The Gathering

The service is introduced by Maya Harrison (Principal Keeper) on behalf of the House and the City and by the Reverend Dr Claire Honess, Vicar of Whitkirk, on behalf of St Mary’s Church and the Parish of Whitkirk.

At the sound of the bell, please stand as the choir and the sacred ministers enter, during which the introit hymn is sung.

Christ is made the sure foundation;
and the precious cornerstone,
who, the two walls underlying,
bound in each, binds both in one,
holy Sion’s help for ever,
and her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,
dearly loved by God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody,
God the One, in Threefold glory,
singing everlastingly.

To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of hosts, today;
with thy wonted loving-kindness,
hear thy people as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls for ay.

Laud and honour to the Father,
laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One,
One in love, and One in splendour,
while unending ages run.

Words: Latin c. 7th century
translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)
Music: Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Hymn Tune: WESTMINSTER ABBEY

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you

and also with you.

Invitation to Confession

As those who know the generosity of God,
let us confess our sins,
especially the ways in which we take his good gifts for granted.

Silence is kept.

Consider the birds of the air;
they do not sow or gather into barns,
yet our heavenly Father feeds them.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they do not toil nor spin,
yet even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

How little faith we have.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Matthew 6.26, 28-30, 33

The almighty and merciful Lord
grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins,
time for amendment of life,
and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

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.

The Collect

The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’.

Almighty God,
to whose glory we celebrate
the dedication of this house and grounds,
we praise you for the many blessings
you have given over the last one hundred and three years
to those who have encountered you here:
and we pray that all who seek you in this place may find you,
and, being filled with the Holy Spirit,
may become acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Please sit.

First reading

A reading from the first book of Chronicles.

Read by the Lord Mayor of Leeds.

Then the leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill-offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, into the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the Lord; King David also rejoiced greatly.

Then David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly; David said: ‘Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, for ever and ever. Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.

‘But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill-offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep for ever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts towards you. Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple for which I have made provision.’

1 Chronicles 29.6-19

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm

The Choir sings Psalm 84 verses 8-13.

O Lord God of hosts hear my prayer :
Hearken O God of Jacob.

Behold O God our defender :
And look upon the face of thine Anointed.

For one day in thy courts :
Is better than a thousand.

I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God :
Than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

For the Lord God is a light and defence :
The Lord will give grace and worship
and no good thing shall he withhold
from them that live a godly life.

O Lord God of hosts :
Blessèd is the man that putteth his trust in thee.

Glory be to the Father :
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost :
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be :
World without end. Amen.

Second reading

A reading from the letter to the Ephesians.

Read by the Earl of Halifax.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Ephesians 2.19-22

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn

Please stand as the gradual hymn is sung, at the end of the hymn we remain standing and turn to face the place where the Gospel is proclaimed.

Christ is our cornerstone,
on him alone we build;
with his true saints alone
the courts of heav’n are filled:
on his great love
our hopes we place
of present grace
and joys above.

O then with hymns of praise
these hallowed courts shall ring;
our voices we will raise
the Three in One to sing;
and thus proclaim
in joyful song,
both loud and long,
that glorious name.

Here, gracious God, do thou
for evermore draw nigh;
accept each faithful vow,
and mark each suppliant sigh;
in copious shower
on all who pray
each holy day
thy blessings pour.

Here may we gain from heav’n
the grace which we implore;
and may that grace, once given,
be with us evermore,
until that day
when all the blest
to endless rest
are called away.

Words: Latin (c. 7th century)
translated by John Chandler (1806-1876)
Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876)
Hymn Tune: HAREWOOD

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 2.13-22

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Please sit after the preacher leads us in prayer.

Our preacher this year is the Reverend Dr Claire Honess, Vicar of Whitkirk.

The Nicene Creed

Please stand with the president.

Let us declare our faith in God.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Following an invitation to pray from the intercessor we sit to pray.

The response to the bidding:

Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

then at the end:

Merciful Father,

accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

Please stand with the president.

The Peace

Peace to this house from God our heavenly Father.
Peace to this house from his Son who is our peace.
Peace to this house from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

This is usually a handshake shared with those near you.

Preparation of the Table

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

The following hymn is sung.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him,
for he is thy health and salvation:
all ye who hear,
now to his temple draw near,
joining in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things
so wondrously reigneth,
shieldeth thee gently from harm,
or when fainting sustaineth:
hast thou not seen
how thy heart’s wishes have been
granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper
thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy
shall daily attend thee:
ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
if to the end he befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, O let all that
is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath,
come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
sound from his people again:
gladly for ay we adore him.

Words: Joachim Neander (1650-1680)
translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)
Music: from ‘Praxis Pietatis Melica (1668)
Hymn Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Wise and gracious God,
you spread a table before us;
nourish your people with the word of life
and the bread of heaven.

Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer (A)

Please sit.

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right,
it is our duty and our joy,
at all times and in all places
to give you thanks and praise,
holy Father, heavenly King,
almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

And now we give you thanks
for your blessing on this house,
where through your grace we offer you the sacrifice of praise
and are built by your Spirit into a temple made without hands,
even the body of your Son Jesus Christ.
Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of pow’r and might,
heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessèd is he, O blessèd is he
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

Accept our praises, heavenly Father,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
and as we follow his example and obey his command,
grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine
may be to us his body and his blood;
who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.

Therefore, heavenly Father,
we remember his offering of himself
made once for all upon the cross;
we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension;
we look for the coming of your kingdom,
and with this bread and this cup
we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.

Christ is the bread of life:

When we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory, until you come in glory.

Accept through him, our great high priest,
this our sacrifice of thanks and praise,
and as we eat and drink these holy gifts
in the presence of your divine majesty,
renew us by your Spirit,
inspire us with your love
and unite us in the body of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,
we worship you, Father almighty,
in songs of everlasting praise:

Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours for ever and ever.
Amen.

Silence is kept.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread.

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.

The Agnus Dei is sung as the bread is broken for distribution.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

Invitation to 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.

The president and people receive communion. All baptised Christians are welcome to receive the sacrament. Please follow the guidance offered by the stewards.

If you are not baptised, or would prefer to not receive, then do still come forward for a blessing bringing this book with you so the president knows your intention.

The sacrament is available in both kinds, however if you wish to only receive the bread please do so and then return to your place. Receiving in one kind is still considered to be full communion by the Church of England. Please do not dip bread in the wine (sometimes called ‘intincting’).

For those at home it might be helpful to use this prayer during the distribution, a prayer that was included in the first Temple Newsam service a hundred and three years ago.

Prevent us, O Lord,
in all our doings with thy most gracious favour,
and further us with thy continual help;
that in all our works begun, continued and ended in thee,
we may glorify thy holy name,
and, finally, by thy mercy obtain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Anthem

Fairest Lord Jesus, Lord of all creation,
Jesus, of God and Mary the Son;
thee will I cherish, thee will I honour,
O thou my soul’s delight and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the verdure and bloom of spring,
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
he makes the saddest heart to sing.

Fair are the flowers, fairer still the sons of men,
in all the freshness of youth arrayed:
yet is their beauty fading and fleeting;
my Jesus, thine will never fade, will never fade.

Words: German 17th century
translated by Lillian Sinclair Stevenson (1870-1960)
Music: Silesian folk song (1842)
arranged by Martin How (1931-2022)

The following communion hymns may be sung during the distribution as time allows.

Please remain seated.

O thou who camest from above
the pure celestial fire to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return
in humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire 
to work, and speak, and think for thee; 
still let me guard the holy fire 
and still stir up the gift in me.

Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make the sacrifice complete.

Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
based on Leviticus 6.13
Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876)
Hymn Tune: HEREFORD

Now let us from this table rise,
renewed in body, mind and soul;
with Christ we die and live again,
his selfless love hath made us whole.

With minds alert, upheld by grace,
to spread the Word in speech and deed,
we follow in the steps of Christ,
at one with all in hope and need.

To fill each human house with love,
it is the sacrament of care;
the work that Christ began to do
we humbly pledge ourselves to share.

Then give us courage, living God,
to choose again the pilgrim way,
and help us to accept with joy
the challenge of tomorrow’s day.

Words: Fred Kaan (1929-2009)
Music: Swiss traditional melody
arranged by Richard Hey Lloyd (1933-2021)
Hymn Tune: SOLOTHURN

The Post Communion Prayer

Please stand with the president who introduces a time of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’ before we say together:

God our Father,
whose Son, the light unfailing,
has come from heaven
to deliver the world
from the darkness of ignorance:
let these holy mysteries
open the eyes of our understanding
that we may know the way of life,
and walk in it without stumbling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A hymn is sung.

O praise ye the Lord! praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word, ye angels of light;
ye heavens, adore him by whom ye were made,
and worship before him, in brightness arrayed.

O praise ye the Lord! praise him upon earth,
in tuneful accord, ye sons of new birth;
praise him who has brought you his grace from above,
praise him who has taught you to sing of his love.

O praise ye the Lord! all things that give sound;
each jubilant chord, re-echo around;
loud organs, his glory forth tell in deep tone,
and sweet harp, the story of what he has done.

O praise ye the Lord! thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured all ages along:
for love in creation, for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation, O praise ye the Lord!

Words: Henry Williams Baker (1821-1877)
based on Psalms 148 and 150
Music: Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918)
Hymn Tune: LAUDATE DOMINUM (PARRY)

The Dismissal

The Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you;
the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you,
and give you peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

The Dismissal

Go in the peace of Christ.

Thanks be to God.