Welcome to our service - 13 September
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.
If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.
In September we will be starting a socially distanced and COVID-19 compliant unsung Holy Communion service at 11:30am each Sunday. We ask you to come with a face mask. Please do join us if you can.
SERVICE
Opening Prayer:
Eternal God, source of all blessing,
help us to worship you
with all our heart and mind and strength;
for you alone are God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
SING:
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
How He left the realms of glory
For the cross on Calvary.
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with His saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
2. I was lost but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Raised me up and gently led me
Back into the narrow way.
Days of darkness still may meet me,
Sorrow's path I oft may tread;
But His presence still is with me,
By His guiding hand I'm led.
3. He will keep me ‘til the river
Rolls its waters at my feet,
Then He'll bear me safely over,
Made by grace for glory meet
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with His saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Words: F W Rawley (1854-1952)
Music: R H Prichard (1811-87)
CONFESSION
What God has prepared for those who love him, he has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything. Therefore, let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord, who has prepared good things for those who love him.
We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love:
fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Silence
We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith:
fill us with your Spirit.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Silence
We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust:
fill us with your Spirit.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Silence
ASOLUTION
The Lord enrich us with his grace,
and nourish us with his blessing;
the Lord defend us in trouble and keep us from all evil;
the Lord accept our prayers,
and absolve us from our offences,
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Amen.
COLLECT
Merciful God,
your Son came to save us
and bore our sins on the cross:
may we trust in your mercy
and know your love,
rejoicing in the righteousness
that is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SING:
Blessed be your name
in the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams of abundance flow,
blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name
when I’m found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
blessed be your name.
Every blessing you pour out
I’ll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in,
Lord, still I will say,
‘Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
blessed be your glorious name.’
Blessed be your name
when the sun’s shining down on me,
When the world’s ‘all as it should be,
blessed be your name.
Blessed be your name
on the road marked with suffering,
Though there’s pain in the offering,
blessed be your name.
Every blessing you pour out
I’ll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in,
Lord, still I will say,
‘Blessed be…………
You give and take away,
you give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
‘Lord blessed be your name.’
‘Blessed be…………
Beth & Matt Redman ©2002 Thankyou Music
READINGS
Genesis 12:1-3 New International Version - UK
The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
‘I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.’
Luke 15:11-24 New International Version - UK
Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
TALK written by Alistair Stevenson
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.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS
This time in the Church calendar is the Season of Creation and at St Gabriel’s we’re having our Harvest service at the end of this season. But as we’ve started our Blessings Course, I’ve found some prayers written for the Season of Creation that also reflect the theme of blessings.
There is a response. I’ll say: We ask in faith, and you respond Hear us, good Lord.
Let us ask the God of Creation to send a blessing upon us.
Upon the rich earth send a blessing, O Lord.
Let the earth be fruitful
and its resources be hallowed.
We ask in faith:
Hear us, good Lord.
Upon human labour send a blessing, O Lord.
Prosper the work of our hands;
may all find dignity and just reward in their work;
free the exploited and oppressed.
We ask in faith:
Hear us, good Lord.
Upon the produce of the earth send a blessing, O Lord.
Guide us into a sustainable future,
and give us the will to share the fruits of the world.
We ask in faith:
Hear us, good Lord.
Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord.
Teach us to cherish the water of the earth,
and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers
We ask in faith:
Hear us, good Lord.
Upon aid agencies send a blessing, O Lord.
Where the earth is parched and the well has run dry;
where war brings want, and children go hungry;
where the poor cry out for bread and for justice,
give hands to care and heal, and compel us to be generous.
We ask in faith:
Hear us, good Lord.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord,
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen.
(Taken from A Time for Creation, a new resource from Church House Publishing)
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
SING:
THE KING IS AMONG US,
His Spirit is here,
Let’s draw near and worship,
Let songs fill the air.
He looks down upon us,
Delight in His face,
Enjoying His children’s love,
Enthralled by our praise.
For each child is special,
Accepted and loved,
A love gift from Jesus
To His Father above.
And now He is giving
His gifts to us all,
For no one is worthless
And each one is called.
The Spirit’s anointing
On all flesh comes down,
And we shall be channels
For works like His own.
We come now believing
Your promise of power,
For we are Your people
And this is Your hour.
The King is among us,
His Spirit is here,
Let’s draw near and worship,
Let songs fill the air.
Graham Kendrick.
532 Copyright © 1981 Thankyou Music.
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.
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:
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW,
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, you heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
(Repeat)
Give glory to the Father,
Give glory to the Son,
Give glory to the Spirit
While endless ages run.
‘Worthy the Lamb’
All heaven cries,
‘To be exalted thus:’
‘Worthy the Lamb’
Our hearts reply,
‘For He was slain for us.’
Dave Clifton and Andy Piercy.
980 Copyright © 1993 I Q Music Ltd
BLESSING
Throughout these 7 weeks, as we explore the Blessings Course, we are going to finish our services with this blessing from Numbers 6. I would encourage you to say it firstly over yourself and then, if you are willing and able, to stretch out a hand towards your street and neighbourhood and to declare this blessing over the people in your community.
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen