Sunday Focus

 

20th September 2026

 

   

Hymn - Rejoice The Lord is King

 

Song - Come People of the Risen King

 

 

Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
and know your peace at our lives’ end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Bible Reading

Philemon

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker – 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier – and to the church that meets in your home:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and prayer

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

Paul’s plea for Onesimus

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul – an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus – 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for ever – 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
 

This week we return to the Bible Project.

Video - Bible Project - Philemon 

 

 

Song-  Here We Stand

 

Everlasting God, you do everything possible for our spiritual growth and well-being, but we so often choose the path of hostility and rejection.
Let us pray to the God who has loved us and cherished us all our lives.

Creator God, refugees continue to flee from crisis throughout the world. Lord God. We also remember aid workers throughout the world working in places and situations that are no longer newsworthy; give them the encouragement to continue their invaluable contribution of love and care for those people rebuilding their lives after man-made or natural disasters.

Father God, we pray for all those working in farming and industries producing our food. Help them in their labours especially in these times of climate change and enable them all to get a fair price for the tremendously hard work they undertake.

Gracious God, we pray for all who we know who are housebound and in nursing homes; those in hospitals, in recovery and rehabilitation. We thank you for our local hospitals, health centres and clinics and for all those working in sheltered accommodation and care homes.  In a moment of silence, we bring before you those on our hearts at this time.

We pray for those who are bereaved and for those supporting family and friends in hospices. Give them your strength and peace to cope each day.

Holy God, as we prepare for the week to come, help us to know Christ and the power of his resurrection day by day and in the sharing of his sufferings to become more like him in his death.

 

 

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Amen

 

 Hymn - Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Eternal God and Father,
by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed:
guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves to your service,
and live this day in love to one another and to you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.