Entrance antiphon

O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.

…Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy…Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy…Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercyPenitential act

Almighty ever-living God,direct our actions according to your good pleasure, that in the name of your beloved Son we may abound in good works.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.

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Collect

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. All:Amen

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Collect

The First Reading

A reading from the Second Book of Samuel 11:1-4,5-10, 13-17 At the turn of the year, the time when kings go

campaigning, David sent Joab and with him his own guards and the whole of Israel. They massacred the Ammonites and laid siege to Rabbah. David, however, remained in Jerusalem. It happened towards evening when David had risen from his couch and was strolling on the palace roof, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David made inquiries about this.woman and was told, ‘Why, that is Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

campaigning, David sent Joab and with him his own guards and the whole of Israel. They massacred the Ammonites and laid siege to Rabbah. David, however,

remained in Jerusalem. It happened towards evening when David had risen from his couch and was strolling on the palace roof, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David made inquiries about this.woman and was told, ‘Why, that is Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

remained in Jerusalem. It happened towards evening when David had risen from his couch and was strolling on the palace roof, that he saw from the roof a

woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David made inquiries about this.woman and was told, ‘Why, that is Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful. David made inquiries about this.woman and was told, ‘Why, that is Bathsheba, Eliam’s daughter, the wife of

Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers and had her brought. She came to him, and he slept with her. She then went home again. The woman conceived and sent

word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

word to David; ‘I am with child.’ Then David sent Joab a message, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite’, whereupon Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah

came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself. Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

came into his presence, David asked after Joab and the army and how the war was going. David then said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and enjoy yourself.

Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

Uriah left the palace, and was followed by a present from the king’s table. Uriah however slept by the palace door with his master’s bodyguard and did not go

down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

down to his house. This was reported to David; ‘Uriah’ they said ‘did not go down to his house.’ The next day David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and

made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

made him drunk. In the evening Uriah went out and lay on his couch with his master’s bodyguard, but he did not go down to his house. Next morning David wrote

a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab, then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

a letter to Joab and sent it by Uriah. In the letter he wrote, ‘Station Uriah in the thick of the fight and then fall back behind him so that he may be struck down and die.’ Joab,

then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

then besieging the town, posted Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce fighters. The men of the town sallied out and engaged Joab; the army suffered

casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

casualties, including some of David’s bodyguard; and Uriah the Hittite was killed too.

Thanks be to God

The Word of the Lord

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your

kindness. In your

compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my

guilt and cleanse me

from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

That you may be justified when you

give sentence and be without reproach when

you judge,O see, in guilt I

was born, a sinner was I

conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and

gladness, that the bones you have crushed

may thrill.From my sins turn

away your face and blot out all

my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

The Psalm

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guiltand cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before meAgainst you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

That you may be justified when you give sentence

and be without reproach when you judge,

O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may thrill.

From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

The Psalm

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your

kindness. In your

compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my

guilt and cleanse me

from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

That you may be justified when you

give sentence and be without reproach when

you judge,O see, in guilt I

was born, a sinner was I

conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and

gladness, that the bones you have crushed

may thrill.From my sins turn

away your face and blot out all

my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

The Psalm

My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before meAgainst you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

H

ave mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

That you may be justified when you give sentence

and be without reproach when you judge,

O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may thrill.

From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

The Psalm

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your

kindness. In your

compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my

guilt and cleanse me

from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

That you may be justified when you

give sentence and be without reproach when

you judge,O see, in guilt I

was born, a sinner was I

conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and

gladness, that the bones you have crushed

may thrill.From my sins turn

away your face and blot out all

my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

The Psalm

That you may be justified when you give sentence

and be without reproach when you judge,

O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may thrill.

From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

The Psalm

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your

kindness. In your

compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my

guilt and cleanse me

from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

That you may be justified when you

give sentence and be without reproach when

you judge,O see, in guilt I

was born, a sinner was I

conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and

gladness, that the bones you have crushed

may thrill.From my sins turn

away your face and blot out all

my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

The Psalm

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may thrill.

From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have sinned.

The Psalm

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your

kindness. In your

compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my

guilt and cleanse me

from my sin.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I

sinned; what is evil in your sight I have

done.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

That you may be justified when you

give sentence and be without reproach when

you judge,O see, in guilt I

was born, a sinner was I

conceived.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

Make me hear rejoicing and

gladness, that the bones you have crushed

may thrill.From my sins turn

away your face and blot out all

my guilt.

Have mercy on us, Lord, for we have

sinned.

The Psalm

Alleluia, alleluia!Make me grasp the way of your precepts, and I will muse on your wonders.Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation

The Lord be with you.

And with your spirit. A Reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark 4:26-34

Glory to you, O Lord. The Gospel

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day, while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is

sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready,

he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘What can we say the kingdom of God is like? What parable can we

find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

find for it? It is like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’ Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone theywereaaaaalalalone.

The Gospel of the Lord

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept our offerings, O Lord, we pray,and in sanctifying themgrant that they may profit us for salvation.Through Christ our Lord.All : Amen Prayer over The Offering

The Peace of the Lord be with you always.

And with your spirit.

Let us offer each other the sign of peace

We Share God’s Peace

God our Father, slow to anger,

abounding in mercy,

you find your way to us when we cannot find our way to you,

you are always faithful even when we are unfaithful.

Jesus Christ, you entered the house of sinners,

you sat at the table of the poor,

you accepted the Cross, your throne of mercy.

Holy Spirit, you pour your healing gifts over our

wounds, you anoint us to bring good news to the

poor, you send us out as missionaries of mercy.

God of Mercies, have mercy on us, so that where

sin abounds your grace may abound all the more,

and we shall become Merciful like you. Amen.