Parkend and Viney Hill Churches
The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
16th August 2026
11th Sunday after Trinity
Introduction
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
(If a candle is lit)
Grace, mercy and peace
from God the Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with us.
The prayer of preparation
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of penitence
God the Father forgives us in Christ
and heals us by the Holy Spirit.
Let us therefore put away all anger and bitterness,
all slander and malice,
and confess our sins to God our redeemer.
(cf Ephesians 4.30, 32)
A moment to reflect
May the Father forgive us
by the death of his Son
and strengthen us to live
in the power of the Spirit all our days.
Amen.
Gloria
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Songs of adoration
Lord to you we bring,
Praising your great goodness,
Father, heavenly king.
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Son of the Father,
bearing this world’s sin,
Lamb of God, have mercy,
grant us peace within.
You, O Christ are holy,
you alone are Lord,
With the Holy Spirit,
evermore adored.
Glory to God!
our hearts to you we raise,
Joy and peace on earth,
in highest heaven praise!
Collect
O God,
you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,
that we, running the way of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;
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.
Readings
Isaiah 56.1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11.1-2a, 29-32
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
one God, who was, and who is, and who is to come,
the Almighty.
Reading – Matthew 15.10-28
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen
Intercessions
We bring before God all of our concerns and thanksgivings, our desires and our needs.
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.
The Peace
Peace to us from God our heavenly Father.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life giver.
The peace of the triune God be always with us.
Lord Jesus,
you made yourself known in the breaking of the bread
I love you above all things
and I desire you to receive my soul:
since I cannot at this moment receive Communion,
come at least spiritually into my heart;
I embrace you as if you were already there
and unite myself wholly to you,
never let me be separated from you.
Amen
The blessing
God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith and love,
defend us on every side,
and guide us in truth and peace,
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among us and remain with us always.
Hymn: And can it be