Services

A suggested prayer for those coming to St Giles' for the first time or returning after the lockdown. 

Almighty God, we praise you for the many blessings you have given to those who worship you in this house of prayer: and we pray that all who seek you in this place may find you, and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, may become a living temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sunday 12 July Trinity 5

Parish Eucharist 10.00 - in church and online

In church there will be orders of Pservice and printed copies of the readings set out safely in the pews. If you would prefer to use an iPad or phone, please download the readings and service sheet 

For those unable to join us in church, the YouTube service will continue at 10.00 during July on the  St. Giles' YouTube Channel

Trinity 5

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God,

by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church

is governed and sanctified:

hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,

that in our vocation and ministry

we may serve you in holiness and truth

to the glory of your name;

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.

Readings

Isaiah 55: 10 – 13

Thus says the Lord: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Psalm 65, 8-13

Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;

you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it;

the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain,

 for so you have prepared it.

You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.

The pastures of the wilderness overflow,  the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

 the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

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: Romans 8: 1 - 11

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he

condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of

the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit,

since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead

will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Gospel: Matthew 13: 1 - 9, 18 - 23

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds

came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and

choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’ ‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in

the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls

away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

This will be followed at 11.00  by a virtual coffee morning conducted via Zoom. Those of you with webcams can follow this event by using this link Virtual coffee morning

Also possible by telephone: +44 203 481 5240, meeting ID: 860 8348 9889 Password; 628503 

We look forward to seeing you!

Sunday Club meets on Sundays till the 19 July at 10.00 on (closed room) Zoom. Co-ordinator Dave Archer davidjrarcher@hotmail.co.uk

Wednesday evenings

Studying together

15 July  at 19.30

Final session this term on the Lord’s Prayer on Zoom. Contact details Alex, curate@stgileschurch.com,

Praying together with Lectio Divina 

22 Juy at 19.30 on Zoom.Final session for this term. For details email Wendy Ellis  wlellis@hotmail.com  

Friday evenings

Compline at 20.30, available on St. Giles' YouTube Channel

Lectionary for Sundays and after Trinity 

12 July Tinity 5

Isaiah 55: 10 – 13; Romans 8: 1 – 6; Matthew 13: 1 – 9, 18 - 23

19 July Trinity 6 

Isaiah 44: 6 – 8; Romans 8: 12 – 19; Matthew 13: 24 – 30,         36 – 43

26 July Trinity 7   

1 Kings 3: 5 – 12; Romans 8: 26 – 39; Matthew 13: 31 – 33,      44 - 52

2 August Trinity 8

Isaiah 55: 1 – 5; Romans 9: 1 – 5; Matthew 14: 13 – 21

9 August Trinity 9

1 Kings 19: 9 – 18; Romans 10: 5 – 9; Matthew 14: 22 – 33

16 August Trinity 10

Isaiah 56: 1, 6 – 8; Romans 11: 1 – 2a, 29 – 32; Matthew 15:     21 - 28

23 August  Trinity 11

Isaiah 51: 1 – 6; Romans 12: 1 – 8; Matthew 16: 13 - 20

30 August  Trinity 12

Jeremiah 15: 15 – 21; Romans 12: 9 – 21; Matthew 16: 21 – 28

Our Liturgy  

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

Praying together 

13.00 -13.30 Private Prayer and Reflection on the first Thursday of the month 

         Thursday 2 July Private Prayer and Reflection                    from 13.00-13.30

During lockdown we have continued to pray together in our own homes on the first Thursday of the month. The church is now open for private prayer and you are invited to join others in church on 2 July. Please bring the July prayer sheet (available as normal on the Service page of the website) with you. If you are not able to join us, we hope you will continue to pray with us wherever you are.

Our text for July. Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest’                                                                                       Matthew 11 v 28

Let us pray to the Lord, who is our refuge and stronghold. 

For the health and well-being of our nation, for wise, clear decisions and co-operation of leaders and International organisations to share expertise, to find a vaccine and to eliminate Covid 19.

For the difficult decisions facing parents, children and young people in terms of their safety, wellbeing and returning to school and to higher education after the summer holidays.

For religious leaders and the safe opening of churches and other places of worship on 5 July.

For all who have lost their jobs or are furloughed and are worried about their future prospects and ability to provide for themselves and their families

For the homeless, refugees and asylum seekers who have found safely in hotels and other accommodation during the pandemic that they may find a suitable place to live and not return to the streets and we pray for the charities and local councils working with them.

For the Black Lives Matter campaign and our need to acknowledge the wrongs of the past and to work to provide a fair society for all.

For the City gardens that provide peace and tranquillity and the joy of music to lighten our days.

                                                                                                        We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.

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

We finish by saying the Lord’s Prayer.

Dates in 2020 - 6 August, 3 September, 1 October, 5 November, 3 December.  

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