Sunday 28th June - The Feast of SS Peter and Paul

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Entrance hymn:

Amazing Grace - Celebration Hymnal 19

Collect

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you in their death as in their life: grant that your Church, inspired by their teaching and example, and made one by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, 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

First reading

Zechariah 4: 1-6, 10 to end

The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is

wakened from sleep. He said to me, ‘What do you see?’ And I said,

‘I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are

seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on

the top of it. And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of

the bowl and the other on its left.’ I said to the angel who talked with

me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ Then the angel who talked with me

answered me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ I said, ‘No, my lord.’ 

He said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by

might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. For

whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and

shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.

‘These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the

whole earth.’ Then I said to him, ‘What are these two olive trees

on the right and the left of the lampstand?’ And a second time I

said to him, ‘What are these two branches of the olive trees,

which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?’ He said to me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ I said, ‘No, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.’

Gospel

Matthew 16: 13-19

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Offertory hymn:

Fight the good fight - New English Hymnal 359

Hymn after Communion:

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds - NEH 374

Post communion prayer

Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Final Hymn:

Lord, you give the great commission:

"Heal the sick and preach the Word."

Lest the church neglect its mission

and the gospel go unheard

help us witness to your purpose

with renewed integrity;

Refrain:

With the Spirit's gifts empower us

for the work of ministry.

Lord, you call us to your service:

"In my name baptize and teach."

That the world may trust your promise

life abundant meant for each

give us all new fervour, draw us

closer in community;

Refrain:

Lord, you make the common holy:

"This my body, this my blood."

Let us all, for earth's true glory,

daily lift life heavenward,

asking that the world around us

share your children's liberty;

Refrain

Lord, you show us love's true measure:

"Father, what they do, forgive."

Yet we hoard as private treasure

all that you so freely give.

May your care and mercy lead us

to a just society;

Refrain

Lord, you bless with words assuring:

"I am with you to the end."

Faith and hope and love restoring,

may we serve as you intend,

and, amid the cares that claim us,

hold in mind eternity;

Refrain

Mid-week Mass for Wednesday 24th June,

the Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist, is available on our Facebook page here