A Service of the Word
Form A

THE PREPARATION

GREETING

The Peace of the Lord be always with you. A.4
And also with you.

Members of the congregation may greet one another with a sign of peace.

The Lord is my strength and my song: A.7
He has become my salvation

Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things:
Let it be known in all the world.

The Lord is our light and our life: B.5.4
Come, let us worship.

A HYMN is sung.

PENITENCE

As we recall our disobedience to God's commandments and our failure to do his will; let us kneel and confess our sins to God our Father: D.1

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, E.1
we have sinned in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and grant that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

The priest pronounces the absolution:
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, F.1
have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If no priest is present the absolution is omitted and the following prayer may be said:
Merciful Lord, F.1A
grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins,
and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ACCLAMATION
Stand

Lift up your hearts. C.1
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

We give you thanks, our God and Father,
for you have created us and you sustain us.
Through your only Son Jesus Christ
you have revealed your love and your care for all your people;
you are ready to forgive and to save in time of need;
so we proclaim your glory, saying
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY is said.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

A PSALM is said or sung

FIRST READING
followed by a short time of silence.

SECOND READING

SCRIPTURE SONG
Irish Church Praise 133, God we praise you, is suitable.

THE SERMON

THE RESPONSE

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

Do you believe and trust in God the Father, I.3
creator of heaven and earth?
I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ,
who redeemed the world?
I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit
who gives life to the people of God?
I believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

THE OFFERING of gifts of money.

A HYMN is sung and the Collection is received.
This prayer may be said by the Minister or by all:

Accept, Lord, these our gifts, M.1
and use them for your purposes of love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE PRAYERS

Gracious and loving God, J.1
we thank you for giving us power, through your Spirit, to reveal your life to the world: strengthen, bless and guide us to make you known by word and example ....

We are your Church, O God:
Guide us in your grace.

We thank you for your creation, and pray for the earth which you have given us to cherish and protect: nourish us in your love for all that you have made........

We are your stewards, O God:
Guide us in your grace.

Guide and bless us in our work and in our play, and shape the patterns of our country's political and economic life, that all may share in the fulfilment of your creative work...........

We are your servants, O God:
Guide us in your grace.

Awaken our hearts to your presence in all people: in those we love; in those whom we find it difficult to love, in those who differ from us and in those who are familiar to us........

We are all made in your image, O God:
Guide us in your grace.

We thank you for the gift of life with its blessings and its sorrows. Shield the joyous, comfort and strengthen those in any need or trouble, especially ....... Bless those who will be born today and those who will die, joining in the company of all your saints, that we may rejoice in one unending song of praise......

In you alone we have eternal life, O God:
Guide us in your grace.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord we offer these our prayers and thanksgivings to you, O God, source of all that is true and holy, now and for ever. Amen.

A GENERAL COLLECT

Eternal God and Father, K.1
you create us by your power and redeem us by your love:
Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit,
that we may give ourselves in love and service
to you and to one another;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let us sum up our prayers and praises in the words our Saviour Christ has taught us and say: L.1
Our Father....

A HYMN may be sung.

THE DISMISSAL

Grant, O Lord, N.1
that as we leave this house
we may not leave your presence:
Be ever near us and keep us close to you
now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you. Amen. O.2

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. Amen.

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

The Lord Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Holy and Undivided Trinity guard you, save you and bring you to the heavenly city where he lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.