All Saints’ Parish Church, Clayton-le-Moors

Worship on the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

Greeting

The Lord be with you
All        And also with you.

All       Lord, direct our thoughts,
and teach us to pray.
Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Hymn

New every morning is the love
our wakening and uprising prove;
through sleep and darkness safely brought,
restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
hover around us while we pray;
new perils past, new sins forgiven,
new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

If on our daily course our mind
be set to hallow all we find,
new treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
as more of heaven in each we see;
some softening gleam of love and prayer
shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task,
will furnish all we ought to ask:
room to deny ourselves; a road
to bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in thy dear love,
fit us for perfect rest above;
and help us, this and every day,
to live more nearly as we pray.

Prayers of penitence

All       God of mercy,
we acknowledge that we are all sinners.
We turn from the wrong
that we have thought and said and done,
and are mindful of all that we have failed to do.

For the sake of Jesus,
who died for us,
forgive us for all that is past,
and help us to live each day
in the light of Christ our Lord.
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.

Glory to God

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

Lord God,

defend your Church from all false teaching

and give to your people knowledge of your truth,

that we may enjoy eternal life

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

All   Amen

First Reading
Romans 13:8-end

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.

And do this, understanding the present time: the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

This is the word of the Lord

All        Thanks be to God

Alleluia

Alleluia, alleluia.  Shine like lights in the world as you hold on to the word of life.

All        Alleluia!

Gospel reading
Matthew 18:15-20

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

All        Glory to you, O Lord

‘If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

‘Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’

This is the gospel of the Lord

All        Praise to you, O Christ

Sermon

Affirmation of faith

All   I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 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.

Prayers of intercession

Let us pray:

Lord God, you have brought us here today, to meet in your Church, we offer to you our prayers which grows from a love for you and our love and concern for those we love and for the people of the world.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for the world

As we pray in our individual homes -around the nation and around the world – we are a united family.

Let us just stop and pray for a moment, for peace throughout the world.

(Short Silence)

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church

We give thanks for those who come up with fresh ways of making your name known to the wider community and for those who work so hard to make worship possible through online and virtual services.

We ask for the continued work of your Holy Spirit to breathe compassion and courage into the hearts of all people and to inspire us to connect with those who are vulnerable and respond in love to their needs.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for others

God of compassion and grace, we share with you our love and concern for people who feel in a dark place today affected by the ongoing impact of Coronavirus in their lives.

We pray that they will find your strength in the compassion and love of those around them.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

God of life, we ask for your healing power on those who are enduring pain and illness and we name then quietly in our hearts.

(Short Silence)

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

Mighty God we share the grief of people close to us, who have recently lost loved ones. We remember the family and friends of our recently departed sister Joan.

(Short Silence)

We know your everlasting light shines with us, in moments of great sadness and great joy. Within their darkest nights, Let your light shine.

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves for peace in our hearts and the growing love of Christ in our lives.

In silence we bring our personal concerns to God who knows and understands us.

Father God, forgive us when we waste our lives by being too busy to enjoy your creation help us to become your hands and feet in the places we go so that our neighbours will one day ask us to tell them more about you.

(Short Silence)

Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer.

God of love and hope help us to be aware of your presence each day. Make us instruments of love and praise. May our words, actions and lives be living examples of your forgiving, healing, life-giving love.

Merciful Father

All  Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son and Saviour Jesus Christ Our Lord –

Amen.

The peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All       And also with you

The Eucharistic Prayer

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

The president praises God for his mighty acts and all respond

    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 he name of the Lord. 

     Hosanna in the highest!

At the end of the prayer all say  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father…

The Breaking of Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ

All       Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us;

Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us;

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Words of invitation are said and the president and those present in church receive communion.  You can use this time to make an act of spiritual communion.

The Book of Common Prayer instructs us that if (when we cannot receive Communion because of some just impediment), we offer ourselves in penitence and faith, giving thanks for the redemption won by Christ crucified, we may truly ‘eat and drink the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ’, although we cannot receive the sacrament with our mouths. 

You might like to use the following prayer

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
Since I cannot now receive you in the blessed Sacrament,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.

You can then listen to the small group sing King of glory, king of peace

Prayer after Communion

All       Father of all,
we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son
and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace,
and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;

we who drink his cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn

Awake, awake, fling off the night!
For God has sent his glorious light;

And we who live in Christ’s new day

Must works of darkness put away.

Awake and rise, in Christ renewed,

Adn with the Spirit’s pow’r endued,

The light of life in us must glow

And fruits of truth and goodness show.

Let in the light, all sin expose

To Christ, whose life no darkness knows.

Before his cross for guideance kneel;

His light will judge and, judging, heal.

Awake, and rise up from the dead,

And Christ his light on you will shed.

Its pow’r will wrong desires destroy,

And your whole nature fill with joy.

Then sing for joy and use each day;

Give thanks for everything alway.

Lift up your hearts; with one accord

Praise God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

All        Amen.

The dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All        In the name of Christ, Amen.

Copyright

Common Worship is (c) Copyright Archbishops Council of the Church of England

Biblical texts are from the Holy Bible New International Version Anglicised (NIV-UK) is (c) Copyright Biblica, Inc

Awake, awake, fling off the night by John Raphael Peacey is (c) Copyright

September 2020

Dear friends

Another month has come and gone and we now approach autumn.  In many ways early autumn is a lovely time of year – that time of mists and mellow fruitfulness! – but of course it also points us to short days, long nights and eventually winter.  The schools are back for the new year and it is lovely to hear the full sound of children on the playground again after the long period in which only a few children were present.  We keep our schools, pupils and teachers very much in our prayers as they get going again, not least that everyone keeps safe.

It is good that since my last letter, Hyndburn has been released from the extra restrictions.  There are still cases occurring locally, though, so it remains essential that we all continue to follow the guidance.

Attendance at church services has gradually been increasing and in recent weeks All Saints’ has been at or near ‘capacity’ for the number of separate individuals or households who can safely be in church together. The time has come to very gradually increase the number of services so that those who wish can come to worship in church and yet remain safe.

At Altham worship will continue to be weekly at 9:30, with all-age worship on the second Sunday of each month.

At All Saints’ we will continue to have a Communion service at 11am each Sunday.  For now we are still unable to sing together, but gradually the pre-recorded music will be replaced by live music with small numbers of the choir or worship group singing.  We have been very well supported by the recordings that Chris and family have made throughout lockdown, but it will be lovely to have some live music-making going on in church.

Wednesday Communion at 10am will also return from this coming Wednesday 9^th September.

And on the second Sunday of each month there will be a family service at 2pm – this will last half an hour and is aimed at those with children.  Pre-booking is essential for this service via this link  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-praise-tickets-118443861779

Now that autumn is here and the nights are drawing in, it might be the perfect time to take part in something new.  I’d like to invite you to join with others in taking part in the Bible Course.  Sessions will take place via Zoom on Thursday evenings beginning on 24^th September at 7:30pm.  There will be a total of 8 sessions with a break over half term.  Each week will include two videos to watch, a time of discussion and a time for personal reflection.  In between each session there will be a reading to read each day.  The course is fun, interesting and doesn’t assume prior knowledge.  It will help anyone get a better overview of the bible and get used to reading its different parts and working out what it means for us today.  Please just let me know if you’ll be joining so that I can make sure you get a handbook.  Sometime next year, when things are hopefully back to a greater degree of normality, we will offer this as a face to face course for those who can’t, or would rather not, do this online.

This month sees Peter Dillon begin his training and formation for ordained ministry (three years part-time) – congratulations Peter on being called to this by God’s church.  As was the case when Lesley was training, Peter will remain in our benefice for most of the time but will be off on other placements from time to time.  As you will expect, he will have an increasing role ‘up front’.  I know that you will give him your support and your prayers at this special time.  And please remember Revd Jane, who is settled very well at Whalley, Sabden and Pendleton.  Restrictions mean that we can’t attend her ordination to the priesthood at Michaelmas, but we keep her in prayers at such a special moment in her life.

Harvest

Looking ahead, it may be helpful to know that harvest festival will be on 11^th October.  I hope we’ll be able to make a bumper collection of food for our local food bank, and a generous financial response to the bishop’s harvest appeal.  We’ll make sure there is an opportunity for any not coming to church services to drop off either kind of gifts.  More details in next month’s letter.  And if you can help with items sooner than that they are always appreciated and can be dropped off at the Baptist Church on Sparth Road.

The long-delayed 2020 Annual Meetings will also take place during October.  All Saints’ will be held on Tuesday 13^th October at 7:30pm.  Altham St James’ will be held on Sunday 18^th at 9:30am.

This week I led worship with the new Year 7 pupils at St Christopher’s and introduced them to the school prayer – which is a very famous prayer written by St Ignatius of Loyala.  You probably know it.  I asked them to think about it before inviting them to join in saying the words as they ask a lot of us.  I commend them to you as we leave the summer and head into an uncertain autumn.  Words of commitment to Christ in this and every season of life.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.  Amen.

God bless you and keep safe.

Yours in Christ

Toby

Revd

We are offering a brand new short act of worship especially suited for families. These will take place on the second Sunday of each month between 2:00 – 2:30pm in church.

The first of these new family services will be on the 13th September.

Booking will be essential via this link .  Please book ONE ticket per family / bubble. Please give priority to families for this service.

At present we can’t share refreshments or sing, (though we can do actions), but we can enjoy being in church to worship our  Heavenly Father.