Holy Communion for 9th August 2020

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity

¶   Gathering

Welcome

The minister offers words of welcome, gathering us into God’s presence, and introduces the first hymn:

Hymn

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper rev’rence praise,
in deeper rev’rence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee,
rise up and follow thee.

Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace,
the beauty of thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!
O still small voice of calm!

Leader:    Let us worship God:

We have come together as the family of God
in our Father’s presence
to offer him praise and thanksgiving
to hear his holy word,
to bring before him the needs of the world,
to ask his forgiveness of our sins,
and to seek his grace.

Confession

Leader:     Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith,
                firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments
                and to live in love and peace with all.

All:         Almighty God our heavenly Father,
                  we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
                  in thought, word and deed,
                  through negligence, through weakness,
                  through our own deliberate fault.
                  We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
                  Forgive us all that is past;
                  and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
                  to the glory of your name. 
                  Amen.

Absolution

Priest:     Almighty God,
                  who forgives all who truly repent,
                  have mercy upon you,
                  pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
                  ​​​​​​​confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
                  ​​​​​​​and keep you in life eternal.
                  ​​​​​​​Through Jesus Christ our Lord

                  ​​​​​​​Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory to God above!
Heavens declare his love;
praise him, you angels,
praise him all you high and heav’nly host.
Worship him, sun and moon;
stars complement their tune;
grounded in God’s good purpose,
let his grace become your boast.

O sing hallelujah
praise God for evermore.

Glory to God below
let depths of ocean show;
lightning and hail, snow,
wind and cloud perform at his command!
Let ev’ry mountain range,
forest and grove and grange,
creatures of earth and air and sea
praise God in ev’ry land.

‘Glory to God!’ now sing
commoner, queen and king;
women and men of
ev’ry age unite to praise the Lord.
Worship God’s holy name
and let your lives proclaim
God’s saving pow’r extends to those
who love and serve his name.

O sing hallelujah
praise God for evermore.

Psalm 148, paraphrased by John L Bell
©  1993 WGRG, Iona Community

The Collect

(Prayer for the Day)

A minister prays:

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.

All:             Amen.

¶ The Ministry of the Word

First Reading

Romans 10:5-15

A reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans:

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ down) ‘or “Who will descend into the abyss?” ’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

‘The word is near you,
   on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

For the word of the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God.

 Gradual Hymn

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.

Alleluia, alleluia...

Spread the good news o’er all the earth.
Jesus has died and is risen.

Alleluia, alleluia...

We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live for ever.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Come, let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Text: Donald Fishel (b 1950).

Music: Donald Fishel; arr. Adrian Vernon Fish (b 1956).
© 1973 Word of God Music/The Copyright Company

Gospel Reading

Matthew 14:22-33

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

All:      Glory to you, O Lord.

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All:      Praise to you, O Christ.

Homily

Norman Johnson

Affirmation of Faith

Leader: Let us affirm our faith together:

All:          We believe in God the Father,
               from whom every family
               in heaven and 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.

Prayers of Intercession

Responses:

         Lord, in your mercy

All:   Hear our prayer.
 

and at the end:

Merciful Father:

All:    Accept these prayers
         for the sake of your Son
         our Saviour Jesus Christ.
         Amen.

¶ The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Priest: The peace of the Lord be always with you

All:      and also with you.

Offertory Hymn

During the hymn, the gifts of the people are gathered and presented.
The altar is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

The Lord will come and not be slow
his footsteps cannot err;
before him righteousness shall go
his royal harbinger.

Truth from the earth, like to a flow’r,
Shall bud and blossom then;
And justice, from her heav’nly bow’r,
Look down on mortal men.

The people all whom you have made
shall come, and all shall frame
to bow them low before you, Lord,
and glorify your name.

For great you are, and wonders great
by your strong hand are done:
you in your everlasting seat
remain our God alone. Amen

The Eucharistic Prayer

Be present, be present,
Lord Jesus Christ,
our risen high priest;
make yourself known in the breaking of bread.

All:    Amen.

The Lord be with you

All:    and also with you.

         Lift up your hearts.

All:    We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All:    It is right to give thanks and praise.

Father, we give you thanks and praise... [Eucharistic Prayer B, p188]

The Eucharistic Prayer continues until the words:

... for ever praising you and saying/singing:

All:   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 Eucharistic Prayer continues until the acclamation.

Great is the mystery of faith:                 Christ is the bread of life:

All:    Christ has died:                            All: When we eat this bread
         Christ is risen:                                      and drink this cup,
         Christ will come again.                        we proclaim your death,
                                                                        Lord Jesus,
                                                                        until you come in glory.

The Eucharistic Prayer continues, concluding with the Great Doxology:

...through Jesus Christ our Lord;
by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.

All:    Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:

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.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

All:  Though we are many, we are one body,
        because we all share in one bread.

Invitation to Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All:   Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
        but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

The president and the people receive Communion.

 Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

Leader:  God of our pilgrimage,
               you have led us to the living water:
               refresh and sustain us
               as we go forward on our journey,
               in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

All:          Amen.

All:          Almighty God,
               we thank you for feeding us
               with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
               Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
               to be a living sacrifice.
               Send us out in the power of your Spirit
               to live and work to your praise and glory.
               Amen.

Hymn

We love the place, O God,
wherein thine honour dwells;
the joy of thine abode
all earthly joy excels.

It is the house of prayer,
wherein thy servants meet;
and thou, O Lord art there
thy chosen flock to greet.

We love the word of life,
the word that tells of peace,
of comfort in the strife,
and joys that never cease.

We love to sing below
for mercies freely giv’n;
but O, we long to know
the triumph-song of heav’n.

Lord Jesus, give us grace
on earth to love thee more,
in heav’n to see thy face,
and with thy saints adore.

¶ Dismissal

Blessing & Dismissal

Priest:     The peace of God,
               which passes all understanding,
               keep your hearts and minds
               in the knowledge and love of God,
               and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
               and the blessing of God almighty,
               the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
               be with you, and all those whom you love,
               today and always.

All:          Amen.

Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 

All:         In the name of Christ. Amen. 

Voluntary

Chorale & Prelude on the tune of "All people that on Earth do dwell"
by Pachelbel. Played by James Lilwall on Bawdeswell Church organ.