Weekly Worship Week beginning 15062020 Collective Worship Theme
Weekly Worship Week beginning: 15/06/2020 Collective Worship Theme: We are one body in Christ
Sundays Gospel A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink” Jesus said to the crowd: ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world. ’ Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat? ’ they said. Jesus replied: 'I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. ’
Gospel Reflection This Sunday at Mass we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi giving thanks for the gift of Jesus’ body and blood. Although at the moment we are not able to receive the Eucharist at Mass we can reflect on the gift it is. ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world. ’ This feast day is also a clear and important reminder that each of us are equal and valued members of the Body of Christ. Each of us in our own uniqueness with our own very different gifts and talents form one body to achieve great things.
Weekly Prayer We have reflected on the gift of Christ’s body to us and our own part in the body of Christ, help us we pray: Jesus, body and blood, we are grateful for the gift of your life and the way it strengthens us to live ours. Teach us to draw on the gift of your body and blood for energy, renewed strength and grace. May we never take the gift of your presence for granted. Amen
Saint of the week: Saint Richard of Chichester Feast Day: 16 th June Bishop and leading figure in England during his era, also called Richard de Wyche. Born at Wyche, Worcestershire, England, he was orphaned while a young lad, managed to regain his fortune which had been mismanaged by others, and received an excellent education at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna, Italy. At Oxford, he studied under the famous Robert Grossteste and became friends with St. Edmund Rich. He earned a doctorate in law from the University of Bologna. Upon going home to England, he was named chancellor to Edmund's successor, St. Boniface of Savoy. When King Henry Ill appointed Ralph Neville to the see of Chichester in 1244, Boniface declared the nomination invalid and named Richard to the post, an act which caused an uproar in the kingdom. Finally, in 1245, Pope Innocent IV found in Richard's favor, but Richard was prevented from entering his palace by the machinations , of Henry. Only after the king was threatened with excommunication was Richard able to take up his duties. He insisted upon strict adherence to discipline among the clergy, aided the poor, and fearlessly denounced the corruption and vices of the contemporary Church and the royal court. His death came at Dover, in a home for poor priests, while delivering a plea for a crusade. Richard was canonized in 1262, and his tomb became a popular shrine noted for its miracles until the Reformation in England. Prayer of Saint Richard of Chichester Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits thou hast given me, for all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother, may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Quote of the week
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