Holy Communion

These pre-recorded services of Holy Communion have been available during lockdown, but with our return to worship in public buildings, this week’s will be the last recording.

You can listen to this service of Holy Communion, including sermon, at any time of your own convenience. During this pandemic, the patterns of our lives have been disrupted and there is no harm in slowing down, and taking your time to listen on your own, in your own space and comfort. The words are printed below. If you would like to share this online communion with others, we have a HomeChurch gathering, click here for more information.

In order to help with the setting at home, find somewhere unlikely to experience interruptions for the next 30 minutes. Light a candle, or a set a small lamp on a stand, something that brings to mind the idea of light shining in the world. You may want to get a small piece of bread for later in the service.

Sunday 7th March

The Third Sunday of Lent

Almighty God, your Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence.
Give us new hearts and constant wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

We gather in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen

The Lord be with you
and also with you

We say together the prayer of preparation:
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

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
The first commandment is this:
‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.’
The second is this:
‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen, Lord have mercy

The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,
and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith

God our Father,
long-suffering, full of grace and truth,
you create us from nothing and give us life.
You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism
You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us asideWe confess that we have sinned
against you and our neighbour
We have wounded your love and marred your image in us
Restore us for the sake of your Son,
and bring us to heavenly joy,
in Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen

Eternal God,
give us insight
to discern your will for us,
to give up what harms us,
and to seek the perfection we are promised
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Holy Scripture for today is found here

Today’s sermon was recorded for us by the Reverend Joanna Baxter Fielding

We affirm our faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed:

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

As a sign of peace, please place your hands over your heart and hold in your mind all those you know in need of God’s peace this day.

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you

Holy Communion

The Lord be with you
and also with you

Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord

And now we give you thanks
because you give us the spirit of discipline,
that we may triumph over evil and grow in grace,
as we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed

When we turned away, you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you

In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us
He opened his arms of love upon the cross, and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin

On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his body is the bread of life

At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine,
he gave you thanks, and said:
Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins;
do this in remembrance of me
Father, we do this in remembrance of him:
his blood is shed for all

As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear Son
As we eat and drink these holy gifts
make us one in Christ, our risen Lord

With your whole Church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the eternal song of heaven, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest

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

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

Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ
which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving

Whilst we are celebrating Communion at home, taking a small piece of bread and giving thanks to God for his goodness, eating it and knowing that there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God is perfectly acceptable. Eat: knowing that even in the wilderness, God fed his chosen people by sending manna from heaven

Merciful Lord,
grant your people grace to withstand the temptations
of the world, the flesh and the devil,
and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,
to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him;
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 peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen

The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England: Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, Common Worship: President’s Edition, Common Worship: Pastoral Services, all of which are copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England