Holy Communion with Baptism – Live Streamed – Sunday, 19 November 2023
Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Celebrant: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Gathering Music
Welcome
Let us enter the light of God’s glorious presence, bringing our all, big and small, in faithful worship.
[Silence]Welcome to the house of God.
We have come from all the corners of the earth.
Welcome to the hospitality of God.
We come as we are; we bring our life, our stories, our journey.
Welcome, brothers and sisters.
We are the rainbow people of God.
Welcome chosen people
May God our companion bind us in his love.
Amen
Hymn: All my hope on God is founded
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
God’s great goodness aye endureth
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th’Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
Robert Bridges (1844–1930)
CCL31580
Prayer of the Week
Creator God, who has furnished us with all that we have, we give you praise and thanks.
Remind us of our gifts when we lose sight of them. Show us where and how to share them.
Give us the courage to offer them freely, as you give to us.
What others may seek to destroy, help us to protect and care,
and give us the conviction to stand fast when we are called to do so.
This we ask of you, in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Ministry of the Word
Psalm 90: 1–8
Read by Nerys Steeds
1Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
throughout all generations.
2Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3You turn people back to dust,
saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’
4A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death –
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
7We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.
8You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.
NIV®
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Matthew 25: 14–30
Read by Peter Steeds
The Parable of the Bags of Gold
14 ‘Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 ‘After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.”
21 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
22‘The man with two bags of gold also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two bags of gold: see, I have gained two more.”
23 ‘His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
24 ‘Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”
26‘His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28‘ “So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
NIV®
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our light.
Meditation
By Revd George Mwaura
[Silence]Baptism
Presentation of the Candidate
[The candidate may be presented to the congregation by their parents and godparents.]Kyanna, do you wish to be baptised?
I do.
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 these candidates and uphold them in their new life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
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 turn to Christ?
I turn to Christ.
Do you repent of your sins?
I repent of my sins.
Do you renounce evil?
I renounce evil.
Signing with the Cross
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.
May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen
Prayer over the Water
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.
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation.
Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land.
In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John
and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ,
to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son,
we baptise into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
they may be cleansed from sin and born again.
Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith
and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen
Profession of Faith
Let us affirm, together with these who are being baptised, our common faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
I 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?
I 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?
I 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.
Baptism
Kyanna, is this your faith?
This is my faith.
Kyanna Naadei Ackam, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Kyanna, you have been clothed with Christ.
As many as are baptised into Christ have put on Christ.
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
Commission
Those who are baptised are called to worship and serve God.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, I will.
May Christ dwell in your heart through faith
that you may be rooted and grounded in love and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Amen
The Welcome
[A candle is given to the candidate.]There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
by one Spirit we are all baptised into one body.
We welcome you into the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father;
we welcome you.
Prayers and Intercessions
Led by Glynne Gordon-Carter
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said,
‘Peace be with you.’
Then the disciples were they glad when they saw the risen Lord.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Hymn: Because He lives
God sent His Son, they called him Jesus;
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
and life is worth a living just because He lives.
How sweet to hold a new-born baby,
and feel the pride and the joy that he gives.
Oh, but greater still, the calm assurance
we can face uncertain days because He lives.
Because He lives, …
And then one day, I’ll cross that river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain,
and then as death gives way to victory
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He reigns
Because He lives, …
He lives, He lives.
Bill Gaither (b. 1936)
CCL31580
Holy Communion
The Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.
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.
Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise.
We join with them in heaven’s song:
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.
We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh,
whose brokenness and suffering makes love real,
who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,
Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup saying,
Drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you.
Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
This is the mystery of our faith.
[Said] Christ has died:Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth.
We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish.
We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.
Send your Spirit on us now,
that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your feast in heaven, where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours forever and ever.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer [said]
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
The Communion
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.
Amen
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.
Post Communion Prayer
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us.
Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your spirit to give ourselves for others.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Notices
Welcome to Kyanna Naabei Ackam and family
On Sunday (19 November 2023) at the morning service we welcome Kyanna Naabei Ackam and family to our church community in baptism– parents: Leonard Nartenor Ackam & Audrey Osei Nyarko Agyemang; and godparents: Ama Osei Owusu, Judith Owusu-Senyah and Louis Nene Ackam.
Fair Trade Stall and Open Coffee Morning
Sunday, 26 November, after 10.00 am service until 1.00 pm in the Guildhall
We will be inviting our neighbours from the new city-centre flats to join us. There will be a short presentation in our Ecochurch series on the continuing importance of Fair Trade and an opportunity to buy Fair Trade Christmas gifts, cards and treats. Please bring contributions of cake or biscuits to the Guildhall before the service or make contact with other offers of help.
Joy Chapman 07854 762676, cjoy.chapman9@gmail.com
Advent Bible Study
There will be three Advent Bible Study groups this year, on Tuesday at 7.15 pm led by Rosemary Kearsey, on Wednesday at 7.00 pm led by Revd George Mwaura and on Thursday at 7.30 pm led by Stuart Kean, beginning in the week of 27 November 2023. We will be using some of the Methodist study materials called ‘Out of the Ordinary’. You can have a look at https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/advent-and-christmas-resources
If you would like to take part, contact Mark in the Office or, if you know which study group you would like to join, please contact Rosemary Kearsey or Robin Kyd for the Tuesday sessions, Pat or Robin Kyd for the Wednesday sessions, or Stuart Kean for the Thursday sessions.
Getting Ready!
10.00 am – 12.30 pm Saturday, 2 December 2023
On Saturday, 2 December from 10.00 am until 12.30 pm we are inviting you and our neighbours to come along and help decorate the church for Advent and Christmas. There is also a Cake Sale (in aid of church funds) with refreshments.
Help with decorating and cakes and other goodies will be needed. Tell Cathy or Cheryl if you can help out and/or bring cake. (we are both on the church WhatsApp group).
Cheryl Montgomery
Christian Aid: Middle East appeal and petition
Christian Aid has been working with the poorest and most vulnerable people in the Middle East since the early 1950s. Following the terrible events of the past month, they have launched an appeal for funds so that they can support their established partners in the region in providing medical relief and community-led initiatives such as food, shelter, sanitation and cash.
To find our more and to donate, please visit their website at: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/middle-east-crisis-appeal.
You can also join Christian Aid, church leaders and others, in calling for a just peace now:
Prayers for Israel/Palestine
In praying for the people of Israel and Palestine, you might want to use these prayers from the Iona Community. https://iona.org.uk/prayers-for-israel-palestine/.
Social Justice Group
Offering
Final Prayer
Go into the world with Jesus as your inspiration, guide, and friend.
Be generous, without always counting the cost.
Give of your time, without always seeking a reward.
Share your love with a needy world.
Make peace and strive for justice.
And do it all in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Hymn: Be thou my vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true Word;
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my high tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise:
thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art!
High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Irish (8th century
tr. Mary Byrne (1880–1931)
versified Eleanor Hull (1860–1935)
CCL31580
Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
may the Lord’s face shine on you, and be gracious to you;
may the Lord’s face turn towards you and give you peace.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you today and always
Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ,
Amen