Rockland Benefice

in the Bramerton Group

bramerton * Carleton St. Peter * Claxton

kirby bedon with WHITLINGHAM

rockland st. Mary with Hellington * surlingham

CREATION SUNDAY

HOLY COMMUNION

7th February 2021

The GatheringThe Greeting

This is the day that the Lord has made.

AllWe will rejoice and be glad in it.

The Lord be with you

AllAnd also with you.

Hymn

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colours,

He made their tiny wings. Refrain.

The purple-headed mountain,

The river running by,

The sunset and the morning,

That brightens up the sky. Refrain.

The cold wind in the winter,

The pleasant summer sun,

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one. Refrain.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell

How great is God Almighty,

Who has made all things well. Refrain.

Prayer of Preparation

AllAlmighty 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

Human sin disfigures the whole creation, which groans with eager longing for God’s redemption.

We confess our sins in penitence and faith.

We confess to you our lack of care for the world you have given us. Lord, have mercy.

AllLord have mercy.

We confess to you our selfishness in not sharing the earth’s bounty fairly. Christ, have mercy.

AllChrist have mercy.

We confess to you our failure to protect natural resources for others. Lord, have mercy.

AllLord have mercy.

May the God of love

bring us back to himself,

forgive us our sins,

and assure us of his eternal love,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

AllAmen.

The Collect

In a time of silence,

let us pray that our worship will bring us closer to the one who

has created all things.

Glorious God,

the whole creation proclaims your marvellous work:

increase in us a capacity to wonder and delight in it,

that heaven’s praise may echo in our hearts

and our lives be spent as good stewards of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All  Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Epistle

Colossians 1.15-20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

For the word of the Lord.

AllThanks be to God.

Reflection

Gospel Reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according

to John.

AllGlory to you, O Lord.

John 1:1-14

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was the true light that enlightens 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as the Father’s only Son , full of grace and truth.

At the end

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

AllPraise to you, O Christ.

Prayers of Intercession

These responses may be used

Lord in your mercy.

AllHear our prayer.

Ending with

Merciful Father,

AllAccept these prayers

For the sake of your Son,

Our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

You shall go out in joy and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

Alland also with you.

Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Hymn

For the beauty of the earthFor the beauty of the skiesFor the love which from our birthOver and around us lies

Lord of all, to thee we raiseThis our joyful hymn of praise

For the beauty of the hourOf the day and of the nightHill and vale and tree and flowerSun and moon and stars of light

Lord of all, to thee we raiseThis our joyful hymn of praise

For the joy of human loveBrother, sister, parent, childFriends on earth and friends aboveFor all gentle thoughts and mild. Refrain.

For thy Church which evermore

lifteth holy hands above

offering up on every shore

her pure sacrifice of love. Refrain.

The table is prepared and bread and wine

are placed upon it.

As the grain once scattered in the fields

and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside

are now united on this table in bread and wine,

so, Lord, may your whole Church soon be gathered together from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.

AllAmen.

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.

Blessed are you, Lord God,

our light and our salvation;

to you be glory and praise for ever.

From the beginning you have created all things

and all your works echo the silent music of your praise.

In the fullness of time you made us in your image,

the crown of all creation.

You give us breath and speech, that with angels and archangels

and all the powers of heaven

we may find a voice to sing your praise:

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.

How wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord.

As a mother tenderly gathers her children,

you embraced a people as your own.

When they turned away and rebelled

your love remained steadfast.

From them you raised up Jesus our Saviour, born of Mary,

to be the living bread,

in whom all our hungers are satisfied.

He offered his life for sinners,

and with a love stronger than death

he opened wide his arms on the cross.

On the night before he died,

he came to supper with his friends

and, taking bread, he gave you thanks.

He broke it and gave it to them, saying:

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of me.

At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine,

he gave you thanks, and said:

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.

Jesus Christ is Lord:

All  Lord, by your cross and resurrection

you have set us free.

You are the Saviour of the world.

Father, we plead with confidence

his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross;

we remember his dying and rising in glory,

and we rejoice that he intercedes for us at your right hand.

Pour out your Holy Spirit as we bring before you

these gifts of your creation;

may they be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

As we eat and drink these holy things in your presence,

form us in the likeness of Christ,

and build us into a living temple to your glory.

Bring us at the last with all the saints

to the vision of that eternal splendour

for which you have created us;

through Jesus Christ, our Lord,

by whom, with whom, and in whom,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:

All  Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur 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.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread

to share in the body of Christ.

AllThough we are many, we are one body,

Because we all share in one bread.

AllJesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

Grant us peace.

An act of commitment for the care of creation

As the whole of creation looks with eager longing for the redemption of humankind, let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our Creator God, the Father who is the maker of all things,

the Son through whom all things are made, and the Holy Spirit,

the giver of life, who renews the face of the earth.

Let us stand to affirm our commitment to care actively for God’s creation.

All  Lord of life and giver of hope,

we pledge ourselves to care for creation,

to reduce our waste,

to live sustainably,

and to value the rich diversity of life.

May your wisdom guide us,

that life in all its forms may flourish,

and may be faithful in voicing creation’s praise.

May the commitment we have made this day be matched by our faithful living.

All  Amen.

The Dismissal

God bless the sky that is above us, The earth that is beneath us, your image deep within us, the day that lies before us;

And the blessing of God almighty,

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Be among you and remain with you always.

AllAmen.

Hymn

Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it

For by His power each tree and flower

Was planned and made

Jesus is Lord! The universe declares it

Sun, moon and stars in heaven

Cry, 'Jesus is Lord!'

Jesus is Lord! Jesus is Lord!

Praise Him with hallelujahs

For Jesus is Lord!

Jesus is Lord! Yet from His throne eternal

In flesh He came to die in pain

On Calvary's tree

Jesus is Lord! From Him all life proceeding

Yet gave His life a ransom

Thus setting us free. Refrain.

Jesus is Lord! O'er sin the mighty conqueror

From death He rose, and all His foes

Shall own His name

Jesus is Lord! God sent His Holy Spirit

To show by works of power

That Jesus is Lord. Refrain.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

AllIn the name of Christ. Amen.

______________________________________

Rockland Benefice 2021

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, and A Time for Creation, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000, 2020. Blessing (adapted) copyright © Ray Simpson. Jesus is Lord copyright © David J. Mansell 1982 Word’s Spirit of Praise Music. CCLI.

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