Service Sheet: Sunday 19th November 2023

ST. MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS’ CHURCH, HELENSBURGH

Charity Registered in Scotland SC006468 

Margaret of Scotland, 1093

INTROIT HYMN 834 (Omit v3) Will you come and follow me

COLLECT

Almighty God, who called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and endued her with zeal for your Church and charity towards your people: mercifully grant that we, who commemorate her example, may be fruitful in good works and attain to the glorious company of your saints; 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

Proverbs 31. 10-­13, 25-­31

Ode to a Capable Wife

A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

PSALM ­ Psalm 128
R. May the Lord bless you all the days of your life.

Blessed are all those who fear the Lord, and walk in his ways. You shall eat the fruit of the toil of your hands; it shall go well with you, and happy shall you be. R

Your wife within your house shall be like a fruitful vine; your children round your table, like fresh olive branches. Thus shall the one be blest who fears the Lord. R

The Lord from out of Zion bless you, that you may see Jerusalem in prosperity all the days of your life. May you see your children’s children, and may there be peace upon Israel. R

EPISTLE

2 Timothy 1. 1-­7

Salutation

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving & Encouragement

I am grateful to God ­ whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did ­ when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-­discipline.

GRADUAL HYMN 66 (Omit v3) Be thou my vision

GOSPEL

Matthew 13. 44­-46

Three Parables

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

OFFERTORY HYMN 337 I, the Lord of sea and sky 

COMMUNION HYMN 326 I bind unto myself today

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Father, we thank you for your servant Margaret, in whom we see the loving service of Christ. May we who receive these holy mysteries be faithful in the ministry to which you call us; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

RECESSIONAL HYMN 349 Immortal, invisible, God only wise

BLESSING

Christ our king make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory; 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.