Welcome to our service - 21 May 23
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.
Please join us for public worship in the church building this Sunday, 11:30am, for a service of Holy Communion.
OPENING
Let everything be said and done in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ.
Sing psalms, hymns and sacred songs:
let us sing to God with thankful hearts.
Open our lips, Lord:
and we shall praise your name.
HYMN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJDWFYIkBns
HALLELUJAH! SING TO JESUS;
His the sceptre, His the throne;
Hallelujah! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark, the songs of holy Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
‘Jesus out of every nation
Hath redeemed us by His blood.’
Hallelujah! not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Hallelujah! He is near us,
Faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the clouds from sight receivedHim
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise,
‘I am with you ever more’?
Hallelujah! Bread of heaven,
Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Hallelujah! 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.
Hallelujah! sing to Jesus;
His the sceptre, His the throne;
Hallelujah! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark, the songs of holy Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
‘Jesus out of every nation
Hath redeemed us by His blood.’
William C. Dix (1837–98)
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONFESSION
Lord God, our maker and our redeemer, this is your world and we are your people: come among us and save us.
We have wilfully misused your gifts of creation;
Lord, be merciful:
Forgive us our sin.
We have seen the ill-treatment of others
and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
Forgive us our sin.
We have condoned evil and dishonesty
and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
Forgive us our sin.
We have heard the good news of Christ,
but have failed to share it with others;
Lord, be merciful:
Forgive us our sin.
We have not loved you
with all our heart,
nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
Forgive us our sin.
ASOLUTION
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins and make us holy to
serve him in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT
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
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qS-7gh9tz0
JUBILATE, EVERYBODY,
Serve the Lord in all your ways,
And come before His presence singing,
Enter now His courts with praise.
For the Lord our God is gracious,
And His mercy’s everlasting.
Jubilate, Jubilate, Jubilate Deo.
Fred Dunn.
Copyright © 1977, 1980 Thankyou Music.
Exodus 33:12-23
One day Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favourably on you.’ If it is true that you look favourably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favour. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favourably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favourably on you, and I know you by name.”
Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”
The LORD continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”
Mark 2: 1 - 12
When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralysed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralysed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralysed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralysed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
We would invite you to reflect on the readings. If it helpful there are some questions below to help you do so.
- What does Moses desire from God?
- The passage says: “For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
o Why does Moses want the people to be set apart?
o Why will the presence of God set them apart from all the other nations?
- How can we desire more of the presence of God in our own lives?
- In the passage from Mark, why were the men so desperate to get their friend to the feet of Jesus?
- Do you think the men were fearful of bringing their friend and getting him to Jesus in such an outrageous way?
- How does Jesus respond to this?
- Why was the faith and courage of the men important?
- How can we grow and develop faith and courage in our own lives?
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 - written by Linda Chambers
Moses asked for God’s presence to go with them as he led the people of Israel, so they were distinctive from all other nations. We pray today for God’s people in different roles and situations.
We pray for Christians in leadership in the UK and around the globe and those for whom they have responsibility. Lord Jesus, may they know your presence within them.
We pray for Christians in Parliament across the political spectrum, whether MPs or those working in many roles behind the scenes. We pray for Christians in local government and for those in our own City Council, that they may serve with compassion and humility. Sustain and equip Christian leaders around the globe in government, business, industry and so many other areas …
We pray for Christians responding to poverty, disaster or emergencies in many countries and those they serve. Lord Jesus, may they know your presence within them.
Give these faithful servants patience when supplies are unavailable or roads impassable. Uphold them when discouraged or overwhelmed by the enormity of their task. And we especially remember some current situations: the conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan, the recent cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, malnutrition in South Sudan, drought in Kenya …
We pray for Christians in the workplace and those with whom they work. Lord Jesus, may they know your presence within them.
We pray for Christians caught up in current disputes in the NHS, teaching, the railways. Grant them wisdom to know how to react and what to do. We pray for courage to stand firm for those who are ridiculed in the workplace because of their faith. And at the start of the exam season we pray for our young people in school, college, university - and those applying for jobs or apprenticeships. Draw alongside them and give them your peace.
We pray for ourselves as God’s people in this place, whether longstanding members of St. Gabriel’s or relatively new. Lord Jesus, may we know your presence within us.
We pray for our Annual Meeting later this morning as we celebrate and give thanks for Alistair and Catherine and all God has done in the life of our church this past year. Grant wisdom and guidance to the new PCC as they conduct the business of our church and support Alistair and the leadership team in our mission and ministry. We pray, too, for All Saints’ Annual Meeting on Wednesday and others across our Deanery, especially where there may be particular needs.
Moses asked God to show him His glorious presence … This coming week, in the midst of all our usual busyness, may we make time to practise the presence of 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
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LULK2nZ6sCc
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong a perfect plea:
a great high priest, whose name is ‘Love’,
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is written on his hands,
my name is hidden in his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no power can force me to depart,
no power can force me to depart.
2. When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me,
to look on him and pardon me.
3. Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
my perfect, sinless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with my Lord I cannot die:
my soul is purchased by his blood,
my life is safe with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Saviour and my God,
with Christ my Saviour and my God.
Words: Charitie L.de Chenez (1841-92)
Music: Vikki Cook © 1993 PDI/Worship/Admin by Copy Care
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=r4ox4es1jo8
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS,
O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning
new mercies I see;
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided,
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter,
and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature
in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness...
Pardon for sin
and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today
and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness...
Thomas O. Chisholm (1866–1960)
Copyright © 1923, Renewal 1951 Hope Publishing Co./ Adm. by Song Solutions CopyCare
BLESSING
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always.
Amen