United Benefice of St.Mary, Higham Ferrers, and St. John, Chelveston
The United Benefice of
St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers
with St John the Baptist, Chelveston-cum-Caldecott
Sunday 31st August 2025
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Father Paul introduces the service with a well known hymn
HYMN
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like me his praise should sing?
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise the everlasting King.
Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same forever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Alleluia, alleluia,
glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like, he tends and spares us,
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Alleluia, alleluia,
widely as his mercy goes.
Angels, help us to adore him;
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space:
Alleluia, alleluia,
praise with us the God of grace.
words: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) based on Psalm 103
music: John Goss (1800-1880)
A reading from Luke’s Gospel
When Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honour at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honour, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honoured in the presence of all the other guests. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbours; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14 : 7 – 14
HYMN
Beauty for brokenness Hope for despair
Lord, in your suffering This is our prayer
Bread for the children Justice, joy, peace
Sunrise to sunset Your kingdom increase!
Refrain
God of the poor Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray
Melt our cold hearts Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love From a spark to a flame
Refuge from cruel wars Havens from fear
Cities for sanctuary Freedoms to share
Peace to the killing-fields Scorched earth to green
Christ for the bitterness His cross for the pain
Refrain
Lighten our darkness Breathe on this flame
Until your justice Burns brightly again
Until the nations Learn of your ways
Seek your salvation And bring you their praise
Refrain
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
Make Way Music
A reflection on the reading
FINAL PRAYER & BLESSING
ANTHEM – PSALM 150 – sung by the choir of York Minster
O praise God in his holiness; praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his noble acts; praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet; praise him upon the harp and lyre.
Praise him with timbrel and dances; praise him upon the strings and pipe.
Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals; praise him upon the loud cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be:
World without end.
Tune: George Thomas Surtees Talbot (1875 – 1918)
Material used in this service is copyright of its respective rights owners. Music and hymn words are reproduced under ONE LICENSE number A-633137, Church Copyright License 2148907 and Music Reproduction License 2216255. Material in this order of service is taken from Common Worship, copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006 and is used here with permission. www.commonworship.com.
images by permission of www.christart.com