Welcome to our online service - 30 October
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 and in the church. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join us. 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 at 11:30am.
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpkEeXWtWg0
Lead us, heavenly father, lead us
through this world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us –
You our only help and plea;
here possessing every blessing
if our God our father be.
2. Saviour, by your grace restore us
all our weaknesses are plain;
You have lived on earth before us,
You have felt our grief and pain:
tempted, taunted, yet undaunted,
from the depths you rose again.
3. Spirit of our God descending,
fill our hearts with holy peace;
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cease:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
ever shall our joys increase.
Words : James Edmeston © Jubilate Hymns
Music: Geraldine Latty © Kingsways Thankyou Music
CONFESSION
God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
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 lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen.
ABSOLUTION
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse us from our sins,
and restore us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
COLLECT
God, our light and our salvation:
illuminate our lives,
that we may see your goodness in the land of the living,
and looking on your beauty
may we be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LgE_E7yaz4
See, what a morning,
gloriously bright,
with the dawning of hope
in Jerusalem;
folded the grave-clothes,
tomb filled with light,
as the angels announce
‘Christ is risen!’
See God's salvation plan,
wrought in love,
borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
fulfilled in Christ, the Man,
for He lives:
Christ is risen from the dead!
See Mary weeping,
'Where is He laid?'
as in sorrow she turns
from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking,
calling her name;
it's the Master, the Lord,
raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
speaking life, stirring hope,
bringing peace to us,
will sound till He appears,
for He lives,
Christ is risen from the dead!
One with the Father,
Ancient of Days,
through the Spirit
who clothes faith with certainty,
honour and blessing, glory and praise,
to the King crowned with power
and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
death is dead, love has won,
Christ has conquered;
and we shall reign with Him,
for He lives,
Christ is risen from the dead!
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty
Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music
READINGS
Acts 2:42-47 New International Version - UK
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
1 Peter 2:4-10 New Living Translation
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour.
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honour,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust him recognize the honour God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
TALK written by Alistair Stevenson
This week we are exploring the last of our three values. You will remember that two weeks ago we looked at our first value hospitality. I suggested that hospitality is focused around four things:
Hospitality through being hosted
Hospitality through being the host
Hospitality of home
Hospitality of the heart
I suggested that as a community of the Kingdom of Jesus we must be willing to be hosted by others. To receive from others. To go to the setting and place of others, particularly those different from us.
We must be willing to offer deep, radical and authentic welcome. To do everything possible to welcome everyone and anyone. And we do this because that’s exactly what Jesus did. A church that values hospitality will demonstrate an openness to others. It will stay curious, wanting to hear the views of others with humility and a desire to grow.
I challenged us to consider our own hospitality. How good are we are opening up our homes and lives to others?
Finally, I suggested that a hospitality of heart is reflected by a heart that seeks the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit - a heart that says: ‘Holy Spirit you are welcome here - come and have your way - come and make yourself at home.’
Last week we considered our second value of whole life wholeness.
We explored the story of Jesus’ healing of the paralysed man in Luke 5 who was brought by his friends and lowered through the roof to Jesus. Jesus not only physically healed him, but more importantly healed his heart and offered him forgiveness. When we receive spiritual healing, we receive a forgiveness that brings restoration at the very core of who we are. Restoration of the shame and guilt we might carry. Restoration to the fear that we're not good enough or that we are too broken to be saved. It's restoration from the damage that others have caused us. It’s restoration that enables us to be able to truly forgive.
As a church that has whole life wholeness as a value, we:
· …believe that Jesus is the GOOD shepherd. He wants us to feel his good presence through the Holy Spirit. He wants us to find wholeness - a contentment that goes beyond our circumstances.
· …believe that Jesus is the good SHEPHERD who, as we are told in John 11, was willing to lay down his life for his sheep. He also knows us better than any person and can tell us who we are and what we were made for more than any self-help book.
· …realise that as a church we will seek to care for the holistic life of the individual but recognise that we don't have all the answers or expertise. We make sure people are pointed towards the professional care that they need.
· … recognise that there is a thief. There are powers at work that seek to steal and kill and destroy. As Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians: “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
And so today we come to our final value: EVERYONE INVOLVED.
And, instead of a sermon, I would like you to ‘get involved’ with exploring what the passages that were in our Bible readings might speak to us as individuals and as a church that believes that everyone can be involved in the life of the church and in building God’s Kingdom here in Greystones.
Jesus involved everyone and invited them to come and follow Him.
A church family where everyone is involved strives to see every person of our church family as valued and valuable – we are therefore less without them. Every person has a role to play – even if that role is to come and just be.
Everyone has a role (however big or small) in the worship, ministry and mission of the church (1 Cor. 14:26 and Eph. 4. 11 – 13). Everyone involved also values our role in every sphere of life where God calls us – with everyone person of the church family seeking God’s Kingdom would come and his will be done wherever them may be.
Let me offer you some questions as you consider our final value:
· How does knowing you are ‘a chosen people… royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession’ change the way you understand your identity and your calling?
· What do you think it means to be a ‘royal priest’ (think about the role of priests in the Old Testament)?
· Peter tells us that we are all ‘living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple’. How does the analogy of ‘living stones’ help you understand your role in the life of the Church?
· A building will not be complete if it is missing certain stones. How does this challenge you and your involvement in the life of the church?
· As you read the passage from Acts 2:42-47, what parts of the life of the early church excite you the most?
· What aspects of the life of the early church that we see in Acts 2:42-47 should we try and emulate and live out today? What might we need to do differently?
· How often do you pray that God would ‘add to our number daily those who were being saved’? If you’re willing, spend some time in prayer in response to this?
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 Grace Jackson
Father in Heaven,
Thank you that we are all living stones being built into a spiritual house, and that we are all essential parts of this spiritual building.
We come to you to pray for the world, and especially those countries suffering from warfare. We bring to you particularly the cruel war in Ukraine and pray for a swift end to the conflict. We pray for each family trapped in Ukraine, each person, each child, that you will watch over them and protect them. We pray for the many other countries also torn by war, including Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Yemen. We pray for an end to all wars, and that you will touch the hearts of the leaders of these countries and lead them into more peaceable solutions to their differences.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear out prayer.
We pray for our country, engulfed in crisis over the soaring cost of living and energy prices, with many people struggling to pay for food and heating. We pray for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, as they work on preparing the Autumn Statement, which will affect many people and their ability to pay their bills. Please give them wisdom to try to get the country back on a more stable financial basis, together with compassion for the needs of the least well-off in our society, and please help the whole Government to work together for the good of the country and of the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for COP27, the Climate Change Conference to be held in Egypt in November, for the delegates from each country and all who will be attending. Give them all a great sense of urgency as they consider how to reduce the damage we are doing to the planet, and help them to convey this to their Governments on return. We pray that real progress will be made on achieving the targets for reducing greenhouse gases and the amount of carbon released into then atmosphere by each country.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for our church here in Gteystones, and thank you for all the ways you have been blessing us. We thank you for the opportunity to welcome Thea to St Gabriel’s this morning, and pray for your blessing on her in the coming years. We pray for the Light Party tomorrow afternoon and for the children who come to be safe and have lots of fun; also for the children and parents/carers who come to Playmates each week. We pray for strength and energy for Catherine for this and the many other activities in which she is involved. We also pray for the Family Fun Day and Autumn Fair in November and all the preparations being made for this day.
We thank you for Alistair’s ministry, and pray that you will keep him well, and continue to give him the vision, the strength and stamina he needs for his task. We ask that your Spirit will be working amongst us, to bring new people into our church, and to help us to grow in our faith, especially in sharing it with others.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers,
For the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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=gE5fOXSymBc
May the mind of Christ my Saviour
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
all I do and say.
2. May the word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power.
3. May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
4. May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing
This is victory.
5. May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus,
As I onward go.
Words: Kate B. Wilkinson (1859-1928)
Music A. C. Barnham-Gould (1891-1953)
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:
ALMIGHTY SOVEREIGN LORD,
Creator God,
You made the heavens and the earth.
You’ve spoken to the world,
Yourself the living Word,
You give us eyes to see Your kingdom.
So stretch out Your hand, O God,
In signs and wonders,
We rest our faith on Your almighty power.
Stretch out Your hand, O God,
To heal and deliver. We declare,
We declare Your kingdom is here.
Stir up Your people
like a mighty wind,
Come shake us,
wake us from our sleep.
Give us compassion, Lord,
Love for Your holy word,
Give us the courage of Your kingdom.
Why do so many stand against You now,
Bringing dishonour to Your name?
Consider how they mock,
But we will never stop
Speaking with boldness of Your kingdom.
So stretch out Your hand, O God,
Phil Lawson Johnston.
Copyright © 1987 Thankyou Music.
BLESSING
Great God, you are one God,
and you bring together what is scattered and mend what is broken.
Unite us with the scattered peoples of the earth
that we may be one family of your children.
Bind up all our wounds and heal us in spirit,
that we may be renewed as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master and Saviour
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.