All Age Communion
Welcome
Today we gather for an All Age service of Communion where children are central in participating and leading our worship. If you have young ones please sit somewhere where they can see as we move around for different elements of the baptism please feel free to move too. The liturgy we use today echoes much of what is use in Children’s Church that gathers in Fearon Hall on other weeks. If you would like to know more about how we support children and families please contact our Children’s Minister: [email protected]
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.
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.
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.
Please join in with the words in bold type.
The Gathering
Processional Hymn 276 Holy, Holy, Holy
Please stand, if you are able, as the ministers process.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy, there is none beside thee
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!
The Greeting
In my head
in my heart
and all around me
Jesus is here
In my head
in my heart
and all around me
Jesus is here
We sit. An informal welcome is given and the theme of the service introduced.
Presentation of the Candidate
Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Do not stop them.’
We thank God for Rosemary and Theodore who have come to be baptized
today. Christ loves them and welcomes them into his Church.
So I ask you all:
Will you support these children as they begins their journey of faith?
We will.
Will you help them to love and grow within God’s family?
We will
The president then says to the parents and godparents
God knows each of us by name and we are his.
Parents and godparents, you speak for Rosemary and Theodore today.
Will you pray for them,
and help them to follow Christ?
We will.
The Gloria: A Song of Praise
Gloria (Clap! Clap!) Gloria (Clap! Clap!) in excelsis Deo
Gloria (Clap! Clap!) Gloria (Clap! Clap!) in excelsis Deo
Lord God, heavenly King,
peace you bring to us;
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we sing our song of praise.
Gloria . . .
Jesus, Saviour of all,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away our sins,
O Lord, have mercy on us all.
Gloria . . .
At the Father’s right hand,
Lord receive our prayer,
for you alone are the Holy One,
and you alone are Lord.
Gloria . . .
Glory, Father and Son,
glory, Holy Spirit,
to you we raise our hands up high,
we glorify your name.
Gloria . . .
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘let us pray’. All remain standing for the period of silence and the collect - the special prayer for the day.
Holy God,
Faithful and unchanging:
Enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,
And draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love,
That we may truly worship you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
One God, now and for ever.
Amen
The Liturgy of the Word
We sit to listen to a reading appointed for the day taken from the Christian scriptures, the Bible. This might be from the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures as it is also called, or from the New Testament which is mostly made up of letters sent to some of the earliest churches. You will find the reading on the notice sheet. At the end this response is used:
First Reading: Isaiah 40.12-17; 27-end
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
or as his counsellor has instructed him?
14 Whom did he consult for his enlightenment,
and who taught him the path of justice?
Who taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as dust on the scales;
see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
nor are its animals enough for a burnt-offering.
17 All the nations are as nothing before him;
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God’?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Here end the reading
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Reading
We stand and sing together Halle, Halle, Halle-lu-jah! 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 Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 28.16-end
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
We sing Halle, Halle, Halle-lu-jah! as the gospel is carried back. We sit after the preacher offers an introductory prayer.
Sermon
After the sermon follows a moment of silent reflection.
The Liturgy of Baptism
The Decision
The minister addresses the candidates through their parents and godparents
We all wander far from God and lose our way:
Christ comes to find us and welcome us home.
In baptism we respond to his call.
Therefore I ask:
Do you turn away from sin?
I do.
Do you reject evil?
I do.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I do.
Do you trust in him as Lord?
I do.
Signing with the Cross
The minister makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Rosemary and Theodore, saying
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
Others may also make the sign of the cross on Rosemary’s and Theodore’s foreheads then the minster says
Rosemary and Theodore do not be ashamed of Christ.
You are his forever.
Stand bravely with him
against all the powers of evil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.
May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ. Amen.
The ministers and baptism family with godparents process to the baptismal font, everyone is invited to follow on. As we move to the font we sing together:
Wa wa wa Emi-Mimo (Come Holy Spirit Come)
Sung in Yoruba and English
Wa wa wa Emi-Mimo
Wa wa wa Alagbara
Wa o wa o wa o
Come O Holy Spirit Come
Come O Mighty Spirit Come
Come, come, come
Prayer over the Water
The water is poured into the font and then the president says a prayer:
We praise you, loving Father,
for the gift of your Son Jesus.
He was baptized in the River Jordan,
where your Spirit came upon him
and revealed him as the Son you love.
He sent his followers
to baptize all who turn to him.
Now, Father, we ask you to bless this water,
that those who are baptized in it
may be cleansed in the water of life,
and, filled with your Spirit,
may know that they are loved as your children,
safe in Christ for ever.
Amen.
Profession of Faith
Brothers and sisters I ask you to profess together the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
I believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
I believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Baptism
The minister pours water on the head of Rosemary and Theodore in turn saying each time
I baptise you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.
Commission and Prayers
We pray for those newly baptised and their families and then we use our Children’s Church prayer song
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.
Welcome and the Peace
Omolora who was baptised in front of her family and friends on 27th May joins Theo and Rosie.
We are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God,
through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.
Omolara, Rosemary and Theodore we welcome you into the fellowship of faith; we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
We exchange a sign of peace as we move back to our seats and join in with the offertory hymn.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
Offertory Hymn
During this hymn bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared. The offertory plate is presented, symbolic of both the financial and volunteering gifts of the people, and the president gives thanks for these while the deacon or lay assistant is laying up the altar-table. Details of how you can make a gift today are on the back of this order of service.
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Chorus
Sing praise x4
Forever, God is faithful
Forever, God is strong
Forever, God is with us
Forever
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
Persian: Esh hash taw abad paw barjost عشقش تا ابد پا برجاست
(His love endures forever)
For the life that's been reborn
Persian: Esh hash taw abad paw barjost عشقش تا ابد پا برجاست
(His love endures forever)
Chorus
Persian: Daw awyay nyoi esh x2 ستایش بخوان
Forever…
From the rising to the setting sun
Persian: Esh hash taw abad paw barjost عشقش تا ابد پا برجاست
(His love endures forever)
By the grace of God, we will carry on
Persian: Esh hash taw abad paw barjost عشقش تا ابد پا برجاست
(His love endures forever)
Chorus
Persian: Daw awyay nyoi esh x2 ستایش بخوان Forever…
Taking of the Bread and Wine
When the altar-table is prepared the president offers this prayer.
Blessed be God,
who feeds the hungry,
who raises the poor,
who fills our praise.
Blessed be God for ever.
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.
The president praises God for His mighty acts and all respond by singing:
The Sanctus by James Macmillan
Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he, Oh blessed is he
Who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest.
The president recalls the Last Supper and the prayer continues leading into the final words of praise
…and now with the Blessed Mary and all your saints we give you glory,
through Jesus Christ in the strength of the Spirit,
today and for ever.
Amen.
We kneel or sit and observe a period of silence.
The Lord’s Prayer
We say this prayer together, each in our own language. It may be led by a member of the congregation using one of the global languages that make up our intercultural community.
As our saviour 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
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
While the ministers break the remaining consecrated bread and take communion and the communion assistants come to the front we sing together the ancient prayer known as the Agnus Dei.
Agnus Dei by James Macmillan
Lamb of God you take away
The sins of the world
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away
The sins of the world
Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away
The sins of the world
Grant us peace.
Giving of Communion
The president gives an invitation to communion.
This is the table, not of the Church but of Jesus Christ.
It is made ready for those who love God and who want to love God more.
So come you have much faith and you who have little, you who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time or ever before.
You who have tried to follow and all of us who have failed.
These are the gifts of God for the People of God. Christ invites you to be known and fed here.
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 music group will sing, please join in as you feel able.
Communion Hymns
We shall be using this song throughout the month of June we continue to work and pray for the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ Christians in the life of the church.
For Everyone born
For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
Chorus
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!
For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
Chorus
For woman and man, a place at the table,
revising the roles, deciding the share,
with wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
for woman and man, a system that's fair,
Chorus
For queer and for straight, a place at the table,
For trans and for gay, a welcoming place,
a rainbow of race and gender and colour,
for queer and for straight, the chalice of grace,
Chorus
For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
Chorus
Justice and joy! x3
Prayer after Communion
A brief silence is kept then we say the following prayer together:
Lord,
we have broken your bread
and received your life.
By the power of your Spirit
keep us always in your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Notices are given and then we stand for the blessing and final hymn during which Rosemary and Theodore are presented with a lit candle.
…...and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Cantor:
Send me, Lord.
All:
Send me, Jesus, send me, Jesus,
send me, Jesus, send me, Lord.
Cantor:
Lead me, Lord.
All:
Lead me, Jesus, lead me, Jesus,
lead me, Jesus, lead me, Lord.
Cantor:
Fill me, Lord.
All:
Fill me, Jesus, fill me, Jesus,
fill me, Jesus, fill me, Lord.
Original Xhosa text:
Cantor:
Thuma mina.