Today, the Second Sunday after Trinity, is also the Feast of St Peter. The reading from Matthew’s Gospel brings us to the event in the district of Caesarea Philippi where Peter recognises Jesus as the Messiah. It is at this point that Matthew inserts into his source, Mark, those now famous words that have established Peter as the rock on which Jesus will build his Church.

For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of rocks. In today’s picture from his book, Water, Teddy Horsley stands at the water’s edge, looking up at the mighty rocks.

Lord Jesus,

You called Peter to proclaim you as the Christ.

Support all whom you are calling today

to build your church across the world,

to proclaim you to the nations,

and to establish your reign forever;

in your name we pray.

Amen.

Next week, the Third Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel concerns the mission of the seventy, whom he sends out to go on ahead of him. Jesus gives them strict instructions about how to proceed. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is courier. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.

Preparation Resources

Family Resources