Preparing for worship – if possible, beginning at 10am
You’ll need a table, set with a piece of bread and a glass of wine or juice.
A cross and a lit candle.
Something “Trinitarian” (like a shamrock!), or triangular, would be grand!
Though it would be bonkers for us to say we ever have the whole picture of God (!), the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost completes the shape in which we experience God in this mortal realm; and, we believe, the way God has chosen to be revealed – as three Persons in one God.
HYMN (said or sung)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who were, and are, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
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.
PREPARATION
We say the Venite , the Song of Thanksgiving, printed on the front of the pewsheet
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Come, let us return to the Lord, for he will heal us, bind up our wounds and raise us up.
After a moment of quiet reflection, we confess our sins to God with this prayer;
God of compassion and mercy, in our sin we have avoided your call.
Our love for you is like a morning mist, like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us;
deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds and revive us;
in Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
God of love,
you forgive us and free us from our sins,
you heal and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen
We say a version of the “Te Deum” from Janet Morley
We long for you, O God,
we confess our deep desire for you.
For the heavens are arrayed
with your unhidden beauty.
You, O Christ, are the source of all our yearning:
you are our path to glory.
Bearing our sweet and humble flesh,
fruit of a woman’s womb,
you were made and moulded as we are.
Spirit of discernment, integrity and fire:
breathe on our fearfulness,
rekindle our truthfulness,
and sing through our speechlessness;
that we may refuse what is evil,
and be taken up with praise.
Merciful Creator, of infinite tenderness;
Wounded Redeemer, in whom we are reclaimed;
Comforter of fire, who leads us into truth;
we offer you our praise.
THE COLLECT and the two readings for today are printed on the pewsheet
The first scripture reading. Isaiah 40.12-17 and 27-31
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)
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.
Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us:
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.
Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.
THE GOSPEL Matthew 28.16-20
Alleluia! God is spirit, and all who worship
must worship in spirit and in truth. 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.
REFLECTION (on the website, attached to the email or, if printed, at the end)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us affirm our faith in God.
We believe in God the Composer and Creator,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth receives its motion and being.
We believe in God the Word incarnate,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with that perfect love which casts out fear.
We believe in God the Spirit of wisdom,
who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and through all the ages of ages. Amen
SIMPLE PRAYERS
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. For the renewing hope that God alone can give ….
Silence
Lord, hear and have mercy. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For the whole world in turmoil, and for all who live in fear ….
Silence
Lord, hear and have mercy. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For our beautiful church building, that it may soon echo with praise once more ….
Silence
Lord, hear and have mercy. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For those who are ill, and all of us in our need, gracious Lord ….
Silence
Lord, hear and have mercy. Lord, hear and have mercy.
For ourselves and our loved ones, for Fiona and all who have died ….
Silence
Lord, hear and have mercy. Lord, hear and have mercy.
THE PEACE
Alleluia! God has made us one in Christ. He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Alleluia.
May the peace of the Lord be always with us.
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
Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
Holy, holy, holy, holy.
Gracious Father, gracious Father,
we’re so glad to be your children gracious Father;
And we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
gracious Father, gracious Father.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
we’re so glad that you’ve redeemed us, precious Jesus;
And we lift our hands before you as a token of our love,
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, Holy Spirit,
and we lift our voice before you as a token of our love,
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit.
SHARING THE FEAST
We give you thanks and praise, Creator God, for the gift of life and a world full of wonder.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
We give you thanks and praise, Servant King, you bring healing to our world and gather us in one.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
We give you thanks and praise, Spirit of Truth, you complete us and transform our poverty by your grace.
Glory to you for ever and 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
Thou whose almighty Word chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight;
Hear us, we humbly pray, and where the gospel day
Sheds not its glorious ray, let there be light!
Thou who dids’t come to bring on thy redeeming wing
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind, sight to the inly blind,
Ah, now to all mankind let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love, life giving, holy dove,
Speed forth thy flight!
Move o’er the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth’s darkest place let there be light!
Holy and blessed three, glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might;
Boundless as ocean’s tide, rolling in fullest pride,
Through the world far and wide, let there be light!
BLESSING
May God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith and love,
defend us on every side and guide us in truth and peace
and may the blessing of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with us all evermore. Amen.
DISMISSAL
“I, Daniel, saw one like a Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.
To him was given glory and dominion over all nations,
and his kingdom shall never pass away.” Alleluia!
Let us go in the peace of Christ
Thanks be to God, Alleluia!