Click the link below to download a pdf copy of our Service Sheet

21st April – Click here to download a pdf copy

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 George Herbert (1593-1633)

 

1  Let all the world in every corner sing,

‘My God and King!’

The heavens are not too high,

His praise may thither fly;

The earth is not too low,

His praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

‘My God and King!’

 

2  Let all the world in every corner sing,

‘My God and King!’

The Church with psalms must shout,

No door can keep them out;

But, above all, the heart

Must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing,

‘My God and King!’

 

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 George Salazar ©1993 OCP Publications

 

Glory, glory, glory to God. Glory, glory, glory to God.

 

Glory to God in the heights of the heavens,

peace to God’s people, all people on earth.

Glory, glory…

 

Son of the Father, all glory and worship;

praise and thanksgiving to you, Lamb of God. Glory, glory…

 

You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us, receive our prayer. Glory, glory…

Seated in pow’r at the right of the Father,

Jesus alone is the Lord, the Most High. Glory, glory…

 

And with the Spirit of love everlasting,

reigning in glory for ever. Amen.

Glory, glory, glory to God. Glory, glory, glory to God.

 

 

THE COLLECT (The special prayer of the day)

Risen Christ,

faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:

teach us to hear your voice

and to follow your command,

that all your people may be gathered into one flock,

to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

READINGS

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

 

FIRST READING: Acts 4.5-12

 

SECOND READING: 1 John 3.16-24

 

GRADUAL 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)

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart…    (Repeat)

 

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”… (Repeat)

THE GOSPEL

 

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

 

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

 

John 10.11-18

 

After the reading…This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

 

 

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

 

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 Timothy Dudley-Smith ©1976

 

1  Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,

urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,

sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:

Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

 

2  Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,

speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,

teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:

Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.

 

3  Lord, for our land in this our generation,

spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:

For young and old, for commonwealth and nation,

Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

 

4  Lord, for our world where men disown and doubt you,

loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,

hungry and helpless, lost indeed without you:

Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

 

5  Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us –

self on the cross and Christ upon the throne,

past put behind us, for the future take us:

Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

 

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:

 

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

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

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

Hosanna in the highest.

New People’s Mass, A Gregory Murray © 1975, 1987 McCrimmon

 

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

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.

 

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.

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

have mercy on us.

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

have mercy on us.

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

grant us peace.

New People’s Mass, A Gregory Murray © 1975, 1987 McCrimmon

 

 

Draw near with faith.

Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,

and his blood which he shed for you.

Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,

and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

 

Anyone may come up to receive a blessing. All baptised Christians who receive communion in their own churches are welcome to receive communion.

 

 

COMMUNION HYMN Paraphrased from Psalm 23 in the Scottish Psalter 1650

 

1  The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

he makes me down to lie

in pastures green; He leadeth me

the quiet waters by.

 

2  My soul He doth restore again;

and me to walk doth make

within the paths of righteousness,

e’en for His own name’s sake.

 

3  Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,

yet will I fear none ill.

For thou art with me; and thy rod

and staff me comfort still.

 

4  My table thou hast furnishèd

in presence of my foes;

my head thou dost with oil anoint,

and my cup overflows.

 

5  Goodness and mercy all my life

shall surely follow me.

And in God’s house for evermore

my dwelling place shall be.

 

PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION

 

Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
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

 

May God, who in Christ gives us a spring of water

welling up to eternal life,

perfect in you the image of his glory;

and the blessing …

 

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord

In the name of Christ. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN ©1994 Stephen Dean, published by Decani Music

 

1  Thanks be to God whose love has gathered us this day;

thanks be to God who helps and guides us on our way.

Thanks be to God who gives us voice that we may thank him:

Deo gratias, Deo gratias, thanks be to God most high.

 

2  Thanks be to God for all the gifts of life and light;

thanks be to God whose care protects us day and night.

Thanks be to God who keeps in mind us who forget him:

Deo gratias, Deo gratias, thanks be to God most high.

 

3  Thanks be to God who knows our secret joys and fears;

thanks be to God who when we call him always hears.

Thanks be to God our rock and strength ever sustaining:

Deo gratias, Deo gratias, thanks be to God most high

 

4  Thanks be to God who never turns his face away;

thanks be to God who heals and pardons all who stray.

Thanks be to God who welcomes us into his kingdom:

Deo gratias, Deo gratias, thanks be to God most high.

 

5  Thanks be to God who made our world and all we see;

thanks be to God who gave his Son to set us free.

Thanks be to God whose Spirit brings warmth and rejoicing:

Deo gratias, Deo gratias, thanks be to God most high.