Gathering
The Word
A Service of the Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Opening Prayers
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Come, God, and fill us with wonder.
with longing for justice,
and vision for peace.
Come, God of joyfulness, God of glory:
come to your people today.
Words of welcome.
A hymn or song may be used.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
Prayers of Penitence
Let us admit to God the sin that conflicts our joyfulness.
Silence
God, you long for justice, while we look for ease.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
You long for flourishing, while we stop at survival.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
You long for joyfulness, while we settle for amusement.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
May the God of love
bring us back to himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Gloria or another song of praise may be sung.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
The Collect
God of justice and mercy,
you are unceasingly at work
revealing what is hidden,
showing beauty in weakness,
and giving honour to those
we might exclude or ignore;
fill us with your compassion
and give us joy in your service
that we may share and give your life and light;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Amen.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Responsory
Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all:
Trail wide the hem of your garment,
bring healing, bring peace.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55:6-13
Silence
Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all:
Trail wide the hem of your garment,
bring healing, bring peace.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
The Magnificat is said or sung.
R.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
1. He has looked with favour on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations shall call me blessed.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
2. The Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
3. He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit
Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
4. He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
5. The promise made to our ancestors
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and shall be for ever.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.
If the Magnificat is said, a hymn may follow
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
New Testament Reading: Luke 8:42b-48
Silence
Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all:
Trail wide the hem of your garment,
bring healing, bring peace.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Address
A hymn or song may be used.
The Prayers
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
With all who are coming to Christ this day, let us affirm our
faith in God.
Do you believe and trust
in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust
in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
Prayers of Intercession
Prayers are offered for the church,
the world,
the local community,
and those who suffer.
The Prayers
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
The Lord’s Prayer
Trusting in God’s presence with us now,
as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray:
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
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.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Let us thank God for his goodness,
and give our joyful praise.
Father, we praise you
through Jesus Christ, your Word and wisdom.
Through him, you spoke us into being,
with him, you overturned our lives,
in him, we see your joy and your delight.
God, most Holy One,
we sing our joyful praise.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
Father, we praise you for your persistent will for justice:
for visions of salvation and the prophets’ daring dreams.
God, most Holy One,
we sing our joyful praise.
Father, we praise you for drawing near us in salvation:
for the touch of your garment,
and your endless power to heal.
God, most Holy One,
we sing our joyful praise.
Father, we praise you for calling us to service:
as co-creators, dreamers, healers; sharing always in your love.
God, most Holy One
we sing our joyful praise.
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Hymn:
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee
God of glory, Lord of love.
Hearts unfold
like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
All your works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around thee,
centre of unbroken praise:
field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Thou art giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-death of happy rest.
Though the Father,
Christ our brother:
all who live in love are thine.
Teach us how to love each other
lift us to the joy divine.
Sending Out
Gathering
The Word
The Prayers
Sending Out
Closing Prayers
In every time, and every place, God calls a people as his own.
We have heard God’s word,
and are joyful in his service.
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
through the power of the Holy Spirit,
and the blessing of God
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.