Service

Service Sheet

Welcome to St. Alban’s

25th January – Feast of the Conversion of Paul

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

Before the children leave for Children’s 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 John Ernest Bode (1816-1874)

5  O let me see thy foot-marks

and in them plant mine own;

my hope to follow duly

is in thy strength alone:

O guide me, call me, draw me,

uphold me to the end;

and then in heaven receive me,

my Saviour and my Friend.

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.

Lord Jesus, illuminate the darkness in our hearts:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to your saving love:

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, unstop our ears to hear your living word:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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,
who caused the light of the gospel
to shine throughout the world
through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul:
grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion
may follow him in bearing witness to your truth;
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

Jeremiah 1.4-10; Acts 9.1-22

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

GRADUAL HYMN Henry Williams Baker (1821-77).

1  The King of love my Shepherd is,

whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am his

and he is mine forever.

2  Where streams of living water flow

my ransomed soul he leadeth,

and where the verdant pastures grow

with food celestial feedeth.

3  And so through all the length of days

thy goodness faileth never;

Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise

within thy house forever.

THE GOSPEL

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

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 19.27-end

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.

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

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you are called to peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

We share a sign of peace with those standing near us.

OFFERTORY HYMN G.H. Bourne (1840-1925)

1 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour,

first begotten from the dead;

thou alone, our strong defender,

liftest up thy people’s head.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Jesus, true and living Bread!

2 Prince of Life, for us thou livest,

by thy body souls are healed;

Prince of Peace, thy peace thou livest,

by thy blood is pardon sealed.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Word of God in flesh revealed.

3 Paschal Lamb! Thine offering finished

once for all when thou wast slain,

in its fullness undiminished

shall forevermore remain.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Cleansing souls from every stain.

4 Great High Priest of our profession,

through the veil thou ent’redst in;

by thy mighty intercession

grace and mercy thou canst win.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Only sacrifice for sin.

5 Life-imparting heavenly manna,

stricken rock, with streaming side;

heaven and earth with loud hosanna

worship thee, the Lamb who died.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Risen, ascended, glorified!

THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE

Lord, accept your people’s gifts,

not gold, frankincense or myrrh,

but hearts and voices raised in praise of Jesus Christ,

our light and our salvation. Amen.

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.

All honour and praise be yours always and everywhere, mighty creator, ever-living God, through Jesus Christ your only Son our Lord:

for at this time we celebrate your glory made present in our midst.

In the coming of the magi

the King of all the world was revealed to the nations.

In the waters of baptism

Jesus was revealed as the Christ, the Saviour sent to redeem us.

In the water made wine

the new creation was revealed at the wedding feast.

Poverty was turned to riches, sorrow into joy.

Therefore with all the angels of heaven we lift our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name and sing our joyful hymn of praise:

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 Dave Bilbrough ©1979 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

1  Let there be love shared among us,

let there be love in our eyes,

may now your love sweep this nation,

cause us, O Lord, to arise.

Give us a fresh understanding

filled with your love that is real,

let there be love shared among us,

let there be love.

2  Let there be peace shared among us…

3  Let there be hope shared among us…

4  Let there be joy shared among us…

Prayer after Communion

Lord God,

the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in 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

May the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shine in your hearts

and fill your lives with his joy and peace.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN Traditional S African tr. A Nyberg, A Maries

© 1990 Wild Goose Publications & Sovereign Music UK

1  We are marching in the light of God, (x4)

We are marching, marching

we are marching, o-oh!

We are marching in the light of God.

(repeat)

2  We are living in the love of God (x4)

We are living, living

we are living, o-oh!

We are living in the love of God.

(repeat)

3  We are moving in the pow’r of God (x4)

We are moving, moving

we are moving, o-oh!

We are moving in the pow’r of God.

(repeat 3 times)

 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