Choral Eucharist on 11th October will be livestreamed and available online at Holy Trinity’s YouTube site from 10.55am on Sunday at
https://www.youtube.com/live/rnBkeYl9xss
ORGAN PRELUDE: Improvisation on 'Charity'
WELCOME
Grace and peace to you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
OPENING HYMN NEH 443 Rejoice, the Lord is King (Gopsal)
1 Rejoice, the Lord is King.
Your Lord and King adore;
mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore:
Refrain
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
rejoice, again I say, rejoice.
2 Jesus the Saviour, reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above:
Refrain.
3 His kingdom cannot fail;
he rules o'er earth and heaven;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus given:
Refrain.
4 He sits at God's right hand
till all his foes submit,
and bow to his command,
and fall beneath his feet:
Refrain.
APPROACH TO GOD
I will go to the altar of God;
to the God of my joy and gladness.
My help is in the name of the Lord
Who made heaven and earth.
Turn us, O God and Saviour;
that your people may rejoice in you.
O Lord, show us your mercy;
and grant us your salvation.
Lord, hear our prayer;
give ear to our cry.
COLLECT FOR PURITY
We say together:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
God is love and we are God’s children.
There is no room for fear in love.
We love because God loved us first.
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Silence
God our Father, we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil,
for the sake of your Son who died for us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
KYRIE ELEISON
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
THE ABSOLUTION
God, who is both power and love,
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by your Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his 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.
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.
COLLECT:
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING Philippians 4:1-9
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians.
My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
At the end
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GRADUAL HYMN NEH 452 Stand up, and bless the Lord (Carlisle)
1 STAND up, and bless the Lord,
Ye people of his choice;
Stand up, and bless the Lord your God
With heart and soul and voice.
2 Though high above all praise,
Above all blessing high,
Who would not fear his holy Name,
And praise and magnify?
3 O for the living flame
From his own altar brought,
To touch our lips, our mind inspire,
And wing to heaven our thought!
4 God is our strength and song,
And his salvation ours;
Then be his love in Christ proclaimed
With all our ransomed powers.
5 Stand up, and bless the Lord,
The Lord your God adore;
Stand up, and bless his glorious name
Henceforth for evermore.
GOSPEL (Matthew 22:1-14)
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
When the Gospel is announced:
Glory to Christ our Saviour.
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’
At the end:
Give thanks to the Lord for his glorious Gospel
Praise to Christ our Lord.
SERMON
ANTHEM The Lord is my Shepherd (Stanford) (note: to bar 166)
NICENE CREED
We believe in one God,
the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one substance with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
INTERCESSIONS
PEACE
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN NEH 364 God is love: let heav’n adore him (Tune 185 ‘Abbot’s Leigh’)
God is Love: let heav'n adore him;
God is Love: let earth rejoice;
Let creation sing before him,
And exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth's foundation,
He who spread the heav'ns above,
He who breathes through all creation,
He is Love, eternal Love.
God is Love: and he enfoldeth
All the world in one embrace;
With unfailing grasp he holdeth
Every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
Under sorrow's iron rod,
Then they find that selfsame aching
Deep within the heart of God.
God is Love: and though With blindness
Sin afflicts the souls of men,
God's eternal loving-kindness
Holds and guides them even then.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o'er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever
O'er the universe must reign.
PRAYERS OF OFFERING
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become the cup of our salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
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 God thanks and praise.
Worship and praise belong to you, Father,
in every place and at all times.
All power is yours.
You created the heavens and established the earth;
you sustain in being all that is.
In Christ your Son, our life and yours
are brought together in a wonderful exchange.
He made his home among us
that we might for ever dwell in you.
Through your Holy Spirit
you call us to new birth
in a creation restored by love.
As children of your redeeming purpose,
we offer you our praise,
with angels and archangels
and the whole company of heaven,
singing the hymn of your unending glory:
SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna, Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory and thanksgiving be to you,
most loving Father,
for the gift of your Son born in human flesh.
He is the Word existing beyond time,
both source and final purpose,
bringing to wholeness all that is made.
Obedient to your will he died upon the Cross.
By your power you raised him from the dead.
He broke the bonds of evil
and set your people free
to be his Body in the world.
On the night when he was given up to death,
knowing that his hour had come,
having loved his own,
he loved them to the end.
At supper with his disciples
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying:
“Take, eat. This is my Body:
it is broken for you.”
After supper, he took the cup,
he offered you thanks, and gave it to them saying:
“Drink this, all of you.
This is my Blood of the new covenant;
it is poured out for you, and for all,
that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
We now obey your Son's command.
We recall his blessed passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension;
and we look for the coming of his Kingdom.
Made one with him, we offer you these gifts
and with them ourselves,
a single, holy, living sacrifice.
Hear us, most merciful God,
and send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and this wine,
that, overshadowed by his life-giving power,
they may be the Body and Blood of your Son,
and we may be kindled with the fire of your love
and renewed for the service of your Kingdom.
Help us, who are baptised into the
fellowship of Christ's Body
to live and work to your praise and glory;
may we grow together in unity and love
until at last, in your new creation,
we enter into our heritage
in the company of the Virgin Mary,
the apostles, and prophets,
and of all our brothers and sisters
living and departed.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be to you,
Lord of all ages,
world without end. Amen.
THE FRACTION
The living bread is broken for the life of the world.
Lord, unite us in this sign.
As our Saviour Christ has commanded and taught us,
we are bold to say;
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.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
Grant us, grant us peace.
INVITATION
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Happy are we who are called to share this supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
COMMUNION HYMN: NEH 367 Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost (Tune 2 'Charity')
1 Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
Taught by thee, we covet most
Of thy gifts at Pentecost,
Holy, heavenly love.
2 Love is kind, and suffers long,
Love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
Love than death itself more strong;
Therefore give us love.
3 Prophecy will fade away,
Melting in the light of day;
Love will ever with us stay;
Therefore give us love.
4 Faith will vanish into sight;
Hope be emptied in delight;
Love in heaven will shine more bright;
Therefore give us love.
5 Faith and hope and love we see
Joining hand in hand agree;
But the greatest of the three,
And the best, is love.
6 From the overshadowing
Of thy gold and silver wing
Shed on us, who to thee sing,
Holy, heavenly love.
THANKSGIVING AND SENDING OUT
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious.
And his mercy endures for ever.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Loving God,
your steadfast purpose is the completion of all things in your Son.
May we who have received the pledges of the kingdom,
live by faith, walk in hope and be renewed in love,
until the world reflects your glory and you are all in all;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING:
The peace of God which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God
and of Jesus Christ our Lord:
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen
DISMISSAL
Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
In the Name of Christ. Amen.
FINAL HYMN : NEH 381 Jerusalem the golden (Ewing)
1 Jerusalem the golden,
with milk and honey blest,
beneath thy contemplation
sink heart and voice opprest.
I know not, O I know not
what social joys are there,
what radiancy of glory,
what bliss beyond compare.
2 They stand, those halls of Sion,
conjubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel
and all the martyr throng;
the Prince is ever in them,
the daylight is serene,
the pastures of the blessèd
are decked in glorious sheen.
3 There is the throne of David;
and there, from care released,
the song of them that triumph,
the shout of them that feast;
and they, who, with their Leader
have conquered in the fight,
for ever and for ever
are clad in robes of white.
4 O sweet and blessèd country,
shall I ever see thy face?
O sweet and blessèd country,
shall I ever win thy grace?
Exult, O dust and ashes!
the Lord shall be thy part:
his only, his for ever,
thou shalt be, and thou art!
ORGAN VOLUNTARY: Praeludium in D (Buxtehude)