Welcome to our online service - 31 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.
Opening
God in Christ has revealed his glory.
Come let us worship.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the Lord’s name is greatly to be praised.
Give him praise, you servants of the Lord.
O praise the name of the Lord!
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDeiy9-t2GE
Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine:
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of Salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story……
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story…
Fanny Crosby
Music: William P Rowlands (1860-1937)
CONFESSION
Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, looking to Jesus in penitence and faith.
As we acknowledge our human frailty, we call to mind our sins of word, deed and omission, and confess them before God our Father.
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
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver is from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
COLLECT
God of glory,
touch our lips with the fire of your Spirit,
that we with all creation
may rejoice to sing your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox1r0OzIwoo
Through all the changing scenes of life
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.
2. Of his deliverance I will boast,
till all that are distressed
from my example comfort take,
and charm their griefs to rest.
3. O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt His name;
when in distress to Him I called,
He to my rescue came.
4. The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance He affords to all
who on His succour trust.
5. O make but trial of His love;
experience will decide
how blest they are, and only they,
who in His truth confide.
6. Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you His service your delight,
He’ll make your wants His care.
Nahum Tate (1652-1715)
and Nicholas brade (1639-1726)
READINGS
1 Corinthians 12:4-14 New International Version - UK
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
John 17:20-23 New International Version - UK
‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
TALK by Alistair Stevenson
This morning is commitment Sunday. Having spent three weeks looking at our vision and values as a church today I want invite you to renew your commitment to this church and challenge you to make some decisions as to your role in the body of Christ here at St Gabriel’s.
Paul makes it clear from our passage in his first letter to the church in Corinth: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Paul is saying that in each member of the church the Spirit comes alive, bringing forth a gift for the common good. The inclusivity of the language in this passage should be apparent. No one gets excluded, everyone has a role to play.
As you probably know by now, I’m a big sports fan. I love to play sport and I love to watch it. I’m happy playing and watching most sports. For many years I half-jokingly dismissed cricket as ‘not a proper sport’ and would particularly mock my friend Dan who was a huge cricket fan. But even in the last few years I have found myself listening to cricket of the radio – and even 5-day tests matches! I can’t believe it!
Every team sport requires each team member to wear the same uniform – the same clothing so that they can represent and play for the team. A group of individuals becomes a united group – their individuality takes second place for the good of the team. But of course, it’s not just a uniform that brings that team together, they must also play as a team, each bringing their own individual gifts and skills to contribute so that the whole team can effectively play together. A team might have huge amounts of talent – but unless they play as a team, they will rarely be effective.
Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Galatians (3: 26-28): “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
What an amazing passage. Can you hear the barriers that are broken down through a relationship with Christ? These words would have been so radical in their time.
And Paul is saying this: when we ask Jesus into our lives, when we get baptised – we join with him, we are clothed with the life of Christ.
It’s like we put on his outfit, the Jesus jumper, the Jesus suit, the Jesus uniform - and they totally change who we are.
But when we put it on, it’s suddenly like we are putting on the same sports shirt. Suddenly we are united, and the things that may have divided us in the past no longer do. Rich, poor, male, female, every skin colour, every creed and culture – in Christ we are all one.
As Christians we believe that everyone is invited. In Jesus, no one gets excluded, everyone gets the opportunity to put on the Jesus uniform, the Jesus kit - we can all play.
For many though, sport doesn’t seem very inclusive. Some people grow up feeling excluded from sport. Sport was always an opportunity to be left out, rather than invited in.
Today you might feel like you have spent your life being excluded. You might feel like the one who gets left out. Whether that’s with your friends, your colleagues, maybe in your family, maybe even you been left out from church, left out from a relationship with Jesus.
This morning Jesus wants to invite you back in. This church wants to invited you to play your role in the body of Christ here at St Gabriel’s. Everyone is welcome! And more than that, we need you. Without your role, your contribution, we are less.
As we read from our passage in 1 Corinthians 12, Christians - those who have a relationship with Jesus - are a bit like a body, and all the different people represent different parts of the body.
Now to help us think about this morning we’re going to think about cycling. I love to cycle - it’s one of those sports that is really inclusive. It brings everyone together.
When you look at a bike you will see that it is made up of lots of different parts and components. Some of these bike parts look prettier and flashier than the others – some not so much. Some you might think are more important.
Well, actually every part of the bike is vital.
After the reading from 1 Corinthians 12 that we heard this morning, Paul goes onto to develop the analogy of the body describing the importance of each part of the body. Here is my reinterpretation of that passage and you will notice I have changed the language:
“ 12 Just as a bike has many parts, but all its many parts form one bike, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one as it were - one bike, those who grew up religious or those who didn’t, the poor or the rich, whatever class, - and we were all given the one Spirit. 14 Even so a bike is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the peddle should say, “Because I am not a handlebar, I do not belong to the bike,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the bike. 16 And if the wheel should say, “Because I am not a brake, I do not belong to the bike,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the bike. 17 If the whole body were a brake, how would the bike be able to move at all? If the whole body were an wheel, how would the bike be held together or be able to be sat on? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the bike – as in the church, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the bike be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one bike.
21 The brake cannot say to the frame, “I don’t need you!” And the frame cannot say to the peddle, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the bike together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it,25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
The point is this – every part of the bike is vital to make the bike move, to make the bike stop, to make the bike easier to peddle up hills. And when one part of the bike isn’t working, then the rest of the bike is affected.
If I got my bike brand new wheels, a new bike seat, new gears, but the brakes were so old they didn’t work – then the bike wouldn’t be able to work.
In the church, every part, every one of us is important. If you don’t engage with church – we miss out. If you are hurting, we hurt together, if you suffer, we all suffer. This is what it means to be church – this is what is means to be family.
And so, we all bring something, we all contribute, we all have something to offer. You might see the ones at the front of church or on a Sunday - they might look like they do all the work. But actually, God has given more honour to the parts that lacked the honour. The people and their actions that we don’t see, those behind the scenes, in the background, serving tirelessly.
So, my question is this: young and old, female, male, poor, rich, of any colour – what part of the bike are you? What do you bring – what can you contribute?
Whether you come to church regularly or not - what do you bring? I would encourage you now to take a moment to consider these questions.
Remember, over the last three weeks we have been suggesting that here at St Gabriel’s, we are therefore called to be a multi-generational family who follow Jesus. Called by Him to worship God (UP), grow together as a family of faith (IN) and share His love with others (OUT).
Will you say: ‘I’m in’? I will play my role in fulfilling this calling at St Gabriel’s?
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 Gemma Withers
Dear Lord,
We thank you for the beauty of your creation! We thank you for the places in this world we are able to enjoy and we thank you that spending time in your creation is a way that we can keep connected with you. God we pray for our planet as it faces the threat of global warming, we pray for those areas that are affected by climate change through forest fires or avalanches, ice melting, hurricanes or drought. God we pray that you will bring peace to all the areas in this world facing destruction because of climate change and we pray that you will help the world leaders, as well as each individual on this planet, make a change to better steward the world that you have created for us.
We pray for the government and the leaders of this world. God remind us that you are above all earthly things, and that you ultimately govern over this earth. We pray that in our frustrations and anger for justice we would come to you first, we would lay our thoughts and feelings at your feet and that you would listen. We pray you would bring us peace knowing that you have this world and our lives in your hands. We pray that you can act on the injustices of the world, and that you will give the leaders of our governments the wisdom to make the right decisions, that will support the many with fair and just laws and actions. We particularly pray for the changes in the budget this week, and the ongoing COVID 19 response.
Remind us of the verses of your word that are challenging us on this topic and help us ponder your whole word daily.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? “
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow anger”
“But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
As we move forward in this church focusing on our values and with a greater understanding of what we want to create as a church, we pray that you will remind us of the importance of up in and out . We pray you remind us of the importance to connect with you dearly and to deepen our relationship with you, to create a community or family within church that Will support and encourage one another, and we pray that we will be a church of mission that go out into Greystones and the wider world spreading the love of Jesus. We pray that we are able to do this through hospitality involving each person in this church and doing it wholeheartedly involving you and the church in our whole lives. God as we strive to do these please put on our hearts those areas we feel particularly called to or particularly able to use our skills in.
This week we pray particularly for Commitment to the activities of the church. We think more of how we can develop Bless Greystones further, thinking of new ideas and new parts of the community we can bless. Place on our hearts areas we feel particularly passionate about supporting and blessing, and remind us of the skills we each have, whether organisation, creativity, hospitality, children’s work, whatever our gifts are we pray God that you will show us them, and provide us a way to use them. We pray for Alistair and Catherine as they continue to guide this church, we pray for Sam during his internship year with us that he is able to bring new fresh ideas to the church, and we pray for the whole team that are involved in helping the church services run smoothly, and for all those who support all the groups during the week. We pray for the kids work at this church and God we pray that you would bring passion to our kids for you, and you would guide the team in the right way to lead them.
So pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 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
With All Saints day tomorrow, we take a special opportunity to
commemorate the faithful departed
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things,
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God,
and they will reign with you on earth.
Take a moment to say the names of those you particularly want to remember.
Silence is kept after each name.
This is the will of him that sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Lord God, creator of all, you have made us creatures of this earth, but have also promised us a share in life eternal.
According to your promises, may all who have died in the peace of Christ
come with your saints to the joys of your kingdom, where there will be neither sorrow nor pain, but life everlasting.
Alleluia. Amen.
Grant to us, Lord God, to trust you not for ourselves alone,
but for those also whom we love and who are hidden from us by the shadow of death; that, as we believe your power to have raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, so may we trust your love to give eternal life to all who believe in him;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiBnbUg0Iz4
With a prayer you fed the hungry,
with a cry you stilled the storm;
with a look you had compassion
on the desperate and forlorn.
With a touch you healed the leper,
with a shout you raised the dead;
with a word expelled the demons,
with a blessing broke the bread.
Love incarnate, love divine,
captivate this heart of mine
'til all I do speaks of you.
As a sheep before the shearer
you were silent in your pain;
you endured humiliation
at the hands of those you'd made.
And as hell unleashed its fury
you were lifted on a tree,
crying 'Father God, forgive them,
place their punishment on me.'
Love incarnate…
I will feed the poor and hungry,
I will stand up for the truth;
I will take my cross and follow
to the corners of the earth.
And I ask that you so fill me
with your peace, your power, your breath,
that I never love my life so much
to shrink from facing death.
Love incarnate…
Stuart Townend © 2002 Thankyou Music
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=o469PRLdbHU
WILL YOU COME AND FOLLOW ME
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let My love be shown,
Will you let My name be known,
Will you let My life be grown in you,
And you in Me?
Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare,
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let Me answer prayer
In you and you in Me?
Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in Me?
Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through My sight and touch and sound
In you and you in Me?
Lord, Your summons echoes true
When You but call my name.
Let me turn and follow You
And never be the same.
In Your company I’ll go
Where Your love and footsteps show;
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In You and You in me.
Graham Maule & John L. Bell.
Copyright © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community.
FINAL BLESSING:
God the Father, by whose love Christ was raised from the dead, open to you who believe the gates of everlasting life. Amen.
God the Son, who in bursting the grave has won a glorious victory, give you joy as you share the Easter faith. Amen.
God the Holy Spirit, whom the risen Lord breathed into his disciples, empower you and fill you with Christ’s peace. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen