Lord, speak to us, that we may hear your word.

Move among us, that we may behold your glory.

Receive our prayers, that we may learn to trust you.

Fill us with your Spirit, That we may live to your glory,
and share your love in our world. Amen.

In silence we seek the Spirit

Opening Sentences

“But now, thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine’” (Isa 43:1)

¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

We Worship Together

Recognizing one another, we pray

May I(we), together with all who worship you now, know the Grace, mercy and peace that is your gift to us in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Repentance & Faith

What God has prepared for those who love him, he has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything. Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord, who has prepared good things for those who love him.

Father, we gather with joy and thanksgiving for the life of Christ amongst us, but also in sorrow for our sins and failure to live in Him.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8–9

Help us now to trust in Jesus death for us and seek his risen life, turning again to you and confessing our sins in true repentance 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.

Father of all mercies, according to your promise in Christ
     cleanse me/us from our sins,
     and restore me/us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Thanksgiving & Joy

We respond to God’s grace

O God, our Father, we bless and praise your holy name.
You have blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places:

Either

You chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before you in love.
To the praise of your glorious grace, with which you have blessed us in Christ.

You predestined us for adoption to yourself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of your will.
To the praise of your glorious grace, with which you have blessed us in the Christ.

In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of your grace, which you have lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.
To the praise of your glorious grace, with which you have blessed us in the Christ.

In Christ we have been ^… sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.
To the praise of your glorious grace, with which you have blessed us in the Christ.

O God, our Father, we bless and praise your holy name.

Or

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Hearing the Word of God

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

First Reading

Psalm

Ending with
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen

Second Reading

Gospel Canticle

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous before Him all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Third Reading (Gospel)

Responding to God’s Word

The Creed

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

I/We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
for by his will they were created
and have their being.

I/We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
for with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

I/We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

Reflection

Prayers of Intercession

Prayers of Thanks, and Intercession follow.
Start with the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
      thy kingdom come;
      thy will be done;
      on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
      as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
      but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
      the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

• Take time to give thanks.
• Remember those who are praying with you and pray for the church; local and worldwide
• Pray for the world and its needs.
  pray for those you know of in particular need

You can finish with the Collect for the Day

Collect

Conclusion

Dismissal

Almighty God, we thank you for calling us to be your own.

We thank you for the forgiveness, righteousness and life
that you have given us in Jesus Christ,
pouring your Spirit into our hearts.

Through Christ we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

With all God’s people I/we proclaim
That Jesus Christ is Lord

Blessing

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore. Amen

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000/2002

Opening Prayer

Lord, speak to us, that we may hear your word.

Move among us, that we may behold your glory.

Receive our prayers, that we may learn to trust you.

Fill us with your Spirit, That we may live to your glory,
and share your love in our world. Amen.

In silence we seek the Spirit

Opening Sentence

“To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One” (Isa 40:25)

You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)

We Worship Together

Recognizing one another, we pray

May we, together with all who worship you now, know the Grace, mercy and peace that is your gift to us in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Repentance & Faith

What God has prepared for those who love him, he has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything. Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord, who has prepared good things for those who love him.

Father, we gather with joy and thanksgiving for the life of Christ amongst us, but also in sorrow for our sins and failure to live in Him.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8–9

Help us now to trust in Jesus death for us and seek his risen life, turning again to you and confessing our sins in true repentance 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.

Father of all mercies, according to your promise in Christ
     cleanse me/us from our sins,
     and restore me/us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Thanksgiving & Joy

We respond to God’s grace

O God, our Father, we bless and praise your holy name.
Through your Holy Spirit, you have blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places:

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Praise be to your glorious grace, with which you have blessed us in the Christ.

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hearing the Word of God

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

First Reading

Isaiah 40:12–17, 27–31    Behold your God

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? ¹³ Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? ¹⁴ Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? ¹⁵ Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. ¹⁶ Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. ¹⁷ All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? ²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. ²⁹ He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. ³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm, Hymn or Songs ♫

The following, or another psalm, or canticle may be said,

Psalm 8
To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
3. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4. what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
5. Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
7. all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8. the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen

Second Reading

2 Corinthians 13:11–14              Grace, Love & Fellowship

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All the saints greet you. ¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Gospel Canticle

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous before Him all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Third Reading (Gospel)

Matthew 28:16–20                   All Authority … Go and make Disciples

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Communion

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 indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For with your only-begotten Son and the Holy Spirit you are one God, one Lord. All that you reveal of your glory, the same we believe of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, without any difference or inequality.

We, your holy Church, acclaim you, Father of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. Three Persons we adore, one in being and equal in majesty.

And so, with angels and archangels, with cherubim and seraphim, we sing for ever of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be to us his body and his blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed,

took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Therefore, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom, and with this bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.

Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of your divine majesty, renew us by your Spirit, inspire us with your love and unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever. Amen.

Responding to God’s Word

The Creed

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

I/We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
for by his will they were created
and have their being.

I/We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
for with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

I/We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

Reflection

Prayers of Intercession

Prayers of Thanks, and Intercession follow.
Start with the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
      thy kingdom come;
      thy will be done;
      on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
      as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
      but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
      the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

• Take time to give thanks.
• Remember those who are praying with you and pray for the church; local and worldwide
• Pray for the world and its needs.
  pray for those you know of in particular need

Conclusion

Dismissal

Almighty God, we thank you for calling us to be your own.

We thank you for the forgiveness, righteousness and life
that you have given us in Jesus Christ,
pouring your Spirit into our hearts.

Through Christ we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

With all God’s people I/we proclaim
That Jesus Christ is Lord

Blessing

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore. Amen

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000/2002

Lord, speak to us, that we may hear your word.

Move among us, that we may behold your glory.

Receive our prayers, that we may learn to trust you.

Fill us with your Spirit, That we may live to your glory,
and share your love in our world. Amen.

In silence we seek the Spirit

Opening Sentence

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:18–19)

We Worship Together

Recognizing one another, we pray

May I(we), together with all who worship you now, know the Grace, mercy and peace that is your gift to us in our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Repentance & Faith

What God has prepared for those who love him, he has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything. Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord, who has prepared good things for those who love him.

Father, we gather with joy and thanksgiving for the life of Christ amongst us, but also in sorrow for our sins and failure to live in Him.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8–9

Help us now to trust in Jesus death for us and seek his risen life, turning again to you and confessing our sins in true repentance 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.

Father of all mercies, according to your promise in Christ
     cleanse me/us from our sins,
     and restore me/us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Thanksgiving & Joy

We respond to God’s grace

O God, our Father, we bless and praise your holy name.
You have blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places:

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Hearing the Word of God

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

First Reading

Acts 2:1–21          The Spirit Comes on the Disciples

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

¹² And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” ¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. ¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; ²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. ²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Psalm 104:24–35 Spirit creates anew

24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

25 Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.

26 There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

27 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season.

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,

32 who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!

33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.

35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more!

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 12:3–13      The Spirit of the Lord on his Servants

³ Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. ⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. ¹² For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Responsory

A Song or the following responsory may be used

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

All who are led by the Spirit of God
are children of God and fellow-heirs with Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people.

Renew the face of your creation, Lord,
pouring on us the gifts of your Spirit,
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

For the creation waits with eager longing
for the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.

Third Reading (Gospel)

John 7:37–39                 The Promise of the Spirit awaits his Glory

³⁷ On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” ³⁹ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 20:19–23               The Promise of the Spirit for Mission

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Gospel Canticle

Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,
To show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous before Him all the days of our life.

And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Responding to God’s Word

The Creed

Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

I/We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
for by his will they were created
and have their being.

I/We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
for with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

I/We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

Reflection

Prayers of Intercession

Prayers of Thanks, and Intercession follow.
Start with the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
      thy kingdom come;
      thy will be done;
      on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
      as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
      but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
      the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

• Take time to give thanks.
• Remember those who are praying with you and pray for the church; local and worldwide
• Pray for the world and its needs.
  pray for those you know of in particular need

You can finish with the Collect for the Day

Collect

God, who as at this time
taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Conclusion

Dismissal

Almighty God, we thank you for calling us to be your own.

We thank you for the forgiveness, righteousness and life
that you have given us in Jesus Christ,
pouring your Spirit into our hearts.

Through Christ we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory. Amen.

With all God’s people I/we proclaim
That Jesus Christ is Lord

Blessing

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore. Amen

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000/2002

So, now church buildings are shut, what should we do? Most people are throwing themselves into technology to make ways of creating ‘virtual church’. After all, we are commanded not to neglect meeting together. But, something niggles in all this. What if God has a purpose in all this for his people?

One reason that we create ‘virtual church’ experiences is to support God’s people; that their faith may fail without this, or even that church may fail. But that’s not God’s way. What if, without gathering together, God’s people find that it is harder to know his presence and trust in him on their own.

Jesus could have made it so that Peter would not have stumbled and denied him. But he let him fail. Peter, was told that Satan wanted to have him – we need to learn that. But Jesus said to him, ‘I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail’ (Luke 22:32). Peter did fail, but not utterly.

Why? Because Peter discovered that in Jesus, God did not fail him; underneath (to catch him) were the everlasting arms (Deut 33:27), and holding him were hands from which no one could take him (John 10:29). In discovering his weakness, he found God’s strength and his grace.

Church gatherings, physically together are good, but they can also be a prop for our weakness in knowing him. God will do everything for us to discover that even the best things in this world are not enough without him; for us to say, each of us ‘I have no good apart from you’

Are we struggling to pray, keep struggling, because he is praying for you. Are we fearful, acknowledge that, and you may hear (not as a command but as a gift) ‘do not be afraid’. Is our peace utterly shaken, cry out to him and you will hear (and know), ‘My peace, I give to you, not as the world gives’

Is there no time in the day because of home schooling and living on top of one another. Or, is there too much time in the day, and we are listless in our loneliness and fear; Wherever, whenever, however we can, let us turn to him who is calling us; “Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28)

There is no technological solution to our need for him [though I appreciate the irony of posting this online]

In a time of fear and real suffering, when deaths that any other year would have been largely invisible are counted daily before our eyes, we need to remember the suffering and death of our Lord.

Without Jesus, suffering – which is an unavoidable part of all life – seems futile, meaningless and tragic. We avoid thinking about it in the main, because otherwise life itself would be impossible – futile, meaningless and tragic. But sooner or later its reality will catch up with us, and most of us are entirely unprepared.

But Jesus has changed that. It is not that he has done away with suffering – though a day will come when he will – but he has himself entered into our suffering and transformed it. Without him the ultimate end of suffering is death. With Jesus, trusting in his suffering and death, its ultimate end becomes life; eternal life, fullness of life, reigning now in life!

Because Jesus has suffered for us and died, suffering and death are not taken from us, but they are transformed. So, Mary is told “a sword will pierce your heart also”. Some of us will learn again the reality of this during this Coronavirus crisis. So, let us also learn how Jesus can transform that suffering, so that our grief may not be without hope.

Paul learned this lesson. Just as, at his conversion and call to service, he was shown “How much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16). So, in later life he says:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—  that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:7-14

Sooner or later ‘a sword will pierce your heart also’. Will it destroy you? Will it destroy your faith? Or will you receive it as grace – a very hard grace admittedly – because you have been counted worthy to suffer with him who has suffered for us all.

Only Jesus can transform your suffering, and mine. Now is the time to prepare our hearts, by giving them to Jesus. Now is the time to share the gift of Christ with others; to bear him and reveal him in our lives, as Mary did for us, regardless of the cost.

Have you yet discovered “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”? Now is the time

Hannah had longed for a child all her life, and in her old age God granted her request with the birth of Samuel. In modern parlance he might be described as a ‘rainbow-baby’, though personally I am not keen on that term. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that Hannah loved Samuel as a precious gift.

Given this it’s a surprise to read that, when Samuel was weaned (how old that would have been in that society we are not sure) she brought him to the Temple and gave him to God – for his whole life, as long as he lives.

This year we face a Mothering Sunday when most will not be able to visit their mother. And we do so at a time when those mothers seem more vulnerable and at risk than ever before. How can we bear this?

The answer, and its not an easy one, is to sit a while with Hannah. Hannah loved Samuel as the son of her old age, a very special son. But she recognised that in a very deep way, Samuel was not hers to hold and keep.

She did not stop loving Samuel all her life. Every year she made a new robe for Samuel and took it to the Temple. So, every day Samuel could literally clothe himself with his mother’s love.

Yet, she let him go into the Lord’s hands. Hannah shows us that we can love and still let go; that loving we can see letting go into God’s hands as an act of costly love.

I don’t think that there is any easy way to do this and only God can help us to do it. But the reality is that we are all, first of all, in God’s hands. We may love our mother (or children, family or whoever) and feel as if that loved one is ours in some way, but first of all every one of us is God’s. And though we love and care for those we love, we will not be able to do everything for them that our love wants to do. Only God can hold, nurture and keep them, so that no one can take them out of his hands.

So, let us sit with Hannah and learn how she did this. Let us place our loved ones in God’s hands, even when this feels like letting go from our hands. And let us trust his love and power – so much greater than ours.

We can still make our robes for them, however that may be; in phone calls, gifts and above all our prayers.

In this time of Coronavirus, more than ever, we need to heed these words of from Colossians

The things that God calls us to are feelings, but they are also choices. You can put them on just as you chose what to wear when you get up each day. God is calling us to make the choices that he makes and put on Christ, in:

Compassion means thinking of how others are feeling and putting their interests before your own. Kindness means treating others as you would have them treat you. Gentleness means treating others perhaps better than they deserve, recognising their vulnerability. Meekness or Humility knows that the world does not revolve around us.

And Patience (bearing with one another and forgiving one another) is an antidote to our frustrations and pride. We put frustrations and pride off when we clothe ourselves with Patience, Bearing-With and Forgiving one another.

Love binds all these together. And we are, as Paul reminds us, “Holy and Beloved”. Those who have been chosen and loved by God should, above all people, know what it is to love … as we have been loved.

When the world around us is panic-buying, ignoring good counsel because they think that they are invincible, whatever the risk to others; When families locked in together, working from home and trying to teach their children at the same time; when some are left all alone and forgotten … we need to heed these words.

But it is not easy, and we will need to feed our hearts and minds if we are going to be able to do this. So, we must keep making time to read God’s word and let it really settle in our hearts and minds. We must keep making time to worship God, with thankfulness and love – feeding on his goodness and truth in a time when it may seem less real in our world.

So, as we live in the context of the Coronavirus, much more we must seek to live in the greater reality of Jesus Christ. The virus will pass, he is eternal. The virus may harm and even kill, but it cannot extinguish the life of Christ in you.

We may think that in these times the world is facing the consequences of its reckless disregard for God’s goodness and truth, but God is still in charge, still working his purposes of love and grace out in our world. And this, even this, he will work for good for those who love him. Jesus is Lord!

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Isaiah 43:18–19 (ESV)

What is it – this change that God is leading us into – in our setting, with our people; and what is it in the wider church? If we cant identify something of what it is about with any clarity, it is difficult to know how to move towards it or encourage others to do so.

Some general thoughts may make a start:

• Brick-Making – In Egypt the people were burdened by brick-making, which was becoming harder as their resources were diminished – we need to release the church from brick-making to the ministry Jesus has given us.
• Change is to do with us – the people who are the church now. God may add others, but the fundamental change is in us and from us – these actual people
• Change means Leaving – Leaving behind (i.e. Ending) some of the things and ways we have been used to. It probably means leaving, before what replaces these things and ways is apparent
• Change involves Grieving – as things and ways die there will be grief and a sense of loss. We need to recognise this, allow space for it and understand that people will feel this differently
• Change involves Discovery – we are being called to discover (or rediscover) some important thin
  • God’s real purpose in gathering us to himself as church
  • God’s particular grace in each one of us – every part of the building/body is important and plays a part.
  • The power of God in each of us (Holy Spirit) to be and make what God is calling forth
  • What Membership of Christ’s body means
  • New ways of Leadership – the priesthood of all the saints

This is both new-Church and not new. There is a sense that church needs to be re-formed in every generation. Times and people change and we need to present the gospel afresh in each generation. However, there is also something fundamental and ancient in the Gospel which is unchanging. Se we read:

“Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ “

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV)

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

But we also read

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Mark 2:21–22 (ESV)

Perhaps Church can thought of as like an old house that has been built up, converted and changed until we can’t simple carry on renovating but must go down to the foundations to build anew. Or its walls have been papered and painted again and again, and we need to scrape back to the solid original.

This is not only true of traditional forms of church. It can also be true of modern congregational churches; seeker friendly; offering worship experiences; run like business. Francis Chan has observed recently that such churches have become too expensive to maintain

Do you realize how volatile our system is of our church gatherings? How much money it requires?

Francis Chan, from: Premier Christian Magazine

In a smaller way, our parish churches have become too expensive to maintain; both in terms of the buildings, legal structures and the cost of stipendiary ministry (which is in reality beyond most small congregations).

In the Church of England (and in other churches e.g. The Methodist Church) this is now rapidly approaching a crisis as churches and parishes will be left with fewer clergy to look after them. And the increasing stress on clergy may accelerate retirements. There is evidence that such reductions has a depressing affect on church life and congregational numbers. So, some worry about a race to the bottom.

But there is an alternative. It is the transformation of church from something external and provided … to something organic and grown. Each church is the gathering of a particular group of people together in Christ. What that church looks like and what it does, then flows from that relationship rather than attempting to fit into a ‘one size fits all’ model of church.

Ministry is not restricted to a licensed few (let alone to just ordained clergy), but is expressed in a broader variety of ways, recognising and releasing the gifts of all the people. It is possible that this will allow the continuation of a worshiping community in each town and village (along the lines of the Parish system), but in a more flexible  and dynamic way.

Such a transformation is a real challenge. It goes against a great deal of tradition, history and expectations. But, something is going to happen, and it is better to plan than face a crisis. And, it is closer to the church that scripture speaks of – more like the sort of church that God has promised to bless and Jesus has promised to build