Seventeenth Sunday

After Pentecost

3rd Order of Holy Communion Page 167

WELCOME

Sentence of the Day

Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for the sake of the gospel will save it.

Mark 8.35

OPENING HYMN

Behold the lamb who bears our sins away

Slain for us-and we remember the promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness at the cross.So we share in this bread of life,

and we drink of his sacrifice as a sign of our bonds of peace

around the table of the King

The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ, torn for you-eat and

remember; the wounds that heal,

the death that brings us life paid the price to make us one.

So we share in this bread of life, and we drink of his sacrifice as a

sign of our bonds of love around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you-drink and remember He drained death’s cup that all may enter in to receive the

life of God. So we share in this bread of life, and we drink of his sacrifice as a sign of our bonds of grace around

the table of the King.

And so with thank-ful-ness and faith we rise to respond- and to remember our call to follow in the steps of Christ

as His body here on earth.As we share in His suffering, we

proclaim Christ will come again! And we’ll join in the feast of heav’n around

the table of the King.

Words and music written by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend (c)2006 Thankyou Music.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22.37–40, Mark 12.30–31

Let us pray.

Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name,through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Grant, O Lord,that we may see in you the fulfilment of all our need, and may turn from every false satisfactionto feed on the true and living bread that you have given us in Jesus Christ;who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Proverbs 1. 20-33 Page 985

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING

Psalm 19 Page 239

1 The heavens declare the glory of God:and the firmament proclaims his handiwork;

2 One day tells it to another:and night to night communicates knowledge.

3 There is no speech or language:nor are their voices heard;

4 Yet their sound has gone out through all the world:

and their words to the ends of the earth.

5 There he has pitched a tent for the sun:which comes out as a bridegroom from his chamber, and rejoices like a strong man to run his course.

6 Its rising is at one end of the heavens, and its circuit to their farthest bound:

and nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul:

the command of the Lord is true, and makes wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the Lord are right, and rejoice the heart:

the commandment of the Lord is pure, and gives light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, and endures for ever:

the judgements of the Lord are unchanging, and righteous every one.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold:

sweeter also than honey, than the honey that drips from the comb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant taught:and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can know their own unwitting sins?:O cleanse me from my secret faults.

13 Keep your servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get the mastery over me:

so I shall be clean, and innocent of great offence.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight:

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

James 2.18–26Page 1882

HYMN BEFORE THE GOSPEL

Be still my soul: the Lord is on your side;bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;leave to your God to order and provide;in every change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend

through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertaketo guide the future as he has the past.

Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake, all now mysterious shall be clear at last.

Be still, my soul: the tempests still obey his voice, who ruled them once on Galilee.

Be still , my soul: when dearest friends depart and all is

darkened in the vale of tears,then you shall better know his love,his heart, who comes to soothe your

sorrow, calm your fears.Be still, my soul: for Jesus can restorethe trust and hope that strengthened

you before.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening onwhen we shall be for ever with the Lord,

when disappointment, grief and fearare gone, sorrow forgotten,

love’s pure joy restored.Be still, my soul:

when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina von Schlegel 1697 - ? tr. Jane Laurie Borthwick 1813-97 alt.Music by permission Breitkopf und Härte;. Buch und Musik-Verlag

A Reading from Mark, Chapter 8, Beginning at the 27th verse

Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ

For the Gospel of the Lord,Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us together affirm the faith of the Church:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ,

God’s 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.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

On the third day he rose from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand

of the Father;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.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.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ

has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers

we offer.

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray,

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.Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

We are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

1 John 3. 2-3

PREPARATION FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER

Knowing the goodness of God and our failure to respond with love and obedience, let us confess our sins, saying together,

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father,you have loved us with an everlasting love,but we have broken your holy lawsand have left undone what we ought to have done.We are sorry for our sinsand turn away from them.For the sake of your Son who died for us,forgive us, cleanse us and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ABSOLUTION

God is slow to anger and full of compassion,forgiving all who humbly repent and trust in his Son as Saviour and Lord.

God therefore forgives you in Christ Jesus,in whom there is no condemnation. Amen.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3. 16

We are the body of Christ

His Spiritis with us

The peace of the Lord be always

with youAnd also with you.

OFFERTORY HYMN

As the deer pants for the water,so my soul longs after You.

You alone are my heart's desireand I long to worship You.

You alone are my strength, my shield,

to You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship You.

I want You more than gold or silver,only You can satisfy.

You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.

You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship You.

You're my friend and you're my brother,

even though You are a king.I love You more than any other,so much more than anything.

You alone are my strength, my shield, to you alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship You.

©1983 Martin Nystrom/Restoration Music/Sovereign Lifestyle Music CCLI:61732

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We life them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

You are worthy, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honour and power,for you created all things,making us in your own image.We praise you for your Son,our Saviour Jesus Christ,who by his death on the crossand rising to new lifeoffered the one true sacrifice for sinand obtained an eternal deliverance for his people.Therefore, we lift our voices to praise you, saying,

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.

And now, gracious God, we thank youfor these gifts of bread and wine,and pray that we who receive them,in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,according to our Saviour’s word,in remembrance of his suffering and death,may share his body and blood.

On the night before he died, Jesus took bread, and when he had given you thankshe broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,‘Take and eat. This is my body which is given for you.Do this in remembrance of me.’

After supper, he took the cup, and again giving you thanks he gave it to his disciples, saying,‘Drink from 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.’

We eat this bread and drink this cup to proclaim the death of the Lord.

We do this until he returns. Come, Lord Jesus!

Father, as we recall his saving death and glorious resurrection,may we who share these giftsbe renewed by your Holy Spiritand united in the body of your Son.Bring us with all your peopleinto the joy of your eternal kingdom, there to feast at your table andjoin in your eternal praise:

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,to receive praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever.

Amen.We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

We who are many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

HOLY COMMUNION

All visitors are welcome to come forward

to receive communion.

Communion Hymn: Refresh My Heart Lord

Refresh my heart, Lord, renew my love;

pour your Spirit into my soul-refresh my heart.

You set me apart, Lord, to make me new; by your Spirit lift me

up Lord; refresh my heart,

And I will worship you, Lord,with all of my heart;

and I will follow you, Lord,refresh my heart;

And I will worship you, Lord,with all of my heart;

and I will follow you, Lord,refresh my heart;

Geoff Bullock

Gracious God, thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.Thank you for assuring us of your goodness and love,and that we are living members of Christ’s body.

Father, we offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ our Lord. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.

THE SENDING OUT OF GOD’S PEOPLE

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's 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;

HYMN OF PRAISE: THE GLORIA

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.

BLESSING

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord;and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen

Notices

RECESSIONAL HYMN

O Jesus I have promised to serve you to the end;

Lord, be forever near me, my master and my friend:I shall not fear the battle if

You are by my side,nor wander from the pathway if

You will be my guide.

O let me feel You near me: the world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle,The tempting sound I hear;My foes are ever near me,

around me and within;But, Jesus, draw me nearer,And shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear You speaking in accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will;

Lord, speak to reassure me, to chasten or control;

O speak, and make me listen, true guardian of my soul.

Lord, let me see your footmarksand in them plant my own;

that I may follow boldlyand in your strength alone;

O guide me, call me, draw me uphold me to the end;and then in heaven receive me,

my Saviour and my friend.John Ernest Bode 1816-74

Go in peace to love

and serve the Lord:

In the name of Christ.

Amen.