The Parishes of Clent and Hagley
Holy Communion - 28 July - Trinity 9
One Church, three locations
St John’s — St Leonard’s — St Saviour’s
Call to Worship and Opening Prayers
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
When he saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ . . . Andrew said to Jesus, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’
We bring ourselves to you, O God,
whatever our age and gifts –
ready to worship,
and to give thanks for all that you share with us.
We open our hearts and minds
so we may know more of your unconditional love and care,
and be ready to share it with others.
Amen.
God, our generous provider,
as the young boy offered all he had to Jesus –
five loaves and two small fish –
we come today offering you everything we have:
our faith, our time, our gifts, our talents,
and ready to give ourselves to others.
However small our gift or offering,
we pray that you will do amazing things with it,
far more than we can ever hope, believe or imagine;
in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Opening Hymn
Asking for God’s forgiveness
Gracious God,
when we take for granted
all that we have been entrusted and blessed with;
forgive us and help us to be more like you.
When we fail to acknowledge that we have more left over
than others have to begin with;
forgive us and help us to be more like you.
When we could have gone the extra mile
and sharedwe have with others;
forgive us and help us to be more like you.
May we become people who give generously,
share abundantly and live simply to your glory.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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.
Praise and Thanksgiving
Jesus, our friend and Saviour,
we praise you that
when that boy offered you bread and fish
you didn’t send him away, or say it wasn’t enough.
You didn’t say, ‘You’re only a child,
you don’t understand.’
You took him seriously,
thanked him for his help and used his small gift
to make a huge difference.
We pray that you will do the same for us.
and help us to know that you value who we are,
and all we have to offer, too. Amen
Giving Glory to God
Glory be to God in heaven,
and to all on earth, his peace;
Lord and Father, King in glory,
gifts of praise in us release,
so our worship and thanksgiving
from our hearts will never cease.
Christ on earth, sent by the Father
to redeem, renew, restore;
risen Lamb, in glory seated,
hear our prayers, Lord, we implore.
Now to Father, Son, and Spirit
be all glory evermore.
A Collect
Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
An Old Testament Reading 2 Kings 4.42-44
A New Testament Reading Ephesians 3.14-21
Gradual Hymn
A Gospel Reading John 6.1-21
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Glory to you, O Lord.
At end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
A Reflection
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
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.
Intercessions
The Peace
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
We belong to him through faith,
heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
We convey an expression of peace to one another.
Offertory Hymn
Prayers at the preparation of the table
God of all goodness and grace,
receive the gifts we offer;
and grant that our whole lives
may give you glory and praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
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 set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Eucharistic Prayer and Communion
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
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 indeed right,
it is our duty and our joy,
at all times and in all places
to give you thanks and praise,
holy Father, heavenly King,
almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
For he is your living Word;
through him you have created all things from the beginning,
and formed us in your own image.
Through him you have freed us from the slavery of sin,
giving him to be born of a woman and to die upon the cross;
you raised him from the dead
and exalted him to your right hand on high.
Through him you have sent upon us
your holy and life-giving Spirit,
and made us a people for your own possession.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Holy is the Lord God almighty!
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Holy is the Lord God almighty!
Who was and is, and is to come;
holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Blessed, blessed, blest is he who comes,
Blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name.
Blessed, blessed, blest is he who comes,
blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name.
Hosanna in the heights of heav’n.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
Accept our praises, heavenly Father,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and as we follow his example and obey his command,
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine may be to us his body and his blood;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
Therefore, heavenly Father,
we remember his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts
in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit, inspire us with your love
and unite us in the body of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Father almighty,
in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
The 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.
The Breaking of the Bread and the Invitation
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
The Repton Agnus
O Lamb of God, come cleanse our hearts
and take our sin away.
O Lamb of God, your grace impart,
and let our guilty fear depart,
have mercy, Lord, we pray,
have mercy, Lord, we pray.
O Lamb of God, our lives restore,
our guilty souls release.
Into our lives your Spirit pour
and let us live for evermore
in perfect heavenly peace,
in perfect heavenly peace.
The Invitation
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Everyone is invited to receive communion or a blessing,
Communion Hymns
Closing Prayers and Celtic Blessing
Lord, help us to remain thankful for even the simple things.
Keep us focused on your loving, generous nature,
so that we can freely share what we have and who we are.
Enable us to be cheerful givers and humble receivers,
that all may have enough and be satisfied.
Amen.
May God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit
strengthen, sustain and empower you in your hearts,
in your homes and in our community,
today and always;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Closing Hymn
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
We hope you will stay for refreshments after the service
Some material included in this service is copyright:
© The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2000
Some material is Copyright
© Roots for Churches Limited
Hymns and songs are reproduced under CCLI no. 742099
Please sit
Please stand for the Eucharistic Prayer if you can - but if you would rather sit, then please do so.