There was a full church for the now annual celebration for All Saints & All Souls when we remember in particular those for whom it has been our privilege to conduct a funeral service in the last 12 months. Those are individuals are named below. It was good that of the families invited to share in the day several accepted the invitation. We look forward to their return on some future occasion. The order of service for the day was as shown below. The service was led by Tom Birch. Those taking part included Ann Shadbolt, Wendy Slattery and Karen Abram. The bread and wine during the Sacrament of Holy Communion were distributed by Karen Abram & Wendy Slattery helped by Ann Shadbolt, Jean Roby & Jean Wadsworth.
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARED FOR WORSHIP
Let the earth shout,
the mountains cry out,
the seas roar,
for God gathers in the lost and lame,
the poor and weary,
the faithful and the doubter.
All our voices are not enough to sing our song of praise to God,
so let earth join
sun, moon and stars to rejoice together
as all creation praises the Maker.
AMEN
GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
An elder carried in an open Bible and placed it on or near the communion table.
In true Reformed tradition this simple act is a reminder that our authority is God’s Word revealed to us in Scripture open before us.
WE WERE ARE ALL ASKED TO STAND AS THE BIBLE IS BROUGHT INTO CHURCH AND PLACED BEFORE THE CONGREGATION AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE CALL TO WORSHIP
CALL TO WORSHIP
I will always thank the Lord;
I will never stop praising him.
I will praise him for what he has done;
may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!
Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness;
let us praise his name together.
HYMN 30: Father, we love you, we worship and adore you (Tune: Father, we love you. Music: Donna Adkins. Words: Donna Adkins.)
PRAYERS OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION
HYMN 371: Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee (Tune: St Bees. Music: JB Dykes. Words: Frances Ridley Havergal.)
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
READING: Revelation, Chapter 7, Verses 9 to 17
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 318: This joyful, radiant portrayal of the life of the redeemed of God has buoyed the spirits of generations of Christian men and women, especially in times of hardship and suffering. It tells of victory won by an individual’s efforts. It tells of the astonishing scope of God’s redemptive activity. It tells of the redeemed busy for God worshipping God day and night.
EPISTLE: 1 John, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 3
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 305: The communion of saints is something of a mystery. The children of God are characterized by the love given them by God. The future promises to bring them yet another transformation: to be made like God, although they do not yet know what that transformation will mean.
HYMN 558: Will you come and follow me (Tune: Kelvingrove. Music: Scottish traditional melody arranged by compilers of Rejoice & Sing. Words: John Bell and Graham Maule.)
GOSPEL: Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 1 to 12
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 7: Here is a reminder that God has not forgotten the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers – and certainly not the persecuted. There is not though instant recompense, but rather to be comforted by taking heart in the face of the trials of life, to trust joyfully the divine promise made about the future.
A WORD IN SEASON
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S GRACE
At this point in the service, none needed to feel they had to leave. In this Church all are invited to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
However, if you cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread and wine when it is offered to you then, simply, make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take. But please stay and share in the rich fellowship of the Sacrament. In our Reformed tradition, you may see people move forward to gather round the Table of the Lord. They occupy alternate rows starting from the front benches. You can join them. However, you can remain where you are sat and the elders will come to you with the bread and wine.
THE INVITATION TO THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION AND THE GRACIOUS WORDS
The risen Christ came and stood among the disciples and said:
‘Peace be with you!’
Then they were glad when they saw the Lord.
Alleluia!
The peace of the risen Christ be always with us.
HYMN 628: O Holy City, seen by John, where Christ, the Lamb, shall reign (Tune: Sheltered Dale (R&S 608). Music: Melody by JLF Glueck. Words: W Russell Bowie based on Revelation 21.)
THE TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE
- THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
It is our usual practice to wait until all have received the bread and we eat together, and then similarly with the wine, waiting until all have received a glass and drinking together. If you cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread or wine when it is offered to you then simply, make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take.
A TIME OF QUIET REFLECTION
God you alone are holy,
but today we thank you for people who have,
through your grace,
lived holy lives:
not through doing special deeds but simply by being faithful,
not by living outside the world,
but serving you in it,
not be setting themselves above other,
but by seeing you in them,
not by thinking they were saints,
but by known they had been separated from you.
Help us to follow the example of your saints,
to stand firm in our faith,
to see and serve you in the world and to live in humility and trust all the days you give us.
Following a time of quiet meditation there will be an act of remembering all who feel greatly the loss of loved ones. We hold in our prayers and thoughts all that have died and in particular the individuals for whom it has been a privilege for this church to conduct in the last twelve months their funeral services. A remembrance card will be placed by the communion table: one for each.
Family and friends present are encouraged to come forward at the end of the service and collect their family’s card.
* James Henry ABRAM * Mabel ATKINSON *
* Graham BAGNALL * Susan Elaine BARCOCK *
* Gilbert Dalliday BRADSHAW * Gary BROOKS *
* Margaret BURROUGHS * Ivy BURTON *
* Toni CRELLIN *
* Henry Alan DAWE * Richard DE HAVILLAND *
* Derek DOWSING *
* Dale ELLIS *
* Ronald FOOTE *
* Pauline GIBSON * Barbara GREENE *
* Kathleen Elizabeth GRIFFITHS *
* Samuel HAMER * Walter George HENDRY * Brenda HOLMES *
* June HOUGHTON *
* Margaret JOHNSON * Pamela JOYCE *
* William (Jock) KERR *
* Ellen W MATHIESON * Mildred MILLER *
* Sarah Currie MUIR *
* James NASH *
* Paul O’BRIEN *
* Robertha PATTERSON * James PORTER *
* Christopher QUEEN *
* Joan RAWCLIFFE * Anne Hamilton ROBERTSON * Edith ROBINSON * Sheila ROBINSON *
* John Victor SHREWSBURY *
* Marlene SHREWSBURY *
James SLATTERY * John SLIMON * Joan SMITH *
Sylvia Marie STANHOPE * Pamela STAUNTON * Colin STEWART *
* Ann TAYLOR * Joyce Elizabeth TAYLOR *
* Janet TODD *
* William Edward (Eddie) WALBANK *
* Keith WHITTAKER *
* Hilda Jane WILSON * John Fredrick WILSON *
* Josephine WORSWICK * Doreen WRIGHT *
* Florence Maude WRIGHT * Lilian WRIGHT *
* Edward (Ted) WYATT *
- ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
With the stirring of the wind and the chill of winter,
under the blue sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
With joys we long to share and in sorrow we bear alone;
in work we have to do with life we have to give,
we remember them.
In treasured memories of the past
and during days to come
we remember them.
In all that they achieved and for all that might have been;
at the dawn of day and in the setting sun
we remember them.
- HYMN 629: Make me a channel of your peace (Tune: Channel of Peace. Music: Sebastian Temple arranged by Betty Pulkingham. Words: from a prayer sometimes attributed to St Francis arranged by Sebastian Temple.)
- PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father,
which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
in 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
- HYMN 663: Love divine, all loves excelling (Tune: Blaenwern (R&S 95). Music: WP Rowlands. Words: Charles Wesley.)
(During the singing of our final hymn, the elders waited on us for our morning gifts for the work and witness in and through this place.)
A PRAYER OF DEDICATION AND THE BLESSING
May God who is all love,
teach us all loving.
May God who is all peace,
give us hope in all circumstances.
May God who is over all,
call us to a larger future.
May God who is beyond all,
lead us into glory.
AMEN