Skip to content

Holy Communion

Easter Season All Age Communion and baptism of Henry Trounson

 

A warm welcome to the parish church of All Saints with Holy Trinity.

In this Easter season we are 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.

Today we gather for an All Age service of Communion where Henry Trounson will be baptised and welcomed formally into the church family. The liturgy we use today echoes some of what is used in Children’s Church that gathers in Fearon Hall on other weeks. Please be aware the service is being live streamed to our YouTube channel so if you would prefer your children are not seen on camera please sit in the outer aisles.

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.

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.

 

Before the service begins there is an informal welcome. 

The Gathering

 

The introit Psalm 150 by Bob Chilcott is sung.

 

Processional hymn 208

Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky

 

All stand to sing the first hymn as the music begins.

 

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

  

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

 

The theme of the service introduced

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Presentation of the Baptism Candidate

 

Henry is presented to the congregation

 

Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Do not stop them.’

 

We thank God for Henry who has come to be baptised today. Christ loves him and welcomes him into his Church.

 

So I ask you all:

 

Will you support this child as he begins his journey in faith?

We will

 Will you help him to love and grow within God’s family?

We will

 

The minister then says to the parents and godparents

 

God knows each of us by name and we are his.

Parents and godparents, you speak for Henry today.

Will you pray for him and help him to follow Christ?

We will

          

Gloria in Excelsis

 

We stand to sing the ancient hymn of praise to the familiar tune of ‘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

 

We sit to listen to the reading appointed for the day.

 

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 n.

Glory to you, O Lord.

 

The deacon or assisting minister reads the Gospel for the day.

 

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

  

We sing Halle, Halle, Halle-lu-jah! as the gospel is carried to the credence table.

 

Talk

                                                                                                                                                 Prayers of Intercession

 

The prayer may use one of the following responses and close with :

 

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

OR

 

Lord hear us; Lord graciously hear us

 

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

 

 

The Liturgy of Baptism

 

The Decision

 

The minister addresses the candidates through their parents and godparents

 

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Therefore I ask:

 

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

 

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

 

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?

I repent of them.

 

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

 

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

 

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

 

 

Signing with the Cross

 

The minister makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Henry saying

 

Christ claims you for his own

Receive the sign of his cross

 

Others may also make the sign of the cross on the candidates

 

 

 

Henry 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

 

We all stand to sing and as we do the ministers and baptism family process to the font, please turn to face them and feel free to move so you can see what is happening. 

 

 

Processional hymn to the font

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

 

 

Prayer over the Water

 

Praise God who made heaven and earth,

who keeps his promise for ever.

 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.


Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ 

was baptized in the river Jordan,

we thank you for the gift of water

to cleanse and revive us.

 

Saving God, give us life.

 

We thank you that through

the waters of the Red Sea

you led your people out of slavery 

to freedom in the Promised Land.

 

Saving God, give us life.

 

We thank you that through

the deep waters of death

you brought your Son,

and raised him to life in triumph.

 

Saving God, give us life.

 

Bless this water,

that your servants who are washed in it

may be made one with Christ

in his death and resurrection,

to be cleansed and delivered from all sin.

 

Saving God, give us life.

 

Send your Holy Spirit upon them,

bring them to new birth in the household of faith

and raise them with Christ to full and eternal life;

for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours, 

now and 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 all the world?

I believe and trust in him

 

This is the faith of the Church.

This is 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 the candidate

 

Henry Patrick, 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

 

The Welcome

 

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:

By one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.

Henry we welcome you into the fellowship of faith;

We are children of the same heavenly Father;

We welcome you.

 

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 as return to our seats and the following hymn is sung

Offertory Hymn 806

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

 

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.

 

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 priest 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 each praying in our own 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 the sung response in the ancient prayer known as 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 then bread & wine.

 

As we share communion the choir sing And I saw a new heaven by Bainton then if there is time we all join in singing the communion hymn number 330 Do not be afraid.

 

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 and 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 766

Praise my soul the King of heaven

 

During the singing of this hymn Henry receives a candle lit from the Easter Candle. The servers and ministers process along with the baptism family, others children are welcome to join the procession. Please turn to face the ministers.

 

Giving of a Lighted Candle

 

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness

And has given us a place with the saints in light.

Henry you have received the light of Christ;

Walk in this light all the days of your life.

Shine as a light in the world

To the glory of God the Father.

 

The Dismissal

 

He is not here. He is risen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

 An organ voluntary is played.

 

Henry (and his Mum and Dad!) would be very pleased if you would join them for refreshments afterwards which are served in the chancel.