Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

 (from Luke 1: 46 to 55) 

Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,

From one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him.

He has stretched out His mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.

He has brought down mighty Kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has kept the promise He made to our ancestors,

And has come to the help of His servant Israel. … forever.”

Comments on Mary’s song of praise:

  Mary’s song of praise focuses on God’s work of Salvation.  This involved judging those who oppress and oppose God’s People: scattering the proud, bring down mighty Kings, sending the rich away empty handed.  This involved a renewal for the lowly and the hungry.  This reveals God’s power and authority over Earthly rulers and over History itself.  This reveals God’s love for His People, individually and as a Nation.

  But Mary speaks in the past tense, as if God’s work of salvation had already come, though the Saviour of the World was not yet been born.  Why is this so?  Mary has realised and rejoices in the understanding that, since God has set His saving work in motion, it is already as good as down.  God will complete what He has set out to accomplish, and nothing in Heaven nor on Earth can hinder His plans.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p36) 

  In our worship today may we too sing of our thanksgiving to God, for He has done great and marvellous things for us.  May we too rejoice and sing our praise to the God of our salvation.

Prayer of Praise    

Most wonderful God, all powerful, holy and true, present in all things, yet limited by none, untouched by place, unaged by time, unhindered by years, beyond all change.  We praise you God.

  You live in light that none can approach; you are invisible, yet you make yourself known to us; you reveal yourself to all who seek you with their whole heart, you reveal your nature of holiness and love in your actions as Creator and Redeemer.  We praise you God.

  You draw us to yourself and embrace us.  You inspire us to live and to love.  Your mercies are more than we can number.  Your compassion is without end.  We receive your Word with joy and thanksgiving, for you are the source of truth and wisdom.  We praise you God.

  To the whole World we gladly proclaim your greatness and sovereignty.  We acknowledge your majesty and power in binding Satan, and ridding Humanity of the curse of sin and death.  We acknowledge the richness of your grace lavished upon us.  We acknowledge that you have graciously disclosed to us your intention to unify all things in the Universe in and through our Lord Jesus Christ?  We can only praise you to the limits of our vocabulary, and adore you to the capacity of our loving.

  Creator God, we praise you that you are Lord of History, for your sovereign plans and purposes for our Nation.  We are humbled that you have blessed us as a Nation, for the peace and security that we experience day by day, for stable and just government, for an abundance of food and resources.  We praise you as the God who provides for us and sustains us.

  God of love and mercy, you do for us immeasurably more than we can ask or think.  Your Spirit enriches our lives with a sense of your presence within us as well as around us.  You inspire our faith in Jesus Christ and regenerate your people with your energy and love.  For all you do, we give you our thanks.  For all that you are, we give you our praise.  Amen.

We sing the Hymn: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”  Scripture in Song volume 1 Number 96

Karen Lafferty

Prayer of Confession   

Merciful God, we confess that we have not been diligent in living our lives to your standards and desires for us.  We confess that we have not been pure in thought, word and deed.  We confess that we have not been the faithful witnesses for you that you have sought for us to be.  We have failed to be the light revealing your grace to those around us. 

Forgive us Lord.

  We confess that our harsh words have hindered our relationships with others.  We confess that we have not brought healing to those crying out for compassion.  We confess that we have turned our backs on those who are in need of care. 

Forgive us Lord.

  We see too clearly how much Humanity has been corrupted with vice and violence and greed.  We confess that we as the People you created to make use of the World and to be stewards of the World have failed to fulfil your plans for us. 

Forgive us Lord.

  We confess that we are proud of who we are, of where we belong or of what we have achieved.  But in our pride, we are attempting to compare our greatness with yours.  Please forgive the haughtiness that accompanies our pride of race, or of place or of person.  For it is only in humbling ourselves before you that we can put ourselves and the World in the right perspective. 

Forgive us Lord.

  We confess that when we look at our Church and at other Churches, we see a scattered flock, each going their own way.  We are sorry for whatever we have done or failed to do that estranges others from you and from ourselves.  For it is only in listening to you and following your voice that we find peace and reconciliation. 

Forgive us Lord.

  Have pity on us, God our Saviour.  Grant us grace and courage to cast off our sins, and to turn to you for healing. 

Show us in Christ the sure path of salvation, and strengthen us to follow gladly the way of the Gospel.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness  (from Hebrews 10: 12) 

We read in the Letter to the of Hebrews that Christ offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever.  Having confessed our sins before God, and our faith and trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ, let us rest on this assurance and know that God has heard our prayers and that God has forgiven us completely.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

(from Uniting in Worship Book 1 number 12 p599) 

  Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to receive your Word.  Silence in us any voice but your own.  In hearing these words may we perceive new truths that you seek to teach us, and may we perceive your will that you seek for us to follow, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

1 Samuel 2:

1  Hannah prayed:

“The Lord has filled my heart with joy: how happy I am because of what He has done!  I laugh at my enemies, how joyful I am because God has helped me!

2  No-one is holy like the Lord; there is none like Him, no protector like our God.

3  Stop your loud boasting; silence your proud words.  For the Lord is a God who knows, and He judges all that people do.

4  The bows of strong soldiers are broken, but the weak grow strong.

5  The people who once were well fed now hire themselves out to get food, but the hungry are hungry no more.  The childless wife has borne seven children, but the mother of many is left with none.

6  The Lord kills and restores life; He sends people to the World of the Dead and brings them back again.

7  He makes some men poor and others rich; He humbles some and makes others great.

8  He lifts the poor from the dust and raises the needy from their misery.  He makes them companions of Princes and puts them in places of honour.

  The foundations of the Earth belong to the Lord; on them He has built the World.

9  He protects the lives of His faithful people, but the wicked disappear in darkness; a man does not triumph by his own strength.

10  The Lord’s enemies will be destroyed; He will thunder against them from Heaven.  The Lord will judge the whole World; He will give power to His King, He will make His chosen King victorious.”

[Today’s English Version]

Philippians 4:

6  Have no anxiety, but in everything make your requests known to God in prayer and petition with thanksgiving.  7  Then, the peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding, will keep guard over your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.

[New English Bible]

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 1:

46  Mary said:

“My heart praises the Lord:

47  my soul is glad because of God my Saviour,

48  for He has remembered me, His lowly servant!  From now on all people will call me happy,

49  because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.  His name is holy:

50  from one generation to another He shows mercy to those who honour Him.

51  He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans.

52  He has brought down mighty Kings from their thrones, and lifted the lowly.

53  He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands.

54  He has kept the promise He made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of His servant Israel.

55  He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!”

[Today’s English Version]

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Passing the Peace

Whether we gather for worship in the Church building on Sunday morning, or whether we offer our worship in the ‘digital sphere’, it is important to recognise that, together, we remain one in Christ Jesus, we remain one in fellowship, and we remain one in worship of our God.  With that thought in mind, let us uplift our hands and greet those both here and those in their homes:

May the peace of God be with you all.

And also with you.

We sing the Hymn “O that I could my Lord receive”  Wesley’s Hymns number 125

[sung to the tune Capel – there is no introduction]

Verse 1 of 4

O that I could my Lord receive,

Who did the World redeem,

Who gave his life, that I might live

A life concealed in him!

Verse 2 of 4

Mercy I ask to seal my peace,

That, kept by mercy’s power,

I may from every evil cease

And never grieve you more!

Verse 3 of 4

Now if your gracious will it be,

Ev’n now, my sins remove,

And set my soul at liberty

By your victorious power.

Verse 4 of 4

Nothing I ask or want beside,

Of all in Earth or Heaven,

But let me feel your blood applied,

And live and die forgiven.

Charles Wesley

Sermon

  In 1 Samuel 2 is Hannah’s prayer of praise of God.  It is a response to the birth of her first-born son, Samuel.  It is said that Mary’s song of praise recorded for us in Luke 1: 46 to 55 mirrors in many aspects Hannah’s prayer.  Hannah’s prayer is in the form of a thanksgiving song to God.  She commences her song with these words:

“The LORD has filled my heart with joy; how happy I am because of what He has done!

I laugh at my enemies; how joyful I am because God has helped me!

No-one is holy like the LORD; there is none like Him, no protector like our God.”

  In this passage Hannah highlights for us her acknowledgement that she worships a holy God, a God unlike all the other gods worshipped by the surrounding Nations.  It highlights her confidence that God is the source of her joy, that God has worked in her life to bless her, and that it is to God to whom she turns in times of need. 

  Hannah, in her short life up until then, had learnt some hard lessons of life.  The first lesson was that, no matter had hard you may have desired something, no matter how much energy you may have exerted, there are some things that you cannot achieve by your own efforts, there are some plans that you cannot fulfil by your own efforts.  Hannah had been tormented throughout her married life, not by her husband, Elkanah, because, from the passage, he appears to be a caring and compassionate spouse.  Hannah was tormented because she was childless and was desperate to become a mother, so as to provide a son for Elkanah, and to be blessed by God as God had first blessed Eve, blessed by becoming a mother and to have many children.  (Genesis 1: 28)  As well, Hannah was tormented and humiliated by her husband’s other wife, Peninnah, who had children and who delighted in reminding Hannah of the fact that Hannah didn’t.  (1 Samuel 1: 6) 

Screen 1

“Hannah cried bitterly as she prayed to the Lord”  1 Samuel 1: 10

  It was in such a distressed state of mind that we find Hannah on one of the family’s annual pilgrimages to the town of Shiloh in order to offer the sacrifices that they were required to perform, as we read in 1 Samuel 1: 3.  And it is here that we see the strength of Hannah’s faith, for she does not dwell on her troubles on her own, but humbles herself before God in prayer.  We read, “she cried bitterly as she prayed to the LORD”.  (1 Samuel 1: 10)

  Hannah recognised that it was God who provides the blessings in one’s life, that there is little that we can achieve on our own.

  And on that understanding we hear Hannah stating, “Stop your loud boasting, silence your proud words”.  (1 Samuel 2: 3a)  Such boasting and pride are based on the premise that what you have in life is all due to your own efforts.  “Look what I have achieved all by myself.”, is the claim. 

  God says, “I hate pride and arrogance”.  (Proverbs 8: 13b)  A person’s pride and arrogance blinds them to their need to humble themselves before God.  “God is creator of Heaven, of earth and sea, and of all that is in them.”  (Psalm 146: 6)  People, as part of God’s creation, cannot claim to be in control of that which God oversees.  It is to God to whom all living things look to give them food when they need it, … and to satisfy their needs.”  (Psalm 145: 15 & 16)  not to any person.  The Psalmist tells us that “the plans of Earthly leaders turn to dust once they pass away”  (Psalm 146: 4)  ,whereas “God’s rule is eternal and He is king forever”.  (Psalm 145: 13)  King Jehoshaphat of Judah, when his country was threatened by invasion, prayed to God exclaiming, “you rule in Heaven over all the Nations of the World.  You are powerful and mighty, and no-one can oppose you.”  (2 Chronicles 20: 6b)  The Prophet Isaiah records these words of God, “What I have planned will happen.  What I have determined to do will be done.”  (Isaiah 14: 24)  The Psalmist says of people, “our life is like grass, we grow and flourish, (but) then the wind blows and it is gone.  (but) God’s love lasts forever, and His goodness endures for all time.”  (Psalm 103: 15 to 17) 

  And this enduring love of God is made evident in the question that the Disciples asked of Jesus, “Who then can be saved, who then can enter into the Kingdom of God?”  And Jesus answered, “This is impossible for Humans, but not for God; everything is possible for God.”  (Mark 10: 26 & 27) 

Screen 2

“Eli thought she was drunk”  1 Samuel 1: 13

  The second lesson that Hannah learnt is that it is so easy to be misunderstood by other people.  We read that Hannah was praying silently, moving her lips but not making a sound.  And Eli, the priest, watching her, thought she was drunk.  (1 Samuel 1: 12 & 13)  Eli had totally misread Hannah and her actions, and criticised her for her apparent drunken behaviour.  It wasn’t until Hannah had explained the reason for her prayers that Eli understood.  (1 Samuel 1: 14 to 17)  And, so, we hear Hannah saying, “for the Lord is a God who knows”  (1 Samuel 2: 3b)  , for Hannah knew that whatever others may think, God perceives what is the truth.  God correctly perceives not only a person’s true frame of mind but also their true motives.

  In the account in 1 Samuel 16 where we read God instructing Samuel to anoint one of the sons of Jesse to be the future King of Israel, to replace King Saul, we read of God telling Samuel to reject the eldest son, Eliab, “Pay no attention to how tall and handsome he is.  I have rejected him, because I do not judge him as people judge.  A person looks at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16: 7)  When King Solomon completed the construction of the first Temple in Jerusalem and brought the Ark of the Covenant to the Temple, he offered a prayer on behalf of God’s People.  And in his prayer Solomon acknowledged of God, “You alone know the thoughts of the Human heart.”  (1 Kings 8: 39b)  The Apostle Paul acknowledged this when he wrote, “God … sees into our hearts”.  (Romans 8: 27a) 

  The Psalmist writes, “The LORD is in his holy Temple, … He watches people everywhere and knows what they are doing.”  (Psalm 11: 4)  We read in the Book of Proverbs, “You may think everything you do is right, but the LORD judges your motives.”  (Proverbs 16: 2)  It is upon this understanding that we find Hannah stating, “and (God) judges all that people do.”  (1 Samuel 2: 3c) 

Screen 3

“every year they went to Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices to the lord”  1 Samuel 1: 3

  The third of Hannah’s lessons, is that we are responsible to God for how we respond to His actions towards us.  As we read in the passage, Elkanah and his family made the journey to Shiloh every year to offer sacrifices to God.

  This took the form of a sacrifice of thanksgiving but also of a sin offering.  They were expressing their thanks to God for His love and care for them, and also laying before God their sins and shortcomings so as to receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing.  They could depend solely upon the ritual and rites of the offering of the sacrifice, but Hannah, at least, knew that there needed to also be a correct attitude towards God, not just in the offering of their sacrifice but in their lives in the coming year.  They were responsible to God not just to offer their sacrifice to God but also to offer their lives to God. 

  The Psalmist writes of God, “you, yourself, O Lord, reward everyone according to their deeds.”  (Psalm 62: 12b)  In the same vein, we read in the Book of Proverbs, “God knows and judges your motives.  He keeps watch on you; He knows.  And He will reward you according to what you do,”  (Proverbs 24: 12b)  The Prophet Jeremiah recorded these words of God, “I, the Lord, search the minds and test the hearts of (people).  I treat each one according to the way they live, according to what they do.”  (Jeremiah 17: 10)  The Apostle Paul states the same thing in his letter to the Church in Rome, “For God will reward every person according to what they have done. … For God judges everyone by the same standard.”  (Romans 2: 6 & 11) 

  This is highlighted all the more by Hannah’s final words, where she says, “The Lord will judge the whole World; He will give power to His King, He will make His chosen King victorious.”  (v10)  What makes these words significant for us is that, at that time, the People of Israel had no King.  God was their King.  We read in Exodus 15, Moses saying, “You, Lord, will be King forever and ever.”  It wasn’t until later, towards the end of Samuel’s life, that God agreed to the People of Israel selecting a King to rule over them and to lead them.  And we read in 1 Samuel 10: 1 of Samuel anointing Saul to be the first King of Israel.

  But it wasn’t any of the Human Kings of Israel to whom Hannah was referring, for no Earthly King of the united Kingdom of Israel, nor of the divided Kingdoms of Judah and Israel could ever be described as having such power or of being associated with judging the whole World.

  In Acts 10, we read of the Apostle Peter speaking to those assembled in the house of the Roman Officer, Cornelius, saying “And (Jesus) commanded us to preach the Gospel to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God has appointed Judge of the living and the dead.  All the Prophets spoke about Him, saying that everyone who believes in Him will have their sins forgiven through the power of His name”.  (Acts 10: 42 and 43)  There is a reference to a vision of Daniel recorded in Daniel 7 of “one like a human being, .. given authority, honour, and royal power, so that the people of all Nations, races and languages would serve Him.  His authority would last forever, and His Kingdom would never end.”  (Daniel 7: 13 and 14)  The Apostle John made reference to “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the Ruler of the Kings of the World.  (Revelation 1: 5) 

Screen 4

Mary said, “My heart praises the Lord”  Luke 1: 46

  Thus, we see the fullest link between Hannah’s prayer and Mary’s song of praise, for the King which Hannah foresaw was the child of Mary, the culmination of God’s work of salvation for the World, who would bring renewal and relief to those who honour God,  (Luke 1: 50)  and forgiveness of sin though His name.

  One writer says of Hannah, “In the small mirror of her own experience Hannah sees reflected all the wonder of God’s character.  God has reversed her misfortunes, Peninnah’s taunts have been silenced.  Emptiness, misery and shame are gone, and in their place life, joy and honour are to be found.  And what God can do for one (person), He can do for all (of) His people.”  (The Lion Handbook to the Bible p232) 

  Hannah found peace in her confident trust in and renewed relationship with God.  Paul writes to the Church in Philippi saying, “Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart.  And God’s peace, which is far beyond Human understanding, will keep you safe in union with Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4: 6 & 7)  Paul is advising them and us, that “to avoid distress at any one point (in our lives), we ought to be praying at every point (in our life).  It is by cultivating an all-embracing communion with God that we will begin to eliminate distressful anxiety from our hearts, (as did Hannah).  The greater the confidence we have in God and in His promises (to care for and to provide for us), the less we will be driven to worry.  It is then that the peace of God, which surpasses all our understanding, (will) guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Alan Catchpoole in Every Thought Captive unto Christ – Peace p28) 

  Let us then be like Hannah, to learn from life, to bring our cares to God in prayer, and to learn to trust God and to depend upon God to provide for us and to bless us, simply because He loves us.

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[ sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction]

[The YouTube is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed]

[alternatively, if you have the facility on your computer to play such music, double-click on the Mp3 file below and then select ‘open’ – there is a very small introduction]

For the life that you have given,

For the love in Christ made known,

With these fruits of time and labour,

With these gifts that are your own:

Here we offer, Lord, our praises;

Heart and mind and strength we bring;

Give us grace to love and serve you,

Living what we pray and sing.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Prayers for Others

  Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

  Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may be a light in times of confusion and turmoil through the witness of our lives and our compassionate care for others.  Protect the Church from false doctrine and from all that is contrary to your Word.

  We pray for the grace of discernment, that we may understand the signs of the times and recognize your presence, action, and invitation each day.

  We pray for the gift of hope, that no matter what challenges we face, may we remain confident that with you, all things are possible.

  We pray for all who are facing crisis, loss, or grief, that your Spirit will guide them, comfort them, and help them to face the future.

  We pray for the grace of forgiveness, that we may be open to your unending forgiveness and share it with those who have offended us.

  We pray for those making new commitments, that you will fill with hope those getting married, becoming new parents, making religious profession, or entering new careers, and guide them through all the joys and sorrows of life’s journey.  We pray for all who are in transition, that you will give them courage in facing the unknown, help them to recognize the gifts you have given them, and open them to new opportunities for growth and life.

  We pray for all who feel that they have little hope, that you will open new opportunities for those who lack education, employment, healthcare, or safe housing and help them to move forth in faith.

  We pray for displaced persons, that you will guide those who have fled violence, famine, or natural disasters, keep them safe from harm, and lead them to places of safety.  Give strength to those who work to provide relief to them.

  We pray for all who suffer with depression, that you will lift the darkness, give them new hope, and help them find support and acceptance.

  We pray for all who have been abused, that you will heal their pain, renew their spirits, and help them to live life fully.

  We pray for all who have contemplated suicide, that your love will break into their hearts and help them recognize a reason to live.

  We pray for those who are ill or who have been injured.  Comfort them in their times of unrest.  Bring healing and wholeness to them and relief from their symptoms.  Grant patience and insight to those who seek for cures for illnesses, guide them in the direction that will bring success to their efforts.

  We pray for leaders of Government, that you will give them an understanding of the critical needs of those whom they serve and the wisdom to address them.  Grant true judgement to them, especially so as to avoid wasting human endeavour and resources on building up armed forces rather than on seeking to address injustice, disease and oppressive living conditions.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

[Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p84, David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of god’s People Year B p212]

  We pray for Brisbane Field Managers for Scripture Union who are away at an SU forum.  We pray that the time will be encouraging and for wisdom in their planning for the future.

  We pray for students in courses run by Scripture Union who will graduate this month.  We pray for good employment opportunities as they seek to be you hands and feet in the World.

  We pray for the Island Nations of Oceania: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, Fiji, French Polynesia (Maohi Nui), Kanaky (New Caledonia), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.  We are thankful for the amazing diversity of people and cultures living on the islands of Oceania, the magnificent natural scenery and sea life, and the strong, faithful presence of churches in these lands.  We pray for efforts to preserve these island nations in the midst of rising seas, for those adversely affected by earthquakes, volcanoes and cyclones, for those dealing with the legacy of past nuclear weapons testing and with garbage dumping today on their home islands, and for good governance – especially in preserving indigenous cultures –which effectively serves those who are impoverished, hungry, lacking education or unable to make a living.

  We ask that you will bless the efforts of Ian and the other volunteers who are leading Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that the Holy spirit is engaging with the children who attend the classes, opening hearts and minds with a clear message of your love for them.

  We pray for the Chaplain at Bald hills State School, Kylie Conomos, that you are guiding her efforts to care for the children and teachers at the School, that you are encouraging her in her work and supporting her as she gives of herself to those whom she serves there.

   We pray for the residents at PM Village, that they will find comfort and fulfillment during their time under care.  We pray for the staff, that they will have patience and compassion as they fulfill their roles and responsibilities for the residents.

 Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

We sing the Hymn “As when the shepherd calls his sheep”  TiS 539

[sung to the tune Ellacombe – there is no introduction]

Verse 1 of 3

As when the shepherd calls his sheep,

They know and heed his voice,

So when you call your family Lord,

We follow and rejoice.

You satisfy the hungry heart

With gift of finest wheat,

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

The bread of life to eat.

Verse 2 of 3

With joyful lips we sing to you

Our praise and gratitude

That you should count us worth, Lord,

To share this Heavenly food.

Is not the cup we bless and share

The blood of Christ outpoured?

Do not one cup, one loaf, declare

Our oneness in the Lord?

Verse 3 of 3

The mystery of your presence, Lord,

No mortal tongue can tell;

Whom all the World cannot contain

Comes in our hearts to dwell.

You give yourself to us, O Lord,

Then selfless let us be,

To serve each other in your name

In truth and charity.

Omer Westendorf

Sacrament of Communion 

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222) 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own.  We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend.  So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your Son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

  “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’”

  And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space.  We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet.  You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven.  We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations.  Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice.  In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross.  You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace.  By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith.  With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.  Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are 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 it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever.  Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the World,

Grant us peace.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love.  Amen.

Hymn

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” – Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 number 280

Samuel Trevor Francis

Benediction    

Go into this week, knowing that God embraces you with His mercy, that Jesus Christ enfolds you with His love, and that the Holy Spirit sustains you with His power.  And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“May the grace of Christ our Saviour”  TiS777

[sung to the tune Waltham – there is a short introduction]

Verse 1 of 2

May the grace of Christ our Saviour,

And the Father’s boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit’s favour,

Rest upon us from above.

Verse 2 of 2

Thus, may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord,

And possess in sweet communion

Joys which Earth cannot afford.John Ne