Hymn 402 – Here is Love

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,
You are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable,
glorious in holiness, full of love and compassion,
abundant in grace and truth:
all your works praise you in all places of your rule.
You have revealed your glory in Jesus Christ your Son,
and so we praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, blessed forever.

Lord God, have mercy on us,
blot out our transgressions
according to your loving kindness,
and the multitude of your tender mercies.
Wash us thoroughly from our iniquities,
and cleanse us from our sins.
Create in us a clean heart,
and renew a right spirit within us.
Guide us with your presence,
and help us with your Holy Spirit.

God of light and truth,
open our eyes to the glory of your presence
in the world around us,
but chiefly in the face
of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord;
that we may grow into his likeness,
and attain the happy fulfillment of our hope
when the splendour of the Saviour
will be revealed;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Reading Luke 14:15-24

¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, ‘Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.’

¹⁶ Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, “Come, for everything is now ready.”

¹⁸ ‘But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, “I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.”

¹⁹ ‘Another said, “I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.”

²⁰ ‘Still another said, “I have just got married, so I can’t come.”

²¹ ‘The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.”

²² ‘“Sir,” the servant said, “what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.”

²³ ‘Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.”’

Sermon – The Parable the Banquet

Hymn 407 – How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

Final Prayer

Loving Father,
out of your glorious riches
strengthen us with power through the Spirit,
so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.
Plant and grow your love in us,
so that we might have power, together with all the your holy people,
to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.
Fill us to the measure of all divine fullness.

Amen

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