18 August 2024
11:00 | 
Posted by
Dr Platts |
The Third Sunday, so our 2 track system today. In the Church Hall Crafty Communion with Father Chris and the families with young children and in Church the sung service of Matins with Father Roger. The Canticles were sung to Anglican Chant as the choir is still in recess. There was time for a quick Coffee after the service before the Football team arrived from the church hall to prepare for their part in the Deanery Football Tournament which will take place on the 1st of September.
Many Thanks to Clare Cobden for taking the practise and organising the youngsters and to Sam Brading who joined in and played with them.
A reading from the firt book of Kings.
David slept with his ancestors,
and was buried in the city of David.
The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years;
he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David;
and his kingdom was firmly established.
Solomon loved the Lord,
walking in the statutes of his father David;
only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.
The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there,
for that was the principal high place;
Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar.
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.
I give you also what you have not asked,
both riches and honour all your life;
no other king shall compare with you.
If you will walk in my ways,
keeping my statutes and my commandments,
as your father David walked,
then I will lengthen your life.’
Ephesians 5:15-20
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Ephesians.
Brothers and sisters,
Be careful then how you live,
not as unwise people but as wise,
making the most of the time,
because the days are evil.
So do not be foolish,
but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery;
but be filled with the Spirit,
as you sing psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs among yourselves,
singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 6:51-58
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to the crowd:
'I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’
The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying,
‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’
So Jesus said to them,
‘Very truly, I tell you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you have no life in you.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life,
and I will raise them up on the last day;
for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me,
and I in them.
Just as the living Father sent me,
and I live because of the Father,
so whoever eats me will live because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven,
not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died.
But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’
