Mission. Then and now, it's a tall order.
There’s a prize for anyone who can recall the poem I often use when talking about mission and sending out. I’ve used it often enough over the last 15 1/2 years. Can you remember what it is?
Given the ‘Jewish’ focus of Matthew’s Gospel, today’s gospel reading is something of a limited commission , as it doesn’t include ‘The Gentiles.’ The Apostles are not required, yet, to make disciples of ‘all nations.’ However, we are! It will involve speaking to others ‘outside the fold’ and, ideally, giving personal testimony about Who Jesus is for us.
There is an alternative I mention quite a lot too, which is that by our examples and inspired by us others may want to find out what it is that makes us ‘tick’. We may “use words if necessary” (St Francis of Assisi).
As a result of my recent appointment as Chair of Pride in Place for Clayton Vale, I was reminded of the centrality of churches as places for all people. Their prime function is for the praise and worship of Almighty God, easy to forget sometimes. Our worship should be inspired and informed by what we do in deed, word and prayer. How are we going to do this, if we are shy or get tongue-tied; or feel embarrassed about our faith in an indifferent and sometimes hostile world? The question and answer is Jesus, sent by the Father, who fills us with His Spirit. God gives us all we need, and the space to grow into what and who we are called to be.
Fr A
Image: "The sending of the Twelve" Duccio di Buoninsegna
Music before the service
Mit Fried' und Freud' fahr' ich dahin BWV 616 J.S. Bach
With peace and joy I go
THE GATHERING
We stand to sing
Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
ye for whom a cornerstone
stands, of God elect and precious,
laid that ye may build thereon,
see that on that sure foundation
ye a living temple raise,
towers that may tell forth salvation,
walls that may re-echo praise.
Living stones, by God appointed
each to his allotted place,
kings and priests, by God anointed,
shall ye not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
tell the tidings of your birth,
tidings of a new creation
to an old and weary earth.
Tell the praise of him who called you
out of darkness into light,
broke the fetters that enthralled you,
gave you freedom, peace and sight:
tell the tale of sins forgiven,
strength renewed and hope restored,
till the earth, in tune with heaven,
praise and magnify the Lord.
Words: Cyril Alington
Tune: Hyfrydol.
In the name of the +Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
and also with you
Prayer of Preparation
Please sit or kneel.
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.
Prayers of Penitence
Invitation to confession:
We run the race set before us,
surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.
Therefore let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which clings so closely,
bringing them to Jesus in penitence
and faith. Hebrews 12.1
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy, forgive what we have been
help us to amend what we are
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy
and walk humbly with you, our God
Amen
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
+pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gloria in Excelsis
Please stand
(Mass of Sr Cedd,Nadone)
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.
The Collect
Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are
nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.
Grant this for your only Son
Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Exodus 19.2-6
2They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites:4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine,6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.’
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Romans 5.1-8
5Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
As you are able, please stand
Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who hear the word of the Lord and keep it.
Alleluia.
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord.
35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.37Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’
10Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.7As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.”8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Matthew 9.35-10.8
At the end:
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon
The 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 Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he
came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the
Virgin Mary and was made man.
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 and the Son,
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.
Prayers of Intercession
Please sit or kneel
Encouraged by our fellowship with all the saints, let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Cycle of Prayer
Our bishops: David, Mark and Matthew
The Anglican Communion
The Church of the Province of South East Asia
Porvoo Communion
The Scottish Episcopal Church: Diocese of Argyll and the Isles:
Church of Ireland: Diocese of Connor;
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark: Diocese of Lolland-Falster
Schools and Colleges
All Saints; St Wilfrid’s; Briscoe Lane Academy; Christ the King;
Co-op Academy Broadhurst; Oldham Blue Coat; Trinity High School;
Bowdoin College, Maine; Churchill College, Cambridge;
University of Coventry; Edge Hill University; University of Leeds;
Loretto Sixth Form College; Oldham Sixth Form College.
Parish
Leaholme Close, Lewisham Avenue, Lilmore Avenue, Limerston Drive,
Lincoln Court, Linwood Street.
The Departed
Beryl Wilson
Book of Remembrance
Hilda Clarke; Hannah Hanes; John Dennerly; William Wilson; Elizabeth Rimmer; James Corbett; Florence Wilson; Lilian Carine.
The Peace
Please stand
We are fellow-citizens with the saints and of
the household of God,
through Christ our Lord, who came and
preached peace to those who were far off
and those who were near.
Ephesians 2.19,17
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the Table
Father,
accept all we bring before you this day.
Guide us with your love and feed us at your table
as you nourish the faith of the Church by the preaching of your apostles.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Eucharistic Prayer
Please sit or kneel
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.
The president recites the Preface as far as
“…we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying/singing:
(Mass of St. Cedd, Nardone)
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.
The president continues with the institution narrative as far as
Praise to you Lord Jesus
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
The Eucharistic prayer continues to its conclusion in the Doxology
by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours,
almighty Father, for ever and ever
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour
has taught us:
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.
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.
The Agnus Dei
Jesus, Lamb of God:
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins:
have mercy on us.
Jesus, Redeemer of the world:
give us your peace.
Giving of Communion
Behold the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Lord I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I am healed.
We join in Communion.
If you wish to come forward for a Blessing, please bring this booklet with you or keep your arms folded.
Music after Communion
(Remain seated)
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.
Prayer of St Richard of Chichester
Music Alexander Forbes L’Estrange.
Prayer after Communion
Silence is kept
Loving Father,
we thank you for feeding us at the supper of your Son:
sustain us with your Spirit,
that we may serve you here on earth
until our joy is complete in heaven,
and we share in the eternal banquet
with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son
Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls
and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit
to live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.
Notices may be given out.
Hymn
1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him, and rejoice.
2 The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
3 O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
4 For why? the Lord our God is good;
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
5 To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heaven and earth adore,
from men and from the angel-host
be praise and glory evermore.
William Kethe, (fl 1559-died 1594)
The Blessing
God, who has prepared for you a city
with eternal foundations,
bring you, with all the saints,
to the eternal and triumphant joy
of that city;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ, Amen.
Voluntary
Carillon de Westminster Louis Vierne
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