| Hymns NEH
353 Dear Lord and Father of mankind REPTON
366 God of mercy God of Grace HEATHLANDS
393 Lead us heavenly Father MANNHEIM
294 Just as I am SAFFRON WALDEN
394 Let all the world LUCKINGTON
Duties
Sacristan: Lizz M; Reader: M Dobbs; Intercessions John M; Sidesperson: Sue Cave; Offertory: M & K Dobbs; Chalice: Christian; Coffee: Carol
Collect
Almighty God,
who in Christ makest all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of thy grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known thy heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post Communion Prayer
God of glory,
as thou dost nourish us with thy Word
who is the bread of life:
fill us with thy Holy Spirit
that through us the light of thy glory
may shine in all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Old Testament:
Isaiah 49. 1-7
These verses take the form of a conversation between ‘the Servant’ and God. Scholars have found it difficult to pinpoint exactly to whom the prophet is referring as the Servant, but Christians see in these verses an affirmation of Jesus as God’s pre-ordained Servant for this saving work. The Servant first announces his authorization from God. The poet/prophet’s strong message is that God works through a human agent to bring healing to His people – and not just to Israel but to the rest of the world. Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
2And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
3And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
4Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
5And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
6And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
7Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
Alleluia Alleluia Behold the Lamb of God that takest away the sin of the world. Alleluia
Gospel:
John 1: 29-42
The earlier verses give an account of John being confronted by Jewish leaders who were questioning his work and his authority. Now, meeting Jesus, John, with prophetic insight, recognizes Him as the One for whom Israel was waiting. – God’s sacrificial Lamb who will take away sin. The Greek word used by the Evangelist for ‘takes away’ is ‘airōn’ which, interestingly, has within it two meanings – both ‘bearing the burden of’ and the ‘carrying away of’ that sin. He bears it, He removes it.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. |
