Author: bigge
Last saved by: William Holmes

St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen
THE CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY COMMUNION (2) 
20^th September 2026 	The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

 Processional Hymn: 634 Love divine, all loves excelling

 THE GREETING
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.                                     

THE COLLECT FOR PURITY
Almighty God, to Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from Whom no secrets are hidden; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PENITENCE
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. 
Matthew 22: 37-39
Lord, have mercy on us,
and write these Your laws in our hearts.

God so loved the world that He gave his only Son Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins, to intercede for us in Heaven, and to bring us to eternal life. Let us then confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God's commandments and to live in love and peace:

Silence
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may walk in newness of life to the glory of Your name. Amen. 
THE ABSOLUTION

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
The Collect of the Day - page 293 - (205)
O Lord, Hear the prayers of Your people who call upon You; and grant that they may both perceive and know
what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lesson: Exodus 16: 2-15
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from Heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning, you shall see the glory of the Lord, because He has heard your complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against Him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the Lord.’ Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, “Draw near to the Lord, for He has heard your complaining.” ’ And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked towards the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’ In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45 page 713 (432)
1  O give thanks to the Lord and call upon His name; ♦
   make known His deeds among the peoples.
2  Sing to Him, sing praises, ♦
   and tell of all His marvellous works.
3  Rejoice in the praise of His holy name; ♦
   let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.
4  Seek the Lord and His strength; ♦
   seek His face continually.
5  Remember the marvels He has done, ♦
   His wonders and the judgements of His mouth,
6  O seed of Abraham His servant, ♦
   O children of Jacob His chosen.
37  Then He brought them out with silver and gold; ♦
   there was not one among their tribes that stumbled.
38  Egypt was glad at their departing, ♦
   for a dread of them had fallen upon them.
39  He spread out a cloud for a covering ♦
   and a fire to light up the night.
40  They asked and He brought them quails; ♦
   He satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out ♦
   and ran in the dry places like a river.
42  For He remembered His holy word ♦
   and Abraham, His servant.
43  So he brought forth His people with joy, ♦
   His chosen ones with singing.
44  He gave them the lands of the nations ♦
   and they took possession of the fruit of their toil,
45  That they might keep His statutes ♦
   and faithfully observe His laws.
      Alleluia.

The Epistle: Philippians 1: 21-30
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one Spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them, this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. For He has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for Him as well— since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Hymn: 623 Our heavenly Father, through your Son

The Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16
‘For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the market-place; and he said to them, “You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, “Why are you standing here idle all day?” They said to him, “Because no one has hired us.” He said to them, “You also go into the vineyard.” When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.” When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, “These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.” But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

THE SERMON
The Nicene Creed

The Prayers

Offertory Hymn: 372 Through all the changing scenes of life

THE PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS
We do not presume to come to this Your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness but in Your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under Your table. But You are the same Lord, Whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink His blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by His Body, and our souls washed through His most precious Blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us. Amen.

THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be always with you. 
THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE

Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us therefore let us celebrate the feast. 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord is here.    His Spirit is with us. 
Lift up your hearts.    We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Father, Almighty and Everliving God, at all times and in all places it is right to give You thanks and praise: 
And so with all Your people, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of Heaven, we proclaim Your great and glorious name, for ever praising You and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory. 
Hosanna in the highest!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! 

Blessed are You, Father, The Creator and Sustainer of all things; You made us in Your own image, male and female You created us; even when we turned away from You, You never ceased to care for us, but in Your love and mercy You freed us from the slavery of sin, giving Your only begotten Son to become man and suffer death on the cross to redeem us; He made there the one complete and all-sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world: He instituted, and in His holy Gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of His precious death until He comes again: On the night that He was betrayed He took bread; and when He had given thanks to You, He broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is My Body which is given for You. Do this in remembrance of Me. In the same way, after supper He took the cup; and when He had given thanks to You, He gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of You, for this is my Blood of the new covenant which is shed for You and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup we do as Christ Your Son commanded:

We remember His passion and death, we celebrate His resurrection and ascension, and we look for the coming of His kingdom.

Accept through Him, our great High Priest, this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; and as we eat and drink these holy gifts, grant by the power of the life-giving Spirit that we may be made one in Your holy Church and partakers of the body and blood of Your Son, that He may dwell in us and we in Him: Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, by Whom, and with Whom, and in Whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER
The bread which we break is a sharing in the Body of Christ.                           
We being many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Jesus Christ is holy
Jesus Christ is Lord
To the Glory of God the Father.

Or

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, Who has taken away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to His Supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

THE COMMUNION

Communion Hymns: 400 - And Now O Father, 401 – Be Known to Us, 418 – Here O My Lord, 419 – I am not Worthy

The Great Thanksgiving - page 209 (133)

The Post Communion Prayer - page 293 - (205)
God of mercy, through our sharing in this holy sacrament you make us one body in Christ. Fashion us in His likeness here on Earth, that we may share His glorious company in Heaven, where He lives and reigns now and for ever.

THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Almighty God, we thank You for feeding us with the spiritual food of the Body and Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Through Him we offer You our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of Your Spirit to live and work to Your praise and glory. Amen.

The Blessing 

Hymn: 62 Abide with me, fast falls the eventide

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday 20th September 2026
RUCGCA Service
A Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance, with a guest appearance from the Police Choir, will take place in this afternoon at 3.00pm. The Dean is the preacher. All are welcome to attend.

St Macartin’s Cathedral Big Breakfast Saturday 26th September
Breakfast will be served from 9.00am to 12.30pm in the Cathedral Hall. Please make every effort to attend and invite your family and friends. Adults £10, children under 12 £5. Proceeds are to the Aisling Centre and St Macartin’s Outreach Fund. All are most welcome to attend.

Back to Church Sunday
On Sunday 27th September, at 11.00am, we mark ‘Back to Church Sunday’. This provides an opportunity for those who used to attend, and anyone who does not currently attend, our Sunday services to come back to Church. This invitation especially applies to young families. All who come along will receive a warm welcome. If every person in the congregation invites one other family, even one other person, we could have a massive success and one to be celebrated. Making the invitation is a significant step towards becoming an invitational church, where it is natural for church members to encourage friends to ‘come and see’. Tea and coffee will be available in the Cathedral Hall afterwards with entertainment for young children. As a special treat, an ice-cream van will provide ice-cream. All free for everyone.
Tuesday Club
On Tuesday 29th September, the Tuesday Club will meet in the Hilliard Room at 2.00pm. Lettie Coulter is the speaker on Scarf Art. A warm welcome is extended to all who wish to join them. Please contact Valerie Watson (028 6638 8047) or Valerie Thompson (028 6632 4807) if you require transport.
Head Boy
Congratulations and best wishes to Alfie Lucy on being appointed Headboy of Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
Thursday 24th September
11.00am - Holy Communion
Sunday 27th September - The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
9.00am - Holy Communion
11.00am - Morning Prayer - Back to Church Sunday