7 th May 2017 Fourth Sunday of Easter Baptism and Confirmation of Jenny and Bronwyn Confirmation of Sophie

Transcription

1 A member of the Central Highlands Cluster Ministry St George s, Trentham 9.00am St Mary s, Woodend 11.00am 7 th May 2017 Fourth Sunday of Easter Baptism and Confirmation of Jenny and Bronwyn Confirmation of Sophie We acknowledge the Jaara Jaara people, the custodians of this land where we gather. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and pray for reconciliation.

2 GATHERING IN GOD S NAME Gathering Hymn 494 In Water we Grow The Lord be with you. And also with you Christ is risen Alleluia He is risen indeed Alleluia Sentence for the day I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John Baptism is the gift of our Lord Jesus Christ. When he had risen from the dead, he commanded his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We have come together today to obey that command. Baptism with water signifies the cleansing from sin that Jesus death makes possible, and the new life that God gives us through the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, the promises of God are visibly signed and sealed for us. We are joined to Christ, and made members of his body, the Church universal. In confirmation those who have been previously baptised come to confirm their baptismal promises and join with the other candidates to receive the laying on of the bishop s hand with prayer. We pray that those who are baptised and confirmed will be empowered by the Holy Spirit for the ministry and service to which God shall call them. So we welcome you Jenny, Bronwyn and Sophie with your sponsors and families. We give thanks for you, and pray that you may know God s love and faithfulness for ever.

3 The confession and absolution Let us affirm our trust in God s mercy, And confess that we need forgiveness Lord God, you created this world, and made us in your own image. Forgive us when we turn away from you. Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord God, through your Son you overcame evil and death. Rescue us from slavery to sin. Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord God, by your Spirit, you restore us to fellowship with you and with one another. Breathe your love and freedom in to our lives. Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and keep you in eternal life. Amen We sing The Gloria Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

4 For you alone are the Holy One: you alone are the Lord: you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Let us pray God of all power, you called from death our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep: send us as shepherds to rescue the lost, to heal the injured, and to feed one another with understanding; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. MINISTRY OF THE WORD A reading from the first letter of Peter chapter 2 verses 1-10 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.

5 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner, and A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. For the word of the Lord thanks be to God Gospel Hymn 10 The Lord s my Shepherd Halle halle halle, lu-i-a, Halle halle halle, lu-i-a Halle halle halle, lu-i-a, Halleluia Halleluia Now Christ is raised from the dead, He will never die again. All who follow his Word, shall have life in him, Halleluia Halleluia Halle halle halle, luia, Halle halle halle, luia Halle halle halle, luia, Halleluia Halleluia

6 The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John, chapter 10 beginning at the 1 st verse Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. For the Gospel of the Lord praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ The Sermon The Baptism and Confirmation of Jenny and Bronwyn and the Confirmation of Sophie THE PRESENTATION We welcome Jenny and Bronwyn who come to be baptised. I invite their sponsors to present them now. Sponsors: We present Jenny / Bronwyn to be baptised.

7 We welcome Sophie who has come to be confirmed. I invite her sponsor to present her now. Sponsor: I present Sophie to be baptised. To Jenny, Bronwyn and Sophie: Before God and this congregation, you must affirm that you turn to Christ and reject all that is evil. Do you turn to Christ? Candidates: I turn to Christ Do you repent of your sins? Candidates: I repent of my sins Do you reject selfish living, and all that is false and unjust? Candidates: I reject them all Do you renounce Satan and all that is evil? Candidates: I renounce all that is evil Almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness, and lead you in the light of Christ to his everlasting kingdom. Amen Will you each, by God's grace, strive to live as a disciple of Christ, loving God with your whole heart, and your neighbour as yourself, until your life's end? Candidates: I will, with God's help People of St Mary s, you have heard these our sisters respond to Christ. Will you support them in this high calling? All: We will Let us pray Grant, merciful God, that Jenny and Bronwyn may be so buried with Christ in baptism that the new nature may be raised up in them. Amen Give to their sponsors and families the desire to share with them what you have revealed in your holy gospel. Amen May they know Christ s forgiving love, and continue in the fellowship and service of his Church. May they proclaim, by word and example, the good news of God in Christ. Amen

8 We thank you for the ministry we have in your world and to each other in the household of faith. Hasten that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in Christ. Amen THE BAPTISM The baptism party gathers at the font The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. We give you thanks that at the beginning of creation your Holy Spirit moved upon the waters to bring forth light and life. With water you cleanse and replenish the earth; you nourish and sustain all living things Thanks be to God. We give you thanks that through the waters of the Red Sea you led your people out of slavery into freedom, and brought them through the river Jordan to new life in the land of promise. Thanks be to God. We give you thanks for your Son Jesus Christ: for his baptism by John, for his anointing with the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God. We give you thanks that through the deep waters of death Jesus delivered us from our sins and was raised to new life in triumph. Thanks be to God. We give you thanks for the grace of the Holy Spirit who forms us in the likeness of Christ and leads us to proclaim your kingdom Thanks be to God. And now we give you thanks that you have called your servants Jenny and Bronwyn to new birth in your Church through the waters of baptism.

9 Pour out your Holy Spirit in blessing and sanctify this water + so that those who are baptised in it may be made one with Christ in his death and resurrection. May they die to sin, rise to newness of life, and continue for ever in Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we give you praise and honour in the unity of the Spirit, now and forever. Amen THE PROFESSION OF FAITH I now ask you to affirm as yours the faith of the Church. Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe in God the Son? I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith. We believe in one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

10 Jenny / Bronwyn, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Jenny and Bronwyn are signed with the cross using blessed oil Jenny / Bronwyn I sign you with the sign of the cross to show that you are marked as Christ's own forever. Live as a disciple of Christ, fight the good fight, finish the race, keep the faith. Confess Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, look for his coming in glory. A candle is presented God has brought you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father. God has called you into his Church We therefore receive and welcome you as a member with us of the body of Christ, as a child of the one heavenly Father, and as an inheritor of the kingdom of God. THE CONFIRMATION Our help is in the name of the Lord who has made heaven and earth. Blessed be the name of the Lord now, and for ever. Amen Almighty and everliving God, you have given your servants new birth by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them their sins. Strengthen them, we pray, with the Holy Spirit that they may grow in grace.

11 Increase in them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of Discernment and inner strength, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill them with wonder and awe at your presence, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The candidates kneel in turn before Bishop Andrew Strengthen Lord, your servant, Sophie / Jenny / Bronwyn with your Holy Spirit. Empower and sustain her for your service. Defend, O Lord, this your servant Sophie / Jenny / Bronwyn with your heavenly grace, that she may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until she comes to your everlasting kingdom. Amen. Almighty and everliving God, watch over your servant Sophie / Jenny / Bronwyn upon whom we have now laid our hands. Let your Holy Spirit always be with her and lead her to know and obey your word, that she may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen The Greeting of Peace In baptism, God has made us one in Christ His Spirit is with us. The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. Offertory Hymn 511 Let us break bread together with the Lord *a collection to assist the mission of God in this parish will be taken up during this hymn

12 THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Blessed are you..(we give thanks for the bread and wine) Blessed be God forever Blessed are you..(we give thanks for money and food offerings) Blessed be God forever The Lord be with you And also with you Lift up your hearts We lift them up to the Lord Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.for ever praising you and singing 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 Lord s name Hosanna in the Highest..Christ has died Christ is Risen Christ will come again in songs of never ending praise Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen

13 With our hearts set on the kingdom and our hands open to serve, we pray as Jesus taught us 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 for ever. Amen. Everyone is welcome to the Lord s table. Please come forward for communion or a blessing. The Sending out of God s people Let us pray Gracious God, in baptism you make us one family in Christ your Son, one in the sharing of his body and his blood, one in the communion of his Spirit. Help us to grow in love for one another and come to the full maturity of the body of Christ. Most loving God... you send us into the world you love. Give us grace to go thankfully and with courage in the power of your Spirit. Final Hymn 545 Shout for Joy The Notices Bishop Andrew will pray for us as we close our church for the floor replacement works.

14 The Blessing and Dismissal Go forth in to the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; give honour to all; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! In the name of Christ. Alleluia! ***some thoughts from Rev. Mel What a wonderful gospel reading to share on the day when we welcome two new Christians, and confirm another, into the church. The shepherd calls us and, as we read the words of the scriptures, we recognise that call, we recognise that voice and the gate to the sheepfold is opened to us. For me, it has been a joy to share in the preparations of Jenny, Bronwyn and Sophie for this day and I know that it means a great deal to each of them as they make their public declarations of faith, as they respond to the call of the shepherd, and enter the sheep fold that is God s love. It reminds us all to keep listening for that God voice in every thing we do in the world. It also reminds us that we too can be instruments of that voice, and that God uses each of us to share the good news of the good shepherd s love. The joys and responsibilities of being a Christian are awesome in the true sense of that word! Peace and love to our candidates today, and to all Christians as we journey together in faith. Mel

15 ************************ Pew Bulletin Thanks for Opera day What a wonderful success our Opera Day was last Sunday. Thanks to everyone who assisted on the day and in the lead up, particularly Leonie and Andrew, Sylvia, Carol, Keith, Bette and the Newham walking group for their wonderful catering. Rev. Neil Fitzgerald Ordination to the Priesthood Rev. Neil will be priested on Sunday June 11 at 2.30pm at St Paul s Bendigo. If you need a lift or if you can offer a lift please let Rev. Mel know so we can all get there to celebrate this wonderful event. St Mary s Street Stall The street stall is this Saturday on High Street, near the newsagent. Knit and Natter The knit and natter group will meet on May 17 th from 11am at the Norma Richardson Hall. Everyone is welcome. Mission Action Plan Your parish council met last week and confirmed the final Mission Action Plan details for the coming year. This year we will focus on building our community, supporting our local LGBTI community through Gay and Pray / Openhouse initiatives, raising awareness of family violence, and continuing to raise awareness off the plight of refugees. Our first event for community building will be a share dinner and Jane and Peter s on May 20 th. Rosie will be the co-ordinator for the share dinners. Rev. Mel will be the co-ordinator for the Gay and Pray/Openhouse events. Greg will be the co-ordinator for family violence awareness events The refugee co-ordinator is yet to be confirmed.

16 Trinity College Choral High Mass The final Sunday evening service, a High Mass with full Choir, for Semester 1 at Trinity College is on Sunday May 21 st. If you re interested in attending please see Rev. Mel. Parish Leaders Workshop All Parish Council members and leaders within the parish are requested to attend one of the workshops. The next one will be July 1 at 10am in Kangaroo Flat. Please ensure that you mark this in your diary and confirm your attendance with Rev. Mel Intercessions our prayers are asked for: Keith, John, Sam, Jim, Andrea, Alison, Ethan, Kirsten, Carole, Wendy, Judy, Jonathan, Susie, Jeanette, Trevor, Rudi, Trish, Emma, Molly, Pauline, Sheila, Hugh, Liz and Joy. Birthdays! Today is Joy Daymon s birthday, tomorrow is Trudy Shepherd s, Friday is Les Huson s and Saturday is Beth Davis birthday. God s blessings to you all on your special day and throughout the year! Years Mind and those who have died recently We give thanks for the lives of June Adams, Leopold Caton, and Guy. We pray for their families and friends as they grieve. On Wednesday we remember Ilse Eggert PO Box 699, Woodend, VIC Rector: Rev d. Ian Howarth / Assistant Curate: Rev d Melissa Clark Deacon: Rev d Neil Fitzgerald Wardens: Derek ; John