Today is the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity, when the Gospel reading is Luke’s account of Jesus’ two parables about the lost sheep and about the lost coin. These two parables emphasise God’s concern for the individual who is lost. It is significant that, while one parable is told from the perspective of masculine experience, the other is told from the perspective of feminine experience. Both the shepherd and the woman go in search of what has been lost, one sheep and one coin. These two parables are followed immediately by a third parable about the lost son.

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 lost property. In today’s picture from their book, Journeys, Aled and Sian are looking for the lost property office at the heritage railway station.

Lord Jesus Christ,

you rejoice when the lost are found.

We praise you for searching for us.

We praise you for finding us.

We praise you for keeping us safe

in your everlasting care;

for you are our God,

now and always.

Amen.

Next week, the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, the reading from Luke’s Gospel focuses on the growing sense of urgency as Jesus draws closer to Jerusalem. Now is the time for choices and for decisions. The image to help us prepare for next week’s theme is crossroads. You can find out more about that theme by looking at the Educational Resources and the Preparation Resources.

Preparation Resources

Family Resources