Parkend and Viney Hill Churches
The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
25th October 2026
Last 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
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read,
mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that,
through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings
Leviticus 19.1=2,15-18
Psalm 1
1 Thessalonians 22.34-end
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 – Luke 14.1-14
14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.
5 Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child[a] or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say.
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
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: I cannot tell