The Parishes of Clent and Hagley

16 February

Family Communion

 

One Church, three locations

St John’s — St Leonard’s — St Saviour’s

 

Call to worship

We are blessed to be here today.

We are blessed to be together today.

We are blessed to be a family.

We are blessed that God is with us.

Let us enjoy his blessing as we worship today.

 

 

A gathering prayer

Lord, thank you that we are blessed.

Help us to recognise all that you have given to us.

We pray that not only will we reflect on your blessings

we will also seek to be a blessing to others,

with your help and in your name. Amen

 

Hymn:  Beauty for Brokenness - 22

 

 

A prayer of confession

Lord, we confess that curses come to our lips more readily than

blessings. Our thoughts are critical rather than looking for the good.

We condemn others and turn away before we think what we might

do to turn things around and draw blessings from a situation.

So, Lord, we ask for your forgiveness, and we turn to you for a blessing of

light upon the dark confines of our thinking. Bless us with your way of

seeing, so that our lives might be a blessing to others.   Amen.

 

Assurance of forgiveness

Almighty God, forgive us when we are not a blessing to others,

when we make people feel sad rather than blessed.

Help us to remember that we are blessed by you,

and to live in the light of your blessing, blessing others as we go. Amen.

 

Reading:   Jeremiah 17:5-10

 

Hymn: How deep the Father’s Love - 133

Gospel: Luke 6:17-26

Reflection

Intercessions

Peace

Hymn: I watch the sunrise lighting the sky – 165

The Communion Service

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

 

 

Right: Why is it right to give thanks and praise?

Left:  Listen, and we will hear.

 

 

Lord of all life, you created the universe,

where all living things reflect your glory.

You give us this great and beautiful earth, to discover and to cherish.

give us sun and moon and star-lit sky, everything that gives us light,

light for our eyes, our hearts, our minds.

give us friends and families busy streets for young and old,

the life of an earthly city fulfilled in your city to come.

give us happy times and things to celebrate.

In these we taste your kingdom, a feast for all your children.

You made us all, each wonderfully different, to join with the Angels

and sing your praise:

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 thank you, loving Father, because, when we turned away,

you sent Jesus, your Son. He gave his life for us on the cross

and shows us the way to live. Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of

bread and wine may be for us Christ’s body and his blood.

Right: Why do we share this bread and wine?

 Left: Listen, and we will hear.

On the night before he died, when darkness had fallen, Jesus took

bread. He gave thanks, broke it, and shared it with his disciples, saying:

‘This is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.’

After they had eaten, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks,

and shared it with his disciples, saying:

‘This is my blood, poured out for you and for many,

for the forgiveness of sins.’

So Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate his love, his death, his

risen life. As you feed us with these gifts, send your Holy Spirit, and change

 us more and more to be like Jesus our Saviour.

 

 

Right: How do we follow Jesus Christ?

Left: Listen, and we will hear.

 

 

Help us, Father, to love one another, as we look forward to that day

when suffering is ended, and all creation is gathered in your loving arms.

And now with all your saints we give you glory, through Jesus Christ,

in the strength of the Spirit, today and for 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

 

 

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.

 

A prayer of praise and thanksgiving

Lord, we thank and praise you for all the many blessings in our lives.

For food and shelter, for family and friends, for the measure of health we have, and the many comforts we take for granted.

Thank you also for your plain speaking; these blessings are not merited by anything we have done, just as the problems of many – of those who hunger, and are homeless, and sick – are also undeserved.

So, Lord, in giving our heartfelt thanks, we ask that we might be a blessing to those whom the worldly-wise often curse. Amen.

 

Children’s Show and Tell

Hymn: Will you come and follow me - 368

 

A prayer of blessing

Lord, thank you for the many blessings we have recognised today. Forgive us for the times that we are too busy to notice all that you pour upon us. We pray for blessing on our church, the community as a whole and every precious individual member – bless us with your wisdom and understanding. We pray for blessing on our local community – help us to be a source of blessing; help us to recognise ways that we can show and share your love. We know there are often barriers. When we are the barrier – perhaps through our fears, our worries, even our greed – give us the strength to overcome, that your blessing may overflow to all around us. Amen.

 

 

A sending out prayer

Lord, as we step into this week, help us to cultivate our relationship with you. We want to be rooted in you. Show us our barriers to receiving your blessing. Help us not only to recognise how blessed we are, but also show us ways that your blessing can overflow to others through us. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Hymn      

 

 

 

 

Asking for God’s forgiveness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Praise and Thanksgiving  

 

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Glory to God         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Collect

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Old Testament Reading                

           

 

A New Testament Reading                

 

 

 

Gradual Hymn

                       

 

A Gospel Reading                               

 

        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 Blessing

 

 

Loving God,

Jesus was on a mission to save, heal and help people.
Help us to be on a mission too:
on a mission to be compassionate, not critical;
understanding, not difficult;
generous, not grudging;
welcoming, not rejecting,
so that your kingdom may come,
and your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Amen.

 

 

May God bless you as you go,
may you know that Jesus is by your side,
and may the Holy Spirit
give you strength and inspiration
to be the person God wants you to be;

and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.
 

 

When our mission seems impossible,
may we know the courage of the first disciples,
the support of Jesus our friend,
and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
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