Service Sheet: Sunday 12th February 2023

ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS’ CHURCH, HELENSBURGH

Charity Registered in Scotland SC006468 

Second Sunday before Lent

INTROIT HYMN 435 (Omit vv 3,4) Let us, with a gladsome mind

COLLECT

Almighty God, grant that with our minds set always on your wisdom and love, we may pursue both in word and deed those things that are pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Genesis 1.1­ – 5, 1. 31­ – 2.3

Six Days of Creation

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

The Sabbath

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

PSALM ­ Psalm 136. 1 – ­9
R. For his mercy endures for ever.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, R

Give thanks to the God of gods, R

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, R

Who alone does great wonders, R

Who by wisdom made the heavens, R

Who laid out the earth upon the waters, R

Who made the great lights, R

The sun to rule the day, R

The moon and the stars to govern the night, R

EPISTLE

Romans 8. 18­ – 25

Future Glory

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

GRADUAL HYMN 627 (Omit vv 3,4) Praise to the Holiest

GOSPEL

Matthew 6. 25­ – 34

Do Not Worry

Jesus taught his disciples, saying: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you ­ you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’

OFFERTORY HYMN 349 Immortal, invisible, God only wise 

COMMUNION HYMN 123 Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Faithful God, as we are nourished by heavenly food, may we live according to your will and show the fruits of your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

RECESSIONAL HYMN 442 (Omit vv 3,4) Light’s abode, celestial Salem

BLESSING

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA amended according to the Revised Common Lectionary in NRSV. Psalm from the Book of Common Worship of the Church of England. Collect, Prayer after Communion and Blessing from Scottish Liturgy 1982 with Propers and Revised Common Lectionary published by the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Edinburgh 2006.