The service will begin with notices and a welcome after which a hymn will be announced.  The numbers of this all the hymns and the prayers and readings for this Sunday will be printed on the coloured sheet given out with this booklet.  A special symbol ã will be inserted in this text when you need to refer to the other coloured sheet either for a hymn number or the special prayers and readings for this Sunday.

ã Hymn        

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.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:

The first commandment is this:

‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord,

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind

and with all your strength.’

The second is this:

‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these.   Amen.  

We then sing one of the church's most ancient hymns; we know that it was in use in the fourth century.

Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest,

Glory to God in the highest

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest,

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer.

Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest,

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. 

Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God in the highest.

ãThe Collect for the day (said by everyone)

ã A reading from the Old Testament

ã Psalm or Canticle

ã A reading from the New Testament

ã Hymn

ã Gospel Reading

The congregation remains standing for the reading of the Gospel

After the Gospel is announced the congregation sings

Glory to Christ our Saviour

At the end of the reading, after the words "Give thanks to the Lord for this glorious Gospel", the congregation sings

Praise to Christ our Lord

The Sermon followed by a short time of silence

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,

the Father, the almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one substance with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures:

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and Son, he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

Prayer is now offered for the world and its people, for those who suffer and those in need, for the worldwide Church and its members.   The congregation kneels or sits

Confession and Absolution

          God is love and we are God's children.

          There is no room for fear in love.

          We love because God loved us first.

          Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.

God our Father, we confess to you

and to our fellow members in the body of Christ

            that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,

            and in what we have failed to do.

short pause

We are truly sorry.

            Forgive us our sins,

            and deliver us from the power of evil.

            For the sake of your Son who died for us,

            Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God, who is both power and love,

          forgive us and free us from our sins,

          heal and strengthen us by the Spirit

          and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen

The Sharing of the Peace

The congregation stands

We meet in Christ's name.

Let us share his peace.

The congregation may greet each other in the name of Christ with the words Peace be with you

ã Hymn

During this hymn a collection is taken and bread and wine are brought to the altar

Let us present our offerings to the Lord.

          Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,

          which earth has given and human hands have made;

it will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation;

          through your goodness we have this wine to offer,

          fruit of the vine and work of human hands;

          it will become the cup of our salvation.

Blessed be God for ever.

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 God thanks and praise

Worship and praise belong to you, Father, in every place and at all times.

All power is yours. You created the heavens and established the earth;

you sustain in being all that is. In Christ your Son our life and yours

are brought together in a wonderful exchange.  He made his home among us

that we might for ever dwell in you.

Through your Holy Spirit you call us to new birth in a creation restored by love. As children of your redeeming purpose we offer you our praise, with angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending glory:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.

The custom in this church is to kneel or sit here. In many other churches people remain standing. Please feel free to kneel, sit or stand.

Glory and thanksgiving be to you, most loving Father, for the gift of your Son born in human flesh. He is the Word existing beyond time, both source and final purpose, bringing to wholeness all that is made.

Obedient to your will he died upon the Cross. By your power you raised him from the dead. He broke the bonds of evil and set your people free to be his Body in the world.

On the night when he was given up to death, knowing that his hour had come,

having loved his own, he loved them to the end. At supper with his disciples

he took bread and offered you thanks. He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying: "Take, eat. This is my Body; it is broken for you."

After supper, he took the cup, he offered you thanks, and gave it to them saying: "Drink this, all of you. This is my Blood of the new covenant;

it is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven. Do this in remembrance of me."

We now obey your Son's command. We recall his blessed passion and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension; and we look for the coming of his Kingdom. Made one with him, we offer you these gifts

and with them ourselves,  a single, holy, living sacrifice.

Hear us, most merciful Father, and send your Holy Spirit upon us

and upon this bread and this wine, that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,  they may be the Body and Blood of your Son, and we may be kindled with the fire of your love and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.

Help us, who are baptised into the fellowship of Christ's Body

to live and work to your praise and glory; may we grow together in unity and love until at last, in your new creation, we enter into our heritage

in the company of the Virgin Mary, the apostles and prophets, Saint Cuthbert and of all our brothers and sisters living and departed.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be to you, Lord of all ages, world without end.                   Amen.

Silence may be kept for a short time

The living bread is broken for the life of the world.

Lord, unite us in this sign

As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us,

so we pray

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;  thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.    Amen.

Whilst the Clergy and Ministrants receive communion, the following prayer is sung

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 the table, not of the church, but of Jesus Christ.

It is made ready for those who love him

and who want to love him more.

So come, you who have much faith

and you who have little,

you who have been here often

and you who have not been for a long time, or ever before,

you who have tried to follow and you who have failed.

Come, not because it is I who invite you:

it is Christ, and he invites you to meet him here.

The Sharing of Communion

Members of other churches are welcome to receive communion. 

If you do not wish to receive but would like a blessing, please come forward and keep your head bowed.

During the communion: Anthem, sung by the choir        

ã Hymn

After everyone has communicated, the celebrant says

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is gracious

And God's mercy endures for ever.

ã Prayer after Communion said by all

Thanksgiving Prayer

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.

ãHymn

Christ the Son of God gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom; and the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

be with you, and with all whom you love, this day and evermore. Amen

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ.                                                         Amen.