Sunday Holy Communion
Before the service begins there is an informal welcome.
The Gathering
The choir may sing an introit, a piece of choral music reflecting the theme of the season.
Processional hymn
All stand to sing the hymn as the music begins.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The theme of the service introduced
Prayers of Penitence
The deacon or lay assistant invites us to confess our sins as we sit or kneel
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
A short silence is kept
Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The following chant is sung. (Words written by Desmond Tutu and Music by John Bell.)
Goodness is stronger than evil; love is stronger than hate; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death. Victory is ours, victory is ours through him who loved us.
The president declares God’s forgiveness
May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen
Gloria in Excelsis
We stand to sing the ancient hymn of praise together (Tune: Maccabaeus/Thine be the glory).
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Songs of adoration, Lord to you we bring, praising your great goodness, Father, heav’nly King.
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
Son of the Father, bearing this world’s sin, Lamb of God, have mercy, grant us peace within. You, O Christ are holy, you alone are Lord, with the Holy Spirit ever more adored.
Glory to God! Our hearts to you we raise!
Joy and peace on earth, in highest heaven praise!
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘let us pray’. All remain standing for the period of silence and the collect - the special prayer for the day.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading
We sit to listen to one or two readings appointed for the day.
Here ends the reading
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
The psalms are the song book of the ancient Israelites and are recited as part of both Jewish and Christian worship. there are psalms of joy, of praise and of lament and psalms that recount the story of God's saving work. We either say the psalm or listen to the choir sing the verses and we join in with the refrain printed on the weekly notice sheet.
Gospel Reading
We stand and sing together as the Gospel book is carried to the middle of the church and the congregation turn to face the reader.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Now he is living the Christ. Out of the tomb he is risen;
he has conquered death, opened heaven to all believers
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to n.
Glory to you, O Lord.
The deacon or assisting minister reads the Gospel for the day.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
We sing the Alleluia again as the gospel is carried back. We sit after the preacher offers an introductory prayer.
Sermon
After the sermon there is a brief pause for reflection, an anthem, song or piece of music may be played and then all stand to affirm the faith of the church.
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe. Amen
Prayers of Intercession
All sit or kneel for the prayers, which are led by a member of the congregation. One of the following responses may be used or another response may be given.
Lord in your mercy
hear our prayer.
Or
Lord hear us
Lord graciously hear us
The prayers may conclude with these words:
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
Alleluia
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you. Alleluia.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
We offer a sign of peace to one another from our seats, turning saying peace be with you.
Offertory Hymn
Bread and wine are brought forward and the altar-table is prepared. Gifts of the people are symbolically presented in the offertory plate and the gifts of time, talent and finance that are offered to the church are blessed.
See end of this booklet for details of how you can make a gift.
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Be present, be present, Lord Jesus Christ, our risen high priest; make yourself known in the breaking of bread.
Amen
The president takes the bread and wine and washes their hands symbolising our desire to come together at the Lord’s table with pure hearts and minds.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is right to praise you, Father; Lord of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us, but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his body is the bread of life.
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins; do this in remembrance of me.
Father, we do this in remembrance of him: his blood is shed for all.
As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son.
As we eat and drink these holy gifts make us one in Christ, our risen Lord.
With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven:
We sing one of the two following settings of the Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)
Contemporary Music Group Setting:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Choir Setting:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
We kneel or sit and observe a moment of silence
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with the words our Saviour taught us, each in the language closest to our hearts
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.
Breaking of the Bread
Jesus says I am the bread of life whoever eats this bread will live for ever
Lord our hearts hunger for you; give us this bread always
Giving of Communion
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
While the remaining consecrated bread is broken and the communion assistants come to the front we join in with singing the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
Contemporary Music Group Setting:
Lamb of God You take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on us. Grant us peace.
Choir Setting:
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.
Please come forward when directed by the stewards and fold your arms across your chest if you wish to receive a prayer instead of the bread & wine. As we share communion an anthem or song may by sung by the choir or music group and then we all join in singing the communion hymns that follow, details on the notice sheet.
Prayer after Communion
A brief silence is kept before the president says the post communion prayer for the day followed by:
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, And the whole earth live to praise your name; Through Christ our Lord. Amen
The Dismissal
Notices & publishing of the banns of marriage.
The Blessing
God the Father,
by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Recessional Hymn
As we sing our final hymn the servers and ministers process. Children are welcome to join the procession. Please turn to face the ministers for the dismissal.
The Dismissal
We are raised to new life with Christ.
Go in his peace. Alleluia, alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Most weeks, refreshments are served after the service.
Gifts of time, talent and finance
The church is made up of the gifts that people bring. If you would like to gift your time by getting involved with one of the many teams of people needed to run our services, to care for people and maintain our church building please speak to our Church Wardens today or email them on churchwardens@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk
If you wish to make a financial gift that enables our church to thrive you can do so today via the plate and card machines at the back of church or by using the QR code on the back of a paper booklet. Alternatively, if you are in a position to do so, please consider giving regularly using the Parish Giving Scheme. Pick up a pack for details or email giving@allsaintsloughborough.org.uk