Parish Church of St Alphege Solihull

.Choral EucharistIn Christmastide

1st January 2021A Service for New Year’s Day

A warm welcome to you. In order to worship safely a few elements of the

service differ from our usual practice. Each person is asked to remain in

their place throughout the service, other than to receive Communion

when you will be guided by a steward. The person presiding, as well as

brief notes in this order of service, will guide you as we proceed. While

the service itself may be filmed for the benefit of those at home, only

those leading will appear on film, not the congregation.

Please take this order of service away with you and use it for prayer at home/recycle it.

The GatheringThe Greeting

Please stand as able.

President: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit.

All: Amen

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the

Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Prayers of Penitence

As we come to the Lord at the start of this New Year,

let us seek his grace to number our days,

that we may apply our hearts to wisdom

as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.

We keep a moment of silence

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Absolution

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.

Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

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.

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

O God, by whose command

the order of time runs its course:

forgive our impatience, perfect our faith

and, while we wait for the fulfilment of your promises,

grant us to have a good hope because of your word;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace.

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has

given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time;

moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot

find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is

nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;

moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their

toil.

This is the word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.

The Gospel

Please stand as able. The choir sings the Gospel Acclamation.

Alleluia, alleluia. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,

the beginning and the end. Alleluia, alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,

then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him,

and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep

from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my

Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I

was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to

drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me

clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and

gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we

saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when

was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer

them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are

members of my family, you did it to me.”

Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me

into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you

gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger

and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in

prison and you did not visit me.”

Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a

stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will

answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these,

you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the

righteous into eternal life.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Please sit.

Creed

Please stand as able.

Let us affirm our faith in God:

Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God,but made himself nothing.Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness.He humbled himself and was obedient to death,even death on the cross.Therefore God has raised him on high,and given him the name above every name:that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Intercessions

Please sit or kneel.

In the power of the Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father:

The first candle is lit.

We light this candle remembering the past yearwith all the challenges, disappointments and opportunities that it brought to us.

May the light of Christ lighten our path into the new year.

We keep a moment of silence.

The second candle is lit.

We light this candle remembering all those who have diedand those who have experienced grief and loss in the past year.

May the compassion of Christ be the source of their comfort and support.

We keep a moment of silence.

The third candle is lit.

We light this candle remembering all those to whomthe past year brought sickness and suffering,

May the healing touch of Christ restore them in mind, body and soul.

We keep a moment of silence.

The fourth candle is lit.

We light this candle remembering all those whohave shared in work and ministry in this parish, both within our church buildings and beyond.

May the working hands of Christ guide our own in this new year.

We keep a moment of silence.

The fifth candle is lit.

We light this candle mindful of those who have calledand inspired us to walk the way of Jesus in the past year:

May the voice of Christ continue to call us onwards into God's future.

We keep a moment of silence.

The sixth candle is lit.

We light this candle for all those in God's worldwho have suffered injustice, war or persecution in the past year.

May the hope of Christ give them security, justice and freedom in this new year.

We keep a moment of silence.

The seventh candle is lit.

We light this candle to represent us all,offering to God our fears, hopes and longings for this new year.

May the mind of Christ dwell within and between us in this new year.

We keep a moment of silence.

O Lord our God,the coming year holds both uncertainty and hope.Whatever may lie ahead, we put our trust in youand in your loving care,knowing that, as in the past,

so you will be with us in the days to come.And we now place ourselves into your keepingand dedicate our lives to your service,through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Saviour. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Please stand as able.

Blessed are the peacemakers:

They shall be called children of God.

We meet in the name of Christ and share his peace.

And also with you.

The sign of peace is not physically offered, but only in spoken response. We

remain in our places.

Offertory Hymn

Please sit as we listen to the hymn ‘O Christ the same through all our story's

pages’ sung to the tune ‘Londonderry’. You are welcome to pray the words

silently as the choir sings.

O Christ the same, through all our story's

pages,

our loves and hopes, our failures and our

fears;

eternal Lord, the King of all the ages,

unchanging still, amid the passing years:

O living Word, the source of all creation,

O Christ the same, the friend of sinners

sharing

our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can

hide,

still as of old upon Your body bearing

the marks of love, in triumph glorified:

O Son of Man, who stooped for us from

who spread the skies, and set the stars ablaze,

O Christ the same, who wrought our whole

salvation,

we bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.

heaven,

O Prince of Life, in all Your saving power,

O Christ the same, to whom our hearts are

given,

we bring our thanks for this the present hour.

O Christ the same, secure within whose

keeping

our lives and loves, our days and years

remain,

our work and rest, our waking and our

sleeping,

our calm and storm, our pleasure and our pain:

O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows,

for all our hopes, when earth shall fade and

flee,

O Christ the same, beyond our brief

tomorrows,

we bring our thanks for all that is to be.

Timothy Dudley-Smith

Copyright © Hymns Ancient and Modern

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

God of splendour, your goodness sustains us, and your grace gives us hope.

May these gifts of bread and wine sustain us in the bringing-in of your way of

justice, hope and love.

Amen.The Eucharistic Prayer

Please stand as able.

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, it is our duty and our joy, at all times and in all places

to give you thanks and praise, Holy Father, heavenly King,

Almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

And now we give you thanks

for gathering all our times into your time,

so that we might live the life of the kingdom

which you prepared for us from the foundation of the world.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we

proclaim your great and glorious name,

for ever praising you and singing:

Holy, holy, holyLord God of HostsHeaven and earth are full of your gloryGlory be to thee, O Lord most high.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.

Music by L J White

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;

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.

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.

By whom, and with whom, and in whom,

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.

A bell is rung to signify the sacramental presence of Christ, followed by a

moment of stillness.

The Lord’s PrayerPlease sit.

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.

The Breaking of Bread

The celebrant 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.

Agnus Dei

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us.

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world: grant us thy peace.

Music by L J White

The Invitation

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 celebrant raises paten and chalice and says

The Body and Blood of Christ.

Amen.

The Giving of Communion

Only the celebrant receives Communion under both kinds (bread and wine).

The hosts (bread) for the congregation will be in a closed ciborium (container)

which is uncovered just before the congregation receives. The stewards will

guide everyone to the right location.

Communion Motet

Here we bring new water from the well so clear,For to worship God with, this happy New Year.Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her toe,Open you the West Door, and turn the Old Year go.Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

Sing reign of Fair Maid, with gold upon her chin,Open you the East Door, and let the New Year in.Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine;The seven bright gold wires and the bugles that do shine.

Words Anon.Music by Benjamin Britten

Post Communion Prayer

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was circumcised in obedience to the law for

our sake and given the Name that is above every name: give us grace

faithfully to bear his Name, to worship him in the freedom of the Spirit, and to

proclaim him as the Saviour of the world; who is alive and reigns with you, in

the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.

DismissalNotices

The celebrant will give the details of any particularly important notices and

read any Banns of Marriage.

Please see the weekly pewslip (available online or via the Parish Office) for a

full list of notices.

The Blessing

Please stand as able.

The Lord bless you and watch over you,

the Lord make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you,

the Lord look kindly on you

and give you peace;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

AmenThe Commission

Go now, and embrace the new time which God has given us.

Recognize Christ in friend and stranger,

and as Christ has been gracious to you,

so be gracious to those in need.

And may God dwell with you as your God.

May Christ be your food and drink

and give you pleasure in your work.

And may the Spirit be your beginning and end

and hold all your times in her loving embrace.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Organ Voluntary: Toccata from Symphony No. 5 – Charles-Marie Widor

On behalf of all the clergy, lay staff and volunteers here at St Alphege Church,

and throughout Solihull Parish, we wish you a happy, peaceful and blessed

Christmas and New Year.