Sunday Worship in Ordinary Times
Stretching from now until November we can make it extraordinarily ordinary. Far from unimportant, during Ordinary Time we intentionally explore, grow and deepen our relationship with God.
Time is never insignificant. The months ahead are filled walking beside Jesus in his ministry, learning from essential teachings that comfort and challenge us to walk the way of Jesus in today. Over and over again we’ll be reminded to forgive, accept the “other” in our lives generously, to seek peace and live humbly, to be healed and allow ourselves to be an instrument of healing
This season is an invitation to slow the pace so we can focus attention on those we love, renew ourselves in body, mind and spirit, put “urgent” in perspective, examine personal values and core beliefs, consider where our lives are going, and set about making changes we know are in our best interest so we can enrich our lives and those of others. It’s actually a season made for living in a COVID19 environment.
Do whatever you are doing this morning, this afternoon or tonight with God. Fill and feel your heart, mind and spirit. Be present in the moment – ask God to join you with an open mind. May we all use this extraordinary, indispensable, and fundamental season ahead to the fullest and follow the Way of Jesus. After all, if we don’t know the way of Jesus how we can celebrate it when the time comes in the months ahead?
In the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
All: and also with you.
This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord open our lips
All: And our mouths will declare your praise.
Let us pray
Blessed are you, Sovereign God,
to you be praise and glory for ever!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
You gave Christ as a light to the nations,
and through the anointing of his Spirit
you established us as a royal priesthood.
As you call us into his marvellous light,
may our lives bear witness to his truth
and our lips never cease to proclaim your praise,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
HYMN:
Psalm 85
I am listening to what the Lord God is saying;
He promises peace to us, his own people,
if we do not go back to our foolish ways.
Surely he is ready to save those who honour him
and his saving presence will remain in our land
All: Love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will embrace. Man’s loyalty will reach up from the earth, and God’s righteousness will look down from heaven
God of city, town and village, we see you both in the spectacular
and in the ordinariness of life. In the beauty of a sunset behind a city skyline
and in the selfless giving of time to one in need; in the tranquillity of the dawn chorus and the roar of a jet engine.
Open our eyes
All: That we might see
Our skills, our knowledge, our wisdom
All have their origins with you.
Open our minds
All: That we might understand
Our creativity, our art, our poetry, our visual expressions are reflections
of your creativity, your Spirit working in us and around us.
Open our imaginations
All: That we might explore our own creativity
God of all, we were not all born to be rich or famous,
but we were all born with the potential to become the people
whom you would have us be.
All: Open Our eyes that we might see the wonders of your love AMEN
SILENCE
‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.’ Col 3:1
For God so loved the world
All: That he gave his one and only Son
That whoever believes in him shall not perish
All: But have eternal life
Prayers of Penitence
O Lord you do not delight in burnt offerings
All: The sacrifices of God are a humble spirit. He will not reject a humble and repentant heart
God has called us to follow Christ, and has formed us into a royal priesthood, a holy nation, to declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Let us confess the times when we have failed to heed this call.
SILENCE
Lord Jesus, you said to your disciples: ‘You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we know that the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Forgive us when we have ignored your will and calling on our lives
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last. Forgive us for failing you in welcome, openness of heart, generosity of spirit and stewardship of all you have given us
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Amen
Absolution
We join in the Song of the Angels and say the Gloria
All: 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 - let us prey
The Liturgy of the Word
Reading 1
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Psalm - may be set to music with images
Gospel Readings
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to …
Sermon
Music/Reflection
Sermon
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Let us pray for the ministry of the whole people of God.
Silence is kept.
God our Father, Lord of all the world,
through your Son you have called us into the fellowship
of your universal Church:
hear our prayer for your faithful people
that in their vocation and ministry
each may be an instrument of your love,
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
… Concludes with:
Lord of all,
you have called each of us to serve you
in your world and in your Church;
strengthen and equip us by your Spirit
to recognise your call to us,
and give us grace and courage to fulfil that calling.,
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Conclusion
Christ, you call us.
Help us respond to your call.
Christ, you call us to be your people in the world.
We will follow your call to be your people: our hands will do your work, our feet will walk your way. Christ, you call us.
Help us respond to your call.
Christ, you call each one to be your child for the world.
may our hearts search for your truth,
may our souls listen for your voice,
may our lives follow in your path.
Christ, you call each one of us.
Help us respond to your call. Christ, you call us to be your people in the world.
We are the body of Christ.
Blessing
May the boldness of the Spirit transform you,
may the gentleness of the Spirit lead you,
may the gifts of the Spirit equip you
to serve and worship God;
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
Thanks be to God.
Hymn
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.