Service

Service Sheet

Welcome to St. Alban’s

24th May – Pentecost

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 Stewart Cross

1  Father, Lord of all creation,

ground of being, life and love;

height and depth beyond description

only life in you can prove:

you are mortal life’s dependence:

thought, speech, sight are ours by grace;

yours is every hour’s existence,

Sovereign Lord of time and space.

2  Jesus Christ, the man for others,

we, your people, make our prayer:

give us grace to love as brothers

all whose burdens we can share.

Where your name binds us together

you, Lord Christ, will surely be;

where no selfishness can sever

there your love may all men see.

3  Holy Spirit, rushing, burning

wind and flame of Pentecost,

fire our hearts afresh with yearning

to regain what we have lost.

May your love unite our action,

nevermore to speak alone:

God, in us abolish faction,

God, through us your love make known.

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

Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

INVITATION TO CONFESSION

The Spirit of the Lord fills the world and knows our every word and deed. Let us then open ourselves to the Lord and confess our sins in penitence and faith.

You raise the dead to life in the Spirit:

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

You bring pardon and peace to the broken in heart:

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

You make one by your Spirit the torn and divided:

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

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 (The special prayer of the day)

Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

READINGS FROM SCRIPTURE

Acts 2.1-21         1 Corinthians 12.3b-13

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

GRADUAL HYMN Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

1  Breathe on me, Breath of God,

fill me with life anew;

that I may love what thou dost love

and do what thou wouldst do.

4  Breathe on me, Breath of God,

so shall I never die,

but live with thee the perfect life

of thine eternity.

THE GOSPEL

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

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia.

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

John 20.19-23

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 

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.

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

OFFERTORY HYMN Alan Dale©1967 OUP

1  God’s Spirit is in my heart,

he has called me and set me apart.

This is what I have to do,

what I have to do:

He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,

Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,

Tell blind people that they can see,

And set the downtrodden free.

And go tell everyone

the news that the Kingdom of God has come.

And go tell everyone

the news that God’s Kingdom has come.

2  Just as the Father sent me,

so I’m sending you out to be

my witnesses throughout the world,

the whole of the world.

3  Don’t carry a load in your pack,

you don’t need two shirts on your back.

A workman can earn his own keep,

can earn his own keep.

4  Don’t worry what you have to say,

don’t worry because on that day

God’s Spirit will speak in your heart,

will speak in your heart.

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, it is our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, your only Son our Lord.

This day we give you thanks because in fulfilment of your promise you pour out your Spirit upon us, filling us with your gifts, leading us into all truth, and uniting peoples of many tongues in the confession of one faith.

Your Spirit gives us grace to call you Father, to proclaim your gospel to all nations and to serve you as a royal priesthood.

Therefore, we join our voices with angels and archangels, and with all those in whom the Spirit dwells, to proclaim the glory of your name,

for ever praising you and singing:

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 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.

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.

COMMUNION HYMN Margaret V Old © 1971 Scripture Union

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
Gentle as is the dove,
Give us your joy and give us your peace,
Show to us Jesus’ love.

1  You inspired men, long, long ago,
They then proclaimed your word;
We see their lives serving mankind:
Through them your voice is heard.

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
Gentle as is the dove,
Give us your joy and give us your peace,
Show to us Jesus’ love.

2  Without your help, we fail our Lord,
We cannot live His way,
We need your power, we need your strength,
Following Christ each day.

Spirit of God…

PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION

Eternal God, giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

Today we have remembered the coming of God’s power on the disciples and we invite that same Spirit to drive us out into the wild places of the world.

May the Spirit, who set the Church on fire upon the Day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Filled with the Spirit’s power, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

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 in the light.

The dead were wakened by his call, walk, walk in the light.

3  He died in pain on Calvary, walk, walk in the light.

To save the lost like you and me, walk, walk in the light.

4  We know his death was not the end, walk, walk in the light.

He gave his Spirit to be our friend, walk, walk in the light.

5  By Jesus’ love our wounds are healed, walk, walk in the light.

The Father’s kindness is revealed, walk, walk in the light.

6  The Spirit lives in you and me, walk, walk in the light.

His light will shine for all to see, walk, walk in the light.

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. One Licence A-740747, CCL Licence Number 078543