Holy Communion
A warm welcome to the parish church of All Saints with Holy Trinity.
Today we gather in the Easter season continuing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. After the sombre tone of Lent and Holy Week the church is now adorned with flowers and the cry of Alleluia fills our worship.
Children are always welcome in church and we understand that they do not always find it easy to be quiet! There is a parent led crèche in the Trinity Room at the front of church where the service can be heard through a loud speaker. Most weeks Children’s Church takes place in Fearon Hall and families re-join us in the church building in time for communion.
All those who have been baptised in any church tradition are welcome to receive communion here. Currently the bread is dipped into the wine by the minister and then placed in your hand. If you need a gluten free wafer please speak to one of the stewards before the service.
At the time of publishing we are still asking members of the congregation to wear a face mask (unless exempt) when entering and moving around the building and to consider leaving it on throughout the service and sit in the outer aisles and towards the back of church if you wish to remove it. This is to support members of our congregation who would otherwise feel unable to attend worship.
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.
To stay in touch and receive regular email updates from All Saints send your contact details to [email protected] or speak to a steward and leave your name, address and phone number if you would prefer this way to be contacted.
Details of how you can support All Saints are on the back page.
Before the service begins there is an informal welcome.
The Gathering
The choir may sing an introit, a piece of choral music reflecting the theme of the season.
Processional hymn
All stand to sing the hymn as the organ music begins.
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
In every insult, rift and war,
where colour, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love and praise.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
and also with you.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The theme of the service introduced
Prayers of Penitence
The deacon or lay assistant invites us to confess our sins
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
A short silence is kept
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The following chant is sung. (Words written by Desmond Tutu and Music by John Bell.)
Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours, victory is ours
through him who loved us.
The president declares God’s forgiveness
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
Gloria in Excelsis
We sing the ancient hymn of praise together (Tune: Maccabaeus/Thine be the glory).
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Songs of adoration, Lord to you we bring,
praising your great goodness, Father, heav’nly King.
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Son of the Father, bearing this world’s sin,
Lamb of God, have mercy, grant us peace within.
You, O Christ are holy, you alone are Lord,
with the Holy Spirit ever more adored.
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
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.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading
We sit to listen to one or two readings appointed for the day.
The first reading comes from Acts 5.12-16
Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
The second reading comes from 2 Corinthians 4.13-15
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture — ‘I believed, and so I spoke’— we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
Here ends 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 turn to face the reader.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The deacon or assisting minister reads the Gospel for the day.
Gospel according to John 5.25 - 29
‘Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgement, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
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 there is a brief pause for reflection, an anthem, song or piece of music may be played and then all stand to affirm the faith of the church.
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles:
this we have received, and this we believe. Amen
Prayers of Intercession
All sit or kneel for the prayers, which are led by a member of the congregation. 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
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
Alleluia
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you. Alleluia.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
We offer a sign of peace to one another from our seats.
Offertory Hymn
During this hymn bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared. Gifts of the people are symbolically presented in the offertory plate and the president gives thanks for the gifts of time, talent and finance that are offered to the church.
Many people make their financial gift through their bank via PGS but you can also make a one off gift any Sunday through cash or card at the back of church before or after the service.
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me.
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John —
they came with me and the Dance went on.
I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame;
the holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
and they left me there on a cross to die.
I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black —
it's hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I'd gone;
but I am the Dance, and I still go on.
They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that'll never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me —
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Be present, be present,
Lord Jesus Christ,
our risen high priest;
make yourself known in the breaking of bread.
Amen
The president takes the bread and wine and 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.
It is right to praise you, Father; Lord of all creation;
in your love you made us for yourself.
When we turned away
you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life
that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross
and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed,
at supper with his friends
he took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine,
he gave you thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;
do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory,
send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine
may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts
make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world
we offer you this sacrifice of praise
and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
Holy, most holy, all holy the Lord,
in power and wisdom for ever adored!
The earth and the heavens are full of your love;
our joyful hosannas re-echo above!
Blessèd, most blessèd, all blessèd is he
whose life makes us whole and whose death sets us free;
who comes in the name of the Father of light,
let endless hosannas resound in the height!
We kneel or sit and observe a moment of silence
The Lord’s Prayer
All the nations of the earth are gathered at the table of the Lord. Let us
pray with the words our Saviour taught us:
Please pray in whichever language is your mother tongue
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
Jesus says I am the bread of life whoever eats this bread will live for ever
Lord our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always
While the remaining consecrated bread is broken and the communion assistants come
to the front we join in with singing the Agnus Dei (Tune: Blaenwern/Love Divine)
Jesus, Lamb of God, Redeemer,
Lamb of God, have mercy on us,
Jesus, Lamb of God, Redeemer,
Lamb of God, grant us your peace.
You, who took on flesh to save us,
Set us free from sin and death,
Jesus, Lamb of God, Redeemer,
Lamb of God, grant us your peace
Giving of Communion
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Please come forward when directed by the stewards and fold your arms across your chest if you wish to receive a prayer instead of the bread & wine. As we share communion an anthem or song may by sung by members of the choir and then we all join in singing the communion hymn(s.)
See, what a morning
See, what a morning, gloriously bright,
with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
folded the graveclothes, tomb filled with light,
as the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God’s salvation plan,
wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
See Mary weeping, ‘Where is he laid?’
as in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
hears a voice speaking, calling her name;
it’s the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
speaking life, stirring hope, bringing peace to us,
will sound till he appears,
for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
through the Spirit who clothes faith with certainty;
honour and blessing, glory and praise
to the King crowned with power and authority!
And we are raised with him,
death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered;
and we shall reign with him,
for he lives: Christ is risen from the dead!
All heaven declares
All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord.
Who can compare with the beauty of the Lord?
Forever he will be the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee and worship him alone.
I will proclaim the glory of the risen Lord,
who once was slain to reconcile the world to God.
Forever you will be the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee and worship you alone.
Prayer after Communion
A brief silence is kept before the president says the post communion prayer for the day followed by:
Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
what when we were still far of
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his rise life;
we who drink his cup bring life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
And the whole earth live to praise your name;
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
The Dismissal
Notices & publishing of the banns of marriage.
The Blessing
God the Father,
by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the 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.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! — who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save:
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied —
for every sin on him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am his and he is mine —
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from his hand;
till he returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
We are raised to new life with Christ.
Go in his peace. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Some weeks refreshments are served after the service
Easter Gift 2022
A personal message from Revd. Wendy, Rector of All Saints
When it comes to giving, we often assume that means financial but this Easter, if All Saints is your regular place of worship, I would like to invite you to consider whether you can make a generous gift of your time by
serving in one of the many ways listed below, or perhaps another area of church life. Please speak to me or anyone on duty after the service or email:
[email protected] to find out more.
Hospitality Team
Serving refreshments after Sunday services and special events, ensuring we have supplies, setting up and then clearing away.
Church Cleaning Team
Join a friendly but currently very small team taking a turn cleaning the church.
Children’s Church Team
Support young families by assisting in one of many ways: setting up in Fearon Hall, leading storytelling and singing, making cups of tea and
washing up, helping to clear away.
Audio Visual Team
Be trained to use our new system being installed this summer so services have excellent sound quality in the building and so people can join in from home via the live stream.
Pastoral Visitors Team
Join a new team helping out in a variety of ways: home visits, telephone call support, occasional shopping trips or providing home cooked meals when someone has just come out of hospital.
In addition to the teams above, we are looking for people to aid the building development aspect of our work as we look to repairing the south roof (hopefully with the inclusion of solar panels) and to opening up the west end of the church to make it a more accessible, welcoming and energy
efficient space. In particular, we are looking for those with time and skills in writing grant applications and in project management.