St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, who called your Church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

 

First Reading

Joshua 24.1-2a,14-18

1Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2And Joshua said to all the people,

14 ‘Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’

16Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.’ 

 

Psalm

Psalm 34.15-22

The eyes of the Lord are upon the 

righteous ♦ 

and his ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against

those who do evil, ♦ 

to root out the remembrance of them

from the earth.

17 The righteous cry and the Lor

hears them ♦ 

and delivers them out of all their

troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the 

brokenhearted ♦ 

and will save those who are crushed in

spirit.

19 Many are the troubles of the 

righteous; ♦ 

from them all will the Lord deliver

them.

20 He keeps all their bones, ♦ 

so that not one of them is broken.

21 But evil shall slay the wicked ♦ 

and those who hate the righteous will

be condemned.

22 The Lord ransoms the life of his 

servants ♦ 

and will condemn none who seek

refuge in him.

​

Second Reading

Ephesians 6.10-20

10Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak. 

​

Gospel 

John 6.56-69

Jesus said to the crowd: 56‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ 59He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ 68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’ 

 

Post Communion Prayer

God our creator, you feed your children with the true manna,
the living bread from heaven:
let this holy food sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage
until we come to that place
where hunger and thirst are no more; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):

Post Communion (13th after Trinity) ©  1980, 1986 Mowbray, a Cassell Imprint: Prayers for the Alternative Services comp. David Silk

Ephesians 6.10-20 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

John 6.56-69 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

Joshua 24.1-2a,14-18 ©  1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA

Collect (13th after Trinity) ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000 Psalm 34.15-22 ©  The Archbishops' Council 2000