Order of service
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The Gathering
Our worship begins at the sound of the bell, please stand as the sacred ministers enter, during which the introit hymn is sung.
City of God, how broad and far
Outspread thy walls sublime!
Thy free and loyal people are
Of ev’ry age and clime.
One holy Church, one mighty throng,
One steadfast, high intent;
One working band, one harvest-song,
One King omnipotent.
How purely hath thy speech come down
From earth’s primeval youth!
How grandly hath thine empire grown,
Of freedom, love and truth!
How gleam the watch-fires through the night
With never-fainting ray!
How rise thy tow’rs, serene and bright,
To meet the dawning day!
In vain the surge’s angry shock,
In vain the drifting sands;
Unharmed upon th’eternal Rock
Th’eternal city stands.
Words: S. Johnson (1822-1882) alt.
Music: melody adapted from T. Haweis (1734-1820)
Hymn Tune: RICHMOND
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.
Words of Welcome
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us
that to enter the kingdom of heaven
we must be born again of water and the Spirit,
and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth.
Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean.
Here we are clothed with Christ,
dying to sin that we may live his risen life.
As children of God, we have a new dignity
and God calls us to fullness of life.
The Collect
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’.
Almighty and eternal God,
who, for the firmer foundation of our faith,
allowed your holy apostle Thomas
to doubt the resurrection of your Son
till word and sight convinced him:
grant to us, who have not seen,
that we also may believe
and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God;
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
A reading from the book of the prophet Habakkuk.
I will stand at my watch-post, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith.
Habakkuk 2.1-4
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand as the gradual hymn is sung. During the hymn a procession will make its way to the centre of the nave from where the Gospel for the day is read. To symbolise our desire to turn to Christ in our daily lives, at the end of the hymn we remain standing and turn to face the place where the Gospel is proclaimed.
Blessèd Thomas, doubt no longer,
See the wounds in hand and side,
Now behold the risen Saviour
Who for thee has bled and died,
And from death’s dark pit arising
Lives in body glorified.
Thomas looked upon the Master:
Was it then indeed the Lord?
Were those wounds no phantom tokens?
Did the sight with truth accord?
Scarce believing, joy unbounded,
Leapt to greet the Saviour’s word.
Prostrate falling, Thomas worshipped:
‘O my Master, Lord and God’,
Here in truth was Christ the Saviour
Who the path of suffering trod,
And, to ransom souls unnumbered,
Broke in pieces Satan’s rod.
Thomas, sight has now convinced thee,
Faith within thy heart has stirred;
Blessèd more those faithful servants,
Trusting in the Saviour’s word,
Who, though vision is denied them,
Still believe, and own him Lord.
Grant, O Father, that among them
We thy servants may be known,
And the ground be ever fruitful
Where the seed of faith was sown,
Till at length in heaven’s glory,
Faith and vision are but one.
Words: G. B. Timms (1910-1997)
Music: French traditional melody
Hymn Tune: PICARDY
Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord.
Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
John 20.24-29
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Please sit after the preacher leads us in prayer.
The Liturgy of Initiation
Presentation of the Candidates
The candidate, who is asked to stand is presented to the congregation and then asked:
Ash, do you wish to be baptised?
I do.
The president asks the whole congregation:
Faith is the gift of God to his people.
In baptism the Lord is adding to our number
those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome this candidate
and uphold him in his life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The president asks the candidate:
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin
and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us
from God and neighbour?
I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
I come to Christ.
Signing with the Cross
The president makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the candidate with the oil of baptism, saying:
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
Prayer over the Water
Please stand. The president and candidate gather at the font. Water is poured into the font.
Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ
was baptised in the river Jordan,
we thank you for the gift of water
to cleanse us and revive us.
Saving God,
give us life.
We thank you that through the waters of the Red Sea
you led your people out of slavery
to freedom in the Promised Land.
Saving God,
give us life.
We thank you that through the deep waters of death
you brought your Son,
and raised him to life in triumph.
Saving God,
give us life.
Bless this water, that your servants who are washed in it
may be made one with Christ in his death and in his resurrection,
to be cleansed and delivered from all sin.
Saving God,
give us life.
Send your Holy Spirit upon them,
bring them to new birth in the household of faith
and raise them with Christ to full and eternal life;
for all might, majesty, authority and power are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Profession of Faith
The president addresses the congregation.
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess
together with this candidate
the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
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.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
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.
Baptism
The president addresses the candidate for baptism by name, saying:
Ash, is this your faith?
This is my faith.
The president pours water on the candidate, saying:
Ash Mark, I baptise you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The president signs the candidate with the oil of Chrism.
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
Ash, by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.
We welcome you in the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.
The congregation welcome Ash with a round of applause.
Prayers of Intercession
Following an invitation to pray from the intercessor we kneel or sit to pray and the response to the bidding is:
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
We are baptised into Christ:
let us live in the Spirit of Christ.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Preparation of the Table
The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
A hymn is sung. During this hymn a collection, our financial offering in support of the work of the church both at St. Mary’s and across our diocese, is taken.
Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark, how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
Crown him the Virgin’s Son,
The God incarnate born,
Whose arm those crimson trophies won
Which now his brow adorn;
Fruit of the mystic Rose,
As of that Rose the Stem,
The Root whence mercy ever flows,
The Babe of Bethlehem.
Crown him the Lord of love:
Behold his hands and side;
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends each burning eye
At mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of peace,
Whose pow’r a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
Absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end,
And round his piercèd feet
Fair flow’rs of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time,
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity.
Words: M. Bridges (1800-1894)
Music: G. J. Elvey (1816-1893)
Hymn Tune: DIADEMATA
Taking of the Bread and Wine
Father, accept all we bring before you this day.
Guide us with your love and feed us at your table
as you nourish the faith of the Church
by the preaching of your apostles.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 and good
that we should give you thanks, praise and glory,
almighty and everlasting God,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
For after his resurrection
he sent out his apostles and evangelists
to preach the gospel to all nations
and lead us in the way of truth.
Himself the chief cornerstone,
he founded his Church upon the apostles
firmly to stand for ever
as a sign of your holiness upon earth
and a living witness to all
of the way that leads to heaven.
And so with angels and archangels
and with all the company of heaven
we lift our voices
and join in their unending hymn of praise:
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 in the name of the Lord.
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.
Great is the mystery of faith;
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
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.
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.
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.
God of truth,
marked and pierced
and open to our touch;
you embraced the doubt of Thomas
and breathed your peace upon him:
free us from our clinging need
for certainty without trust
and teach us faith
in the heart of love unknown;
through Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord.
Amen.
Choir Anthem
‘There’s a wideness in God’s mercy’
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heav’n;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgement giv’n.
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of man’s mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
But we make his love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify his strictness
With a zeal he will not own.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.
There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
If our love were but more simple
We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all gladness
In the joy of Christ our Lord.
Words: F. W. Faber (1814-1863) alt.
Music: M. Bevan (1921-2006)
One or two communion hymns may be sung during the distribution as time allows. Please remain seated.
Just I am, without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidst me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve:
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, thy love unknown
has broken ev’ry barrier down,
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth and height to prove,
here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Words: C. Elliott (1789-1871)
Music: A. H. Brown (1830-1926)
Hymn Tune: SAFFRON WALDEN
Through the night of doubt and sorrow
Onward goes the pilgrim band,
Singing songs of expectation,
Marching to the promised land.
One the light of God’s own presence
O’er his ransomed people shed,
Chasing far the gloom and terror,
Bright’ning all the path we tread.
One the object of our journey,
One the faith which never tires,
One the earnest looking forward,
One the hope our God inspires.
One the strain that lips of thousands
Lift as from the heart of one;
One the conflict, one the peril,
One the march in God begun.
One the gladness of rejoicing
One the far eternal shore;
Where the one almighty Father
Reigns in love for evermore.
Words: B. S. Ingemann (1789-1862)
translated by S. Baring-Gould (1834-1924)
Music: M. Shaw (1875-1958)
Hymn Tune: MARCHING
Please stand with the president who introduces a time of silent prayer with the words ‘Let us pray’.
Lord God,
the source of truth and love,
keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
united in prayer and the breaking of bread,
and one in joy and simplicity of heart,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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.
A hymn is sung.
Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky;
Heav’n thunders forth its victor-cry:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
And groaning hell makes wild reply:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The glad apostles saw their Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
He bade them see his hands, his side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
The tokens true which made it plain
Their Lord indeed was ris’n again.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Words: J. M. Neale (1818-1866) and others
Music: melody from ‘Geistliche Kirchengesang’ (Cologne 1623)
arr. R. Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Hymn Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN
The Dismissal
The Blessing
God, who has prepared for you a city with eternal foundations,
bring you, with all the saints,
to the eternal and triumphant joy of that city;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Giving of a Lighted Candle
The president gives to the newly baptised a lighted candle lit from the Paschal Candle and then says:
God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness
and has given us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world
to the glory of God the Father.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
St Mary’s is a charity which receives no funding from the government and is entirely dependent on donations and fees to keep operating.
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Communion Setting
© Royal School of Church Music
Blessèd Thomas, doubt no longer
Words © The English Hymnal Co. Ltd.
Music after the Gospel
© Oxford University Press
Music after the Offertory Hymn
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
© Oxford University Press
Just as I am, without one plea
Music © Oxford University Press
Through the night of doubt and sorrow
Music © J. Curwen & Sons
Musical arrangement of verse 5 © Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
Light’s glittering morn bedecks the skies
Words © Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd.
Music © Oxford University Press
Organ voluntary
© Kevin Mayhew Ltd.
CCL licence: 668063