2016 Visitation Service Eucharist: A Welcoming Church

Transcription

1 2016 Visitation Service Eucharist: A Welcoming Church The Gathering There may be a hymn or worship song God shows us what is good, and what then is required of us? That we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God Jesus says: Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. The Spirit and the bride say Come. Let each one who hears them say, Come, for all are welcome here. Let the thirsty ones come; All are welcome here Let them come and drink the waters of life. All are welcome here Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. and also with you. Prayers of Penitence Brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate, let us call to mind our sins. You made us to be one family, yet we have divided humanity. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. You came to reconcile all people, yet we have brought disharmony. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. You rejoice in our differences, yet we make them a cause of enmity. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. 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. 1

2 The Collect Lord, our God, source of all life, you reveal yourself in the depths of our being drawing us to share in your life and love. Bless us as we respond to your Spirit s invitation to open wide the doors to Christ. Make the doors of our hearts, our homes and communities wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, prejudice and pride. Let us hasten to welcome the stranger, and so welcome your Son. We make this prayer in his name, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Old or New Testament Reading One of: Ruth 1.6-8, Ephesians Colossians There may be a Hymn or Worship Song before The Gospel The Gospel Alleluia, alleluia. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. Colossians 3.15 Alleluia. Luke John Reflection (Area Dean or Archdeacon?) 2

3 Declaration by Churchwardens and Sidespersons The Archdeacon asks wardens and sidespersons to stand and make the following declaration: I solemnly and sincerely declare before God and his people that I will faithfully and diligently discharge the duties of my office for the parish in which I have been chosen during the period of my appointment calling at all times on the strength that God gives me. Admission of Churchwardens The wardens are admitted to their office. The Commissioning of the People The Archdeacon addresses the people of the Deanery: Will you continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in prayer for one another and for the communities in which you serve? Will you persevere in resisting evil, and when you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself? Will you acknowledge Christ s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak and seeking peace and justice? May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, that you may be rooted and grounded in love and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. Prayers Let us pray to God, our heavenly Father, saying, 3

4 Sovereign Lord, your Son has revealed you as our heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. You have made your Church a spiritual family, a household of faith. Through baptism we are reborn as the brothers and sisters of Christ. Deepen our unity with one another and fellowship in him. You sent your Son to give his life as a ransom for the whole human family. Give justice, peace and harmony to the world he came to save. You gave your Son a share in the life of a family in Nazareth. Help us to value our families and friends, to be thankful for them, and to live sensitively with those we love, and with those we have not yet learned to love. Your Son drew around him a company of friends. Bring love and joy to all who are alone. Help us to find in the brothers and sisters of Christ a loving family, and to welcome all into the fellowship of faith. [You are the God of the dead as well as of the living. In confidence we remember those of the household of faith who have gone before us. Bring us with them to the joy of your home in heaven. ] Free prayer of the congregation may follow. Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen 4

5 The Liturgy of the Sacrament 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. Let us offer one another a sign of peace. A hymn or worship song may be sung as the bread and wine are brought and the altar prepared. Prayer at the Preparation of the Table Pour upon the poverty of our love, and the weakness of our praise, the transforming fire of your presence. The Eucharistic Prayer The Lord be with you and also with you. (or) 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. 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. 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. 5

6 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. 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. 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 [N and] all your saints we give you glory, through Jesus Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, today and for ever. The Lord s Prayer Looking for the coming of the Kingdom, let us pray [with confidence] as our Saviour taught us: Our Father OR Our Father, who art in heaven The Breaking of the Bread 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. 6

7 The Agnus Dei may be used as the bread is broken Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace. (or) 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. Giving of Communion God's holy gifts for God's holy people. Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. A hymn or worship song may be sung or music played as the people receive communion. Prayer after Communion You have opened to us the Scriptures, O Christ, and you have made yourself known in the breaking of the bread. Abide with us, we pray, that, blessed by your royal presence, we may walk with you all the days of our life, and at its end behold you in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one God for ever and ever. 7

8 The Dismissal The Blessing May God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three persons in one God, inspire you to live as one, that you may witness to the perfect union of his love, and the blessing God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. The Conclusion This is the message we have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another. Christ is our peace, who has made us one: he has broken down the barriers which divided us. One in heart and one in mind, and empowered by the Spirit, let us go in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God. Copyright of material used: Some material in this Service is copyright: Gathering adapted from Liturgy of God s Welcome at Collect for welcome from The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wollongong - Intercession (adapted), Kyrie Confession (adapted), & Absolution, Prayer at the Preparation of the Table, The Archbishops Council 2002: New Patterns for Worship; Gospel Acclamation, Collect at the end of the intercessions, Introduction to the Peace, Blessing and Conclusion from Epiphany: Unity Materials in Common Worship: Times and Seasons 2006 The Archbishops Council; Eucharistic Prayer: Additional Eucharistic Prayer 2 The Archbishops Council All other material for the Eucharistic Liturgy from Common Worship: Principle Services The Archbishops Council