Virtual Church Service 210131
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen
The Lord be with you. and also with you. Words of welcome
Longing for light, we wait in darkness Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people Light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today. Longing for peace, our world is troubled Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us. Make us your living voice.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today. Longing for food, many are hungry Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others Shared until all are fed.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today. Longing for shelter, many are homeless Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others Walls made of living stone.
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!
Many the gifts, many the people Many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another Making your kingdom come. Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today. Gathering words
The prayer during the pandemic: Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution:
The grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all.
Let us come to him, in sorrow for our sins, seeking healing and salvation.
We are often slow to follow the example of Christ. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
We often fail to be known as Christ’s disciples. Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
We often fail to walk the way of the cross. Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Psalm 24
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory. Selah
Luke 2.22-40
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke Glory to you, O Lord
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.’
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and
the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
This is the gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ Homily
Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist? We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again? We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world? We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Intercessions Agape
Though we are separated we are still one in Christ, the one who loves us and calls us family, therefore with our brothers and sisters all over the world we say:
The peace of the Lord be always with you And also with you
Nothing can be quite the same as sharing one bread and one cup together. What we are about to do takes the form of an agape meal, where we remember that what Jesus did for us continues to unite us even in the hardest of times. We are using the form of service recommended to us by our bishops. If you’d like to take part please raise your food and your drink at the same time that I raise mine.
The Lord be with you And also with you
Gracious God we give you thanks for all the many blessings in our lives and ask that you would bless us now as we share your good gifts
in Jesus’ name.
Loving God, you provide enough for everyone: this earth is fertile, fruitful and abundant,
but we are sometimes greedy, wasteful and selfish. Many go hungry despite our plenty,
many are left outside while we enjoy a feast. But on the hillside, in the wilderness,
with five thousand and more hungry people, Jesus took the bread that they had,
broke it and gave thanks to you. He shared the bread,
so that no one should be left out, and they all ate and were satisfied. Blessed be God forever!
Hurting God, you hurt with our pains, you weep with our tears;
when you see how we struggle and suffer.
You long for our peace, yet we so often make war. You long for our healing and wholeness,
yet we so often turn away from you.
But at a wedding in Cana when the wine ran out, Jesus asked them to fill the empty jars with water, and by your grace, water became wine,
sadness was turned to joy,
and all were able to share in the best wine of all. Blessed be God forever!
Dreaming God,
you long for us to dream your dream, of a world at peace, a people made one, a feast for all;
where bread is broken and shared with companions on the road,
where wine is blessed
and shared with all who are hurting, and all are caught up together in the Kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray 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.
We all receive Collect:
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
May God give to you and to all those you love his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy, in this world and the next;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Nought be all else to me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, thou my true word; I ever with thee thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight; Be thou my dignity, thou my delight;
Thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tower:
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and thou only, the first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all. Reflection
