Holy Communion
Welcome
Today we gather for the service of Holy Communion. It is sometimes known as ‘The Lord’s Supper,’ ‘The Eucharist,’ or simply as ‘Mass’ but whatever name is used it is the central act of worship for the Christian Community.
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 service or the music group may play a song that similarly leads us into worship.
Processional Hymn: AM577 Eternal God, before whose face we stand
All stand to sing the hymn as the music begins and the servers and ministers process.
For Remembrance Sunday
Eternal God, before whose face we stand,
your earthly children, fashioned by your hand,
hear and behold us, for to you alone
all hearts are open, all our longings known:
so for our world and for ourselves we pray
the gift of peace, O Lord, in this our day.
We come with grief, with thankfulness and pride,
to hold in honour those who served and died;
we bring our hurt, our loneliness and loss,
to him who hung forsaken on the cross;
who, for our peace, our pains and sorrows bore,
and with the Father lives for evermore.
O Prince of Peace, who gave for us your life,
look down in pity on our sin and strife.
May this remembrance move our hearts to build
a peace enduring, and a hope fulfilled,
when every flag of tyranny is furled
and wars at last shall cease in all the world.
From earth’s long tale of suffering here below
we pray the fragile flower of peace may grow,
till cloud and darkness vanish from our skies
to see the Sun of Righteousness arise.
When night is past and peace shall banish pain,
all shall be well, in God’s eternal reign.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
and also with you.
Additional words of welcome from the president may be given and the theme of the service introduced.
Prayers of Penitence
The deacon or lay assistant invites us to confess our sins using this prayer or with other words and the responses that follow. You may wish to kneel.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
OR
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy
Lord have mercy
The president says words of forgiveness in a prayer of absolution.
Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis by Margaret Rizza
We stand to sing this ancient hymn of praise together using either this setting with the choir or the one opposite with the music group.
Gloria in Excelsis by John Foley
Give glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
(Repeat)
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Give glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy upon us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
Give glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
You alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Give glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
(Repeat)
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 - 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: Malachi 4.1-2a
4 See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3.6-13
6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
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 21.5-19
5 Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
7 “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”
8 He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and uprisings, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”
10 Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.
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
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 either in the words of the Creed or the Affirmation of Faith on page 10.
The Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
OR
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
From whom every family
In heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
Who lives in our hearts through faith,
And fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
Who strengthens us
With power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
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.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
We stand. The president introduces the peace with some appropriate words and then says:
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: AM582 O God of earth and altar
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.
O God of earth and altar,
bow down and hear our cry,
our earthly rulers falter,
our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us,
the swords of scorn divide,
take not thy thunder from us,
but take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches,
from lies of tongue and pen,
from all the easy speeches
that comfort cruel men,
from sale and profanation
of honour and the sword,
from sleep and from damnation,
deliver us, good Lord!
Tie in a living tether
the prince and priest and thrall,
bind all our lives together,
smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation
aflame with faith, and free,
lift up a living nation,
a single sword to thee.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
When the altar-table is prepared the president offers this prayer.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
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 one of the two settings below.
OR
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 then this acclamation is used.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
The prayer continues leading into the final words of praise.
. . . in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
OR
. . . for ever and ever. Amen
We kneel or sit and observe a period of silence.
The Lord’s Prayer
We say this prayer together, each in whichever language is closest to our hearts.. 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 the communion assistants come to the front we sing together the ancient prayer known as the Agnus Dei.
Agnus Dei by Margaret Rizza
OR
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 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 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.
Communion Hymn: AM717 Lord, make us servants of your peace
Lord, make us servants of your peace:
where there is hate, may we sow love;
where there is hurt, may we forgive;
where there is strife, may we make one.
Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
where all is night, may we sow light;
where all is tears, may we sow joy.
Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.
May we not look for love’s return,
but seek to love unselfishly,
for in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiven.
Dying we live, and are reborn
through death’s dark night to endless day;
Lord, make us servants of your peace
to wake at last in heaven’s light.
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:
We thank you Lord,
that you have fed us in this sacrament,
united us with Christ,
and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet
prepared for all peoples.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Notices and publishing of the banns of marriage.
The Blessing
We stand for the president to give the blessing to which all respond.
Amen.
Recessional Hymn: AM747 O God, our help in ages past
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.
O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
and with love everlasting you besiege me:
in every moment of life and death, you are.
Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
you have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future, too.
Although your Spirit is upon me,
still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
For you created me and shaped me,
gave me life within my mother’s womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
safe in your hands, all creation is made new.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. 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. Details of this are available from a steward.
Alternatively, you can make a one off gift today via the plate or card machine at the back of church or use this link.