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The Collects and
Readings for Second Sunday of Lent Collect: Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the
light of your truth,
that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to all those who are admitted
into the fellowship of Christ's religion,
that they may reject those things
that are contrary to their
profession,
and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who
is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Romans 4:13-25 13 For the promise that
he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of
faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For
the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest
on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith
of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in
the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
18Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to
what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ 19He did not weaken in faith when he considered
his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness
of Sarah’s womb. 20No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith
as he gave glory to God, 21being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22Therefore
his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 23Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’,
were written not for his sake alone, 24but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised
Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
Mark 8:31-38 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all
this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want
to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they
give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ Post Communion Collect:
Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly
in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities
which may happen to the body,
and from all evil
thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Prayers - we have been asked to remember in our prayers: David Aked-Walker, Father Mike, Katie Hakin, Carole
Harrington, Diane Jones, Rev’d John Knight, Philip Le Roux, Sylvia Reynolds and James Wagstaffe |
