Trinity 15
15th Sunday after Trinity - Hymns 360, 296, 302, 346
First Reading: Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria. Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!
Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
Responsorial Psalm 146 - Response: The Lord shall reign for ever.
Alleluia. Praise the Lord, O my soul: while I live will I praise the Lord; as long as I have any being, I will sing praises to my God. The Lord shall reign for ever.
Put not your trust in princes, nor in any human power, for there is no help in them. When their breath goes forth, they return to the earth; on that day all their thoughts perish. The Lord shall reign for ever.
Happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their help, whose hope is in the Lord their God; who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps his promise for ever; who gives justice to those that suffer wrong and bread to those who hunger. The Lord shall reign for ever.
The Lord looses those that are bound; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down: the Lord loves the righteous; The Lord shall reign for ever.
The Lord watches over the stranger in the land; he upholds the orphan and widow; but the way of the wicked he turns upside down. The Lord shall reign for ever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Alleluia.
The Lord shall reign for ever.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6: 6-9
Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time — he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
GOSPEL: Luke 16: 19-31
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.”
‘But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.”
‘He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house —for I have five brothers — that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.”
‘Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.”
‘He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.”
‘He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”’
NEWS FROM ST MICHAEL'S
A warm welcome to any new readers and to anyone new to St Michael's. A particular welcome to Fr Paul Matthias, who is kindly celebrating Mass for us today.
Fr Neil and Elizabeth's thank-you card, with a picture of the patio furniture they bought with our parting gift, can be seen in the narthex. Fr Neil emailed last week that the shop's loyalty scheme has now enabled them to acquire, almost free, 2 further chairs, to use on their balcony - “So the gift from the church went on giving!”
Forward in Faith's AGM takes place at St Michael's, Harbledown, on Saturday 8th October, beginning with Mass at 10 am and finishing by 12.30. The paperwork has unfortunately been delayed, but please, members, try to be there, and if you haven't yet joined, do think seriously about joining – visit forwardinfaith.com.
A Michaelmas Requiem Mass for Fr Paul Gibbons will be celebrated at the Ordinariate Chapel (37A, Barming Road, Wateringbury) on Thursday 29th September at 11am. Some people who were unable to attend his funeral may like to come; Eleanor will have one or two places in her car. Please spread the word. Refreshments served afterwards.
The St Michael's Schools' Michaelmas Service takes place in church, also on Michaelmas Day, at 9.30 am. We shall not have a Mass here that day, but everyone is invited to join the congregation at St Michael's, Harbledown, for Mass at 7.30 pm, followed by a reception.
Offers of food and help for next Sunday's Michaelmas/Harvest Lunch are still most welcome – please see the list in the narthex.
From our Tower:
Kent County Association - Maidstone, Kent
St Michael and All Angels
Monday, 19 September 2022 (6–1–24 in C)
General Ringing
Rounds, Bob Doubles, St Simons. Rung fully muffled with the tenor open at backstroke
1Terence V Barnard
2Michael A Birkbeck
3Charlotte T Elvers
4Mark T Elvers
5Martin Gerhards
6Deborah Goacher
7Graham D Heath
8Betsy Piercey
Rung immediately following the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
Readers' List for October:
Warmest thanks to all our readers. If unable to read on the day listed, please feel free to make an arrangement with another reader. Please, as far as possible, try to arrive at the lectern simultaneously and return to your places simultaneously.
October 2nd OT Mike Trout, NT Eta Kwalombota
October 9th OT Ralph Baldock, NT Paul Jones
October 16th OT Katja Svarts, NT Margaret Gatehouse
October 23^rd^ OT Eleanor Relle, NT Catherine Garland
October 30th OT Eta Kwalombota, NT Mike Trout.
Would YOU like to become one of our readers? New faces, new voices, always welcome!
Could you pass this sheet on to someone else who might like to see it?