Sunday Service - 23 August

Welcome to our Service - 23 August

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. 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.

The church is open for personal and private prayer on Sunday afternoons,

4 - 5:30pm in July and August.

From 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:

Loving God, we have come to worship you.

Help us to pray to you in faith,

to sing your praise with gratitude,

and to listen to your word with eagerness;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv2BqFgm6_M

O worship the King,

all-glorious above;

O gratefully sing

His power and His love;

our shield and defender,

the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendour,

and girded with praise.

2. O tell of His might,

O sing of His grace,

whose robe is the light,

whose canopy, space;

His chariots of wrath

the deep thunder-clouds form,

and dark is His path

on the wings of the storm.

3. The earth, with its store

of wonders untold,

Almighty, Thy power

hath founded of old:

hath ‘stablished it fast

by a changeless decree,

and round it hath cast,

like a mantle, the sea.

4. Thy bountiful care

what tongue can recite?

It breathes in the air,

it shines in the light,

it streams from the hills,

it descends to the plain,

and sweetly distills

in the dew and the rain.

5. Frail children of dust,

and feeble as frail,

in Thee do we trust,

nor find Thee to fail:

Thy mercies, how tender,

how firm to the end,

our maker, defender,

Redeemer, and friend!

6. O Lord of all might,

how boundless Thy love!

while angels delight

to hymn Thee above,

the humbler creation,

though feeble their lays,

with true adoration

shall sing to Thy praise.

Words: Robert Grant (1779-1838)

Music: William Croft (1678-1727)

CONFESSION

Seeing we have a great high priest who has passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God, let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,

and make our confession to our heavenly Father.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry

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 grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

ASOLUTION

Almighty God,

who forgives all who truly repent,

have mercy upon us,

pardon and deliver us from all your sins,

confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,

and keep us in life eternal;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COLLECT

God of glory,

the end of our searching,

help us to lay aside

all that prevents us from seeking your kingdom,

and to give all that we have

to gain the pearl beyond all price,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQkzHwz2eLE

1. I will offer up my life in spirit and truth,

Pouring out the oil of love,

as my worship to You.

In surrender I must give my every part,

Lord receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring,

to so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?

Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung, as a praise of Your name

for the things You have done?

O, my words could not tell, not even in part,

of the debt of love that is owed

by this thankful heart.

2. You deserve my every breath

for You've paid the great cost,

giving up Your life to death,

even death on a cross.

You took all my shame away,

there defeated my sin,

opened up the gates of heaven

and have beckoned me in.

Jesus, what can I give...

READINGS

Romans 12:1-8 New International Version - UK

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Matthew 16:13-20 New International Version - UK

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’

They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’

Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’

Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Stuart Ibbotson

Please see the video above

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

Our prayers today reflect some of the themes from our two Bible readings.

Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied “You are the Messiah, Son of the living God”. Thank you Lord for the growing online interest in Bible reading, prayer and virtual church. We pray for people at the present time asking questions about faith and the meaning of life. Please open their hearts and minds to your Holy Spirit that they may find answers and be drawn closer to you, Son of the living God.

Look in mercy, Lord, on those who are intimidated or mistreated because they speak up for their faith. We pray for countries where church buildings are attacked, confiscated or even demolished. May the Christians in such situations know your peace in their hearts and your courage for the future.

Thank you for the gifts you have given your Church to equip your people for works of service and for the building up of the body of Christ. Remind us Lord that although we are unable to meet together physically at the moment, in Christ we still form one body and belong to each other. Help us to acknowledge the gifts you have given us and show us how to use them in your service and for the growth of your kingdom locally and further afield. We pray for churches where there is tension among leaders pulling in different directions, where gifts are not valued or where they are used for personal gain. And we ask your help for churches across the world where there is a lack of leadership or encouragement. Please raise up those who are able to govern diligently, teach your truth and contribute to the needs of others.

We lift before you, Lord, so many nations coping with the aftermath of recent disasters or ongoing conflicts. Please help them in the long process of rebuilding lives and infrastructure. We pray for world leaders in the ever changing situation with regard to COVID 19. Grant them wisdom in decisions about lifting or reinforcing restrictions in their countries - and in relation to differing quarantine regulations.

We commit to you Lord our families and friends, near and far, especially those feeling lonely, anxious or struggling with health concerns. And we pray especially for young people at this time of uncertainty and frustration. Please keep them safe when out with their friends, protect them from following the wrong path or being drawn into the world’s temptations. Guide them into ways of truth and goodness. As we begin a new week help us, Lord, not to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. So we ask these prayers in your name, Son of the living 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=07FBSrx5Oq4

Brother, sister let me serve you,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace

to let you be my servant too.

2. We are pilgrims on a journey,

we are brothers on the road;

we are here to help each other

walk the mile and bear the load.

3. I will hold the Christ-light for you

in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear.

4. I will weep when you are weeping;

when you laugh I'll laugh with you.

I will share your joy and sorrow

`til we've seen this journey through.

5. When we sing to God in heaven

we will find such harmony,

born of all we've known together

of Christ's love and agony.

6. Brother, sister let me serve you,

Let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace

to let you be my servant too.

Richard Gillard,

Betty Pulkingham,

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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_fvFfPqjO4

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Music: trad. arr. Bainbridge, Hogg & Bryant

BLESSING

Keep us, Father, in this community of faith, the Church of your Son Jesus Christ,

and help us to confess him as Messiah and Lord in all we say and do. We ask this in his name.

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always.

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