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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 welcome team, 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 welcome team know.

 

Here at All Saints we are part of the Inclusive Church network seeking to be a place which does not discriminate, on any level on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, race or sexuality. Pick up a leaflet to find out more.

 

Children are welcome in church and we understand that they do not always find it easy to be quiet! If you need to move around to settle a baby please do so. In school term time toddlers and primary school aged children have a group called Little Saints who meet in the Trinity Room during the first part of the service. In the school holidays a parent-led creche is available.

 

Prayer and anointing is offered immediately after the service, usually in the Burton Chapel. Please respect the privacy of those receiving prayer. If you would like particular people or places to be remembered in our prayers both on Sunday and throughout the week please write your requests in the intercession book.

 

Most Sundays, refreshments are served after the service.


 Before the service begins there is an informal welcome. Children are welcome to go to the back of church to join with the procession. Once the service begins please join in with the words in bold type.

 

 The Gathering

 

The choir may sing an Introit, a piece of choral music reflecting the theme of the service.

 

Processional Hymn

 

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


            Eternal Father, strong to save,
          whose arm doth bind the restless wave,
          who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
          its own appointed limits keep:
               O hear us when we cry to thee
               for those in peril on the sea.
       
         O Saviour whose almighty word
          the winds and waves submissive heard,
          who walkedst on the foaming deep,
          and calm amid its rage didst sleep:
               O hear us when we cry to thee
               for those in peril on the sea.
       
         O sacred Spirit, who didst brood
          upon the chaos dark and rude,
          who bad'st its angry tumult cease,
          and gavest light and life and peace:
               O hear us when we cry to thee
               for those in peril on the sea.
       
         O Trinity of love and power,
          our brethren shield in danger's hour;
          from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
          protect them whereso'er they go:
               and ever let there rise to thee
               glad hymns of praise from land and sea.


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 the responses that follow.

 

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

 

We stand to sing the ancient hymn of praise together.

 


 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. At the end of each the following is said:

 

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.


First Reading: 1 Kings 19.15-16; 19 - end

 

Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.’ Then Elijah said to him, ‘Go back again; for what have I done to you?’ He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.


Second Reading: Galatians 5.1; 13-25

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

 

This is the word of the Lord.

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.

 

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

 

Luke 9.51 - end

 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

 

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 there is a brief pause for reflection and then all stand to say the words of the Creed or an Affirmation of Faith.

 


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 sit or kneel for the prayers, which are led by a member of the congregation, usually from the back of the church. 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.

 

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 greet their neighbours by saying ‘peace be with you’ to one another as they shake hands.

 

Offertory Hymn

 

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.


           Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets:
          no one is his neighbour, all alone he eats.
               Listen, Lord Jesus, I am lonely too;
               make me, friend or stranger, fit to wait on you.

         Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets,
          where injustice spirals and real hope retreats.
               Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too;
               in the Kingdom’s causes let me rage with you.

         Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the streets,
          curing those who suffer, touching those he greets.
               Listen, Lord Jesus, I have pity too;
               let my care be active, healing, just like you.

         Jesus Christ is dancing, dancing in the streets,
          where each sign of hatred he, with love, defeats.
               Listen, Lord Jesus, I should triumph too;
               where good conquers evil, let me dance with you.

         Jesus Christ is calling, calling in the streets,
          ‘Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.’
               Listen, Lord Jesus, let my fears be few:
               walk one step before me, I will follow you.


 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.

 

Come to the water 

 

O let all who thirst,
let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord:
without money, without price.
Why should you pay the price,
except for the Lord?

And let all who seek,
let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord:
without money, without strife.
Why should you spend your life,
except for the Lord?

And let all who toil,
let them come to the water.
And let all who are weary,
let them come to the Lord:
all who labor, without rest.
How can your soul find rest,
except for the Lord?

And let all the poor,
let them come to the water,
Bring the ones who are laden,
bring them all to the Lord:

bring the children without might.

Easy the load and light:
come to the Lord.

 

Lord of all creation


Lord of all creation
Of water, earth and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on High

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
Lord of heaven and earth
Lord of heaven and earth


Early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
And as I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth

Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth


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.


Blessed be your name

 

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Chorus

Blessed be the name of the LordB
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

 

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say

Chorus

Blessed be the name..... 

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name

Chorus

Blessed be the name.... 


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. We all join in with the Amen which may be sung.

 

. . . 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 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.


Giving at All Saints

 

There is no charge for coming to church, everyone is welcome . 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 our historic

building.

 

If you are visiting and wish to make a donation please place your gift in the

offertory plate at the back of the church either before or after the service,

making use of the gift aid envelopes in the pews. If possible please complete the personal details so that we can claim the Gift Aid.

 

If you are a regular worshipper here please consider planning to give

regularly, as you are able, as your own response to God. A weekly or

monthly gift helps us to plan our work. You can give through your bank via the Parish Giving Scheme or the weekly envelope scheme is a good choice for those giving by cash or cheque. Further information is available from the welcome team.

 

Whatever gift you give, however large or small will be gratefully received.

 

Thank you, from the Rector and Church Wardens.