Sunday Holy Communion
Before the service begins an informal welcome is given. Please join in with the words in bold type. The hymn numbers are on the boards at the front of church and on the pew sheet. The parts in italics 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
Our worship may begin with the choir singing an introit or the music group may play a piece of music
Processional Hymn 123 - From ashes to the living font
All stand to sing the hymn as the organ music begins and the servers and ministers process
From ashes to the living font
your Church must journey, Lord,
baptized in grace, in grace renewed
by your most holy word.
Through fasting, prayer and charity
your voice speaks deep within,
returning us to ways of truth
and turning us from sin.
From desert to the mountaintop
in Christ our way we see,
so, tempered by temptation’s might,
we might transfigured be.
For thirsting hearts let water flow,
our fainting souls revive;
and at the well your waters give
our everlasting life.
From ashes to the living font
your Church must journey still;
through cross and tomb to Easter joy,
in Spirit-fire fulfilled.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father.
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.
The theme of the service is introduced. We are invited to sit or kneel.
Prayer of Preparation
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession
Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
The first commandment is this:
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God,
though we have rebelled against him.
Let us then renounce our wilfulness
and ask his mercy by confessing our sins
in penitence and faith.
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us, forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen.
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse us from all our sins and restore us
in his image to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The Collect
The priest introduces a period of silent prayer before the Collect for the day is said and all respond
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
The first reading
We sit to listen to the first reading appointed for the day taken from the Bible, from the Old Testament or Hebrew Scriptures as it is also known. At the end of the reading we respond:
Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden”?’ 2 The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.”’ 4 But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,[a] knowing good and evil.’ 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God
The Psalm
The Psalms are the song book of the ancient Israelites and are recited as part of both Jewish and Christian worship. There are Psalms of joy, of praise and of lament and Psalms that recount the story of God’s saving work. We may say the Psalm, listen to the choir sing the verses and join in with the refrain or sometimes the music group may sing a contemporary setting of the Psalm.
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[a] as by the heat of summer.Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress,[b] the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding-place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
The second reading
The second reading comes from the New Testament, this part of the Bible is mostly made up of letters sent to early Christians communities.. At the end we respond:
Romans 5.12-19
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God
Gospel Reading
We stand and sing together as the Gospel book is carried to the middle of the church and the congregation turn to face the reader. The choir or music group sing a verse and then we repeat the chorus Praise to you…
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord
Matthew 4.1-11
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ 4 But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”’
7 Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9 and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ 10 Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.”’
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
At the end
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
We sing Praise to You, O Christ, Our Saviour as the gospel is carried back.
Sermon
After the sermon there is a brief pause for reflection. Sometimes the choir or music group may sing or play a piece of music and then we all stand to affirm our faith. During this penitential season of Lent we use words adapted from the statement of Inclusive Church, a network to which All Saints belongs.
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in an inclusive church:
A church which celebrates and affirms
every person and does not discriminate.
We believe no –one should be shut out from God’s church
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;
A church which is scripturally faithful;
which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation;
A church 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.
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 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
We stand
The Peace
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.
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 121 - Forty days and forty nights
During this hymn bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared. The offertory plate is presented, symbolic of both the financial gifts of the people and the gifts of time and talent that are offered throughout the week, the president gives thanks for these while the deacon or lay assistant is laying up the altar-table.
Forty days and forty nights
thou wast fasting in the wild;
forty days and forty nights
tempted, and yet undefiled:
Sunbeams scorching all the day;
chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
prowling beasts about thy way;
stones thy pillow, earth thy bed.
Shall not we thy sorrows share,
and from earthly joys abstain,
fasting with unceasing prayer,
glad with thee to suffer pain?
And if Satan, vexing sore,
flesh or spirit should assail,
thou, his vanquisher before,
grant we may not faint nor fail.
So shall we have peace divine;
holier gladness ours shall be;
round us too shall angels shine,
such as ministered to thee.
Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,
ever constant by thy side;
that with thee we may appear
at the eternal Eastertide.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
God of our journey, as we walk with you on your path of obedience,
sustain us on our way and lead us to your glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The president symbolically washes their hands
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
The Last Supper is recalled and then this acclamation is used:
Jesus Christ is Lord:
Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
The prayer continues leading into the final words of praise
. . . for ever and ever.
Amen.
OR
We worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours 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.
Notre Pere…
Vater Unser…
Onze Vader…
Padre Nuestro…
Ojcze Nasz…
Baba Yetu…
E to matou Matua…
Ein Tad...
Breaking of the Bread
Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
While the remaining consecrated bread is broken and the communion assistants come to the front the choir or music group sing a setting of the ancient prayer known as the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God. It may be sung in English or Latin.
Giving of Communion
Draw near with faith.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink
in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.
Most merciful Lord,
your love compels us to come in.
Our hands were unclean,
our hearts were unprepared;
we were not fit
even to eat the crumbs from under your table.
But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,
and share your bread with sinners.
So cleanse and feed us
with the precious body and blood of your Son,
that he may live in us and we in him;
and that we, with the whole company of Christ,
may sit and eat in your kingdom.
Amen.
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 that follows, the number for which can be found on the notice sheet and on the hymn board at the front of church.
Sweet Sacrament divine,
hid in thine earthly home,
lo, round thy lowly shrine,
with suppliant hearts we come;
Jesus, to thee our voice we raise
in songs of love and heartfelt praise:
sweet Sacrament divine.
Sweet Sacrament of peace,
dear home for every heart,
where restless yearnings cease
and sorrows all depart;
there in thine ear all trustfully
we tell our tale of misery:
sweet Sacrament of peace.
Sweet Sacrament of rest,
ark from the ocean's roar,
within thy shelter blest
soon may we reach the shore;
save us, for still the tempest raves,
save, lest we sink beneath the waves:
sweet Sacrament of rest.
Sweet Sacrament divine,
earth's light and jubilee,
in thy far depths doth shine
thy Godhead's majesty;
sweet light, so shine on us, we pray,
that earthly joys may fade away:
sweet Sacrament divine.
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 including publishing of the banns of marriage.
The Blessing
We stand for the president to give the blessing
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,
to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him;
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 128 - Jesu, lover of my soul
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.
Jesu, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high:
hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last.
Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah, leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am,
thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art:
freely let me take of thee,
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen.