Prayer and Meditation for July and August

Holy Spirit, be especially close to those who feel lonely and isolated in their task of giving witness to their faith in Jesus Christ. Do not let them become discouraged.  Keep them united and courageous, so that the message they may give, may come from cheerful hearts  and bring light and hope to others. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Sunday 14th August

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

COLLECT
Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant, we pray,
that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.  Amen.
 

FIRST READING                  1 Corinthians 15:20-27
Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man.  For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the first fruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.”
 

GOSPEL                                  Luke 1:39-56
Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.  He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.”  Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

MUSIC AT THE SUNDAY 10am MASS

Hymns                   315         Sing we of the Blessed mother (Abbot’s Leigh)

313         For Mary, mother of our Lord (Botolph)

318         Ye who own the faith of Jesus (Daily, Daily)

Recessional Hymn               Hail, Holy Queen enthroned above, O Maria.

Solo - Ave verum (Gounod)

Postlude Premiere:             Improvisation pour la fete de l’Assomption

Composer:                          Jon Crow

Please pray for those who are unwell:

Patrick and Gillian Crow, John Crocker, Marcia, Annie and Andy, Elvira Vryoni-Dickson and family, Anthony, Mary Strange, Claire, Gail Butt, Wendy Hall, Scot Ruskin, Eileen Cleaver, Annette Beck and Dorothy Charlton.

Please pray for the recently departed; Hilary Blancharde (Priest), Roger Derek, and Maurice Stephens.

and for those in our Year’s Mind:  Pat Scrace (15th), and Tom Barge (16th),

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A PRAYER FOR PEACE AND THE PEOPLE OF THE UKRAINE

Holy and gracious God, we pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia.

We pray for all those who are afraid; for those who are suffering; and for those who are grieving, that your everlasting arms may hold them in this time of great suffering.

We pray for those who choose war; that they will turn their swords into ploughshares and seek for peace.

We pray for the leaders of nations; that they may follow the wisdom and compassion of Christ.    We ask this in the name of your blessed Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.