Service

Service Sheet

Welcome to St. Alban’s

15th February – Dedication Festival

This church is fitted with an induction loop system. Please switch your hearing aid to ‘Two beeps’ (T).

Before the children leave for Junior Church we pray together….

Dear God, this church is a family.

Help us to learn together, to worship together,

to share together and to pray together.

In Jesus name. Amen.

OPENING HYMN Samuel John Stone (1830-1900)

We are gathered together as one body

† In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

INVITATION TO CONFESSION

By the mercies of God, let us confess our sins and present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him, which is our spiritual worship.

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.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,

have mercy upon you, † pardon and deliver you from all your sins,

confirm and strengthen you in all goodness

and keep you in life eternal.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

GLORIA

All sing

Glory, glory to God, glory to God in the highest heav’ns;

peace, peace, peace on the earth;

peace to God’s people, all people on earth. (Repeat)

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Glory, glory…

Lord Jesus Christ, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy, mercy on us. Have mercy, mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand, at the right hand of the Father,

receive, Lord, receive our prayer. Receive, Lord, receive our prayer.

Glory, glory…

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, glory of God, the glory of God the Father.

Glory, glory…

Amen, amen.

THE COLLECT (The special prayer of the day)

Almighty God,

to whose glory we celebrate the dedication of this house of prayer:

we praise you for the many blessings you have given

to those who worship you here:

and we pray that all who seek you in this place may find you,

and, being filled with the Holy Spirit,

may become a living temple acceptable to you;

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.

READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE

1 Kings 8.22-30; Hebrews 12.18-24

After each reading …This is the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL HYMN Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

THE GOSPEL

We sing: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Lord, we love the house of your habitation

and the place where your glory abides.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew:

Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 21.12-16

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

We sing: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia; alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

THE SERMON

THE NICENE CREED Please stand if you are able

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 for our salvation he came down from heaven;

he 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.

THE PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Lord, in your mercy…hear our prayer.

At the end of the prayers we say together:

Merciful Father, accept these prayers,

for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE PEACE Please stand if you are able

We meet in the name of Christ and we share his peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.  

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

OFFERTORY HYMN Marty Haugen ©1994 GIA Publications

1  Let us build a house where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions.

All are welcome, all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

2  Let us build a house where prophets speak,

and words are strong and true,

where all God’s children dare to seek

to dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness

and as symbol of God’s grace;

here as one we claim the faith of Jesus.

All are welcome…

3  Let us build a house where love is found

in water, wine and wheat:

a banquet hall on holy ground

where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,

is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us.

All are welcome…

4  Let us build a house where hands will reach

beyond the wood and stone

to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,

and live the Word they’ve known.

Here the outcast and the stranger

bear the image of God’s face;

let us bring an end to fear and danger.

All are welcome, all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

5  Let us build a house where all are named,

their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed

as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,

prayers of faith and songs of grace,

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter.

All are welcome…

THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE         

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.

Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,

which earth has given and human hands have made.

It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God forever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.

Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,

fruit of the vine and work of human hands.

It will become for us the cup of salvation.

Blessed be God forever.

THE EUCHARIST

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.

Father, you made the world and love your creation. You gave your Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. His dying and rising have set us free from sin and death. And so we gladly thank you, with saints and angels praising you, and singing:

We sing     Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and God of might:

Heaven and earth, heaven and earth

are full of your glory, your power and might.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest heavens.

Blessed, blessed is he who comes,

Blessed, blessed is he who comes,

blessed is he, blessed is he

who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna…

We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;

Do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, gave it to them and said: 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.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,

we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith.

We sing     Dying you destroyed our death,

Rising you restored our life.

Lord Jesus come, Lord Jesus come;

Lord Jesus come in glory.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav’ns!

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest heav’ns!

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day

when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Alban, and all the saints

to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rejoicing in the presence of God here among us, 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.

And 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.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

We sing     Jesus, Lamb of God, Bread of Life for us;

Jesus, Lamb of God, Wine of Joy for us;

Jesus, Lamb of God bearing all our sin;

Have mercy on us, give us your peace.

God’s holy gifts, for God’s holy people.

Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

All baptised Christians who receive communion in their own churches are welcome to receive communion. Any member of the congregation may come to receive a blessing.

COMMUNION HYMN Henry Smith ©1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

Give thanks with a grateful heart.

Give thanks to the Holy One.

Give thanks because he’s given

Jesus Christ, his Son.          (Repeat)

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”,

let the poor say, “I am rich”,

because of what the Lord has done for us. (Repeat)

(Repeat all from beginning finishing with ‘Give thanks’)

PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION

Father in heaven,

whose Church on earth is a sign of your heavenly peace,

an image of the new and eternal Jerusalem:

grant to us in the days of our pilgrimage

that, fed with the living bread of heaven,

and united in the body of your Son,

we may be the temple of your presence,

that place of your glory on earth,

and a sign of your peace in the world;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through him 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.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

Christ, whose glory is in the heavens,

fill this house and illuminate your hearts;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Like living stones, precious in his sight,

go in peace, to proclaim the mighty acts of God.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN Damian Lundy ©1978, 1993 Kevin Mayhew Ltd

1 The Spirit lives to set us free, walk, walk in the light.

He binds us all in unity, walk, walk in the light.

Walk in the light, walk in the light, walk in the light,

Walk in the light of the Lord.

2  Jesus promised life to all, walk, walk…

The dead were wakened by his call, walk, walk…

3  He died in pain on Calvary, walk, walk…

to save the lost like you and me, walk, walk…

4  We know his death was not the end, walk, walk…

He gave his Spirit to be our friend, walk, walk…

5  By Jesus’ love our wounds are healed, walk, walk…

The Father’s kindness is revealed, walk, walk…

6  The Spirit lives in you and me, walk, walk…

His light will shine for all to see, walk, walk…

 Common worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is © The Archbishop’s Council 2000.  Common Worship: Additional Eucharistic Prayers, material from which is reproduced above, is copyright © The Archbishop’s Council 2012. Calamus Licence Number 95 CCL Licence Number 078543