

Sunday

10th August 2025 The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

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.
First Reading
Isaiah 1. 1,10-20
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah.
The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand?
Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation
I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes;
cease to do evil, learn to do good;
seek justice, rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land;
but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Psalm Psalm 50.1-7
The Lord, the most mighty God, has
spoken and called the world from the
rising of the sun to its setting. Out of
Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines
forth; our God comes and will not
keep silence.
Consuming fire goes out before him
and a mighty tempest stirs about
him. He calls the heaven above, and
the earth, that he may judge his
people: Gather to me my faithful,
who have sealed my covenant with
sacrifice.
Let the heavens declare his
righteousness, for God himself
judge. Hear, O my people, and I will
speak: I will testify against you, O
Israel; for I am God, your God.
Second Reading
Hebrews 11.1-3, 8-16
A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-and Sarah herself was barren-because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Gospel Luke 12.32–40
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Post Communion
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.
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Services this week:
Sunday 10th August The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
10am Sung Mass
Refreshments are available after this service, please do stay and join us.
Tuesday 12th August
10am Said Mass
10.30am - 12pm Tea & Toast
Wednesday 13th August
12-2pm Fun & Food
Friday 15th August VJ 80
10am Service of Commemoration Old Town War Memorial
Sunday 17th August The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
10am Sung Mass
Refreshments are available after this service, please do stay and join us.
Your prayers are asked at this time for:
All those who are sick or in any kind of need
Those who have recently Departed:
Those whose anniversary of death occurs at about this time:
Notices
Fundraising: We currently have the 50/50 Raffle on a monthly basis, £1 per ticket (you can have as many tickets as you want), the prize money being split between the roof fund and the winning ticket number, the next draw will take place on Sunday 31st August.
Porch Pantry: We are currently in desperate need of Microwave Rice, Pot Noodles, Tampons, Crisps, Toothpaste, Biscuits (Treat Size), Noodles. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Eco Church Silver Award: We are a little over our commitment of revisiting the UK based environmental footprint calculator questionnaire, to see if we as a congregation have made a difference by decreasing our carbon footprint this can either be done by scanning the QR code on the poster in church or by going to https://footprint.wwf.org.uk. Please do record your result (anonymously) on the sheet on the Caring for Creation Board at the back of church. If you previously took part in this, your results will be shown when you go onto this site so you will be able to see if you have got better!
The Funeral of Hazel Crump will take place at Harwood Park Crematorium on Monday 1st September at 2pm, please do make every effort to come along and support Hazel’s family.
Tea & Toast: We will be serving Tea (or coffee) and Toast (with jam or marmalade) from 10.30am on a Tuesday Morning, please do come and join us, and why not bring a friend as well!
Stewardship: As we journey together in faith, we are reminded that Christian stewardship is not just about giving, it is about gratitude, responsibility, and trust. Our time, talents, and treasures are all blessings to be shared, therefore each one of us is asked to prayerfully consider how we can support the life and mission of our parish. Below are some of the ways that we could do this, and during the next few weeks each of you will receive a personal letter regarding stewardship, which I ask you to respond to, but for now please think and pray about what you can offer.
Time: Can you offer a couple of hours each week to help with Serving at the Altar, Reading or Interceding at services, Porch Pantry, Tea & Toast or Parish Events?
Talent: Do you have skills, administrative, musical, technical, creative, that could bless our outreach and community?
Treasure: Your financial contributions make a real difference. Even a small regular offering helps sustain our worship, outreach, and community programs.
Let each one of us and not just a few be generous stewards of all that God has entrusted to us.
If you would like further information on any of the above, please speak with Karen, Jan or the Churchwardens.
Dates For Your Diary 2025:
Sunday 10th August The Eighth Sunday after Trinity
10.00am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
Tuesday 12th August 10am Said Mass
10.30am Tea & Toast
Wednesday 13th August 12-2pm Fun & Food
Friday 15th August VJ80 10am Service of Commemoration Old Town War Memorial
Sunday 17th August The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
10.00am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
Tuesday 19th August 10am Said Mass
10.30am Tea & Toast
Wednesday 20th August 12-2pm Fun & Food
Sunday 24th August The Tenth Sunday after Trinity
10.00am Sung Mass followed by refreshments
Tuesday 26th August 10am Said Mass
10.30am Tea & Toast
Wednesday 27th August 7pm Lectio Divina
Contact Us
Rector: Reverend Karen Mitchell Email: revd.karenmitchell@btinternet.com Tel: 07596 374372
Churchwardens: Mr Mike Wilson Email: mikw505050@gmail.com Mr Eric Walton Email: enricowalton@gmail.com
Treasurer: Ms Jennifer Higgins Email: jah039@gmail.com