Lent 2.
Collect
O God, you see that we lack the strength to help ourselves: protect us both inwardly and outwardly; that our bodies may be guarded from adversity, and our minds may be defended from such thoughts as assault and harm the soul; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans.
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”
Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
Reader: For the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God.
The Gospel
When the Gospel is read in a communion service, in response to the reader’s introduction, the People say:
(8am) Glory be to thee, O Lord. Or
(11am) Glory to Christ our Saviour.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
When the Gospel is read in a communion service, in response to the reader’s concluding lines, the People say:
(8am) Thanks be to thee, O Lord, for this thy Glorious Gospel
or (11am) Praise to Christ our Lord.
Source of the readings:
Romans 5: 12-19, Matthew 4: 1-11
Prayers for This Week
In the Anglican Cycle of prayer: We pray for the Province de L’Eglise Anglicane Du Congo The Most Revd Zacharie Masimango Katanda – Archbishop of the Congo & Bishop of Kindu.
In the Porvoo Communion Prayer Diary: We pray for in the Church of England: Diocese of Chelmsford, Bishop Stephen Cottrell, Bishop John Perumbalath, Bishop Roger Morris, Bishop Peter Hill and in the Church of Sweden: Diocese of Karlstad, Bishop Sören Dalevi.
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: we pray for the congregation of St Peter’s Church, New Pitsligo and for their Rector Reverend Richard O’Sullivan.
In our own parish prayers, we remember: the work of Father Christopher and the Nadaikavoo School in South India; we pray for Tom and his family, Tim, Ron, Hilda, Barbara, Kate, Oliver and his parents, Julie and Graham, Tish and Jim; Helen, Sue, Sheila, Rachel, Peter, Mac and Linda, Don, and for all those we hold quietly in our hearts and all who need our prayers.
| THIS WEEK 08 March Lent 2 8 am Holy Eucharist 11 am Sung Eucharist | NEXT WEEK 15 March Lent 3 8 am Holy Eucharist 11 am Matins / All Age | |
| Welcomers | Kath Atkin Susan Mackintosh | Rosalind Eames Prue Wilson |
| Readers | Gilly Whatling Tina Hammond | Dorothy Howe Pauline Potts |
| Celebrant/Leader | Lynsay Downs | Lynsay Downs |
| Deacon | —– | —— |
| Preacher | Ken Elliott | Lynsay Downs |
| Intercessions | Andy Bond | —— |
| Chalice Bearers | Paul Woodburn Sandra Gibbons | —— |
| Organist/Musician | Geoffrey Atkinson | Mary Walkden |
| Sunday School | Vinny, Diana | |
| Coffees | Paul and Joan Woodburn | Maddie Thurlow |
| Prayers after the Service | Andy Bond | ——- |
Pattern of Worship at St Ternan’s
WEEKDAYS
Tuesdays 9.00 am – Eucharist with Discussion in the Church Vestry
Thursdays 10.15am – Prayer Book Communion in the Choir Stalls
SUNDAYS
8.00 am Eucharist (1970)
11.00 am
1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Sundays – Eucharist with Choir
3rd Sundays – two options:
11.00 am Choral Matins in the Church
11.00 am All Age Contemporary Eucharist in the Church Hall
6.30 pm – First Sundays- Traditional Evensong
All ages are welcome to participate in our worship.
The 1st Sunday of the month is ALL SORTS SUNDAY
when, during the service we offer:
pre-school children Diddy-Disciples,
primary aged children Godly Play
and our young people meet in Tease for discussion.
On the 3rd Sunday of the month we have a service of All Age Worship, which takes place in the Church Hall.
On the other Sundays we offer Sunday School during the service as well as having toys and activities available in Church.
All are welcome at this communion table.
Gluten-free wafers available; please tell one of the Welcomers if you prefer
that form of the consecrated bread, and they will alert the leader / priest.
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Saint Ternan’s Church is open every day for quiet reflection.
Contact Information for Saint Ternan’s
Scottish Charity No. 008533
High Street, Banchory AB 31 5TB
http://www.stternansbanchory.org
Rector: The Reverend Canon Lynsay M Downs
Phone: 01330 824458
Church Wardens:
Lizzie Finlayson (01330 822885). Maddie Thurlow (01330 82294
St Ternans Banchory 