Sunday Service - 10 May

Welcome to our Service - 10 May

This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.

To the right is Alistair’s talk. It can be watched separately or as part of the rest of the service.

If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82643770370

Meeting ID: 826 4377 0370

ONLINE SERVICE:

Dear friends, parts of our service today will help us to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe, when the sounds of war fell silent on this continent. As we worship we are especially conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people, and war between nations.

And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for the years of peace that the nations of Europe have enjoyed since the Second World War.

But today we are also remembering that this is the start of Christian Aid Week.

We start our service by saying:

SAY:

Heaviness may endure for a night:

But joy comes in the morning.

God has been our refuge and our strength:

A present help in time of trouble.

HYMN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iSHG-qtbtk

Glorious things of thee are spoken,

Zion, city of our God.

He, whose word cannot be broken

formed thee for His own abode:

on the rock of ages founded,

what can shake thy sure repose?

With salvation's walls surrounded,

thou may'st smile at all thy foes.

2. See, the streams of living waters,

springing from eternal love,

well supply thy sons and daughters

and all fear of want remove:

who can faint, while such a river

ever flows their thirst to assuage?

Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,

never fails from age to age.

3. Saviour, if of Zion's city

I, through grace, a member am,

let the world deride or pity,

I will glory in Thy name:

fading is the worldling's pleasure,

all his boasted pomp and show;

solid joys and lasting treasure

none but Zion's children know.

John Newton (1725-1807)

CONFESSION

In life and in death we are with the Lord. Let us turn to the Lord who is full of compassion and mercy, and ask that he will forgive us our sins, and extend his healing love upon our broken world.

Lord, you promise a place in paradise to all

who call to you in penitence and faith.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, you bring comfort to those

who mourn and have suffered loss.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, you speak your word of peace

in times of conflict and calm our fears.

Lord, have mercy.

ASOLUTION

May the Father of all mercies

cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in his image

to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COLLECT

Almighty God,

from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:

kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace;

and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom

those who take counsel for the nations of the earth;

that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,

till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

An Act of Commitment

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and

women: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those

working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the

nations.

Lord God our Father,

we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,

in the cause of peace,

for the relief of want and suffering,

and for the praise of your name.

Guide us by your Spirit;

give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope;

and keep us faithful now and always.

Amen.

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5HbddjrTU

I believe in Jesus;

I believe He is the Son of God.

I believe He died and rose again;

I believe He paid for us all.

(Men) And I believe You're here now.

(Women) I believe that You're here

(All) Standing in our midst.

(Men) Here with the power to heal now,

(Women) With the power to heal,

(All) And the grace to forgive.

2. I believe in You, Lord;

I believe You are the Son of God.

I believe You died and rose again;

I believe You paid for us all.

(Men) And I believe You're here now.

(Women) I believe that You're here

(All) Standing in our midst.

(Men) Here with the power to heal now,

(Women) With the power to heal,

(All) And the grace to forgive.

READINGS

Rev. 21: 1 - 5

Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death”[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’

John 14: 1 - 4

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.’

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Alistair Stevenson (see the first video above)

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10GlC47Ut8

Shout for joy and sing,

let your praises ring;

see that God is building a kingdom for a King.

His dwelling place with men, the new Jerusalem;

where Jesus is Lord over all.

And we will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord

We will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord.

2. A work so long concealed,

in time will be revealed,

as the sons of God shall rise and take their stand.

Clothed in His righteousness,

The church made manifest,

Where Jesus is Lord over all

And we will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord

We will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord.

3. Sovereign over all,

Hail Him risen Lord.

He alone is worthy of our praise.

Reigning in majesty,

ruling in victory,

Jesus is Lord over all.

And we will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord

We will worship, worship,

we will worship Jesus the Lord.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ,

his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand

of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen

O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

When I call answer me.

O Lord, hear my prayer,

O Lord, hear my prayer:

Come and listen to me.

Jacques Berthier/Taizé.

PRAYERS - written by Linda Chambers

Eternal God and Father, thank you for your presence with us in this world, sustaining and supporting us. Hear us now as we offer you our prayers and petitions.

At this particular time, it feels extra poignant to commemorate VE Day. Thank you again for the bravery and sacrifice of so many during World War 2 and for the eventual peace across Europe.

We pray for our Government, their scientific and medical advisors. Grant them wisdom and clarity in their decision making, renewed energy and patience in the.relentless round of daily deliberations and briefings. Guide them through the complexities of easing the lockdown, so that people may return to work safely and to some kind of ‘normal’ life.

Thank you for all our frontline hospital workers: porters, cleaners, surgeons, technicians; for health workers in care homes, hospices, in the community. Eternal God, protect them and provide for all their needs. Thank you for service providers we so often take for granted – long distance lorry drivers, refuse collectors, those who maintain our essential utilities. Please encourage them in their day to day tasks.

Eternal God, we pray for long-term carers, looking after family members with complex needs. Please strengthen them as they cope alone, while support services are suspended and day centres closed. Provide for the needs of households, where parents have been furloughed or lost their jobs, and for multi-generational families living in cramped conditions. We lift up to you vulnerable children, struggling with home schooling, watching inappropriate online material, those witnessing domestic violence or suffering abuse themselves. Keep them safe from harm we pray.

Today is the start of Christian Aid Week. Thank you that Christian Aid is responding to the Virus outbreak in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean where there is already poor healthcare and limited equipment. Bless their work with local partners and faith leaders, to limit the impact of the virus in the most vulnerable communities. Direct and guide them as they inform people of the risks, equip health facilities with supplies and provide training for frontline aid workers. Protect them as they deliver food packages to the most marginalised families and ensure protection for women affected by domestic violence. And despite current restrictions, thank you Lord, for new and imaginative ways of fundraising this year. May there be a wonderful spirit of generosity and support across the nation!

We pray for our church family of St. Gabriel’s and our local communities. Thank you for the faithfulness of those who prepare our weekly online services. Bless all who join in, especially those who may be searching for answers at this uncertain time. We ask for your wisdom and inspiration, for our PCC zoom meeting on Wednesday, especially for any important decisions that need to be made. We bring before you those who are finding life extra challenging during lockdown. Comfort and sustain those feeling lonely or anxious, those unable to access treatment or diagnosis at the moment, those grieving for loved ones.

And finally, we have been reminded in our service that we have ‘an eternal home’. God will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Thanks be to God. AMEN

LORD’S PRAYER

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.

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

OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.

SAY:

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,

the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;

for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

All things come from you,

and of your own do we give you.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTZnuPTGWS8

O Lord our God, how majestic is Your name,

The earth is filled with Your glory.

O Lord our God, You are robed in majesty,

You've set Your glory above the heavens.

We will magnify, we will magnify

The Lord enthroned in Zion;

We will magnify, we will magnify

The Lord enthroned in Zion.

2. O Lord our God, You have established a throne,

You reign in righteousness and splendour.

O Lord our God, the skies are ringing with Your praise,

Soon those on earth will come to worship.

We will magnify....

3. O Lord our God, the world was made at Your command,

In You all things now hold together.

Now to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb,

Be praise and glory and power for ever.

We will magnify....

BLESSING

God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Click here to access the children's activity

Alistair preaches on John 14: 1-14

Christian Aid Week

At this time of year at St Gabriel’s we would normally be endorsing Christian Aid Week. Like many church activities at the moment, Christian Aid Week is being done differently and digitally this year.

We would encourage you to watch the video below.

You can donate using this link: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week

In lieu of people going out and delivering envelopes, individuals can send an e-envelope. The downside of this is that you can only share it with people that you know, rather than reaching out into the community with the red envelopes, but it’s not a bad alternative. You can create your own e-envelope here: https://envelope.christianaid.org.uk

And finally, Jo Chamberlain is raising money herself by committing to 300,000 steps in May. The fundraiser is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donate/169462960980174/