Parish Eucharist Service Sheet

St Mary-at-Finchley
Parish Eucharist
Sixth Sunday of Easter
10^th May 2026

The Gathering

Stand   A hymn is sung as the choir, servers and clergy enter

Processional Hymn 321 Love divine, all loves excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

Breath, o breathe thy loving Spirit
Into ev’ry troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy grace receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above;
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

The Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ  be with you
and also with you.

Alleluia! Christ is risen
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Prayers of Penitence

Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.
Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil
and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

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 (Poston Mass)

Gloria, gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo,
Glory, glory, glory be to thee,
And peace to his people here on earth.
Laudamus te, benedicimus te, adoramus te,
We praise thee, we bless thee, we adore thee,
We glorify thee, glorificamus, glorify thee, glorificamus,
We give thee thanks for thy great glory.
Domine Deus, Rex caelestis,
Deus Pater omnipotens,
Only Son of the Father, Jesus Christ,
Thou who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us,
Thou who takest away the sins of the world,
Receive our prayer,
Thou who art at the right hand of the Father
Have mercy on us,
Solus sanctus, quoniam tu solus sanctus,
Thou alone art the Lord,
Thou alone most high, Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray

Risen Christ,
by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples:
help your Church to obey your command
and draw the nations to the fire of your love,
to the glory of God the Father.
 Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Readings

Sit
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (17. 22 – 31)

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said,
“For we too are his offspring.”
Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.’

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


Psalm 66.7-end

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.
Bless our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.
You brought us into the net;
you laid burdens on our backs;
you let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

 

 

 

 

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.
I will come into your house with burnt-offerings;
I will pay you my vows,
those that my lips uttered
and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
I will offer to you burnt-offerings of fatlings,
with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats.

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for me.
I cried aloud to him,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.
But truly God has listened;
he has given heed to the words of my prayer.
Blessed be God,
because he has not rejected my prayer
or removed his steadfast love from me.

Make a joyful noise to God all the earth, sing to the glory of his name.

A reading from the first letter of Peter (3.13 – end)

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading

Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.
Alleluia!

The Lord be with you
And also with you

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (14.15-21).
Glory to you, O Lord.

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit             Sermon

Stand       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.

Kneel      Prayers of Intercession

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Or

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

and at the end

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Stand    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!

Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ be always with you
and also with you. Alleluia!

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

The Offertory

A Hymn is sung as the elements of bread and wine and the gifts of the people are brought to the altar.

Offertory Hymn 364 O God of Bethel

O God of Bethel, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
Who through this earthly pilgrimage
Hast all our forebears led.

Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our forebears, be the God
Of their succeeding race.

Through each mysterious path of life
Be thou our constant guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

O spread Thy covering wings around
Till all our journeys cease,
And at our Father’s loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.


Be present, be present,
Lord Jesus Christ,
our risen high priest;
make yourself known in the breaking of bread.
Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

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,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
almighty and eternal Father,
and in these days of Easter
to celebrate with joyful hearts
the memory of your wonderful works.
For by the mystery of his passion
Jesus Christ, your risen Son,
has conquered the powers of death and hell
and restored in men and women the image of your glory.
He has placed them once more in paradise
and opened to them the gate of life eternal.
And so, in the joy of this Passover,
earth and heaven resound with gladness,
while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation
sing for ever the hymn of your glory:

Sanctus, sanctus Dominus, sanctus, Deus,
Holy, holy, holy one, holy Lord
Heav’n and earth are full of thy glory, glory be to thee, glory be,
O my Lord most high, glory be to thee,
Sanctus, sanctus Dominus, sanctus, Deus,
Holy, holy, holy one, holy, holy Lord
Hosanna in the highest.

We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
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,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with [N and] all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.



Kneel          The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation as our Saviour has taught us so we pray

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 Bread

Every time we eat this bread
and drink this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death
until he comes.

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.
Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, grant us all of your peace.
Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.
Agnus Dei, Lamb of God, grant us all of your peace.

Giving of Communion

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Communicant members of all Christian Churches are welcome to receive Communion.

Any member of the congregation is welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.

During the distribution hymns and anthems may be sung.

Anthem: Philip Wilby, Vox Christi

Kneel         Prayer after Communion


Silence is kept.

God our Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life:
may we thirst for you,
the spring of life and source of goodness,
through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen.

God of truth,
we have seen with our eyes
and touched with our hands the bread of life:
strengthen our faith
that we may grow in love for you
and for each other;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Notices


Stand   A hymn is sung

Post Communion Hymn 564 Ye holy angels bright

Ye holy angels bright,
who wait at God’s right hand,
or through the realms of light
fly at your Lord’s command,
assist our song,
for else the theme
too high doth seem for mortal tongue.

Ye blessed souls at rest,
who ran this earthly race
and now, from sin released,
behold your Saviour’s face,
God’s praises sound,
as in his sight
with sweet delight ye do abound.

Ye saints, who toil below,
adore your heavenly King,
and onward as ye go
some joyful anthem sing;
take what he gives
and praise him still,
through good or ill, who ever lives!

My soul, bear thou thy part,
triumph in God above:
and with a well-tuned heart
sing thou the songs of love!
Let all thy days
till life shall end,
whate’er he send, be filled with praise!

The Dismissal

The Lord be with you
And also with you

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will;
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 the peace of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.

The ministers and people depart.

Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000