OPENING SEQUENCE MUSIC All creatures of our God and king
THE GREETING
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
SENTENCE OF SCRIPTURE
I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one; I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.
WELCOME
HYMN 365 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
THE COLLECT FOR PURITY
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.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22: 37-39
Lord, have mercy on us, and write these your laws in our hearts.
CONFESSION
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins, to intercede for us in heaven, and to bring us to eternal life. Let us then confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments and to live in love and peace:
Silence
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may walk in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Joyce and Richard
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
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; 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.
RITA
COLLECT OF THE 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: Grant that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord
FIRST READING Isaiah 45: 11-13, 18-19
ARDEE Ms Eileen McClean
The first reading is from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 45, beginning at verse 11
11 Thus says the Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Will you question me* about my children,
or command me concerning the work of my hands?
12 I made the earth,
and created humankind upon it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I commanded all their host.
13 I have aroused Cyrus* in righteousness,
and I will make all his paths straight;
he shall build my city
and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,
says the Lord of hosts.
DUNDALK Paul Odigie
18 For thus says the Lord,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it a chaos,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
19 I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
‘Seek me in chaos.’
I the Lord speak the truth,
I declare what is right.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 98 Lord Bellew
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, ♦︎
for he has done marvellous things.
2 His own right hand and his holy arm ♦︎
have won for him the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his salvation; ♦︎
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel, ♦︎
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
5 Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; ♦︎
break into singing and make music.
6 Make music to the Lord with the lyre, ♦︎
with the lyre and the voice of melody.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn ♦︎
sound praises before the Lord, the King.
8 Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, ♦︎
the world and all that dwell upon it.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands ♦︎
and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world ♦︎
and the peoples with equity.
EPISTLE 1 John 5: 1-6
BALLYMASCANLAN Debbie McKenna
The epistle is written in the first epistle of John, in the fifth chapter, beginning at the first verse
5Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ* has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world.
DUNLEER Mike Buchanan
And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
GRADUAL HYMN 634 v1 Love divine
THE GOSPEL READING John 15: 9-17
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, according to St John, in the 15th chapter, beginning at the 9th verse.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants* any longer, because the servant* does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
VICTOR
COLLECT OF THE WORD
Loving God, your Son has chosen us and called us to be his friends; give us grace to keep his commandments, to love one another, and to bear fruit which will abide; through him who is the true vine, the source of all our life, Jesus Christ our Lord.
SERMON
SOLO My song is love unknown Ms Sharon Eveson acc by Ms Rita Arthur
Joyce and Richard
THE NICENE CREED Stand
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, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of 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.
PRAYERS
BUSH Mr Alan Bothwell
For obedience to the law of love, let us pray to the Lord.
Give to the Church, chosen and called to service, the love for all which reveals the love of God As she has received grace, my she be a channel of his peace now and for all time.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
CASTLEBELLINGHAM Mr Niall Treadwell
Grant to those who hold authority the love which is stronger than the love of power. May they know that rue authority is from above and is fulfilled not in command but in service. Grant that love shall drive out hatred between nations and races and the whole world be at peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
COLLON Dr John Rountree
As Christ has called us to be his friends, increase in us the gift of friendship towards all who come close to us in our daily lives. By our love one for another may we show that we have heard and answered his call to follow him.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
CREGGAN Ms Anne Wilson
Have mercy on those who have never known love or whose love has been corroded by anger and bitterness. Show them the love of God, restore in them the love of humanity. We pray for all who are ill in mind, body or spirit. Lay your healing hand upon them, help them feel your presence near them, grant them light and peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
DROGHEDA Ms Maureen Ndubi
We pray for the outcasts of the world, those who have been cut off from their families, those who have been rejected by society and have lost hope of return. Restore them to the full dignity of their humanity, and let them grow into new life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
HEYNESTOWN Mr David Adair
We give thanks for the memory and example of all who have died in faith, whose love proclaimed the gospel. We pray that we may share with them the joys of your eternal kingdom.
Joyce and Richard
Merciful Father, accept these our prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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 our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.
THE PEACE
Jesus said: ‘A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
AT THE PREPARATION OF THE TABLE
How can I repay the Lord for all the benefits he has given to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Amen.
THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE
Stand. The Presiding Minister takes the bread and wine and may say
Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us
therefore let us celebrate the feast.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 2
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 our thanks and praise.
All glory and honour, thanks and praise be given to you at all times and in all places, Lord, Holy Father, true and living God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For he is your eternal Word through whom you have created all things from the beginning and formed us in your own image.
In your great love you gave him to be made man for us and to share our common life.
LENT
He was tempted in every way as we are, yet he did not sin; and he gives us strength to control our desires, and to walk in his way of love.
In obedience to your will your Son our Saviour offered himself a perfect sacrifice, and died on the cross for our redemption. Through him you have freed us from the slavery of sin and reconciled us to yourself, our God and Father.
IN EASTERTIDE
For he is the true Passover Lamb who was offered for us and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death, he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life he has restored to us eternal life.
He is our great high priest whom you raise from death and exalted to your right hand on high where he ever lives to intercede for us.
Through him you have sent upon us your holy and life-giving Spirit and made us a royal priesthood called to serve you for ever.
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:
Sung: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Merciful Father, we thank you for these gifts of your creation, this bread and this wine, and we pray that we who eat and drink them in the fellowship of the holy Spirit in obedience to our Saviour Christ in remembrance of his death and passion my be partakers of his body and his blood, who on the night he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given 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.
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. Father, with this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour has commanded:
We celebrate the redemption he has won for us; we proclaim his perfect sacrifice, made once for all upon the cross, his mighty resurrections and glorious ascension; and we look for his coming to fulfil all things according to you will.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Renew us by your Holy Spirit, unite us in the body of you Son, and bring us with all your people into the joy of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom and in whom, by the power of the Holy Spirit,, we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of never-ending praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER page 218
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, so we 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.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.
We being many are one body, for we all share in the one bread.
AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.
THE COMMUNION
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. Remember that he died for you, and feed on him in your heart, by faith, with thanksgiving.
MUSIC during Communion HYMN 418
The body of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen
The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life. Amen
THE GREAT SILENCE
DAVID
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
God our Father, whose son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life: May we also thirst for you the spring of life and source of goodness,, through him who is alive and reigns with you, and the Holy spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen.
Richard and Joyce
Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of 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.
THE BLESSING
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight:
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN 634 v3
DISMISSAL
Go in the peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
CLOSING MUSIC O Jesus I have promisedFlugelhorn