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Holy Communion
Easter 4
Welcome to St Edmundsbury Cathedral
for this celebration of Holy Communion
The Great Fifty Days of Eastertide form a single festival period in which
the tone of joy created at the Easter Vigil is sustained through the
following seven weeks, and the Church celebrates the gloriously risen
Christ. Early Christians gave the name Pentecost to this whole fifty-day
span of rejoicing, which Tertullian calls ‘this most joyful period’. It is
sometimes also called ‘Great Sunday’. In those places where the custom
of lighting the Easter Candle at the beginning of Easter is followed, the lit
Candle stands prominently in church for all the Eastertide services. On
the fortieth day there has from the late fourth century been a particular
celebration of Christ’s ascension. He commissions his disciples to
continue his work, he promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then he is
no longer among them in the flesh. The ascension is therefore closely
connected with the theme of mission. The arrival of the promised gift of
the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost completes and crowns the Easter
Festival.
The service has four main sections:
The Gathering, when we come together in worship. This concludes
with the Collect which ‘collects’ or gathers together the prayers of the
congregation.
The Liturgy of the Word, when we listen to readings from the Bible
and hear the sermon, say together the Nicene Creed, and offer our
prayers of intercession.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament, when we follow the example and
command of Jesus at the Last Supper. The President (a priest or bishop)
takes the bread and the wine to be consecrated, offers thanks in the
words of the Eucharistic (thanksgiving) Prayer, breaks the bread to be
shared, and then distributes these gifts to the congregation.
The Dismissal, in which the President blesses the congregation and we
are sent out to love and serve the Lord.
The Order of Service begins here
The Gathering
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The Opening Hymn
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his
and he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow
with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me.
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home rejoicing brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread's a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.
Words: Henry William Baker, 1821-1877, based on Psalm 23
Music: Dominus Regit Me, John Bacchus Dykes, 1823-1876
The Greeting
President Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
All And also with you.
The Prayer of Preparation
All Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Prayers of Penitence
President Christ, the light of the world,
has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.
In his Resurrection light let us examine our lives
and confess our sins
Silence is kept.
5
Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we sometimes fail to grasp the wonder
of your life-giving presence.
Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are at times afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ, have mercy.
All Christ, have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room,
we can be slow to believe in your love for us.
Lord, have mercy.
All Lord, have mercy.
President May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,
and raise you to new life
in Christ our Lord.
All Amen.
The Gloria in Excelsis
All 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.
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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
Risen Christ,
faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:
teach us to hear your voice
and to follow your command,
that all your people may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
¶ The Liturgy of the Word
Tim Allen reads
The First Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
Many were baptized and were added to the community. They devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders
and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were
together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions
and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by
day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at
home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and
having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to
their number those who were being saved.
Acts 2.42-47
For the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
7
Claire Allen reads
The Second Reading
A reading from the first letter of Peter.
Brothers and sisters: It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you
endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten
for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right
and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so
that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit
was found in his mouth.’ When he was abused, he did not return abuse;
when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the
one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds
you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you
have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
1 Peter 2.19-25
For the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Acclamations
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
All Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. cf Revelation 1.17,18
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
All Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
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The Rev’d Canon Matthew Vernon reads
The Gospel Reading
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John.
All Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not
enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and
a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought
out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because
they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run
from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’
Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand
what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell
you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and
bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever
enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly.’
John 10.1-10
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon
The Rev’d Sarah Geileskey
Cathedral Curate
The sermon is followed by a brief silence for reflection.
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The Creed
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried;
he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles:
this we have received
and this we believe.
Amen. (after 1 Corinthians 15. 3-7)
Caitlin Brinkley leads
The Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray for the Church and for the world
and let us thank God for his goodness.
The prayers conclude with:
Merciful Father,
All accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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¶ The Liturgy of the Sacrament
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples
and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
If you have other members of your household with you, you may wish to share
the peace with them now. If are alone, know Christ’s Peace to be with you now.
The Preparation of the Table
The Taking of the Bread and Wine
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation.
In your loving care you spread before us the table of life
and give us the cup of salvation to drink.
Keep us always in the fold
of our Saviour and our Shepherd,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
All Blessed be God for ever.
The Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you
All and also with you
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give thanks and praise.
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It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
almighty and eternal Father,
and in these days of Easter
to celebrate with joyful hearts
the memory of your wonderful works.
For by the mystery of his passion
Jesus Christ, your risen Son,
has conquered the powers of death and hell
and restored in men and women the image of your glory.
He has placed them once more in paradise
and opened to them the gate of life eternal.
And so, in the joy of this Passover,
earth and heaven resound with gladness,
while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation
sing for ever the hymn of your glory.
All 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 praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
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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.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.
Jesus Christ is Lord.
All Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.
Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with [N and] all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
All Amen.
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The Lord’s Prayer
President Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.
All 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.
The Breaking of the Bread
President Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
Agnus Dei
All 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.
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Spiritual Communion
President Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
All Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
‘Spiritual Communion’ is a historic practice in the church for anyone who cannot
receive the bread and wine physically. It is possible because Communion is
always a spiritual practice and not simply physical. Through God’s grace, whilst
we cannot receive the bread and wine, we can still receive the sacrament in our
hearts, and share in communion with Jesus. In making our communion
spiritually, we are joining with Christians everywhere who cannot receive the
bread and wine at this time. The following prayer is one form of words to use
for Spiritual Communion.
Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits you have given me,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.
Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may I know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day. Amen.
after the Prayer of St Richard of Chichester
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During communion the following is sung
Easter
Rise heart; thy Lord is risen.
Sing his praise without delays,
who takes thee by the hand,
that thou likewise with him may rise:
that, as his death calcined thee to dust,
his life may make thee gold, and much more, just.
Rise, heart; thy Lord is risen.
Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part with all thy art.
The cross taught all wood
to resound his name, who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings,
what key is best to celebrate this most high day.
Consort both heart and lute,
and twist a song pleasant and long:
or since all music is but three parts vied,
and multiplied;
O let thy blessed spirit bear a part,
and make up our defects with his sweet art.
Words: George Herbert, 1593-1633
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
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Prayer after Communion
President Let us pray.
Silence is kept
Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord .
God of life,
who for our redemption
gave your only-begotten Son
to the death of the cross,
and by his glorious resurrection
have delivered us from the power of our enemy:
grant us so to die daily to sin,
that we may evermore live with him
in the joy of his risen life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ The Dismissal
The Blessing
The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.
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Final Hymn
Jesus lives! thy terrors now
can, O death, no more appal us;
Jesus lives! by this we know
thou, O grave, canst not enthral us.
Alleluia.
Jesus lives! Henceforth is death
but the gate of life immortal
this shall calm our trembling breath,
when we pass its gloomy portal.
Alleluia.
Jesus lives! to him the throne
over all the world is given:
may we go where he is gone,
rest and reign with him in heaven.
Alleluia.
Words: Jesus levt! mit ihm auch ich, Christian Gellert, 1715-1769
trans. Frances Elizabeth Cox, 1812-1897
Music: St Albinus, Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876
The Dismissal
With the risen life of Christ within you,
be in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Organ Voluntary
Adagio from Smphony No.3
Louis Vierne, 1870-1937
Service order extracts from Common Worship Services, © The Central Board of Finance of The Church of England.
Music reproduced with permission - CCL Licence No 317297
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