Services

Services at St Giles’

Sunday 12 September Trinity 15

10.00 Service of the word (no Eucharist this week)

Organ Prelude Archer Adoro te, devote

Hym n 538 

First reading: Isaiah 50.4-9a

The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backwards. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Psalm 116 (spoken)

1  I love the Lord, because he has heard

    my voice and my supplications.

2  Because he inclined his ear to me,

    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

3  The snares of death encompassed me;

     the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

     I suffered distress and anguish.

4  Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

5  Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

    our God is merciful.

6  The Lord protects the simple;

    when I was brought low, he saved me.

7  Return, O my soul, to your rest,

    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8  For you have delivered my soul from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling.

Glory to the Father and to the Son

And to the Holy Spirit:

As it was in the beginning, is now

And shall be for ever. Amen.

Second reading: James 3.1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Choir Wilby Wondrous Cross

The Gospel: Mark 8.27-38

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

Offertory Hymn 512

Silent Reflection

Choir SS Wesley Lead me, Lord

Prayers of intercession

Blessing

Notices

The Book Fair raised £6,868

Well beyond expectations. Well done to everyone involved.

Organ S.S.Wesley Choral Song 

Please click here if you would like to make a donation

Weekday Services 

There will be no Morning Prayer on weekdays during the Interregnum.

Thursday 5 August  2021 - Private Prayer and Reflection from 13.00-13.30

You are invited to join others in church on 5 August for our monthly private prayer. You may find this prayer sheet helpful - please bring a copy with you to church. If you are not able to join us, we hope you will continue to pray with us wherever you are.

 Our text for August: ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.’                                                     Matthew 5 v5

Let us pray for the church and the world and thank God for his goodness.

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the fellowship of the church, that supports and helps us to put our faith into practice. Strengthen us, Lord, in your service, that we, may be an encouragement to others and hold fast to all that is good.

As we see the ravages of climate change in the wildfires, droughts, and severe floods around the world we pray for the people affected by these events and for leaders to honour their commitments to do what is necessary to halt the damage being done to our planet and its future.

We pray for the people of Afghanistan who are in grave danger from the threat of the re-emergence and control of the Taliban across the country, for negotiation and reconciliation between the parties to seek a solution that will bring peace and harmony to a country too long locked in war and conflict.

We pray for those who are caught up in modern slavery and trafficking, remembering those who make dangerous journeys by land and sea at the hands of traffickers often fleeing war and conflict in their own countries and for them to be treated with compassion and dignity by the authorities in the countries where they arrive.

We pray for families and friends on or going on holiday this month that it may be a time of happiness to enjoy time together, to relax after the difficult past year and to appreciate the wonder and beauty of God’s world around us.

We pray to our Heavenly Father, to give grace to us, our families, friends, and neighbours that we may serve Christ in one another and love as he loves us.

We pray for comfort to those who suffer in body, mind and spirit remembering those who are waiting for urgent operations and treatment that has been delayed because of the Covid pandemic and we pray for those in the NHS who are working hard to reduce the waiting lists. 

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.                 

We finish by saying the Lord’s Prayer.  

Lectionary for Sundays in September

5 September Trinity 14

Isaiah 35 4-7a; James 2.1-10[11-13] 14-17; Mark 7.24-37

12 September Trinity 15

Isaiah 50.4-9a; James 3.1-12; Mark 8.27-38  

19 September Trinity 16

Wisdom 1.16 - 2.1,12-22, James 3.13 - 4.3,7-8a; Mark 9.30-37

26 September Trinity 17

Numbers 11.4-6,10-16,24-29; James 5.13-20; Mark 9.38-50

Our Liturgy  

We use Common Worship for all services except on the first Sunday of the month when the 1662 Communion Service is used.

Baptisms

Christingle and Mothering Sunday Services

We especially welcome parents, Godparents and children to the Christingle service on Advent Sunday at 16.00 and to the Mothering Sunday service in the Spring as part of the Parish Eucharist at 10.00.

Weddings

"Welcome Back Sunday Service"

Each year we hold a "Welcome Back Service" on the second Sunday in May as part of the 10.00 Parish Eucharist, when we invite those who have been married or have worshipped here and moved away. We give thanks for faithful relationships and marriage, we sing many of the hymns chosen for weddings and the organ music at the end is one of the famous recessional pieces.This is a popular service and all are welcome. There is also an opportunity after the service to show your photos and enjoy a glass of wine or fruit juice.    

Funerals

All Souls' Service

A very popular service, the Commemoration of All Souls is held here on the Sunday nearest 2 November at 16.00.There is music and readings, prayers and the lighting of candles by members of the congregation; the names of the dead are read out and silence kept. People find it very moving and beautiful and make a point of coming back each year.

Memorial Services

Generally a memorial service takes place several weeks after the funeral. Sometimes a memorial service is referred to as a service of thanksgiving. Usually the deceased had a connection either with the church or this part of London.

The Rector and Director of Music are involved in the planning of the service.

The Columbarium

The Columbarium is known as 'one of London's secret gardens.' It lies to the east of the church down a flight of stairs. There are some niches on an outside wall and others are in a covered area enclosed by a gate. We have many requests for the placing of ashes here, but because of the limited space, only the ashes of those who were worshipping members of the congregation or who lived within the parish at time of death are placed there.

"I am the resurrection and the life," says the Lord."Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." John 11.25,26