Today is the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to the crowd, saying that they are better at reading the weather than reading the signs of the times and reading the mind of God. At this point in Luke’s Gospel Jesus has set his face toward Jerusalem and the events leading to his crucifixion. On that journey Jesus understands his own ministry and impending suffering as signalling the moment of crisis and judgement for God’s chosen people.  The signs are there, if only the people would read them.   
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of weather forecast. In today’s picture from his book, Good Morning, Teddy Horsley has read the weather signs carefully and taken his umbrella.   
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your people
to read the signs of the times.
Open our eyes to the signs of your presence,
that we may serve you as you desire;
now and always.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Tenth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem where he will be arrested and crucified. On the way Jesus heals someone on the sabbath. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is healing hands. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. 

Today is the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to his disciples to be alert and to be prepared. This teaching comes at the very beginning of Jesus’ final journey toward Jerusalem, when the precise timing and strategy for his arrest remain uncertain. It is like the owner of the house being prepared for a break-in. He does not know precisely when the thief will come. The owner of the house needs to stay alert.


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of home security. In today’s picture from his book, Teddy Horsley Feasts with Jesus, Teddy Horsley makes sure that the front door is securely locked before he sets off on his journey to church.   


Lord Jesus Christ,
you call your people
to be ready for your coming.
Prepare our hearts,
that we may be ready to welcome you;
for you are our God.
Amen.


Next week, the Nineth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel continues Jesus’ teaching as he progresses his final journey toward Jerusalem where he will be arrested and crucified. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is weather forecast. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of the parable of the rich fool. This parable illustrates how wealth and possessions can become a distraction from the things that really matter in life.  The rich fool made the mistake of thinking that he owned a great deal and that, as a consequence, he was most secure.  The truth of the matter was that he did not even own his own life.  Later in verses 33 and 34 Jesus interprets the parable by exhorting his followers to build up treasure in heaven, for ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’.
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of money. In today’s picture from the illustrated book, The Lord is Here!, Teddy Horsley is adding his precious possessions to the offertory procession.   
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your people
that wealth does not last forever.
Give us a proper attitude
toward our wealth and possessions,
that we may value the things which last;
for you are our God.
Amen.


Next week, the Eighth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ teaching to be alert and to be prepared. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is home security. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. The Gospel reading takes us back to our journey through Luke’s Gospel, with the disciples request to Jesus to teach them to pray. In response, Jesus teaches them what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer. Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is somewhat shorter than Matthew’s version. Matthew adds the clauses ‘Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’, and ‘but rescue us from the evil one’.  Other ancient manuscripts of Matthew also add the doxology ‘For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours for ever.’  In its developed form the Lord’s Prayer has become the family prayer of the Christian community, uniting Christians across many languages, across the world, and across the generations.


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of prayer. In today’s picture from his visit to Bangor Cathedral Teddy Horsley is adding his prayer to the prayer board in the Lady Chapel.  


Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your disciples to pray.
Teach us to build our lives
on your way of praying,
that you may reign in us,
to the glory of God, our Father.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Seventh Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel reading in Luke’s parable of the rich fool who creates a bigger store for his possessions. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is money. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is Consecration Sunday for Liverpool Cathedral, the annual festival and celebration of consecration of the (partly constructed) cathedral in 1924. The Gospel reading is John’s account of Jesus’ cleansing the temple in Jerusalem. In John’s account, Jesus made a whip of cords, overturned the tables of the money changers, and rebuked those who were selling doves for sacrifice, saying ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace’.


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of house of prayer. In today’s picture Teddy Horsley is on his way to join us in Liverpool Cathedral.  
Lord Jesus Christ,
you entered the temple in Jerusalem
and restored it as a house of prayer.
Shape within us your house of prayer
to be a place of encounter,
for all people,
now and always.
Amen


Next week, the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel reading takes us back to our journey through Luke’s Gospel, with the disciples requesting Jesus to teach them to pray. In response, Jesus teaches them what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is prayer. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, when the reading from Luke’s Gospel is the narrative of the Good Samaritan. The context is set by a conversation between Jesus and a teacher of the law. The teacher of the law poses the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Jesus addresses the question by telling the story of a traveller who was ambushed and left for dead. The priest and Levite pass by; after all contact with a corpse would have made them ritually unclean.  The Samaritan who helps is a foreigner and an outcast.  Jesus tells us to follow that Samaritan’s example.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of neighbours. In today’s picture from their book, Myself and Others, Aled and Sian are meeting their neighbours from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds.  
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your disciples
to follow the example of the good Samaritan.
Help us to respond to the needs of others,
with sensitivity, generosity and care,
that we may show your love to the world;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week is Consecration Sunday for Liverpool Cathedral, when we recall and celebrate the consecration of the Cathedral in 1924. The Gospel reading for today is John’s account of Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is house of prayer. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. 

​Today is the Third Sunday after Trinity, when the reading from Luke’s Gospel concerns the mission of the seventy. All three Synoptic Gospels tell of Jesus sending the twelve disciples on a missionary journey.  Luke alone among the Synoptic Gospels tells of the mission of the seventy.  Quite similar instructions are given to both groups.  They are to carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and to greet no one on the road.  Haste and speed are all important.  The number seventy is highly symbolic. For example, Genesis 10 suggests that there were seventy gentile nations.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of courier. In today’s picture from their book, Veil, Aled and Sian see the young courier delivering his message by bicycle.
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you sent your messengers
to prepare the way before you.
Send us out in your name
to share your good news with others,
that all may hear of your love and power;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel is the narrative of the Good Samaritan, told by Jesus to address the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ posed by a teacher of the law. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is neighbours. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. 

Today is the Second Sunday after Trinity, when the reading from Luke’s Gospel brings us to the point in Jesus’ ministry when he set his face to go to Jerusalem. The first teaching that Jesus offers to his companions on this journey concerns the true nature of discipleship.  Those who begin the journey with Jesus must commit themselves wholeheartedly to completing it.  There is to be no turning back.  Nor is there to be any supernatural intervention to make the going easy.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of obstacle course. In today’s picture from his book, The Grumpy Day, Teddy Horsley is experiencing life as an obstacle course as he slips on the freshly washed floor.
 
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you call your people
to follow you wherever you lead.
Give us grace to follow you,
that we may overcome the obstacles in our way;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Third Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel concerns the mission of the seventy, whom he sends out to go on ahead of him. Jesus gives them strict instructions about how to proceed. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is courier. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. 

Today is the First Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is taken from Luke’s account of the healing of Legion. This narrative demonstrates once again Jesus’ power over the forces of evil.  This time the forces of evil are great indeed.  The man was called Legion, for many demons had entered him.  When exorcised the demons were so powerful that they destroyed a whole herd of swine.  Such clear evidence of Jesus’ power over evil deserved broadcasting.  The healed man went away proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of sharing good news. In today’s picture from one of their books in the World Faiths Today series, Rees and Sara are sharing good news with their friends Michael and Anna.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you told Legion
to proclaim your healing power to the world.
Help us to proclaim
all you have done in our lives,
that your name may be praised;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next week, the Second Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel brings us to the point in Jesus’ ministry when he set his face to go to Jerusalem. On the way Jesus begins to teach his disciples about the obstacles that they will encounter on their journey. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is obstacle course. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

Today is Trinity Sunday. The full nature of God is a mystery which men and women have struggled to grasp and to express.  The doctrine of the Trinity affirms that God has been made known in the world in three characteristic ways, as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit.  The way in which the early church chose to express this mystery was in terms of ‘three persons in one God’.  Today’s Gospel reading from John’s account of Jesus’ teaching during his last supper with his disciples provides biblical roots for the distinctive activities of God as Father, Jesus as Son, and the Holy Spirit.


For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the mystery of space through the image of space travel. In today’s picture from their book, Light, Aled and Sian peer through their bedroom window and gaze at the night sky and the vast extent of space.


            Holy and Glorious Trinity,
you are older than time
and greater than space.
We praise the Father,
we praise the Son,
we praise the Holy Spirit,
we praise the Holy and Glorious Trinity;
today and always.
Amen.


Next week, the First Sunday after Trinity, the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of the healing of Legion. Once healed Legion went away proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.  The image to help us for next week’s theme is sharing good news. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.