Parish of Berkswich - God's love in Community
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The Churches of the Parish of Berkswich
in the Church of England Diocese of Lichfield
 
Live-streamed Eucharist with hymns sung at home for
Second Sunday of Easter

 
 
Today we especially rejoice to be gathered not only at home but also in one of our church buildings.
 Please note that current guidance does not permit the singing in the church building – on this joyful day, please could those at home sing loudly for those in the church building who can’t (you will still be muted!)
 
 
The gathering
 
Today we continue to celebrate the power of life over death and to see our lives in the light of the resurrection. We reflect on the powerful love of God that breaks down our defences of fear or doubt.
 
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.


Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting:
Thine be the glory…
 
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above:
Thine be the glory…
 
Edmond Budry (1854-1932)
Trans: Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939)
 
The greeting
 
X In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.
 
The Lord of glory be with you.
And also with you
 
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!            
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
The Act of Penitence  
 
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us.
 
God meets us in our need.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
 
God speaks peace to our fear.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
 
God leads us to safety.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
 
 
Words of forgiveness
 
May the Father of all mercies cleanseX you from your sins, and restore you in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The Gloria
 
Our virtual choir sing the Gloria.
 
Often referred to as “the angelic hymn,” the gloria was first intoned by the angels from heaven for the birth of Christ on earth. The Gloria is a true hymn. Its opening burst of praise overflows into a series of joyful cries addressed to the Father: “we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.”
 
The hymn goes on to implore the mercy of the Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
 
In singing the Gloria, the church relives the experience of Saint Stephen who, “full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55).
 
Gazing on Christ, the Church praises him: “You alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High.” The final lines of the Gloria soar into the blinding mystery of the Trinity: “Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.” The hymn ends where it began: in the heavens.
 
The Collect for the day
 
Let us pray
Silence is kept
Almighty Father,
you have given your only Son to die for our sins
and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you
in pureness of living and truth;
through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.



The liturgy of the word

First reading       Acts 4.32-35
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
 
This describes how the first Christians worked out how to be Church: what it means to live in community and what it really means to share their possessions.
 
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 
     
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
 
Gospel reading
The virtual choir sing the Alleluia
 
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
 
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John X
 Glory to you, O Lord.             
20.19-end
 
Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection. Despite their fear and grief, mostly they recognise him and rejoice. Thomas, after some doubt, makes a huge declaration of faith.
 
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.  
     
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.






Homily
 
Affirmation of faith
 
With our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world, let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe.  Amen.
cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7,
 
 
 
 
Prayers of Intercession  
 
Let us bring our prayers and the concerns of our hearts to almighty God, who knows our need before we ask, and who hears our prayers with love.
 
At the end of each bidding the following           response is used
Jesus, Lord of life.
In your mercy, hear us.
And at the end
 
Almighty God, we thank you for hearing our prayers. We commend all those on our hearts to your faithful love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ
Amen


 
The liturgy of the sacrament
 
The Peace
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
Despite their fear, and all their defence, Jesus came in the power of love and stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.”
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
 
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may ex
change a sign of peace.
 
Offertory Prayer
 
Heavenly Father,
as we set before you these gifts of bread and wine; as we offer our lives in your service; bless the gift of our hearts, minds and actions, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen


 
The Eucharistic Prayer
 
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, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal Father, and in these days of Easter
to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works. For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son, has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men and women the image of your glory. He has placed them once more in paradise
and opened to them the gate of life eternal.
And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory.
 
Our Virtual Choir will sing the Sanctus, the Holy, Holy, Holy, an integral part of the Eucharistic Prayer in both the Eastern and Western churches from before the year 400 A.D, and the conclusion of the Preface.
 
Its text is composed of two parts, both inspired in Scripture and highlighting two juxtaposing aspects of God – the first part focuses on the awe and surpassing wonder before the divine majesty, and in the second, the humility of Jesus, God made man.
 
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; 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. X
 
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; 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.
 
Our Virtual Choir will sing our Memorial Acclamation – a response to what has been proclaimed in the Eucharistic prayer
 
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, with all the faithful departed, and in the company of Mary, Blessed Mother of Jesus, Saint Thomas, Saint Chad, and all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.  
Amen.




The Lord’s Prayer
 
Rejoicing in the presence of the Risen Christ, let us pray to the Father in faith and trust:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
 
Breaking of the bread
 
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
 
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share your resurrection.
 
Live in us,
that we may live in you
 
The priest breaks the consecrated bread as our virtual choir sing the Agnus Dei, underlining the reality of Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
 
An act of Spiritual Communion
 
Those at home, as they look on to the consecrated elements - the Body and Blood of Our Lord present in the Bread and Wine, are invited to say these words
 
In union, dear Father, with Christian
people throughout the world and across
the centuries gathered to make
Eucharist, hearing your holy Word and
receiving the Precious Body and Blood, I offer you praise and thanksgiving.
Even though I am exiled from tasting
the Bread of Heaven and drinking the
Cup of Life I pray that you will unite me
with all the baptised and with your Son who gave his life for us. Come Lord Jesus, dwell in me and send your Holy Spirit that I may be filled with your presence.
 
Those in church are invited to receive communion in one kind only.  When you remove your mask, please ensure you wash your hands before and after receiving.  Please do not say Amen when the host is given to you. 
 
Prayer after communion    
 
Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ you have assured your children of eternal life and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in your love, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
 
 
The dismissal
 
Good Christians all, rejoice and sing!
Now is the triumph of our King.
To all the world glad news we bring:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 
The Lord of Life is risen for ay:
bring flowers of song to strew his way;
let all the earth rejoice and say
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 
Praise we in songs of victory
that Love, that Life, which cannot die,
and sing with hearts uplifted high
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 
Thy name we bless, O risen Lord,
and sing to-day with one accord
the life laid down, the life restored:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
 
                Cyril Argentine Alington (1872-1955)
 
The Dismissal Gospel
 
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. X
Glory to you, O Lord.
 
Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’
John 11.25,26
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
 
The Blessing
 
May the Father sustain you with his love. May the Son speak peace to your fears. May the Holy Spirit fill you with hope. And the blessing of God almighty, the X Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.  Amen
 
He is not here. He is risen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia.
In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia, alleluia.
 
 
Equipped to go out into our world, we leave in silence
 
Copyright acknowledgment: Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000, 2006  Setting of Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and Agnus Dei from The Gathering Mass by Paul Inwood  
CCLI Streaming licence:  1169112  Copyright licence:  202876

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  • Home
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      • Weekly Prayers from our Parish
      • Daily prayers and readings from the Church of England
      • Our Worship
    • This months readings sheet
    • Current Service Rota
    • Our Policies
    • Our Churchyard
    • Parish Office Volunteer Rota
    • Office use: Supply Request
  • Diary Dates and links
    • Practising Generosity
    • Our weekly email newsletter
    • Diary Dates
    • Links
  • Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
    • Weddings >
      • RELATE
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      • Cruse Bereavement Care
  • Baptism and confirmation
    • Being a God-parent
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    • Baptism Video Form
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    • READING SHEET
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  • Three Decker Magazine
  • In Memoriam
    • Gillian Willey
    • Barbara Ann Hughes
    • Pauline Pearsall