The Holy Eucharist

Collect

Eternal Father, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah (23.1-6)

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 46

Response: The Lord of hosts is with us.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains tremble in the heart of the sea;

The Lord of hosts is with us.

Though the waters rage and swell, and though the mountains quake at the towering seas. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place of the dwelling of the Most High.

The Lord of hosts is with us.

God is in the midst of her; therefore shall she not be removed; God shall help her at the break of day. The nations are in uproar and the kingdoms are shaken, but God utters his voice and the earth shall melt away.

The Lord of hosts is with us.

Come and behold the works of the Lord, what destruction he has wrought upon the earth. He makes wars to cease in all the world; he shatters the bow and snaps the spear and burns the chariots in the fire. ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.’

The Lord of hosts is with us.

A reading from St Paul’s letter to the Colossians (1.11-20)

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 ===========================

The Lord be with you.

  And also with you.

Listen to the Gospel of Christ according to St Luke (23.33-43)

Glory to you, O Lord.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’

And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’

But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Post communion Prayer

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Please stand to affirm our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed.

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; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from 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. 

Please sit or kneel for the intercessions.

In the intercessions we pray for the Church, the world, and all in need.

Respond to the bidding: 

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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

Please stand.

Jesus said, This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
Love in all sincerity. Never pay back evil for evil. If possible, so far as it lies with you, live at peace with all.

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

We shake hands and offer each other a sign of peace and say “Peace be with you”

The Offertory Hymn**

During this hymn we prepare the altar and bring our gifts to God.

This hymn marks the Offertory — a time to give thanks for all God’s blessings and, if you are able, to support the life and ministry of our church.
Your offerings help sustain our worship, outreach, and community care.
You can give by cash or card at the back of the church, or online via BACS after the service.
Give to St John’s and St Barnabas →

We celebrate together the gifts and grace of God.

We take this bread and wine to follow Christ’s example and obey his command.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our 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, holy Father, all-powerful and everliving God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Preface) Who by his death has destroyed death and by his rising to life again has restored to us eternal life.

We sing this at St. John's

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.

All praise and thanks to you, true and living God, Creator of all things, Giver of life. You formed us in your own image; but we have marred that image and fall short of your glory. We give you thanks that you sent your Son to share our life; you gave him up to death that the world might be saved, and you raised him from the dead that we might live in him and he in us. 

Sanctify with your Spirit this bread and wine, your gifts to us, that they may be for us the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

On the night he was betrayed, he took bread, and when he had given 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 when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from this, all of you, for 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.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come in glory.

As he has commanded us, Father, we remember Jesus Christ, your Son. Proclaiming his victorious death, rejoicing in his resurrection and waiting for him to come in glory we bring to you this bread, this cup. Accept our sacrifice of thanks and praise. 

Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.

Amen.

As our Saviour taught us, we boldly pray: 

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 for we all share in one bread. 

The Agnus Dei 

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. 

The Prayer of Humble Access 

We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen. 

Come, let us receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given for us, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. 

If you wish to and are able to we go to the altar to receive the holy sacrament

The sacrament is shared with these words 

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen. 

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen. 

Return to sit and pray.

The Communion Hymns **

Give thanks to the Lord for he is gracious:

His love is everlasting. 

A Post Communion prayer may be said.

We thank you, Father, for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son in this holy sacrament, through which we are assured of the hope of eternal life. We offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice. Keep us in the fellowship of his body, the Church, and send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen. 

The Final Hymn (Please Stand) 

The Lord be with you. 

And also with you. 

The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself; the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service; the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and those you love this day and for ever. Amen. 

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen. 

Or in Eastertide: 

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Collect

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah (2.1-5)

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

In days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 122

Response: How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord of hosts.

 I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ And now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem;

How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord of hosts.

Jerusalem, built as a city that is at unity in itself. Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, as is decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For there are set the thrones of judgement, the thrones of the house of David.

How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord of hosts.

O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls and tranquillity within your palaces.’ For my kindred and companions’ sake, I will pray that peace be with you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our I, I will seek to do you good.

How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord of hosts.

A reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans (13.11-14)

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.

Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 ===================

The Lord be with you.

  And also with you.

Listen to the Gospel of Christ according to St Matthew (24.36-44)

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

‘For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.

‘Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

‘But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Post communion Prayer

O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.