Welcome to our online service - 9 October
Harvest Sunday
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.
As we gather today,
we gather around Jesus, the Word become flesh,
who made his dwelling in our physical world.
As we gather, we bring our physical selves too, not just thoughts, hopes and dreams, but also our hands, our feet, our bodies - bringing our whole beings;
symbols of our whole lives.
As we pause to be thankful for all that God has provided,
may we respond in worship, offering the whole of ourselves as a sacrifice of praise, and may our gratitude grow our generosity today. Amen.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha628Pj_Rns
We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand:
He sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes, and the sunshine,
and soft, refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
then thank the Lord,
O thank the Lord,
for all His love.
2. He only is the maker
of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
the winds and waves obey him,
by Him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
He gives our daily bread.
All good gifts...
3. We thank You then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer
for all Your love imparts,
we come now, Lord, to give You
our humble thankful hearts.
All good gifts...
M. Claudius. Tr Jane M. Campbel
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONFESSION
As those who know the generosity of God, let us confess our sins, especially the ways in which we take his good gifts for granted.
Creative God, you have gifted us with your creation, yet we take your good gifts for granted;
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Gracious God, you bless us each day,
yet we forget to be thankful;
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Generous God, you offer new life through your Son,
yet we turn away from you;
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
ABSOLUTION
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT
Creator God,
you made the goodness of the land,
the riches of the sea
and the rhythm of the seasons;
as we think you for the harvest,
may we cherish and respect
this planet and its peoples,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFVg-Taoq0
All heaven declares
the glory of the risen Lord.
Who can compare
with the beauty of the Lord?
Forever He will be
the Lamb upon the throne.
I gladly bow the knee
and worship Him alone.
2. I will proclaim
the glory of the risen Lord,
who once was slain
to reconcile man to God.
Forever You will be
the Lamb upon the throne.
I gladly bow the knee
and worship You alone.
Tricia Richards, (c) 1987 Thankyou Music
READINGS
James 5: 7 - 15
Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the autumn and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!
For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honour to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.
But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Rev. 14. 14 - 18
Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.
Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.
After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgement.”
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
TALK
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=OaMPE53uP38
Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord in Your suff'ring world
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset
Your Kingdom increase.
2. Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for the craftsmen,
trade for their skills.
Land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak,
voices to plead the cause
of those who can't speak.
God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray.
Melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love
from a spark to a flame.
3. Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear,
cities for sanctu'ry,
freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing fields,
scorched earth to green,
Christ for the bitterness,
His cross for the pain.
4. Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams,
plundered and poisoned,
our future, our dreams.
Lord end our madness,
carelessness, greed.
Make us content with
the things that we need.
God of the poor….
5. Lighten our darkness,
breathe on this flame,
until Your justice burns
brightly again;
until the nations
learn of Your ways,
seek Your salvation
and bring You their praise.
God of the poor………
Words and Music: Graham Kendrick
(Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music)
OFFERTORY –
As we come to our offering, take a moment to consider your response to the generosity of God and what he might be asking you to give.
God of all creation,
the source of life and giver of all good things;
through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts.
With them we offer our lives;
that we may be used to serve others,
and give you glory.
We make our prayer
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg
O Lord my God!
When I in awesome wonder
consider all the works
Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
2 When through the woods
and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds
sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down
from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook,
and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul....
3. And when I think that God
His Son not sparing,
sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in.
That on the cross
my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
Then sings my soul....
4. When Christ shall come
with shout of acclamation
and take me home –
what joy shall fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration
and there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul....
Charles Wesley (1707-88)
BLESSING
The God of grace enrich us in every way,
with hearts overflowing with thanksgiving to God;
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.