Sunday Service - 28 June

Welcome to our Service - 28 June

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.

NOTICE:

NOTICE: Opening the church for private prayer and public worship.

Many will be aware that the government announced 6th June that church buildings may re-open for individual prayer from Monday 15th June and more recently that public worship can take place from 4th July.

The diocese has made it clear that there is no pressure to re-open the church building and they will support us in whatever decision makes the best sense for us locally.

Further to our notice last week, the wardens and the vicar are continuing to access opening the church for private and individual prayer. This decision is based on a number for reasons including; the impact of redecoration that has taken place within the church, the expected uptake which is predicted to be low and the pressure it puts on volunteers to prepare and clean the building to follow risk assessment guidelines. However, we hope that we will be able to change this decision in a week or so.

Moreover, the wardens and the vicar have also decided to continue with our current pattern of online and remote worship. We anticipate that this will continue in July and August with a likely new pattern of public worship at St Gabriel’s starting in September. We will let you know if this changes.

We understand that this decision will be met with sadness by some who have been particularly missing gathering in the church building for prayer and worship. However, we will continue to re-access and hope to make it possible in the coming month.

Thank you for your patience and your continued prayers. We are very thankful for the way that many have continued to worship and gathered through our online services and Zoom services and for those who have contributed to these services.

OPENING

SAY:

Faithful One, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives. For the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SING:

Morning has broken: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5D3LEjGF8A

like the first morning;

blackbird has spoken

like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing

fresh from the Word!

2. Sweet the rain's new fall

sunlit from heaven,

like the first dew fall

on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness

of the wet garden,

sprung in completeness

where His feet pass.

3 Mine is the sunlight!

Mine is the morning

born of the one light

Eden saw play!

Praise with elation,

praise every morning,

God's re-creation

of the new day!

Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965)

from The Children's Bells

published by Oxford University Press

CONFESSION

Coming together as God’s family, with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness for our failure to respond fully to his grace, for he is full of gentleness and compassion

A time of silence - for reflection

Lord, when your generous love overwhelms us;

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, when you pour out your Spirit upon us in full measure;

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, may we reflect your generosity in our own lifestyle;

Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,

and keep us in eternal life. Amen.

COLLECT

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the abundance of your love, for all that you give us through Jesus. May we show forth in our lives the generosity which flows to us from you; make us warm hearted and generous people. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

Amen

SING

JESUS PUT THIS SONG INTO OUR HEARTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC8rplIAc4w

Jesus put this song into our hearts,

It’s a song of joy no one can take away,

Jesus put this song into our hearts.

Jesus taught us how to live in harmony,

Different faces, different races, He made us one,

Jesus taught us how to live in harmony.

Jesus taught us how to be a family,

Loving one another with the love that He gives,

Jesus taught us how to be a family.

Jesus turned our sorrow into dancing,

Changed our tears of sadness into rivers of joy,

Jesus turned our sorrow into a dance.

Graham Kendrick.

As we come to God’s word lets pray:

Loving Father, you have made us your people, richly provided us with good gifts and called us to live for you. May gratitude be in our hearts, may generosity be in our hands, may justice and righteousness guide our feet, and may the life of your kingdom and the joy of heaven be found among us. Amen.

READINGS

Deuteronomy 15: 7 - 15 New International Version - UK

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards them. Rather, be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: ‘The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts, is near,’ so that you do not show ill will towards the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed towards your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

If any of your people – Hebrew men or women – sell themselves to you and serve you for six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing-floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

Luke 21:1–4 NRSV

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Revd Casey Strine - access above.

Prayer of Declaration

We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.

We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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

We are in the middle of many changes as we leave lockdown and recover from the pandemic. As change is always a source of anxiety, I’ve chosen this verse for today’s prayers.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Heavenly Father

Thank you that we can tell you about the things that worry us and cause us anxiety. Thank you that you care about these things.

[Take some time to tell God about the things that are worrying you – things only you know about. Imagine taking off a heavy coat or putting down a heavy bag as you hand your anxiety to God]

Cast all your anxiety on him

All: because he cares for you

We pray for the changes facing our church in the weeks to come. For wisdom and sensitivity for Alistair and the PCC as they decide if, when and how to open St Gabriel’s. For the decisions to be made about finance as our hall income has dropped. For churches across the UK trying to wrestle with the same decisions. And for those who have to prepare the guidelines for all churches to follow so we can make our buildings safe. Please help them all to be confident that they are making the right decisions and haven’t forgotten anything.

Cast all your anxiety on him

All: because he cares for you

We pray for the changes in our lives as shops and social spaces open. We pray especially for those who are anxious about going to places where there are lots of people, for people who are vulnerable to the virus, or caring for people who are vulnerable. For people who are out and about because they are craving the social interaction. And for those who are anxious about a second wave. Please give people peace of mind, help us to care for and look out for one another, and please help everyone to remember to take their litter home.

Cast all your anxiety on him

All: because he cares for you

We pray for those who have struggled the most because of the lockdown. For those where home has not felt safe or secure because there isn’t enough food, or there is family conflict or even violence. For those who are anxious about the future of their business or their job, or have already lost their job or livelihood. We pray for a recovery which is fair and just, which protects the environment and gives hope to everyone, and for those making the decisions to make that happen.

Cast all your anxiety on him

All: because he cares for you

We pray for countries round the world where the pandemic is a heavy burden on top of an already complex situation. For people living in refugee camps and for people living in places of conflict. For people living in cities where over-crowded conditions make social distancing impossible. And for countries where the health care facilities are not sufficient to care for large numbers of very sick people. We pray for wise decisions about how to manage infection, for those who are caring for the vulnerable, and for families as they support one another as best they can.

Cast all your anxiety on him

All: because he cares for you.

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:

Brother, sister let me serve you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ufwqwquqY

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.

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.

Heavenly Father, give grace to us, the living stones who form your Church, to reflect prayerfully at this special time on our love for you and our neighbour. Make us mindful of the many gifts you bestow upon us. We ask that your Holy Spirit will inspire and direct us in our choice of giving, remembering that we are only giving back that which is truly yours. Strengthen us, Lord, to meet this challenge according to your will. Through Jesus Christ our Lord who has given all that we might live. Amen.

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:

Amazing grace - how sweet the sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ufwqwquqY

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

we've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we've first begun.

John Newton (1725-1807)

BLESSING

May God our Father, whose grace is everlastingly poured into our hearts, fill you with an overflowing love. Amen.

May God the Son, through whose death and resurrection we receive life in abundance, shine in your lives. Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit, who works in us and through us to redeem God’s world, give you the power and persistence to follow him. Amen.

And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.

Revd Casey Strine preaches on Deuteronomy 15: 7 - 15 and Luke 21:1–4

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