Christ Church C of E Ireton Road Colchester 01206 542307 christ-church-vestry@btconnect.com www.colchesterchristchurch.org.uk Sunday 23 rd April 2017 Welcome to Christ Church We extend a very warm welcome to everyone. Services this week Today 9.30 am Holy Communion 4.00 pm Faith Seeking Understanding Wednesday 26 th April 10.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Sunday 30 th April 9.30 am Holy Baptism Refreshments - the service will be followed by refreshments please do stay and share some fellowship together. Prayer - people are available in the Chapel after the service to pray with you for healing or for any other needs Children are always welcome - Flames (Sunday School) meets together in the Headgate Room every Sunday during term time. All primary age children are very welcome and those who are younger too, if accompanied by an adult. Please do ask the door stewards for directions. Hearing loop there is a hearing loop in the building. If you use a hearing aid please set it to t. Christ Church Anglican Congregation Vision Statement Through our worship, mission, nurture and service we want to enable all people to enter into a living relationship with Jesus Christ
This week Monday 24 th April 2017 10.00 am Coffee + 7.30 pm APCM (Refreshments from 7pm) Tuesday 25 th 9.00 am Morning Prayer 10.00 am Time Together on Tuesday 3.15 pm Messy Crafts Wednesday 26 th 10.00 am Holy Communion in St Mary s Chapel Thursday 27 th 9.00 am Breakfast Café Friday 28 th 3.15 pm Creative Writing 8.00 pm Youth Group Service notes Each week there will be space here for you to jot down any notes you want to make during the service
Welcome and gathering worship We gather as the disciples did, on the day that Jesus rose. Come, risen Lord, and stand among us. We open the doors of our hearts to you. Come, risen Lord, and stand among us. Grant us your peace, and breathe upon us. Come, risen Lord, and stand among us. Amen. Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia! Our children and their leaders go out to Flames Songs: As we are gathered; May the fragrance of Jesus fill this place A prayer of confession Please sit Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief. Lord Jesus, we lock ourselves away within walls of our own making. Breathe your freedom into us, Lord Jesus. We are afraid of what people will think if we say we believe. Breathe your freedom into us, Lord Jesus. We doubt your promises, and ignore the proof you give in our own lives. Breathe your freedom into us, Lord Jesus. Let your love unlock the door of our doubts, and pour upon us your blessing of belief. Amen. Absolution Song: Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord Collect: Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen
Gospel Reading: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John: Glory to you, O Lord. John 20: 19-31 This is the Gospel of the Lord; Praise to you, O Christ Sermon Song: our belief: I believe in Jesus The Prayers Please sit Please sit (at the end) Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen Blessing Penny and Robert 50 years married We come now in the presence of God to give thanks with Penny and Robert for 50 years of married life, to rejoice together and to ask for God s blessing. Therefore we pray with them that, strengthened and guided by God, they may continue to fulfil his purpose for their life together. God our Father, you have taught us through your Son that love is the fulfilling of the law; grant to your servants Penny and Robert that, loving one another, they may continue in your love until their lives end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed are you, heavenly Father; You give joy to husband and wife. Blessed are you, Lord Jesus Christ; You have brought new life to mankind. Blessed are you, Holy Spirit of God; You bring us together in love. Blessed be Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God, to be praised for ever. Amen. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we lift up our hearts to you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him you have made a covenant of grace with your people by the outpouring of your Holy Spirit. We praise you for the gift of marriage in which the love of husband and wife is brought together and reflects your plan of love for the world. We thank you today for Penny and Robert and for leading them to each other in friendship and love, commitment and trust, and for bringing them here for the blessing of their marriage. Loving God, by the presence of your Holy Spirit, may they know the risen Christ to be with them now. May their lives be a witness to your saving love in this troubled world.
As you pour out your love, may they grow together in your sight, and each be to the other a companion in joy, a comfort in sorrow and a strength in need. As you blessed the earthly home at Nazareth with the presence of your Son, may their home be a place of security and peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Penny and Robert pray together: Heavenly Father, we offer you our souls and bodies, our thoughts and words and deeds, our love for one another. Unite our wills in your will, that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Peace The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, Peace be with you. Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia. The peace of the Lord be always with you; and also with you. Offertory hymn: Here in the presence of Christ I stand The Communion 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 thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation say for ever the hymn of your glory: 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. We praise and bless you, loving Father Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory. Jesus Christ is Lord: Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world. Lord of all life all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen
The Lord s Prayer Please sit As our Saviour taught us, so we pray Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as 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 for ever. Amen 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. We share bread and wine together During the sharing of communion there will be an opportunity for prayer for healing. If you would like prayer or a simple blessing then please move to the prayer place to the left of the dais where someone will come to you. Prayer after communion Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ you have assured your children of eternal life and in baptism have made us one with him: deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in your love, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Notices Closing hymn: Praise to the holiest in the height stand Please The Blessing May Christ, who out of defeat brings new hope and a new future, fill you with his new life; and the blessing Sending out Let us go with joy, and with courage to love and serve the risen Lord. The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Prayer for the week Risen Christ, open our hearts to see you standing near to us, and come into our lives so that others may see you in us, to your praise and glory. Amen The World We pray for wisdom and peace over the various political tensions around the world. For those affected by the terrorist attack in Paris. The situations in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Those areas of the world affected severely with flooding, all those who face lack of clean water, starvation and homelessness. National and Local Our Queen and those who govern our lands. Those who have been affected by the terrorist attack in London. Those from our armed forces who are deployed around the world. Our emergency and security services especially at this time of heightened security levels. Those who have concerns over employment, debt and relationships. Our Church and pastoral needs Rev Canon Paul and Glyn Norrington Our ministry team. Matt and Jennie Stemp Brian Byford and Janice Pace, Brian and Marilyn Beattie, Pauline Womersley. Those undergoing hospital tests, those recovering from surgery or receiving treatment and those who are unwell Those who mourn. Those struggling with everyday life both physically and mentally Give thanks for 50 years of marriage for Penny and Robert Jacklin Streets of the week Please pray for all those who live in Creffield Road, Beverley Road, Cambridge Road Pastoral Prayer Care Groups Please pray for Eric Berhardt, Judith Budge, June & John Chandler, Lyndsey Fildes, Molly Whitehead