St Faith and St Laurence Harborne12th January

10am

Morning PraiseCelebration of the end of the Roof

Projectand the

Rededication of the Hall and ourselves into God’s service

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PreparationGreetingGrace, mercy and peacefrom God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ be with youand also with you.This is the day that the Lord has made.Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Introductory SentenceUnless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Psalm 127.1

Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of creationPraise to the Lord, the almighty, the King of creation;O my soul, praise God who is now thy health and salvation:come ye who hear,brothers and sisters draw near,praise all in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work, and defend thee;surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;ponder anewall the almighty can do,who with great love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth nourish thy life and restore thee,fitting thee well for the tasks that are ever before thee.Then to thy needGod as a mother doth speed,spreading the wings of grace o'er thee.

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Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him!Let the amensound from his people again:gladly for ay we adore him.

Opening prayerLoving Lord,fill us with your life-giving,joy-giving, peace-giving presence,that we may praise you now with our lipsand all the day long with our lives,through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Some of the story of the project.

ConfessionThe grace of God has dawned upon the world through our Saviour Jesus Christ,who sacrificed himself for us to purify a people as his own.Let us confess our sins. Titus 2.11-14

Lord, you are gracious and compassionate:Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.You are loving to alland your mercy is over all your creation:Christ, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.

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Your faithful servants bless your nameand speak of the glory of your kingdom:Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.AbsolutionAlmighty God,who in Jesus Christ has given usa kingdom that cannot be destroyed,forgive you your sins,open your eyes to God's truth,strengthen you to do God's willand give you the joy of his kingdom,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

One more step along the world I go One more step along the world I go,One more step along the world I go,From the old things to the newKeep me travelling along with you.And it’s from the old I travel to the new,Keep me travelling along with You.

Round the corners of the world I turn,More and more about the world I learn.And the new things that I seeYou’ll be looking at along with me.And it’s from the old I travel to the new,Keep me travelling along with You.

As I travel through the bad and goodKeep me travelling the way I should.Where I see no way to goYou’ll be telling me the way, I know.And it’s from the old I travel to the new,Keep me travelling along with You.

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Give me courage when the world is rough,Keep me loving when the world is tough.Leap and sing in all I do,Keep me travelling along with you.And it’s from the old I travel to the new,Keep me travelling along with You.

You are older than the world can beYou are younger than the life in me.Ever old and ever new,Keep me travelling along with youAnd it’s from the old I travel to the new,Keep me travelling along with You.

CollectHeavenly Father,at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son:may we recognize him as our Lordand know ourselves to be your beloved children;through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Hearing and responding to the word of GodReading Matthew 7.24-27‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall!’Holy Wisdom, Holy WordThanks be to God

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The wise man built his house upon the rock The wise man built his house upon the rockThe wise man built his house upon the rockThe wise man built his house upon the rockAnd the rain came tumbling downAnd the rain came down and the floods came up,The rain came down and the floods came up,The rain came down and the floods came upAnd the house on the rock stood firm

The foolish man built his house upon the sandThe foolish man built his house upon the sandThe foolish man built his house upon the sandAnd the rain came tumbling downAnd the rain came down and the floods came up,The rain came down and the floods came up,The rain came down and the floods came upAnd the house on the sand fell flat

Sermon

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Thanksgiving prayerGracious GodWe thank you for your provisionduring the project to reroof the hall.We thank you for all those who worked so hard In many ways to bring this to an end.We pray that as we move forward we can continue to be a welcoming place,A place where people can encounter youAnd a place of fellowship. Amen

For this congregation, as we remember your promisethat when two or three are gathered in your nameyou are there in the midst of them,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

For all those who donated, both individuals and funders,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

For all who worked on the project, within the church,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

For the contractors and those who helped us to manage the project,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

For all those who use the hall and for the community which we serve,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

For your blessings in the past and for a vision for the future,Lord, receive our thanks and prayer.

O God, from living stonesyou prepare an everlasting dwelling-place for your majesty.Grant that in the power of the Holy Spirit

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those who serve you here may always be kept within your presence.This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

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All are welcomeDuring this hymn the collection is taken

Let us build a house where love can dwelland all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions: All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak,and words are strong and true,where all God's children dare to seek to dream God's reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God's grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: All are welcome………

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Let us build a house where love is foundin water, wine and wheat: a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space; as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:All are welcome………

Let us build a house where hands will reachbeyond the wood and stone to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they've known. Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God's face; let us bring an end to fear and danger:All are welcome………

Let us build a house where all are named,their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word. Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace, let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: All are welcome………

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Affirmation of FaithLet us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Father,from whom every familyin heaven and on earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,who lives in our hearts through faith,and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,who strengthens uswith power from on high.

We believe in one God;Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Amen.

Being builtLike living stones,let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,to be a holy priesthood,to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Godthrough Jesus Christ.      1 Peter 2.5

While the choir sing We are being built into a temple and For the beauty of the earth John Rutter we will build a wall encompassing our hopes for the future.

Intercessions

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EndingThe Peace

Introductory sentencePeace to this house from God our heavenly Father.Peace to this house from his Son who is our peace.Peace to this house from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.The peace of the Lord be always with youand also with you.Let us offer one another a sign of peace.All may exchange a sign of peace.

Great is thy faithfulnessDuring the hymn we process out of the church and into the hall to end the service. Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,There is no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail notAs Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see;All I have needed Thy hand hath providedGreat is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,Join with all nature in manifold witnessTo Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Great is Thy faithfulness…..Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness……

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Prayer of dedication God of the past, the present, and of the future,God who is, who was and who is to come,Today we have gathered to celebrate and to rejoice:To give thanks for the completion of the Roof project,and to rededicate this hall and ourselves to your purposes,so that you continue to be glorified and honoured in the years still ahead.We pray that this may be a place where God is encounteredWhere community is builtWhere love is shared. God of the past, the present, and of the future,God who is, who was and who is to come,Dwell in this place, and in our living,May we continue to be people who welcome, worship and witnessto the Way of faith, hope and love.In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Blessing Christ, whose glory is in the heavens,fill this house and illuminate your hearts;and the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Like living stones, precious in his sight,go in peace to proclaim the mighty acts of God.Thanks be to God.

CopyrightSome material is copyright© Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England 2000, 2004One more step Sydney Carter ©

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All are welcome Marty Haugen © 1994, GIA Publications, Inc.Words produced under licence CCL 675719

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