All Age Communion
Welcome
During this season of Advent we prepare ourselves both to celebrate the coming of Christ at Christmas and look ahead to when Christ will return at the end of time. It is a season of expectation and preparation as we pray together Maranatha – Our, Lord, come
If you are a visitor here today we hope you feel at home. The stewards wearing rainbow lanyards, will be happy to help you. Please introduce yourself. If you receive communion in any church you are welcome to receive the bread and wine here. If you need a gluten free wafer or wish to receive communion in your seat please let one of the stewards know.
Our services are usually live streamed, so those at home can worship with us. If you wish to ensure you are not seen on camera please sit on the right hand side of the church as you enter, please ask a steward if you are unsure. The cameras do not film people coming up for communion.
Children are always welcome in church and we understand that they do not always find it easy to be quiet! Please move around as you need to with them and if toddlers need a wander that is fine as long as they remain under your supervision. Church buildings are great places to explore but please be mindful of uneven floors, sharp edges and candles. Most weeks during term time Children’s Church takes place in Fearon Hall and families re-join us in the church building in time for communion.
We are part of the Inclusive Church network and as such we seek to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ. We are a work in progress and welcome anyone who wishes to journey with us.
Before the service begins there is an informal welcome. Once the service starts please join in with the words in bold type. The parts in red are instructions or an indication of what is happening. You will find throughout the service there are notes to stand, sit or kneel. These are invitations not commands, so please do whatever helps you to worship.
The Gathering
The choir may sing an Introit a piece of choral music reflecting the theme of the seaseon or the music group may play a song that similarly leads us into worship.
Processional Hymn
All stand to sing the hymn as the music begins and the servers and ministers process.
The Greeting
Additional words of welcome from the president may be given and the theme of the service introduced.
Prayers of Penitence at the Advent Wreath
Each of the four Sundays in Advent remind us of who prepared for the coming of Christ and we follow these theme with the candles:
First Sunday of Advent The Patriarchs and Matriarchs
Second Sunday of Advent The Prophets
Third Sunday of Advent John the Baptist
Fourth Sunday of Advent Mary the mother of Jesus
The deacon or lay assistant invites us to confess our sins, you may wish to kneel.
A voice cries out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’
So let us listen, and turn to the Lord in penitence and faith
While the advent wreath is lit we sing this Taize chant together
Words of confessions are said with the following responses
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
After a short silence the president says the prayer of absolution. At an all age service we are invited to put a smile on the forehead of our neighbour using the words ‘God gives you a new start.’
Almighty God,
who in Jesus Christ has given us
a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins,
open our eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen us to do God’s will
and give us the joy of his kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Advent Candle Hymn 26
We remain seated to sing the appropriate verse for this Sunday.
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘let us pray’. All remain seated or kneeling for the period of silence and the collect - the special prayer for the day - and all respond
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Readings
We sit to listen to one or two readings appointed for the day taken from the Christian scriptures, the Bible. Usually this will be one reading from the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures as it is also called, and then the second from the New Testament which is mostly made up of letters sent to some of the earliest churches.
At the end of each reading the following is said:
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
First Reading: Numbers 6.22-end
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
27 So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
Second Reading: Galatians 4.4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
We stand and sing together Alleluia as the Gospel book is carried to the middle of the church and the congregation turns to face the reader. The Gospels are the books of the Bible which contain the stories and words of Jesus hence we stand to show how important they are to us.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel Reading: Luke 2.15-21
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Gospel for the day is proclaimed.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
We sing Alleluia as the gospel is carried back. We sit after the preacher offers an introductory prayer.
Sermon or All Age Talk
After the sermon an anthem, song or piece of music may be played or there is a brief pause for reflection and then all stand to declare the faith of the Church .
The Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God the Father,
God almighty, by whose plan
earth and heaven sprang to being,
all created things began.
We believe in Christ the Saviour,
Son of God in human frame,
virgin-born, the child of Mary
upon whom the Spirit came.
Christ, who on the cross forsaken,
like a lamb to slaughter led,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
he descended to the dead.
We believe in Jesus risen,
heaven’s king to rule and reign,
to the Father’s side ascended
till as judge he comes again.
We believe in God the Spirit,
in one Church, below, above:
saints of God in one communion,
one in holiness and love.
So by faith, our sins forgiven,
Christ our Saviour, Lord and friend,
we shall rise with him in glory
to the life that knows no end.
he descended to the dead.
Prayers of Intercession
All kneel for the prayers, which are led by a member of the congregation, sometimes from the back of the church or from their seat. One of the following responses may be used or another response may be given.
Lord in your mercy
hear our prayer.
or
Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us
The prayers may conclude with these words:
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Alternatively a creative response may be invited or this prayer song may be used
For the world and all people: Hear our prayer.
For all Christians in all places: Hear our prayer.
For the place that we live in: Hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus hear our prayer.
For the sick and the lonely: Hear our prayer.
For our friends and our family: Hear our prayer.
For me and my life: Hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus hear our prayer.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
Members of the congregation turn to one another and greet their neighbours by saying ‘peace be with you’ and making a sign of peace.
Offertory Hymn
During this hymn bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared. The offertory plate is presented, symbolic of the financial gifts of the people, and the president gives thanks for these while the deacon or lay assistant is laying up the altar-table.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
When the altar-table is prepared the president offers this prayer.
As the grain once scattered in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited on this table in bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole Church soon be gathered together
from the corners of the earth
into your kingdom.
Amen.
The president washes their hands symbolising our desire to come together at the Lord’s table with pure hearts and minds.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, good Father to us all,
Your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home
To the city where angels sing your praise.
We join with them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy, God ever reigning,
filling all the universe with glory, pow’r and light;
Blest is our Redeemer, sent from God to save us.
Hail and hosanna! Glory in the height!
The prayer continues and we join in with the following responses:
This is his/our story
This is our song;
Hosanna in the highest
The prayer concludes:
May we and all who share this food
offer ourselves to live for you
And be welcomed at your feast in heaven
Where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
We kneel or sit and observe a period of silence
The Lord’s Prayer
As Jesus taught us, so we pray
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
Every time we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death
until he comes.
While the ministers break the remaining consecrated bread and the communion assistants come to the front the Advent Litany is sung. Please join in with the refrain in bold.
1. Word of justice, Alleluia, come to dwell here. Maranatha!
2. Word of mercy, live among us.
3. Word of power, live with-in us.
4. Word of freedom, save your people.
5. Word of healing, heal our sorrow.
6. Word of comfort, bring us hope now.
7. Word of gladness, fill our hearts now.
8. Word of wisdom, come renew us.
9. Word we long for, word we thirst for.
10. Key of David, Son of Mary.
11. Promised Saviour, true Messiah.
12. Cry of prophets, hope of ages.
13. Light of nations, light in darkness.
14. Risen Saviour, Lord of glory.
15. You we long for, you we thirst for.
16. Here among us, living in us.
Giving of Communion
Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world,
Blessed 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.
Please come forward when directed by the stewards. Christians of any church tradition are welcome to receive the bread and wine including children who have been admitted to communion, here or at another church. Alternatively you can come forward for a prayer of blessing, please indicate if this is your wish by crossing your arms across your chest.
As we share communion the choir or music group may sing an anthem or song and sometimes instrumental music will be played. We all join in singing the communion hymn(s) that follow, the number(s) for which can be found on the notice sheet and on the hymn board at the front of church.
Prayer after Communion
A brief silence is kept. The president says the post communion prayer for the day before we say the following prayer together:
Generous God,
you have fed us at your heavenly table.
Set us on fire with your Spirit
that when Christ comes again
we may shine like lights before his face,
who with you and the Spirit lives for ever.
Amen
The Dismissal
Notices and publishing of the banns of marriage
The Blessing
We stand for the president to give the blessing
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you,
scatter the darkness from before your path,
and make you ready to meet him when he come in glory;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Recessional Hymn
As we sing our final hymn the servers and ministers process. Children are welcome to join the procession. Please turn to face the ministers for the dismissal.
Our Lord says, ‘I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
May the Lord, when he comes,
find us watching and waiting. Amen.
You are warmly invited to stay for refreshments which are served most weeks after the service
Giving financially at All Saints
There is no charge for coming to church, everyone is welcome whatever your
circumstances
however, as a charity, we rely on the generosity of both occasional and
regular givers to fund the mission and ministry of the church and to ensure the upkeep of this historic building. Giving
generously is also part of our response to God, an expression of our worship.
If All Saints is your church please consider signing up to give regularly through your bank, if you are able, via the Parish Giving Scheme.