St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Collect of the Day

Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
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.

 

First Reading

Isaiah 55.1–5

55Ho, everyone who thirsts,
  come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
  come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
  without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
  and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
  and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
  listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
  my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
  a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
  and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
  for he has glorified you.

 

Psalm

Psalm 145.8–9, 15–22*

8  The Lord is gracious and merciful, ♦︎
  long-suffering and of great goodness.
9  The Lord is loving to everyone ♦︎
  and his mercy is over all his creatures.
15  The Lord upholds all those who fall ♦︎
  and lifts up all those who are bowed down.
16  The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, ♦︎
  and you give them their food in due season.
17  You open wide your hand ♦︎
  and fill all things living with plenty.
18  The Lord is righteous in all his ways ♦︎
  and loving in all his works.
19  The Lord is near to those who call upon him, ♦︎
  to all who call upon him faithfully.
20  He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; ♦︎
  he hears their cry and saves them.
21  The Lord watches over those who love him, ♦︎
  but all the wicked shall he destroy.
22  My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, ♦︎
  and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

 

Second Reading

Romans 9.1–5

9I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

 

Gospel

Matthew 14.13–21

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ 16Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ 17They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ 18And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

Post Communion Prayer
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God:
in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language
  to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. nrsvbibles.org. The Common Worship psalter is © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church