Prayer

with the Anglican Communion we pray for the Church of Southern Africa; for Archbishop Justin; within our diocese, for Bishops Tim, David and Debbie; for our cathedral, Dean Catherine, the staff and many volunteers in their calling to renew, inspire and unite, and to welcome visitors as pilgrims

our mission giving: £1,500 for USPG, for their work in direct partnership with Anglican churches around the world, helping those in greatest need

peace in Mali following the coup last month; relationships with neighbouring West African states; control of the Islamist insurgency; economic recovery

staff and children at St Paul’s Pre-school; those attending for the first time Western, our church school, as the children settle in to their new classes;

children in Reception and their parents, as they adjust to school life teachers at all Winchester schools as they welcome back pupils who haven’t

been in school for many months; that the Covid-19 precautions will work effectively; all who are anxious or vulnerable

all those leaving home to go to university over the next few weeks; universities as they cope with the current limitations and challenges

continuing improvement in the efficacy of test and trace work to limit the spread of coronavirus in the UK and throughout Europe

our preparations for re-opening St Paul’s for worship once building works are finished; John Schulz as he instals wiring and equipment to allow live-streaming of services

the unwell: baby Emily, Jean Gardner, Bob Harland, Anna Johnson, Phillippa Lerclercq, Patricia Watts and David Wilson

the long-term unwell: Caroline Behan, William Buncombe, Vera Edwards, Julia Jones, Kate Morgan, Jane Seal, Brett Tribe and Vera Willnecker

those who have died recently, including Maurice Obstancias and Leonard Pearce; all living with the pain of untimely death

Welcome to the parish online

6 September 2020

The 13th Sunday after Trinity

Please feel free to send prayer requests to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org or contact Peter Seal on 854849

Services for 6 September

9.30 am

Opening hymn

The Gathering

The Greeting

Prayer of preparation

Prayers of penitence

Sunday Eucharist (online)

Father, Lord of all creation, ground of being, life and love

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus said: before you offer your gift, go and be reconciled. As brothers and sisters in God’s family, we come together to ask our Father for forgiveness.

Let us confess our sins.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.

Gloria

Collect

Liturgy of the word

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.

Confirm, O God, in unity and truth the Church you gather in Christ. Encourage the fervent, enlighten the doubtful, and bring back the wayward. Bind us together in mutual love, that our prayer in Christ’s name may be pleasing to you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

Reader: Nathalie Schulz

Ezekiel 33: 7–11 [p. 300] So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die’, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Gradual hymn

Gospel reading

Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: ‘Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

Reader: Sandra Lewis

Romans 13: 8–14 [p. 301] Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’. Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

A new commandment I give unto you

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 18: 15–20 [p. 301] ‘If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’

Sermon

Prayers

Nicene Creed

This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Canon Peter Seal

Intercessor: Katie Seal

Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for God’s goodness.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

Liturgy of the sacrament

Offertory hymn

Eucharistic Prayer

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called children of God. We meet in the name of Christ and share his peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give thanks and praise.

We glorify and enjoy you now and for ever, gracious God, because you created the universe as your work of art and set us in the midst of it. When the canvas of your kindness was torn by our sin, you crafted a work of even more depth and beauty from the damage we had done. When your Son’s body was scarred and pierced, you raised him to glorious life. In your chosen people you drew out a song of thankfulness and praise, and in your Church you give us voices to shout and dance and sculpt and inscribe the wonders of your love. And so we rejoice to join with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

We lift our hearts to you, Lord God, because you draw your whole creation into the celebration of your glory. Send down your Holy Spirit upon us now, that every part of every one of us might become an instrument of your peace. Give us your very self in these gifts of bread and wine and make them be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me’.

After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

Great is the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

God of justice, make us a prophetic people, whose every work and every act is a proclamation of the new order found in you and worthy of your kingdom. Holy God, make us a priestly people, whose lives are so transparent with your truth that we become a place of encounter between you and your belovèd children.

The Lord’s Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

Agnus Dei

Giving of Communion

Reigning God, make us a kingly people, whose hearts are filled with worship and wonder and who seek to bring every one of your gifts to fruition in the power of your Spirit. We pray in union with Christ in the power of your Holy Spirit, God of glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us your peace.

Lord Jesus, we believe that you are present in this most holy sacrament. We love you above all things and desire to receive you into our souls. Since we cannot at this time receive you sacramentally together, come into our hearts. We embrace you, knowing you are already there, and unite ourselves wholly to you. Never permit us to be separated from you. Amen.

Post-Communion prayers

Hymn

Blessing

11.15 St Matthew’s

God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna, the living bread from heaven: let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage until we come to that place where hunger and thirst are no more; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

Onward, Christian pilgrims, Christ will be our light

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you, your homes and loved ones today and always. Amen.

Be wherever you are, and wherever you may go this week, safely and faithfully. In the name of Christ. Amen.

[BCP] Mattins

Services next Sunday, 13 September

The 14th Sunday after Trinity

BCP

9.30 am

9.30 am

11.15 am St Matthew’s

p. 179

Sunday Eucharist Readings: Exodus 14: 19–31; Romans 14: 1–12; Matthew 18: 21–35 [p. 302]

Children’s service

[BCP] Holy Communion

Prayer for the start of Creationtide Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Lord my God, you are great. You are clothed with the energy of atoms

as with a mantle from a cloud of whirling cosmic dust,

as on the potter’s wheel you began to tease out the whorls of the galaxies

and the gas escaped from your fingers, condensing and burning, as you were fashioning the stars.

You made a spatterdash of planets like spores or seeds and scattered comets like flowers.

From Earth Prayers by Ernesto Cardenal (1925–2020), poet-priest from Nicaragua

Notices

Contributions for October magazine We would welcome articles, reflections, prayers, book reviews, etc. for the next parish magazine. Also photos and drawings to share our ongoing community life: horizontal format, ‘actual size’ or ‘large’ from a mobile, indicating name of photographer. Send to ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org by Thurs 10 September. (Final editorial choice rests with Peter Seal, and we reserve the right to edit material.)

Services at St Matthew’s with organ music If you would like to attend, please contact Linda Russell-Smith, 853584. This system of co-ordinating names and numbers continues to work really well. A reminder: please don’t just arrive and hope to be able to come in. For the safety of us all this just won’t be possible.

Preparing for re-opening St Paul’s and for Sunday worship We’re very much hoping to be able to worship together again for our 9.30 Sunday Eucharist in the second half of September. The maximum safe capacity is 50, and we need to set up a booking system. To help us think this through it would be really helpful to know if you anticipate that you will want to worship in St Paul’s in this way. Please contact Peter Seal, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org, 854849, indicating YES, NO or MAYBE, and he will add you to the list. Thank you to all who have already responded.

Another element of preparation for worshipping again is ‘live-streaming’. The plan (thanks to John Schulz) is that the Eucharist will be live-streamed via YouTube. This means that wherever you are, you will be able to be part of Sunday worship as it happens. Our current thinking is that for those who don’t want to be filmed in this way there will be an area not covered by cameras where you can sit.

Cleaner required for St Paul’s Part-time job, 6 hours per week (3 sessions of 2 hours). If you’d be interested or know of someone who would, please contact ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org or peter@stmatthewstpaul.org, 854849.

Request from Janet Bird Does anyone remember Leonard Pearce, formerly of this parish, who died recently? If you do, please let Janet know, on 881173.

Clarendon Way walk, Sat 12 September If you’d like to join Peter Seal for part or all of the 24-mile hike, please contact him: peter@stmatthewstpaul.org, 854849. Funds raised this year will be shared between Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust (who have kindly given us a number of grants over the years to help with building projects – our turn to support other churches with their projects) and Winchester Hospice.

Also on Sat 12 September, 10 am–6 pm, hundreds, or maybe thousands, of people will cycle, walk, run or drive

to raise money for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s historic churches and chapels. Participants seek sponsorship to visit as many churches on the yearly list as they

file:///G:/My%20Drive/ADMINISTRATION/WELCOME%20SHEETS/welcome%20sheets%202020/welcome08Aug2020/ursula@stmatthewstpaul.orgfile:///G:/My%20Drive/ADMINISTRATION/WELCOME%20SHEETS/welcome%20sheets%202020/welcome08Aug2020/peter@stmatthewstpaul.org

wish; half the money they raise goes to the church of their choice and the rest to the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust.

Volunteers will be welcoming Ride + Striders at both churches on 12 September. If you’re not doing the Clarendon Way walk, please consider whether you could be a welcomer. Offers to Heather Ellis, 07933 477213, heather.ellis933@outlook.com.

Rectory drop-off point for Basics Bank gifts 44 Cheriton Road, yellow box by the garage. Most wanted items: tinned vegetables (especially carrots), tinned fruit (no grapefruit or prunes), marmite, peanut butter, jam, custard, rice pudding, coffee (small jars or refill bags), fruit squash.

Lebanon appeal –two options Following the horrific explosion in Beirut, click here to help via Christian Aid in the distribution of food, water, hygiene and disinfection materials, of clothes, mattresses and blankets, in supporting affected households to access medicine and health services, in mobilising volunteer groups in rubble removal, and much more. To contribute via Embrace the Middle East, click here to help supply emergency food parcels.

https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/lebanon-crisis-appealhttps://www.secure-server-hosting.com/secutran/secureforms/sh207792/embrace_appeal_aug20.html

Eco Church

Photo, video or drawing competition for ages 15 to 25 Young Ecovisions asks, ‘Can you make your neighbourhood more ecological? Tired of feeling anxious about climate change and environmental doom? Take action! Click here to find out how to enter.

Switch off! According to Energy Saving Trust, you can save around £35 and year just by turning off devices on standby mode. With around 98% of households not switching the TV off at the wall, nationally this adds up to a significant amount of avoidable carbon emissions.

Do check the instructions for any appliances you aren’t sure about. Some TV recorders need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of programmes you want to record ... and don’t unplug the fridge! (Further information here.)

Do send suggestions to promote our caring for God’s creation, from all ages please, to alexa.heady@gmail.com.

https://michellenicholsonsanz.uk/Sustainhoods/Young-Ecovisions/?fbclid=IwAR0cUipN7_6B-miL5D6oRXo_Idwa2QEotkjL4Wpap8gOd7uv7sp9raWwmZYhttps://www.money.co.uk/energy/guides/why-you-should-not-leave-devices-on-standby-modemailto:alexa.heady@gmail.com

Building for Life update

More good progress:

a lovely additional oak bench in the Resurrection Chapel further installation of kitchen units the vestry has its hand basin and desk surface a large team has been in church, cleaning please pray that a solution for a number of final challenges will be found soon

Glenn demonstrates the sockets for the communion rails

For the full photo story to date, click here

Leadworker Mark at the ‘living water’ font

https://www.flickr.com/photos/145772564@N07/albums/72157711008299057/with/48773294103/

Contact us

Canon Peter Seal, Rector 854849 (h) 844878 (office) M, Tu, W, Th, peter@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Mary Copping, Children/Youth Co-ordinator & Assistant Priest 07921 886016 M, Tu, W, F, youth@stmatthewstpaul.org

Revd Liz Stuart, Curate liz@stmatthewstpaul.org

Katy Palacio, Parish Administrator 844878 M, W, F, admin@stmatthewstpaul.org

Ursula Payne, Rector’s Assistant & Building for Life Administrator 844878 M, Tu, Th, ursula@stmatthewstpaul.org (please send me any notices)

Parish Office (currently closed to visitors), St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB, 844878, www.stmatthewstpaul.org

Staff are working from home whenever possible, and can be reliably contacted by email; parish meetings are cancelled until further notice

Please make cheques payable to St Matthew’s PCC – all gifts gratefully received

Bible readings: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Common Worship: Times and Seasons copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing. Eucharistic prayer from Joining the Angels’ Song: Eucharistic Prayers for Sundays and Holy Days, Years A, B, and C, copyright © Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher 2016 and published by Canterbury Press, an imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern

Alek Rapoport (1933–1997), Trinity in Dark Tones (Genesis 18), 1994. Tempera on cotton, 48 x 63 in (121.9 x 160 cm). Collection of the artist’s family, USA