St Luke's church Heywood, York Street, Heywood (2026)

We are blessed with a landmark historic building in the centre of Heywood, and meet for worship at 9.15am every Sunday.

14/06/2026

Please find below:
Collect & readings for Second Sunday after Trinity
Sermon by Kirsty
Prayers by Rob

14th June – First Sunday after Trinity

Collect:

Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.
Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings:

Romans 5: 1-8

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 8

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

2nd Sunday after Trinity
(Romans 45: 1-8 / Matthew 9: 35 – 10.😎
May I speak in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – Amen.
Whenever we study the creed, I am often asked – what does it mean to be part of the universal church? Having sat in a meeting with my Diocesan Ecumenical Adviser hat on this week and reflecting on all the events that have happened in these last few days, I was reminded of the importance of unity and standing together.

The Church of England has always seen itself as a part of the universal church, as we read in the creeds, the ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church’. ‘One’ describes the spiritual unity of God’s chosen people, a unity which goes beyond denominational and man-made barriers. ‘Holy’ alludes to the distinctiveness of the church as together we reflect the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour. ‘Catholic’ refers to the church universal: God’s people in every nation and throughout every generation. And ‘Apostolic’ refers to the persistence of the teaching, ministry, and mission of the early apostles.
In our readings today, we’re exposed to both the doctrinal basics and the shape of the church’s apostolic mission. So, what does it mean to be an apostolic church in 2026?
In Romans 5, Paul captures the central message of the gospel - that we were once weak and perishing in our sin, but now through the death of Christ we've become recipients of God’s grace and are made right with God through our faith in Jesus. Really importantly, Paul recognises the joy found in the hope that we will one day share in the glory of God, but he also recognises that, in this life, we boast in our sufferings.
Why? Because discipleship isn’t about escaping from the hardships of our lived reality, rather, it’s about being formed into the image of Jesus by remaining faithful and hopeful in the midst of our circumstances. Unless we can appreciate this initial aspect of what it means to be the Church of God, then our mission and ministry in the world is flawed.
When we turn to our Gospel reading and hear Jesus sending out his disciples, we’re exposed to the mission of Jesus and our participation in it. Jesus’ heart is breaking for the lost - the crowds who were like sheep without a shepherd. So, he sends his disciples out like labourers into the harvest fields. Jesus gives the disciples his authority to cast out demons and cure diseases, and he tells them to proclaim the gospel message - that “the Kingdom of heaven has come near”. He tells them to travel only with the clothes on their backs and gives them no real strategy. He warns them of the reality of the mission, that they are being sent out like sheep into the midst of wolves and so they need to be wise like serpents and innocent like doves. He prepares them for the certainty of the rejection, persecution, and imprisonment they will face. He promises them that they’ll be accompanied by the Holy Spirit. He highlights the urgency and pace of the task ahead of them.
But my question is this, how do we see our church functioning today, or have we lost sight of some of the basics? I’m sure it’s easy to justify why we do things differently these days and don’t get me wrong, it’s helpful that we have a functioning building to aid our work, it is important that we have times for socialising and relaxing and that sometimes, we need help in being human financially or in goods.
But in this era of post-Christian culture today we are asked - do we think it’s time we revived our apostolic identity - to rediscover what it means to be sent, to be a missional community who travel light, expecting to see healings and miracles, who are prepared for persecution and hatred from the world around us, and who are firm and courageous in our efforts to see people saved?
Being apostolic means being rooted in the teachings of Scripture and being committed to the expansive project called the Great Commission. How we desperately need to rediscover our apostolic calling, in a world that’s changing so rapidly and dramatically around us. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves: What is our church community doing to carry the gospel into your community? And what risks are we willing to take so that people can hear and believe in the gospel of Jesus? And are we rooted in prayer?
As we reflect, we need to remember the core messages - In the gospels we see Jesus attentive to the needs of the crowds, moved with compassion, and is honest about the scale of the harvest and real limits of what can be carried alone. Jesus also begins not by acting alone or through heroic activity but by inviting prayer. Those whom Jesus summons are taught, equipped and sent – not as experts but as disciples learning as they go, ministering together, and growing in faith. And lastly in Romans 5, Paul reminds us that Christian character is formed over time, through perseverance and hope, sustained by the love of Christ – a pattern that shapes all Christian leadership.

Holy God, Matthew’s Gospel reminds us of the privilege of suffering for Christ. We know that to share the work of Christ we have to share his sacrifice. Help us when our vocation is hard, and teach us to recognise that we are following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Everlasting God, look down with love upon our Church here in Heywood as try to be a community who reflect Jesus’ teachings. We pray especially for churches throughout the world who face daily persecution. Strengthen, comfort and encourage all those who suffer for being followers of Jesus
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, we pray that you will strengthen us to care for our family and friends. Equip us appropriately to take a positive role in our community, bringing unity where there is division, joy where there is sadness, hope where there is fear. We pray for our nation, for Charles our King and all who are put in authority in national and local government, that they may make just and wise decisions.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Father God, at times your son offers us hard choices; to choose sometimes between the closest ties of earth and loyalty to him. Free us from making decisions that are for our comfort or for the approval of others. Help us to remember that good choices are not always the easy ones.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, we pray for the sick and the suffering. For those undergoing treatments and surgery, for those convalescing and those who are recovered, that through our intercessions they may all experience your comfort and peace. As we also pray for those who will not recover, we remember the words of Jesus that "Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." In a moment of silence, we pray for all those known to us here, particularly Alan Ferriss, as well as those in our community who are not known to us, but who need our prayers nonetheless.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful God, through the death of your son Jesus Christ you have freed us from the grip of the tomb. We pray for those who have departed this life and ask that you, through your loving kindness, have mercy on their souls and uphold and sustain those bereaved by their passing. We pray for the soul of Peter McCoy and all who mourn him, as well as those who have gone before us in faith in this place, particularly Jessie Platt, Kenneth Pickston, Nellie Smith, Mavis Thompson, Edith Moss, Iris Hogg, and Lewis Clayton.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Faithful God in the week that lies before us, may we reflect your love in our families, our church and our community and in doing so, show everyone what it means to follow Christ.
Lord, in your Mercy: Hear our Prayer
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

12/06/2026

Everyone is welcome for our service at 9.15am on Sunday morning.

We’re always happy to see new visitors or old friends. 😊 ⛪️

07/06/2026

Please find below :
Collect & readings for First Sunday after Trinity
Sermon by Kirsty
Prayers by Steph

7th June – First Sunday after Trinity

Collect:

God of truth,
help us to keep your law of love
and to walk in ways of wisdom,
that we may find true life
in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen

Readings:

Romans 4: 13-end

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. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

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, as 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. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ He 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. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

1st Sunday after Trinity
(Romans 4: 13-end Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26)
May I speak in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – Amen.

The story we’ve heard from the Gospel is the calling of Matthew who, we know went on to become a disciple of Jesus. But the story of his call to follow Jesus is fascinating and has a lot to teach us and does so in the eyes of Parish renewal, which we find ourselves preparing for and is this week Diocese theme (following on from last weeks sermon).

We hear that Jesus was walking along and he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth.” And then Jesus gives him a simple invitation: “Follow me”. Without thinking twice, Matthew gets up and follows Jesus. A simple call and a simple response. We don’t know what motivated Matthew to follow Jesus. Perhaps he had heard his preaching and witnessed some of his miracles and his heart had been prepared in advance. Or perhaps there was something so profoundly charismatic about Jesus in that moment that Matthew felt compelled to get up and follow him. We just don’t know. But Jesus called and Matthew followed. But it’s the next themes that can teach us so much about his call, and our relationship with Jesus.

The first is Jesus’ hospitality. Jesus and his few disciples we hear go to sit for dinner with the many tax collectors and sinners. It is such an important spiritual message for us; that Jesus shares hospitality with us, regardless of who we are, regardless of what a mess we may have made in the past, or how confused and chaotic our present circumstances may seem. Jesus does not judge or condemn us: instead, he invites into his home, and wants to be a host to us sharing himself with us and invites us to share ourselves with him. Hospitality is at the heart of God’s relationship with us - and that is why hospitality is a crucial spiritual gift for any church that wants to reflect God into the local community. God, in Christ, has invited those on the margins into his home without judgement and, in the same way, we are to invite people into the home of our church, so that we can share hospitality and encourage them to share themselves with us. Our God is a hospitable God - and we are called to be a hospitable church where everyone feels welcomed and no-one feels judged.

The next theme is that Jesus accepts people just as they are. One of the most fascinating things for me about this story is not what is written but what isn’t written. And what isn’t written is that at no point did Jesus ask any of his guests to change: he just accepted them as they are. Think about the characters who are his guests. First, there is Matthew himself. Matthew was a tax collector, working for little income for the Roman authorities and it was the custom of tax collectors to overcharge people and cream the profits off the top for themselves. So, Matthew would have been seen as socially and morally corrupt and would have made his living through defrauding others of money. But Jesus doesn’t ask him to change he just says, “Follow me”.

Second, we are told that there are sinners at the dinner table. But we are not told that Jesus is preaching at them, telling them to repent of their lifestyles. No – he is just hanging out with them, enjoying a dinner party with them; totally relaxed in the company of sinners. He doesn’t ask them to change. He doesn’t refuse to eat with them until they have repented. Jesus just accepts and loves them as they are.

Thirdly, we are told that Jesus’ disciples are at the dinner, and again, Jesus is perfectly comfortable with that. Jesus is quite happy to host a dinner party for tax collectors, sinners and disciples together. Therefore he is quite happy for his disciples to mix socially with those from all walks of life. All are welcome at the Lord’s table. As a church we need to remember that the hospitality that Jesus shows here is a radically different model to that seen elsewhere. Everyone is welcomed, everybody is loved, nobody is asked to fit in. The hospitality / the table of Christ is for everyone, no matter what.

The last theme is that Jesus cuts through the grumbling of religious people and false religions. “When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’” For the Pharisees, this was a very disturbing dinner party to watch through the window and, to be fair to them, you can’t blame them for feeling like they did. The Pharisees were what is known as a Purity Sect: believing that we need to remain pure and untainted if they are to have access to a relationship with God. So, having devoted their lives to keeping laws and observing rituals and at the heart of these rules was who they can and can’t socialise with, they were not happy. But what I think is more important who they complained to. They didn’t go to Jesus and ask him why he ate with tax collectors and sinners. Instead, we read that they went to the disciples and started questioning them. The Pharisees were grumbling and sowing discontent throughout Jesus’ community. You’d be amazed by how many grumbles I, and other ministers, hear second hand. But Jesus knew exactly what was happening and tackled it head on. There is something about transparency of communication during times of change that is so important. Jesus was introducing a new way of doing religion, and he was determined to keep the conversation flowing and the channels of communication open so that there was the minimum of misunderstanding and discontent. And for any church going through a time of change and transition it is important to keep talking, keep listening to one another, and do all we can to keep the channels of communication open and clear. And in this Jesus calls us as we look forward to not forget by encouraging people to re-discover the true strength of the old traditions. As I mentioned last week it is important to celebrate what we have as we also look forward to the development of what’s next.

This is a very short story in the Gospel of Matthew. But it is packed with themes that speak into our current journey. We learn that Jesus shows hospitality to all and everyone, is welcome at the Lord’s table. We learn that we are all acceptable to Jesus, just as we are and God loves us how we are, right now, in this moment. We learn that communication and listening is key and that embracing a mission-shaped future does not involve wholesale abandonment of the past but is a process of rediscovery. And amid all the change and uncertainty of our current situation Jesus gives us a simple command: “Follow me”. If we follow Jesus, he leads us gently to his table where we find complete hospitality with God and one another, despite our great differences. And as we share God’s hospitality together and celebrate our differences so we will move together into the future that God has planned for us. As Paul reminds us in our Romans reading God’s promise rests not on what we can sustain, but on trust in the God who brings new life.

Heavenly Father, Strengthen your Church in this land and throughout the world. Bless our bishops, priests, and all who minister in your name. Renew your people with the gifts of your Spirit, that we may faithfully proclaim Christ and serve our neighbours with compassion and joy.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for your world. Bring peace where there is conflict, justice where there is oppression, and hope where there is despair. Guide the leaders of the nations in the ways of wisdom and integrity. Protect all who work for reconciliation, relief, and healing.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for our local community. Bless our homes, schools, workplaces, and all who serve the common good. Help us to be attentive to the needs around us and generous in our care for one another.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who suffer. Comfort the sick, especially for Alan Ferriss-King and Peter McCoy, the grieving, the lonely, and the weary. Bring healing to those in pain, peace to the troubled in mind, and hope to all who feel lost.
those on our hearts… Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, and those whose anniversary of death falls at this time, Freda Gill, Sarah Elizabeth Adams, Robert Walton, Jessie Platt, Kenneth Pickston, Nellie Smith and Mavis Thompson. Grant them rest eternal and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

03/06/2026

One of our many interesting items in church is an old lectern, now situated in the memorial chapel. This was a gift of Captain Shadwell RN CB 1862, a relation of Revd Shadwell. It is no longer in use and may possibly be a piece of furniture from the old chapel, which predated the current church. It is made of dark oak and carved. The rotating book rest swivels on a central support which is attached to four arms at the foot of the support.

31/05/2026

Please find below:
Collect & readings for Trinity Sunday
Sermon by Kirsty
Prayers by Phil

31st May – Trinity Sunday

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace,
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith,
that we may evermore be defended from all adversities;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Reading:

2 Corinthians 13: 11-end

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Matthew 28: 16-end

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Trinity Sunday – 28th May 2026
(2 Corinthians 13: 11-end, Matthew 28: 16-end)

Lord, open my mouth so that I can speak. Open our ears so that we can hear. And open our hearts so that we can change. By your power, and through your grace, Amen.
Across the Diocese this morning, many of us will be preaching not just on the Theme of Trinity, but following the road shows, a launch into parishes on the Diocesan Vision. A day when are reminded of that great commission where the first disciples are sent to go and make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and to teach them to obey everything God had commanded, but to then repeat this several times over, with a bigger a group of disciples and that continuation lies with us today. In addition, God promises his presence again not just with the first ones he sent, but with each of us today and those in the future.

I’ll come back to the vision bits towards the end, but the diocese message is very much built around Our vision and strategy begins not with structures, programmes or ambition, but God’s initiative. This grounds the vision and strategy in our fundamental Christian calling in the Great Commission. So, lets remind ourselves what does it mean to be sent.

Well to start with a reminder that key word is sending – sending us for everyday life and not just Sundays or in church only. This isn’t also just to those we love and who are close or is not just for those who are like us, but we are sent for all who God has made. In being sent we are reminded of the promise that God’s Spirit is with us always as we go – not an optional extra but key to our call. And with that we can hold onto the promise of renewal for those who wait on the Lord’s power and pray for that ourselves. Called and sent for others and for ourselves!

What this sending will look like will vary from parish to parish, to person to person, as we each go through difference seasons of soaring / running / walking. But in each, we are blessed with each other, blessed with God’s gifts and we are to wait on the Lord. But whatever our season, I believe there are three strings central to everyone. (OK, Yes, ironic, however it’s a natural number in the church). Not ironic I think is that these three theme were also commissioned by Pope Leo in his first public address, not just to the catholic church but to all who wanted to hear. They are;
1. Peace and Reconciliation: He called for a "disarming" and humble peace, urging the global community to embrace dialogue rather than conflict to build a unified world.
2. Church Unity and Communion: He stressed the need for a united Church, encouraging the faithful to walk together collaboratively and without fear.
3. Missionary Discipleship: He urged people of faith to boldly proclaim the Gospel and build bridges by meeting and welcoming others with open arms.

So how does the sending for St Luke’s and St John’s look like as a benefice over the coming months and year.

Firstly, our call, within the community that we celebrate what we already have, to look at gaps, and implement where able a growth in the Diocese Vision which is based on four interconnected themes of
• parish renewal
• growing younger
• church planting & revitalisation
• developing missional leaders.

Alongside these are the two big projects around Radical Justice and Net Zero Carbon. It is possible over the next few weeks of sermons, some of these themes emerge and those preaching will add in a little more information if fits. But we can’t do them all at once, so today is about thinking about our story.

So, for St Luke’s and St John’s, we have been invited on the first cohort of the Parish Renewal programme, which I have touched on briefly. But this will not only concentrate on a growth in numbers, but also on a spiritual growth and connections to the wider community, for those already part of our community, including ourselves, and for those who come to join us. Looking at six themes – Understanding, Inviting, Implementing, Engaging, Witnessing, Creating and Planning. It is a journey that is done with care, support, encouragement and a whole mixture of those seasons alongside each other. It’s a journey of togetherness for those who feel called or encouraged to lead up front right through to those who are missional behind the scenes, in something as simple as prayer. This journey is an open conversation between each and every one of us, therefore in due course an opportunity to share gaps, to share vision, times to pray together, and time to listen to God’s call for us today and going forward. And I hope that you will all come on board.

And the start of this is today, to each be reminded of our call to be part of God’s story and by that, I mean finding your personal purpose within the grand biblical narrative of creation, redemption, and renewal. To today accept / reaccept God’s call to come alongside others becoming an active participant in God’s story. To be part of a story that prioritizes spiritual growth, prayer, and obedience over worldly metrics of success. And lastly to add your own personal testimony to the story that we tell.

We are called for others and for ourselves, to ensure our vision and strategy begins with and in God presence, in order to change the lives of many locally and globally because God’s Story is Our Strategy. Amen

Intercessions for Trinity Sunday

Let us pray,
‘The mystery of God – Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier all at once –
is beyond our human understanding, yet closer to us than breathing.’

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Three in One, the holy and wonderful Trinity bound together in one eternity of love.
Silence
God of love, your mystery lies at the root of all creation. Deepen our awareness of your awesome Being, as we bring before you the needs of the Church. We ask your blessing upon all who are baptised and confirmed in the faith, that they may witness to your presence and love. As we pray for our parish clergy and preachers, that they may seek to reveal the mystery of your being with us. Today we remember all who are rejected and are outcasts in our world.
Silence
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord of grace, you reach through eternity to touch our frame. Set our limited concerns in the wider vision of your truth as we bring before you the many problems of our age and our culture. Renew in us a commitment to community and mutual trust, give a sense of value to all who despise others and themselves. We pray for all who are at school, college or university. We ask your blessing upon all who provide us with our daily needs.
Silence
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit of fellowship, move between us to unite all people in to one community of Heywood. Strengthen all that builds cohesive living in our town, in our homes and places of work. We bring before you the nurturing of our children and young people, in homes by parenting and schools for teaching. We pray for the work of the Heywood Food Bank and all its helpers. We ask your blessing upon all who are recently married and those with a new child in the family.
Silence
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Lord God, in your eternal vision you hold creation from its beginning to its end. Sustain in your love all who are faint or whose strength is failing. Today we pray for, friends and loved ones who are ill at this time. Along with any others that are known only to you Lord.

Silence

We ask your blessing upon all doctors, nurses and those caring for loved ones who are ill.
We bring before you all who are ill and unhappy all who are undergoing surgery or painful treatments and all who have no one to turn to.
Silence
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you make us little lower than angels, and are mindful of all people. With love and thanksgiving, we commend to you all who have died.
Today we have been asked to pray for: -
Freda Gill, Sarah Elizabeth Adams and Robert Walton
Whose Anniversaries falls around this time.

Silence

We rejoice in your presence and ask your blessing upon our loved ones who are departed from us. May they share with your saints in the fullness of your glorious kingdom.
Silence
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Let us now take time to offer our own prayers to God our Father.

Silence

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Father, we bring before you our lives and all that we are, including our successes and our failures. We thank you for the gift of life and ask that we may get to know you more deeply day after day.
Silence

Merciful Father
accept these prayers,
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Address

York Street
Heywood
OL104NN

Opening Hours

9am - 11am

Website

http://www.stlukesheywood.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St Luke's church Heywood posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

St Luke's church Heywood