Sixth Sunday of Easter - 17 May 2020
Click here if you want to download the service sheet, or just follow from this page.
Appearance while the Apostles are at Table (Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1255-1319)
This is the last Sunday before Ascension Day, which is on Thursday. In the Gospel reading, Jesus promises his disciples at the Last Supper that when he goes he will send and Advocate - the Spirit of truth - to be with them. But he also reminds them that if they love him, they will keep his commandments, and the principal commandment is to love one another.
Opening Voluntary
We are delighted to have an opening voluntary from Jonathan, played on the organ! It is Rhosmedre, by Vaughan Williams. Click on the link to play it before the service.
Light a candle to prepare yourself, and pray that your love for Jesus will enable you to keep his commandments, and open your heart to receive the Spirit of truth. Our service begins as it normally would at 9.30am. Please click on the link, and make the responses yourself. If you would like to sing along to the hymn the words are below.
Opening Hymn and Welcome
The beginning of the service can be accessed from the youtube clip. Please join in with the responses, and hymns.
Jesus lives! thy terrors now
can no longer, death, appal us;
Jesus lives! by this we know
thou, O grave, canst not enthral us. Alleluya!
Jesus lives! for us he died:
then, alone to Jesus living
pure in heart may we abide
glory to our Saviour giving. Alleluya!
Jesus lives! our hearts know well
nought from us his love shall sever;
life, nor death, nor powers of hell
tear us from his keeping ever. Alleluya!
Jesus lives! to him the throne
over all the world is given:
may we go where he is gone,
rest and reign with him in heaven. Alleluya!
Priest
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All
Amen
Priest
The Lord be with you.
All
And also with you
Priest
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Confessing our sins
We have not always lived our lives as we might have done. We have done wrong and hurt others. Let’s seek God’s forgiveness. We pray together:
All:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry 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 grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.
The priest gives the absolution, and we respond. Amen.
Praising God’s glory
We sing to praise God’s glory. Please join in with Jonathan
Glory be to God in heaven,
peace to those who love him well;
on the earth let all his people
speak his glace, his wonders tell:
Lord, we praise you for your glory,
mighty Father, heaven’s king;
hear our joyful adoration
and accept the thanks we bring.
Only Son of God the Father,
Lamb who takes our sin away,
now with him in triumph seated -
for your mercy, Lord, we pray:
Jesus Christ, most high and holy,
Saviour, you are God alone
in the glory of the Father
with the Spirit: Three-in-One!
The priest prays the Collect – the prayer for the day
Readings
William reads the first reading, which is Acts 17.22-31. Mthr Cynthia reads the Gospel of the Day, John 14.15-21.
Homily
This week our special guest preacher is our Area Bishop, The Rt Revd Richard Cheetham, Bishop of Kingston. Please click on the link to hear his sermon.
Creed
Let’s remind ourselves of the beliefs of the Christian faith
All
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Prayers
Christian leads our intercessions today.
The Peace
Let’s share the peace! Click on the youtube clip for the next part of the service
As the altar is prepared, we sing our offertory hymn with Josh.
A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another as I have loved you;
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this shall all know men that you are my disciples
if you have love one for another.
By this shall all know men that you are my disciples
If you have love one for another.
The Eucharistic Prayer
We now come to the heart of the mass, the prayer of consecration. Please join in with singing or saying the responses. Click on this link. As the altar is prepared, we will hear Catherine singing This Joyful Eastertide.
Priest
The Lord be with you
All
And also with you
Priest
Lift up your hearts.
All
We lift them to the Lord.
Priest
All
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
The Acclamation:
Priest
Jesus Christ is Lord
All
Lord, by your death and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.
The Sanctus and Benedictus (Sanctus means ‘holy’, Benedictus means ‘blessed’):
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.
The Agnus Dei (which means ‘Lamb of God’)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, Grant us peace.
This is a prayer for you to say at the point at which you would be receiving the bread and wine. You are making a spiritual communion in place of a sacramental communion, as that is not possible at this time.
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I present to you my soul and body with the earnest wish that I may always be united to you. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, and embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Let nothing ever separate you from me. May I live and die in your love. Amen.
Anthem
As we reflect on our spiritual communion, let’s hear again Jonathan's rendition of 'If ye Love Me', by Thomas Tallis.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father,
and he shall give you another comforter,
that he may 'bide with you forever;
E'en the sp'rit of truth. (John 14.15-17)
The Blessing and Regina Coeli
Please click on this link for the end of the service. If you would like to sing along with the Regina Coeli, please do! Regina coeli means ‘Queen of Heaven’ and is sung in Eastertide. In it we rejoice with Mary in the resurrection of her son Jesus.
All
Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Allelulia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!
As he promised hath arisen. Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!
Priest
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
All
For the Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The priest prays the collect.
Jonathan’s closing voluntary, is Herbert Chappell’s Theme from Songs of Praise