Holy Trinity
Amblecote
Second Sunday of Lent
Year C
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.
Additional Collect
Almighty God,
by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into
the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading
Genesis 15.1-
1The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.’ 2But Abram said, ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ 3And Abram said, ‘You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.’ 4But the word of the LORD came to him, ‘This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.’ 5He brought him outside and said, ‘Look towards heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ 6And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.
7Then he said to him, ‘I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.’ 8But he said, ‘O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?’ 9He said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle-
12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.
17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire-
Psalm 27
R The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? *
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid? R
2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid, *
and though there rise up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him. R
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord and that alone I seek; *
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
5 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord *
and to seek his will in his temple. R
6 For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter; *
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high upon a rock. R
7 And now shall he lift up my head *
above my enemies round about me;
8 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; *
I will sing and make music to the Lord. R
9 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; *
have mercy upon me and answer me.
10 My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ *
Your face, Lord, will I seek. R
11 Hide not your face from me, nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
12 You have been my helper; leave me not, neither forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
13 Though my father and my mother forsake me, *
the Lord will take me up. R
14 Teach me your way, O Lord; *
lead me on a level path, because of those who lie in wait for me.
15 Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, *
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and those who breathe out violence. R
16 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord *
in the land of the living.
17 Wait for the Lord; be strong and he shall comfort your heart; *
wait patiently for the Lord. R
Second Reading
Philippians 3.17-
17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Gospel Acclamation
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
The Lord is a great God, O that today you would listen to his voice.
Harden not your hearts.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Gospel
Luke 13.31-
31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ 32He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”’
Post Communion
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. Amen.
Blessing
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,
to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2002
March 16th, 2025
