Sunday Service - 9 August

Welcome to our Service - 9 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.

NOTICE:

The church is open for personal and private prayer on Sunday afternoons, 4 - 5:30pm in July and August. 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=o4KnlQwzl3Y&t=28s

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

forgive our foolish ways;

re-clothe us in our rightful mind;

in purer lives Thy service find,

in deeper reverence, praise.

2. With that deep hush subduing all

our words and works that drown

the tender whisper of Thy call,

as noiseless let Thy blessing fall

as fell Thy manna down.

3.Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

till all our strivings cease;

take from our souls the strain and stress,

and let our ordered lives confess

the beauty of Thy peace.

4. Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

speak through the earthquake,

wind, and fire,

O still small voice of calm

John Greenleaf Whittier

CONFESSION

The gospel calls us to turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ.

As we offer ourselves to him in penitence and faith

Jesus Christ, risen master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

We have lived by our own strength,

and not by the power of your resurrection.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone,

and doubted our home in heaven.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

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.

COLLECT

Gracious Father,

revive your Church in our day,

and make her holy, strong and faithful,

for your glory’s sake

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d5HbddjrTU

I believe in Jesus;

I believe He is the Son of God.

I believe He died and rose again;

I believe He paid for us all.

(Men) And I believe You're here now.

(Women) I believe that You're here

(All) Standing in our midst.

(Men) Here with the power to heal now,

(Women) With the power to heal,

(All) And the grace to forgive.

2. I believe in You, Lord;

I believe You are the Son of God.

I believe You died and rose again;

I believe You paid for us all.

(Men) And I believe You're here now.

(Women) I believe that You're here

(All) Standing in our midst.

(Men) Here with the power to heal now,

(Women) With the power to heal,

(All) And the grace to forgive.

READINGS

Romans 10:5-15 New International Version - UK

Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: ‘The person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that is by faith says: ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the deep?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

Matthew 14:22- 34 New International Version UK

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’

‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’

‘Come,’ he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Alistair Stevenson - please watch 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

Intercessions for August 9th

Thank you Lord for all those around the world who have successfully recovered from coronavirus and for the skill and expertise of medical staff. Yet so many still struggle with the after effects which are only now becoming apparent. Be their companion, Lord, as their lives continue to feel diminished. May they rest in you knowing that you understand their pain and anxiety.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones to the virus, unable to share their final moments or arrange a normal funeral. We pray for extra strength and compassion for funeral directors having to cope in such extraordinary circumstances. Please continue to provide all the required equipment for medical staff everywhere and those carrying out test and trace which is becoming so crucial.

Thank you Lord for governments around the world trying their utmost to control the virus and protect their citizens. We pray for our own Prime Minister and Cabinet as they wrestle with complex issues around the easing of lockdown. Please help them to make fair decisions and communicate those clearly to the general public.

We pray for those confused by the easing of lockdown or irritated by new lockdown restrictions, especially in parts of the UK and Melbourne, Australia. We pray for those returning to work feeling anxious about their safety, those made redundant or burdened with financial worries, young people feeling frustrated by their loss of freedoms or hopes for the future. Help us all to behave responsibly and with respect for others, especially when out and about in our city.

Thank you Lord that you are at work across the world in so many different ways. We pray for Tearfund’s partnership with churches and Christian organisations in Rwanda as they seek to bring peace, unity, reconciliation, hope and development to that nation. We lift before you the people of South Sudan already suffering from floods, hunger and conflict and now at very severe risk from coronavirus. Bless those working with Tearfund in that nation too.

Lord we cry out to you for the country of Lebanon and especially the city of Beirut following the devastating explosion there last week. Please bring order out of the initial chaos and panic and help all those trying to deal with the aftermath of so much destruction. We pray for the thousands who have been injured in a nation where the healthcare system is already overwhelmed because of COVID. Comfort the bereaved and those searching for loved ones still unaccounted for.

Thank you Lord for the privilege we have at the present time to share your Gospel in new and creative ways. Thank you for last week’s holiday club and all the children and families who tuned in. Please bless them and help each one to grow in their knowledge and love for you.

As we pray for our church family coping with different situations may anyone recovering from surgery know your healing touch and those awaiting tests or treatment your presence with them. Please comfort and sustain members of our church family recently bereaved. Give them strength and patience as they deal with personal affairs and funeral arrangements in these difficult times.

(As we close our prayers you may like to pause and remember any other local, national or global situations for which you have a particular concern at the present time …)

LORD IN YOUR MERCY,

HEAR OUR PRAYERS. AMEN

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:

FAITHFUL GOD, faithful God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsJdmhTRSm4

All sufficient One, I worship You.

Shalom my peace,

My strong Deliverer,

I lift You up, faithful God.

Chris Bowater.

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=rflCCx3QRys

Jesus is Lord !

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 our Father, you have made known to us again the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him until the day dawns and Christ the Morning Star rises in our hearts. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

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