Preparing for worship – if possible, beginning at 7.15pm
You’ll need a table, set with a piece of bread and a glass of wine or juice.
A cross.
A candle, lit on the table.
This week, some sparkly decoration (tinsel or similar!) if possible – to make a circle round your cross to suggest a crown
It is a great joy to share together in celebrating the good news of Jesus’ mighty resurrection and glorious ascension into heaven, and the completion of God’s work of Salvation as Jesus is enthroned in majesty.
“Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things of this earth.
For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Though each in our homes, we are together with all our sisters and brothers in the faith,
as we worship and give thanks. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
And crown him Lord of all.
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe,
And crown him Lord of all.
Oh, that with all the sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown him Lord of all.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Christ our King, all over the world, your people gather held in your love
Christ our King, your people find light and hope held in your love
Christ our King, your people hunger for justice held in your love
Christ our King, your people are drawn into unity held in your love
Christ our King, touch us with your glory held in your love
We say the Canticle, Great and Wonderful on the front of the pewsheet.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
After a moment of quiet reflection, we confess our sins to God with this prayer;
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father,
but our world is full of fear and injustice.
Lord, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division,
but we have not lived together in unity.
Christ, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd leading us to abundant life,
but we fail to live as your people.
Lord, have mercy
THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, the one who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all our failings.
PRAYER OF ADORATION (said or sung)
Father we love you, we worship and adore you.
glorify your name in all the earth.
[If singing: Glorify your name, glorify your name,
glorify your name in all the earth]
Jesus we love you, we worship and adore you.
glorify your name in all the earth…..
Spirit we love you, we worship and adore you,
glorify your name in all the earth…..
THE COLLECT and the two readings for today are printed on the pewsheet
The first scripture reading Ephesians 1.15 – end
At the end, there may be a short period of silence followed by this response:
For the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
HYMN (said or sung)
Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity,
in perfect harmony, the man who is God.
Lord of eternity dwells in humanity,
kneels in humility and washes our feet.
O what a mystery, meekness and majesty.
Bow down and worship, for this is your God,
this is your God.
Father’s pure radiance perfect in innocence,
yet learns obedience to death on a cross.
Suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice,
and as they crucify prays ‘Father forgive.’
3 Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible,
love indestructible in frailty appears.
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly,
lifts our humanity to the heights of his throne
THE GOSPEL Matthew 25.31-40
Alleluia, alleluia! Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord.
Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Alleluia!
The Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end for the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in Jesus the Son of God
Though he was divine,
he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself, and was obedient to death –
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high,
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Jesus, crowned with glory, you invite us to share in the banquet of your love, and you call us to share that love with all your children. Strengthen us and all your church to bring joy and hope to all people in this time of need and uncertainty.
Christ our King Hear us in your love
Jesus, crowned with compassion, you invite us to share in the peace of your kingdom, and you call us to share that peace with all your children. Bring your peace to the many places of tragedy and violence in our world, bring healing and hope to us all, afflicted with this epidemic, and strengthen us to work and pray for peace and the good of all. We hold in our prayers all who are refugees; and all those who see their livelihood threatened by the restrictions we must follow.
Christ our King Hear us in your love
Jesus, crowned with love, you invite us to share in the unity of your love, and you call us to be united with one another and all your children. Strengthen us and the communities in which we share to live together in tolerance and respect. Bless our local community and all who work to build up our common life. We thank you for the safety we have been blessed with in Wiltshire and the spirit of neighbourliness that prevails over fear.
Christ our King Hear us in your love
Jesus, crowned with thorns, you invite us to share in your compassion for all people, and you call us to bring healing and hop to all your children. Strengthen us and all your church to show love to those in need. We pray especially for ….
Christ our King Hear us in your love
Jesus, crowned with victory, you invite us to share in your triumph over death, and you call us to share the good news of eternal life. Hear us as we remember all who have died in faith, especially those whose journey we have shared, and bring us all to the joy of heaven. Today we remember Muriel Morris from our church family, Philip (Hazel Roper’s son) who has died of Covid, Denis Walker, Daphne Gee and David Braid.
Christ our King Hear us in your love
Merciful Father ….
THE PEACE
Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid’.
Alleluia! May the peace of our Lord be with us always.
and with all our sisters and brothers, near and far. Alleluia!
We share a sign of peace with all people of faith throughout the world, by clasping our hands together and bowing our heads saying the word “Shalom”, peace.
HYMN
There is a Redeemer, Jesus God’s own Son.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Thank you Gracious Father
for giving us your Son
and leaving your Spirit ‘til
the work on earth is done.
Jesus my Redeemer, name above all names.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, O for sinners slain.
When I stand in glory, I will see his face,
and there I’ll serve my King forever, in that Holy Place.
SHARING THE FEAST
Gracious God, we welcome your presence with us. May the table at which we share, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds, and may our spirits be refreshed. As we live in the light of your presence, with us now and at all times and places. Amen.
Blessed be God, by whose grace creation is renewed,
by whose love heaven is opened, by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.
Blessed be God for ever.
Take and eat a piece of the bread. If you are with another, give the bread to each other. As you give and receive the bread, say this prayer:
As we break this bread, and as we share it, we thank you, God, that you give us this day our daily bread.
For the food which delights and nourishes us and for the companionship that sustains us as your people.
Drink a sip of the wine or juice. If you are with another, give the wine to each other. As you give and receive the wine, say this prayer:
We thank you for drink to quench our thirst and for the Living Water with which you surprise and enrich and transform our lives.
We give thanks for this feast at which all can share, though separated now. A foretaste of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.
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 forever. Amen.
HYMN (said or sung)
The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now:
a royal diadem adorns the
mighty victor’s brow.
The highest place that heaven affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords,
and heaven’s eternal light;
The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.
To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is given:
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heaven.
They suffer with their Lord below,
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the mystery of his love.
The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people’s hope, his people’s wealth,
their everlasting theme.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus our Saviour,
in your glorious ascension
you have raised our humanity to the heights of your throne,
and have fed us with the bread of heaven:
mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings,
we may set our hearts and mind on the things that are above;
where you dwell with the Father and the Spirit,
one God, through all eternity. Amen.
BLESSING
Jesus, King of Glory, bless all that we offer in your name:
Our prayers and our giving, our action and our concern
As your love has held us,
may we rest in you
As your love has called us
may we journey on with courage
As your love has blessed us
may we abide in your love always.
DISMISSAL
May Christ triumphant, reigning at God’s right hand, fill us with the joy of his presence.
Let us go in the peace of Christ, and in the good news of his victory.
Thanks be to God, Alleluia!