Processional hymn – 527 Virgin born, we bow before thee
1 Virgin-born, we bow before thee;
blessèd was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, mother meek and mild,
blessèd was she in her child.
2 Blessèd was the breast that fed thee;
blessèd was the hand that led thee;
blessèd was the parent’s eye
that watched thy slumbering infancy.
3 Blessèd she by all creation,
who brought forth the world’s Salvation,
blessèd they for ever blest,
who love thee most and serve thee best.
4 Virgin-born we bow before thee;
blessèd was the womb that bore thee;
Mary, mother meek and mild,
blessèd was she in her child.
We welcome each other
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord of glory be with you
The Lord bless you.
We praise God
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe!
Blessed be God for ever.
You gave us Jesus, the light of the world; he makes our darkness light.
Blessed be God for ever.
As we bear your light, may our lips never cease to sing your praise.
Blessed be God for ever.
WE SING OF GOD’S GLORY – (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 that we may know and share the light of Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God and our God. Amen.
We hear God’s Word
Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
All sit for The Talk
We stand and say what we believe
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
We kneel or sit for The Prayers Led by the Junior Church
We say sorry to God
In a dark world we have not held out the light of life. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
In a hungry world we have failed to share our bread. Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
In a loveless world we have kept the love of God to ourselves. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to eternal life.
Amen.
We stand to share the peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Offertory Hymn – 329 Make way, make way
The offerings of the people are presented.
1 Make way, make way, for Christ the King
In splendour arrives.
Fling wide the gates and welcome Him
Into your lives.
Make way! Make way!
For the King of kings.
Make way! Make way!
And let His kingdom in.
2 He comes the broken hearts to heal,
The prisoners to free;
The deaf shall hear, the lame shall dance,
The blind shall see.
Make way!…
3 And those who mourn with heavy hearts,
Who weep and sigh,
With laughter, joy and royal crown He’ll beautify.
Make way!…
4 We call you now to worship Him
As Lord of all.
To have no gods before Him,
Their thrones must fall.
Make way!…
The Lord be with you
All and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give thanks and praise.
Priest: Holy
Children: Holy
Adults: Holy
It is always right to give you thanks, God our Creator, loving and faithful, holy and strong. You made us and the whole universe, and filled your world with life.
Priest: Holy
Children: Holy
Adults: Holy
You sent your Son to live among us, Jesus our Saviour, Mary’s child. He suffered on the cross; he died to save us from our sins; he rose in glory from the dead.
Priest: Holy
Children: Holy
Adults: Holy
You send your Spirit to bring new life to the world, and clothe us with power from on high. And so we join the angels to celebrate and sing:
All 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
Father, on the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you. He broke it, and gave it to them, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this to remember me.
After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine. He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying: Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, the new promise of God’s unfailing love. Do this to remember me.
Jesus Christ has died.
All Jesus Christ has died.
Jesus Christ is risen.
All Jesus Christ is risen.
Jesus Christ will come again.
All Jesus Christ will come again.
Father, as we bring this bread and wine, and remember his death and resurrection, send your Holy Spirit, that we who share these gifts may be fed by Christ’s body and his blood.
Priest: Holy
Children: Holy
Adults: Holy
Pour your Spirit on us that we may love one another, work for the healing of the earth, and share the good news of Jesus, as we wait for his coming in glory.
Priest: Amen
Children: Amen
Adults: Amen
For honour and praise belong to you, Father, with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit: one God, for ever and ever.
Priest: Amen
Children: Amen
ALL: Amen
All Kneel – a short period of silence is kept
The Lord’s Prayer
Jesus taught us to call God Our Father and so we have confidence 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.
Giving of Communion
God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
All are welcome to come to the altar to receive communion or a blessing.
During Communion: “When Mary to the temple went”, Eccard
After Communion –Kneel Silence is kept
Prayer after Communion
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna, who lived to welcome the Messiah: may we, who have received these gifts beyond words, prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen.
Let us now follow Simeon and Anna and prepare to proclaim Christ to the world.
Stand for the Hymn – 143 Forth in thy namer, O Lord, I go
During which candles are lit
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,
my daily labour to pursue;
thee, only thee, resolved to know,
in all I think or speak or do.
The task thy wisdom hath assigned
O let me cheerfully fulfil;
in all my works thy presence find,
and prove thy good and perfect will.
Thee may I set at my right hand,
whose eyes my inmost substance see,
and labour on at thy command,
and offer all my works to thee.
Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
and every moment watch and pray,
and still to things eternal look,
and hasten to thy glorious day.
For thee delightfully employ
whate’er thy bounteous grace hath giv’n,
and run my course with even joy,
and closely walk with thee to heaven.
Lord God, the springing source of everlasting light, pour into the hearts of your faithful people the brilliance of your eternal splendour, that we, who by these kindling flames light up this temple to your glory, may have the darkness of our souls dispelled, and so be counted worthy to stand before you in that eternal city where you live and reign, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.
the procession moves to the font
God sends us out into the world
The Nunc Dimittis is sung by the choir
Father, we have sung your praise with shepherds and angels:
may Christ be born in our hearts today.
Praise to Christ our light.
We have shared in the joy of Simeon and Anna;
help us, like them, to trust your word.
Praise to Christ our light.
We have greeted Jesus, the light of the world;
may we be filled with the light of your love.
Praise to Christ our light.
All now extinguish their candles.
We stand near the place of new birth.
Let us shine with the light of your love.
We turn from the crib to the cross.
Let us shine with the light of your love.
We go to carry his light.
Let us shine with the light of your love. Thanks be to God.
Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey 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.
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops’ Council 2000
Third Edition – December 2006
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