A Communion Service

for South Wye

Hereford
3rd May 2020
Fourth Sunday in Easter

“I came that they may have life,

and have it abundantly”
You can join this service on our Youtube Channel: St Martin’s Church
Hereford or our facebook pages St Martin's Church, Ross Rd, Hereford
and St Peter’s Bullinghope

To listen to the service, call 01432 806066 for an audio version. This
will cost you the same per minute as a local ‘phone call.

For more information about forthcoming services

and events, check the websites www.stmartinshereford.org.uk or
St Peter’s Bullinghope on A Church Near You

If you need any help or support at the moment, please contact the
parish office (01432 353717) during weekday mornings) or email
office@stmartinshereford.org.uk
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 WE GATHER
As we celebrate this day of our journey together,
may the Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lord, speak to us that we may hear your word.
Move among us that we may behold your glory.
Receive our prayers that we may learn to trust you. Amen.

Our first Hymn is “How Sweet the name of Jesus Sounds in a Believer’s Ear”
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.
Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury,
filled With boundless stores of grace!
Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I'll praise Thee as I ought. Author: John Newton
Tune: St Peter
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 WE SAY SORRY
A time of confession is introduced
We come to God as one from whom no secrets are hidden,
to ask for his forgiveness and peace.

God our Father, we come to you in sorrow for our sins.

For turning away from you, and ignoring your will for our lives;
Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you;

Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

For failing you by what we do and think and say;

Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

For letting ourselves be drawn away from you

by temptations in the world about us;
Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

For living as if we were ashamed to belong to your Son;

Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

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.

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 WE PRAISE GOD

We stand to sing the Gloria

We join with the angels, our voices we raise,
To give you the glory, and sing forth your praise.
We pray for the peace you alone can bestow,
To fall down like rain on your people below.

O Lord God almighty, and heavenly King,

Accept the thanksgivings and praises we bring,
For though you are mighty, the Lord God above,
For us you are also the Father we love.

Christ Jesus, Messiah, and God’s only Son,

The Lamb who was slain, who now sits on heavn’s throne.
Your death conquered evil and cancelled our sin,
In mercy, receive all the prayers that we bring.

All glory to God in the highest of heaven,

The Father, the Son and the Spirit be given.
To you and you only our praises we sing,
Our Lord God and Father, our heavenly King.

THE PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Let us pray.

We pray silently

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:

teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command,
that all your people may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen
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 WE LISTEN
We hear our first reading from the bible.

A Reading from the book of Acts:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were
being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all
things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and
distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they
spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and
ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having
the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their
number those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God

We hear a Gospel reading.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

Glory to you, O Lord.

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the
gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who
enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens
the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep
by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he
goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his
voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him
because they do not know the voice of strangers.’
Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand
what he was saying to them.
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So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the
sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep
did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be
saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and
have it abundantly.
John 10:1-10
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

WE RESPOND
The Address

We declare our faith in God as we sing the Creed

We believe in God the Father, God almighty, by whose plan

earth and heaven sprang to being, all created things began.
We believe in Christ the Saviour, Son of God in human frame,
virgin-born, the child of Mary upon whom the Spirit came.

Christ, who on the cross forsaken, like a lamb to slaughter led,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, he descended to the dead.
We believe in Jesus risen, heaven's king to rule and reign,
to the Father's side ascended till as judge he comes again.

We believe in God the Spirit; in one Church, below, above:

saints of God in one communion, one in holiness and love.
So by faith, our sins forgiven, Christ our Saviour, Lord and friend,
we shall rise with him in glory to the life that knows no end.

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 WE PRAY

We sit or kneel to pray for the church and the world.

Each prayer ends with the words

‘Lord in your mercy.’ Hear our prayer.

WE SHARE GOD’S PEACE

The Peace is introduced in these or other words

God makes peace within us, let us claim it

God makes peace between us, let us share it
The peace of the Lord be always with you: and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

We exchange a greeting of peace.

WE CELEBRATE
Lord, you give your people bread from heaven.
Bless our offerings that we may come to feast at your heavenly table,
where the hungry are fed and the humble are lifted up. Amen.

The Lord be with you and also with you.

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. Holy, Holy, Holy

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It is always right to give you thanks, God our Creator,
loving and faithful, holy and strong.
You made us and the whole universe,
and filled your world with life. Holy, Holy, Holy

You sent your Son to live among us,

Jesus our Saviour, Mary's child.
He suffered on the cross; he died to save us from our sins;
he rose in glory from the dead. Holy, Holy, Holy

You send your Spirit to bring new life to the world,

and clothe us with power from on high.
And so we join the angels to celebrate and sing:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name
in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

Father, on the night before he died,

Jesus shared a meal with his friends.
He took the bread, and thanked you.
He broke it, and gave it to them, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.

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After the meal, Jesus took the cup of wine.
He thanked you, and gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood, the new promise of God's unfailing love.
Do this to remember me.

Great is the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

Father, as we bring this bread and wine,

and remember his death and resurrection,
send your Holy Spirit, that we who share these gifts
may be fed by Christ's body and his blood. Amen, Amen, Amen.

Pour your Spirit on us that we may love one another, work for the
healing of the earth, and share the good news of Jesus,
as we wait for his coming in glory. Amen, Amen, Amen.

For honour and praise belong to you, Father,

with Jesus your Son, and the Holy Spirit:
one God, for ever and ever. Amen, Amen, Amen.

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.
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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.

God's holy gifts for God's holy people.

Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer after communion

Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord be with you

and also with you.

The Lord bless you and watch over you,

The Lord be gracious to you
and make his face to shine upon you,
The Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

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Our final hymn is The King of Love My Shepherd is:

The King of love my Shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread'st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.
Author: Henry W. Baker
Tune: Dominus Regit Me
Material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
CCLI Licence Number 513132
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