Collect

Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion

Lord God, the source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread,

and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Proverbs 3: 13 - 18

Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding,
for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

(NRSV)

2 Corinthians 4: 1 – 6

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning

or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of

the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of

everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is

veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their

case the god of this world has blinded the minds of

the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of

the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of

God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim

Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for

Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine

out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give

the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the

face of Jesus Christ.

(NRSV)

Matthew 9: 9 - 13

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called

Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him,

‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as

he sat at dinner* in the house, many tax-collectors and

sinners came and were sitting* with him and his

disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his

disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-

collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he

said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician,

but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means,

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call

not the righteous but sinners.’

(NRSV)