The beginning of November is a wonderful time in the Church's worship life. On the 1st of November the Solemnity of All Souls is celebrated, and on the 2nd November prayer for all those who have passed away is held.
Today Good Shepherd Church held worship. Prayer for all readers of our blogs and for all those in need was held.
If you were unable to attend a Church Service, why not follow the service below in prayer and make spiritual Communion with Our Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps you have been working in essential services, are caregiver at home or ill in bed. All of your intentions have been held before the Lord today.
The Church Service today;
Celebrant; 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
Congregation; 'Amen.'
Beginning hymn; 'For all the saints who from their labours rest'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OaBgaMcOvM
Lyrics; http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/lyrics/tlh463.htm
Celebrant; 'Let us pray.
Give us, O God, a vision of your glory, that we may worship You in spirit and in truth.
We offer You the praise of glad and thankful hearts for all you grace and blessings, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.'
Here follows a few moments of silence. Reach out to God with your heart, and think of any area in your life where you can improve as a person. If there is an area in your life on which you need to work, silently communicate with God and commit to addressing this area.
Celebrant; 'Lord Jesus, you came into the world to save sinners, Lord have mercy.'
Congregation; 'Lord, have mercy.'
Celebrant; 'We have brought sorrow and hurt to You, to others and to ourselves. Christ, have mercy.'
Congregation; 'Christ, have mercy.'
Celebrant; 'You give yourself in this Sacrament to heal and renew us, and to bring us strength. Lord, have mercy.'
Congregation; 'Lord have mercy.'
Celebrant; May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to life eternal.'
Congregation; 'Amen.'
Celebrant; 'God, the source of all wisdom, You teach us in Your Word that love is the fulfilment of the law.
Grant that we may love You with all our hearts and minds, and our neighbours as ourselves. This we ask through our Lord, Jesus Christ.'
Congregation; 'Amen.'
Readings;
Reading 1 from the Book of Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
I, John, saw another angel come up from the East,
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb."
All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"
I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."
He said to me,
"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels
who were given power to damage the land and the sea,
"Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees
until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal,
one hundred and forty-four thousand marked
from every tribe of the children of Israel.
After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb."
All the angels stood around the throne
and around the elders and the four living creatures.
They prostrated themselves before the throne,
worshiped God, and exclaimed:
"Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor, power, and might
be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,
"Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?"
I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."
He said to me,
"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
Response. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Reading 2 1 John 3:1-3
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure,
as he is pure.
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."
Celebrant; 'This is the gospel of Christ.'
Congregation; 'Glory to Christ our Saviour.'
Word of Encouragement;
Celebrant; 'Dear people, the God of love reaches out to us every day. We have our tears which we weep; our struggles we deal with; the people we love. We have happiness, difficulties, experience. And then we look forward at the end of our lives to eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Many have gone before us to the mansion God has uniquely prepared for each one.
We, who form part of God's worldwide family, follow in the footsteps of past generations over the centuries. We are heirs of the age-old promises of God. Let us take a few moments and pray for all those who have gone before us to God's Kingdom; for those of us who now prepare in the autumn and winter of our lives for that great journey; and for all those generations in the future who are destined to follow us into Heaven.
We also pray with fervour for those who have had difficulties in completing their lives with honour and peace, and who need the forgiveness of God our Heavenly Father.
We thus pray with devotion today, Lord, for all Saints in Heaven and for All Souls who have departed this earth, especially those most in need of our prayers.
We thank God for His limitless love for us, and celebrate His great power.
We remember our children and our children's children who will follow us, that God will be with them as He so gently and immovably has been there for us. Amen.'
You may spend some time in quiet reflection if you so wish.
Prayers of Intercession;
In faith let us pray to God our Father, in the Name of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
God of love, we pray for the life of your Church throughout the world.
May every congregation be a community of love and every follower of yours a witness to Your Grace.
God of compassion, we pray for those who are ill or anxious at home or in hospital.
We pray for those suffering from fear and despair. Draw near with your saving love and bring hope and healing.
God of mercy, we pray for all in the world, especially for those in most need of your grace. We pray for those affected by war.
God of glory, we rejoice in the communion of saints, and remember all those who have lived and have died. They, too, are our sisters and brothers in the wider human family. Be with them all as they turn towards you at the last. Show great mercy to those most in need of Your Mercy, Lord. Amen.
Breaking of Bread
Celebrant; 'Almighty God, You made a covenant with Your people, and declared Your purpose of justice and love. When all things were ready, You sent Your Son to be Our Saviour.
In words and deeds He proclaimed Your Kingdom, and obeyed Your Will even to death on the cross.
Through His mighty death and resurrection, He overcame sin and death, to set the whole creation free.
We praise Your, Father,
that on the night before He gave His life, our Lord Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to His disciples and said; 'Take, eat; this is My Body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me.'
Congregation; 'Lord Jesus, You are the Bread of Life.'
Celebrant; 'After the same manner also He took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to them saying, 'Drink this, all of you; for this is the Blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. This do in remembrance of Me.'
Congregation; 'Lord Jesus, You are the cup of life, the wine that is blessed for our salvation.'
The Lord's Prayer;
'Our Father, Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed by 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, forever, Amen.'
Benediction;
Celebrant; 'The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His Face to shine on you,
and be gracious to you;
The Lord look on you with kindness and give you peace.'
Congregation; 'Amen.'.
Final Hymn;
Jesus, What a Wonder You Are
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49yVXMSX4ZM
With thanks to Youtube
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