Sunday Service - 24 May

Welcome to our Service - 24 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. 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.

SAY:

Be with us, Spirit of God;

Nothing can separate us from your love.

Breathe on us, breath of God;

Fill us with your saving power.

Speak in us, wisdom of God;

Bring strength, healing

and peace.

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHmPHCljY8

Lo! he comes with clouds descending,

once for favoured sinners slain:

thousand thousand saints attending,

swell the triumph of His train;

Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!

God appears on earth to reign.

2. Every eye shall now behold Him

robed in dreadful majesty;

those who set at nought and sold Him,

pierced, and nailed Him to the tree,

deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing

shall the true Messiah see.

3. Now redemption, long expected,

see in solemn pomp appear!

All His saints, by man rejected,

now shall meet Him in the air.

Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!

see the day of God appear.

4. Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee

high on Thy eternal throne;

Saviour, take the power and glory,

claim the kingdom of Thine own

Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!

everlasting God come down!

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Music: 18th C English melody

CONFESSION

Jesus is our high priest, tempted like us, yet without sin. He lives for ever in heaven to intercede for us. Through him we approach the throne of grace with confidence, and confess our sins.

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

we confess that we have sinned

in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be;

that we may do justly, love mercy,

and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen

ASOLUTION

May the God of love and power

forgive us and free us from our sins,

heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COLLECT

Almighty God,

your ascended Son has sent us into the world

to preach the good news of your kingdom:

inspire us with your Spirit

and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,

that all who hear your Word

may be drawn to you,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SING

Lord I lift Your name on high: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6I6orjM3NI

Lord I love to sing your praises,

I 'm so glad you are in my life,

I 'm so glad you came to save us.

You came from Heaven to earth

to show the way,

From the earth to the cross

my debt to pay,

From the cross to the grave,

From the grave to the sky,

Lord I lift Your name on high.

READINGS

Acts 1:1-11 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptised with[b] the Holy Spirit.’

6 Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’

7 He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’

Reading: John 17: 1 - 19 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed:

‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

6 ‘I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 ‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Alistair Stevenson (please watch 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 Jo Chamberlain

These 10 days between Ascension and Pentecost are 10 days of prayer to pray ‘Thy kingdom come’, so this morning I want to pray that we will see the ways of the kingdom of heaven become more and more part of the way we live our lives on earth.

Jesus said: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, it is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.

I pray that we will be like the mustard seed. Lord, though we may feel small, we pray that we will remember even small things have an important role to play in the kingdom of heaven. Please help us to play our part wherever we find ourselves. If we are working, help us to do our jobs for the glory of God. Even when we feel stuck at home, help us to keep in touch with friends, neighbours and families and to conduct our relationships with kindness.

Thy Kingdom Come

Lord, in lockdown, we feel small. We long to be that great tree where the birds of the air can nest, to go back to being able to welcome people into our homes and buildings. Please help us to continue to find ways right now to connect with people and welcome them. Now and in the future, help us to be a place where people feel safe to come and nest by the words that we say and the things that we do. We pray for all the many online services that people who wouldn’t normally come to church are clicking on and finding. And we pray for the window prayer stations across Greystones, that people would stop and notice and through them have an encounter with the kingdom of heaven.

Thy Kingdom Come

Jesus said: The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all risen.

Lord I pray that we your church will be like yeast, mixed throughout the world bringing your kingdom of heaven. We pray especially for your church working where there is suffering. We pray for organisations like Christian Aid and Tearfund, working with the poorest communities overseas. We pray for organisations closer to home, like the foodbank, Baby Basics, Golddigger Trust, the Archer Project and the work they do in this city. At this time of financial uncertainty, we pray for supporters to give generously where they can and for wisdom for those who run these organisations. And we pray for everyone at the Archer Project clearing up and getting things back on track after the fire.

Thy Kingdom Come

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

There is a Redeemer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUqfdaCLm0Y

Jesus, God's own Son,

precious Lamb of God, Messiah,

holy One.

Thank you, O my Father,

for giving us your Son,

and leaving your Spirit

till the work on earth is done.

2. Jesus, my Redeemer,

name above all names,

precious Son of God, Messiah,

Lamb for sinners slain:

Thank you, O my Father...

3. When I stand in glory

I will see his face,

and there I'll serve my king for ever

in that holy place.

Thank you, O my Father...

Melody Green (c) Word Music (UK)

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

Jesus is Lord !: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rflCCx3QRys

Creation's voice proclaims it,

for by His power each tree and flower

was planned and made.

Jesus is Lord! The universe declares it;

sun, moon and stars in heaven cry:

'Jesus is Lord!'

Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!

Praise Him with hallelujah,

for Jesus is Lord!

2. Jesus is Lord!

Yet from His throne eternal

in flesh He came to die in pain

on Calvary's tree.

Jesus is Lord!

From Him all life proceeding,

yet gave His life a ransom

thus setting us free.

Jesus is Lord…

3. Jesus is Lord!

O'er sin the mighty conqueror,

from death He rose and all His foes

shall own His name.

Jesus is Lord!

God sends His Holy Spirit

to show by works of power

that Jesus is Lord.

Jesus is Lord…

CopyCare Lrd

BLESSING

God the Father,

who has given to His Son the name above every name,

strengthen you to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord.

Amen.

God the Son,

who is our great high priest passed into the heavens,

plead for you at the right hand of the Father.

Amen.

God the Holy Spirit,

who pours out His abundant gifts upon the Church,

make you faithful servants of Christ our King.

Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All Amen.

Click here to access the children's activity