Service

Service Sheet

Welcome to St. Alban’s

19th April – Easter 3

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 W. Chatterton Dix (1837-98)

1  Alleluia, sing to Jesus,

his the sceptre, his the throne,

alleluia, his the triumph,

his the victory alone:

hark! the songs of peaceful Sion

thunder like a mighty flood;

Jesus, out of every nation,

hath redeemed us by his blood.

2  Alleluia, not as orphans

are we left in sorrow now;

alleluia, he is near us,

faith believes, nor questions how;

though the cloud from sight received him

when the forty days were o’er,

shall our hearts forget his promise,

‘I am with you evermore’?

3  Alleluia, Bread of Angels,

thou on earth our food, our stay;

alleluia, here the sinful

flee to thee from day to day;

intercessor, friend of sinners,

earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,

where the songs of all the sinless

sweep across the crystal sea.

4  Alleluia, King eternal,

thee the Lord of lords we own;

alleluia, born of Mary,

earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne;

thou within the veil hast entered,

robed in flesh, our great High Priest;

thou on earth both priest and victim

in the Eucharistic Feast.

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

Lord God, our maker and our redeemer,

this is your world and we are your people: come among us and save us.

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

We sing     Glory to God, glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.

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.

Glory to God, glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.

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.

Glory to God, glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.

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.

Glory to God, glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.

THE COLLECT

Risen Christ,

you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:

strengthen us to proclaim your risen life

and fill us with your peace,

to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE

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

Acts 2.14a,36–41; 1 Peter 1.17–23

GRADUAL HYMN Robert Cull ©1976 CCCM music/Maranatha! Music

Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus,

to reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.

Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.

THE GOSPEL

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

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

Luke 24.13–35

After the reading…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

Response: 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.

THE PEACE  Please stand if you are able

To crown all things there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

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

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

OFFERTORY HYMN Martin Rinkart Tr. Catherine Winkworth

1  Now thank we all our God,

with hearts and hands and voices;

who wondrous things has done,

in whom his world rejoices;

who from our mother’s arms

has blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love,

and still is ours today.

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 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, almighty and eternal Father,

and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works.

For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son,

has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men and women the image of your glory. He has placed them once more in paradise and opened to them the gate of life eternal.

And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation

sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

We sing     Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

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

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom come 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     Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,

have mercy on us.

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

have mercy on us.

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

grant us 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. Anyone may come up to receive a blessing.

COMMUNION HYMN Stuart Townend ©1995 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

1  How deep the Father’s love for us,

how vast beyond all measure,

that he should give his only Son

to make a wretch his treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss –

the Father turns his face away,

as wounds which mar the Chosen One

bring many sons to glory.

PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION

Living God,

your Son made himself known to his disciples

in the breaking of bread:

open the eyes of our faith,

that we may see him in all his redeeming work;

who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. 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

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,

strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;

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 ©Michael Saward/Jubilate Hymns

1  Christ triumphant, ever reigning

Saviour, Master, King.

Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,

hear us as we sing:

Yours the glory and the crown,

The high renown, the eternal name!

2  Word incarnate, truth revealing

Son of Man on earth!

Power and majesty concealing

by your humble birth. Yours the glory…

3  Suffering servant, scorned, ill-treated,

victim crucified!

Death is through the cross defeated,

Sinners justified. Yours the glory…

4  Priestly King, enthroned forever

high in heaven above!

Sin and death and hell shall never

stifle hymns of love. Yours the glory…

5  So, our hearts and voices raising

through the ages long;

ceaselessly upon you gazing,

this shall be our song: Yours the glory…

 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