23 rd Week of the Year

1. 23rd Week of the Year Background: This Sunday was Racial Justice Sunday. This enables Christian communities across Britain and Ireland with the opportunity to focus on the issue of ending racism and racial inequality. This year we are reminded that this is the 50th Anniversary of the ‘I have a Dream’ speech by Dr Martin Luther King and to ask 50 years on, where are we now?

2. The speech spoke about all God’s people living in freedom and peace in a world governed by truth and justice. It called for liberty, equality and justice for all people, regardless of their racial heritage. • His dream centred on a ‘Beloved Community’, a society built on justice, equality and freedom for all God’s people which was rooted in scripture, particularly in the Book of Revelation 7:9-10. • The speech remains an inspirational call for us to work for a fairer and more equal world now.

3. Tuesday 10th • “You must live your whole life according to the Christ you have received– Jesus the Lord; you must be rooted in him and built on him and held firm by the faith you have been taught, and full of thanksgiving.” (St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians)

4. Let us pray… • Father, through the power of your Holy Spirit and inspired by people who chose right over wrong. Help us to become change makers • who courageously work to transform your world into one where all are afforded the dignity, respect and worth deserving of those made in your image. Amen.

5. Wednesday 11th September • We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we have heard of your faith in Christ and the love that you show to all the saints.’ • (St Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:2)

6. Let us pray… • O God your children of all colours have been hurt by racism. Help us heal together, to grow in care for one another and to be open to your grace. So that then our hearts are converted and we can join hands with all our neighbours in love and justice. • Amen

7. Thursday 12th September • Through the Son, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself, God made peace through his Son’s blood on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.’ (St Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:20)

8. Let us pray… • Gracious God, we commit ourselves to making your world a better place • We thank you that over the centuries, you have raised up men and women of faith who have fought with courage for freedom, truth and justice. • We ask that we may be inspired by their example, and seek to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Amen

9. Friday 13th - St John Chrysostom • St John Chrysostom was known as ‘Golden mouth’ because of his brilliance in preaching and writing, he was Bishop of Constantinople who died on this date in 407 AD

10. Jesus said: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye”, when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’ • (Gospel of Luke 6:39-42)

11. Let us pray… • Gracious God, we commit ourselves to making your world a better place • We thank you that over the centuries, you have raised up men and women of faith who have fought with courage for freedom, truth an justice. We ask that we may be inspired by their example, and seek to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Amen

12. Today we remember and pray for: • We pray for the soul of Fr John Feeley, parish priest of Lutterworth and our oldest diocesan priest who died at 95 years of age and will be buried in Market Harborough today. • May he rest in peace. Amen