Farewell Service for Canon Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy

Sun 16th January 2022
15:00 pm

A very warm welcome to All Saints with Holy Trinity as we gather to give much thanks to God for Lusa’s ministry among us and to pray for him, Mirjam, Maisha, Milao & Tshala for all that is ahead for them as a family.

Visitors to the church are requested to note that the use of all personal audio and visual equipment is not permitted during worship. Your cooperation is appreciated but please be aware that the service is being lived streamed (see note below).

In order to keep yourself and others safe please wear a face covering while in the building, particularly while singing.

Toilets: If you require access to toilets please ask the verger on the door who will be pleased to direct you.

PUBLICITY ADVICE - YOU ARE BEING RECORDED!

This event is being live streamed and recorded for publicity and marketing purposes so photographs, video and audio recordings may be taken throughout.

In attending this event, you are accepting that your image may be captured and shared. The Diocese of Leicester may use photographs or video recordings of this event and those attending it, for promotional purposes.

These films and images may appear in future in our printed publications, on Church/Diocesan websites, social media accounts and might also be supplied to and used by external press and broadcast media.

If you have any queries or concerns regarding this, please contact the event organisers during the event: Revd James Pickersgill – Bishop’s Chaplain

Diocese of Leicester Communications Team - [email protected]

Gathering worship song:

I can see the promised land,

though there’s pain within the plan

There is victory in the end,

Your love is my battle cry

When my fears like Jericho,

build their walls around my soul

When my heart is overthrown,

your love is my battle cry

The anthem for all my life

Every giant will fall,

the mountains will move

Every chain of the past,

You’ve broken in two

Over fear over lies,

we’re singing the truth

That nothing is impossible with you

There is hope within the fight,

in the wars that rage inside

Though the shadows steal the light

Your love is my battle cry,

the anthem for all my life

Every giant will fall,

the mountains will move

Every chain of the past,

You’ve broken in two

Over fear over lies,

we’re singing the truth

That nothing is impossible with you

No greater name, no higher name

Nor stronger name than Jesus

You overcame, broke every chain

Forever reign, King Jesus

No greater name, no higher name

Nor stronger name than Jesus

You overcame, broke every chain

Forever reign, King Jesus

Every giant will fall,

the mountains will move

Every chain of the past,

You’ve broken in two

Over fear over lies,

we’re singing the truth

That nothing is impossible

Every giant will fall,

the mountains will move

Every chain of the past,

You’ve broken in two

Over fear over lies,

we’re singing the truth

That nothing is impossible with you

Informal welcome:

Revd Wendy Dalrymple, Rector of All Saints with Holy Trinity

Please only stand during the service if you are comfortably able.

Opening Processional Hymn:

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
  the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy
  health and salvation!
    All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Sing now in glad adoration!

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all
  things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle,
  uplifteth, sustaineth.
    Hast thou not seen
How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully,
  wondrously, made thee!
Health hath vouchsafed and, when
  heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
    What need or grief
Ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper
  thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of
  His mercy doth send thee.
    Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that
  is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come
  now with praises before Him!
    Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Preparation:

Bishop Martyn

The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you

And also with you

The glory of the Lord has risen upon us

Let us rejoice and sing God’s praise for ever

Bishop Martyn offer words of informal welcome

We have come together in the name of Christ

to offer our praise and thanksgiving

to hear and receive God's holy word,

to pray for our brother Lusa, and for the needs of the world,

and to seek the forgiveness of our sins,

that by the power of the Holy Spirit

we may give ourselves to the service of God.

Confession:

Revd Wendy Dalrymple

Do not be anxious about your life,

what you shall eat or what you shall drink.

seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness.

Let us confess our sins and our failures to make God's will our priority:

Silence is kept

We have not held out the word of life

in a bleak and twisted world:

Lord have mercy

Lord have mercy

The choir sing Kyrie Eleison – Ukrainian setting

We have failed to share our bread with the hungry:

Christ have mercy

Christ have mercy

The choir sing Christe Eleison - Ukrainian setting

We have closed our hearts to the love of God

Lord have mercy

Lord have mercy

The choir sing Kyrie Eleison - Ukrainian setting

Absolution:

Bishop Martyn

May the God of love and power

Forgive you and free you from your sins,

Heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,

And raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen

Song of Praise a Multi-Lingual Grace:

Shukran, Gam sa hae, Gracias, Asante

For everything you give us

Thank you Lord

For people who surround us

Thank you Lord

For everlasting kindness

Thank you Lord

And for your faithful presence

Thank you Lord.

Shukran, Gam sa hae, Gracias, Asante

For everything you give us

Gracias Dios

For people who surround us

Gracias Dios

For everlasting kindness

Gracias Dios

And for your faithful presence

Gracias Dios

Shukran, Gam sa hae, Gracias, Asante

For everything you give us

Gam sa hae

For people who surround us

Gam sa hae

For everlasting kindness

Gam sa hae

And for your faithful presence

Gam sa hae

Shukran, Gam sa hae, Gracias, Asante

The Word of God:

First reading from 1 Samuel 3.1-10

To be read in Shona by Revd Liz Piki

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’

So he went and lay down. The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’

Here ends the reading

Thanks be to God

Song of Praise:

Hakuna Wakaita Sa Jesu (There is no one like Jesus) sung in Shona

Hakuna wakaita sa Jesu

Hakuna wakaita saye

Hakuna wakaita sa Jesu

Haku hakuchina repeat

Ndamhanya mhanya kwese kwese

Ndatenderera kwese kwese

Ndatsvaga tsvaga kwese kwese

Haku hakuchina repeat

Second reading from Ephesians 4.1-16

To be read in Urdu by Revd Paskal Clement

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’

(When it says, ‘He ascended’, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Here ends the reading

Thanks be to God

Sermon:

The Reverend Canon Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy

Hymn:

For everyone born led by the Choir, the congregation will remain seated and join in with the chorus

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,

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,

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 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,

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 gay and for straight, a place at the table,

a covenant shared, a welcoming space,

a rainbow of race and gender and colour,

for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace,

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 just and unjust, a place at the table,

abuser, abused, with need to forgive,

in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,

for just and unjust, a new way to live,

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 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,

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!

Justice and joy!

Prayers of Intercession:

Led by the Church of the Martyrs

Concluding with the Māori version of the Lord’s Prayer:

Eternal Spirit,

Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver,

Source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all,

Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe;

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples

of the world;

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings;

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom

sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trial too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and forever. Amen.

Presentation and words of thanks:

Led by Bishop Martyn together with other diocesan colleagues

Notices:

Revd Wendy Dalrymple

Saying our Farewells:

Please stand if you are comfortably able.

Bishop Martyn

God of our beginnings and endings,

we celebrate all we have shared with Lusa, Mirjam, Maisha, Milao,

and Tshala and ask your blessing as they continue on their journey.

May the love that is in our hearts

be a bond that unites us forever, wherever we may be.

May the power of your presence

bless this moment of our leave-taking;

this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen.

All: As you journey onward,

we ask forgiveness where we have failed you;

we give thanks for all you have given us;

we assure you of our love and prayers.

Ngoy family: As we leave, we ask forgiveness where we have failed you; We give thanks for all that you have given to us;

We assure you of our love and prayers.

All: As you experience the pain of change,

and the insecurity of moving on,

we pray that you may also

experience the blessing of inner growth.

Ngoy family: We know that God goes with us.

All: As you meet the poor, the pained, and the stranger on the way, we pray that you may see in each one the face of Christ

Ngoy family: We know that God goes with us.

All: As you walk through the good times and the bad, we pray

that you may never lose sight of the shelter of God’s loving arms.

Ngoy family: We know that God goes with us.

All: As you ponder your decisions and wonder over the fruits of your choice, we pray that the peace of Christ may reign in your heart.

Ngoy family: We know that God goes with us.

A period of silence is observed as everyone sits or kneels

The choir sings ‘The Lord Bless you and Keep you’ by John Rutter

During this time, Lusa lays down some symbols of ministry from Leicester on the altar and then kneels in front of Bishop Martyn

Bishop Martyn lays hands on Lusa

We praise and thank you, God of the journey, for our brother who is soon to leave us. We entrust him into your loving care, knowing that you are always the faithful traveller and companion on the way. Shelter and protect him from all harm and anxiety. Grant him the courage to meet the future, and grace to go into new life; through Jesus Christ

our Saviour.

Amen.

Closing Hymn:

By faith we see the hand of God

In the light of creation's grand design

In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness

Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth

With the power of His promise in their hearts

Of a holy city built by God's own hand

A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day

When the longed-for Messiah would appear

With the power to break the chains of sin and death

And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go

In the power of the Spirit to the lost

To deliver captives and to preach good news

In every corner of the earth

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith this mountain shall be moved

And the power of the gospel shall prevail

For we know in Christ all things are possible

For all who call upon His name

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

Prayer Poem:

Open unto me, by Howard Thurman read by Maisha Ngoy

Lord, Lord, Open Unto Me

Open unto me, light for my darkness

Open unto me, courage for my fear

Open unto me, hope for my despair

Open unto me, peace for my turmoil

Open unto me, joy for my sorrow

Open unto me, strength for my weakness

Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion

Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins

Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness

Open unto me, love for my hates

Open unto me, Thy Self for myself

Lord, Lord, open unto me!

The Dismissal Gospel:

Read in Dutch by Vee Pinto, Intercultural Pioneer Minister at Roots IWC

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Matthew 28.19-20

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Blessing:

Bishop Martyn

The Father, whose glory fills the heavens,

Cleanse you by his holiness

And send you to proclaim his word. Amen

The Son, who has ascended to the heights,

Pour upon you the riches of his grace. Amen

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter,

Equip you and strengthen you in your ministry. Amen

And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son & Holy Spirit,

rest upon you today and always.

Amen

Dismissal:

The Reverend Canon Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy

John 13:34-35 spoken in Swahili.

Bwana Jesu alisema: “Nawapeni amri mpya: pendaneni; pendaneni kama nilivyowapenda ninyi. Mkipendana, watu wote watajua kwamba ninyi ni wanafunzi wangu."

Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All: In the name of Christ. Amen

Recessional Music:

Organ voluntary - Sortie in E-flat: Lefébure-Wély

Refreshments to be served in the chancel for those who would like to stay.

Hymns reproduced by license CCLI 941986.