27th September 2026
17th  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 Lord, 
we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers 
 of your people who call upon you; 
 and grant that they may both perceive and know 
 what things they ought to do, 
 and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 
 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
Ezekial 18.1-4. 25-end
Psalm 15.1-8
Philippeans 2.1-13



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 21.23-32

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 
25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 
 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 
 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” 
 Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 
 29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 
 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 
 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” 
 “The first,” they answered. 
 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
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: There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

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