Worship at Home: candlemas
Presentation of Christ in the Temple: Sunday 2nd February
The Gathering
Hymn
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord of glory be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Introduction
The president introduces the day’s liturgy
Dear friends,
forty days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we recall the day on which he was
presented in the Temple
THE GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
THE COLLECT
The president introduces a period of silent prayer with the words
Let us pray that we may know and share the Light of Christ.
Silence is kept.
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple
in substance of our flesh;
grant that we may be presented to you,
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
Old Testament reading
Malachi 3:1-5
At the end of each reading the reader will say
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm 24
Refrain: The Lord of hosts: he is the King of glory.
1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that fills it, ♦
the compass of the world and all who dwell therein.
2 For he has founded it upon the seas ♦
and set it firm upon the rivers of the deep. [R]
3 ‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, ♦
or who can rise up in his holy place?’
4 ‘Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, ♦
who have not lifted up their soul to an idol,
nor sworn an oath to a lie;
5 ‘They shall receive a blessing from the Lord, ♦
a just reward from the God of their salvation.’
6 Such is the company of those who seek him, ♦
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob. [R]
7 Lift up your heads, O gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; ♦
and the King of glory shall come in.
8 ‘Who is the King of glory?’ ♦
‘The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord who is mighty in battle.’
9 Lift up your heads, O gates;
be lifted up, you everlasting doors; ♦
and the King of glory shall come in.
10 ‘Who is this King of glory?’ ♦
‘The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of glory.’
Refrain: The Lord of hosts: he is the King of glory.
New Testament reading
Hebrews 2:14-end
At the end of each reading the reader will say
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
A HYMN will be sung before the Gospel.
GOSPEL READING
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria, gloria. Alleluia, alleluia!
This child is
the light of the nations and the glory of your people
Gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo! Gloria, gloria. Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord be with you.
and also with you.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Luke 2:22-44
At the end
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
THE CREED
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
We 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,
Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
There following response may be used
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy.
We pray for all the Church throughout the world that we would be united in the Truth and live together in Love.
Let us continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and in the Middle East. May there be reconciliation talks and a permanent peaceful and just resolution.
Please pray for those in need of God's healing and wholeness, for nothing is impossible for God. Let us pray for Tina, Roz, Malcolm, Sunni, Debbie, Ted, Henry, Tracy, Alexander, Nuresh and Beth.
Bring comfort to all who mourn, remembering those who have died recently, among them, Eleanor Hines and those whose anniversary we commemorate at this time among them: Juliet Finlayson, and Moira Mackenzie, Leslie James Hunt, Kathleen Rae, Peggy Clarke, Cyril Pedrick and May Harris.
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Hear the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ:
“I am the Light of the World.
Whoever follows me shall never walk in darkness
but shall have the light of life.”
Let us therefore bring our sins into his light
and confess them in penitence and faith. cf John 8:12
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love,
and marred your image in us,
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light,
Amen.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
THE PEACE
In the tender mercy of our God,
the dayspring from on high has broken upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
Preparation of the table.
TAKING OF THE BREAD AND WINE
A hymn may be sung.
The gifts of the people are gathered and presented.
The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.
Father, in Christ there has sprung up a light for the righteous;
accept the gifts we bring before you
and grant that Christ may shine upon us
to the praise and glory of your name.
Amen.
THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
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.
It is indeed right and good,
always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ, who is one with you from all eternity.
For on this day he appeared in the
in substance of our flesh
to come near to us in judgement.
he searches the hearts of all your people
and brings to light the image of your splendour.
Your servant Simeon acclaimed him as the light to lighten the nations, while Anna spoke of him to all who looked for your redemption.
Destined for the falling and rising of many,
he was lifted high on the cross
and a sword pierced his mother’s heart
when, by his sacrifice, he made our peace with you.
And now we rejoice and glorify your name
that we, too, have seen your salvation
and join with the angels and archangels
in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
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.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.
Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with Edmund and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Believing the promises of God,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught:
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.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
The president breaks the consecrated bread.
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us,
light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.
GIVING OF COMMUNION
The president says this invitation to communion.
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
Silence is kept. The post-communion prayer is said.
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes
to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
CANDLEMAS PROCESSION
All hold aloft their lighted candles and the president says
Lord God, the springing source of everlasting light,
pour into the hearts of your faithful people
the brilliance of your eternal splendour,
that we, who by these kindling flames
light up this temple to your glory,
may have the darkness of our souls dispelled,
and so be counted worthy to stand before you
in that eternal city where you live and reign,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
As the ministers and people go in procession to the font, they sing Nunc Dimittis followed by another song.
NUNC DIMITTIS
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace:
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles:
and to be the glory of thy
people
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost:
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
FINAL RESPONSARY
Father, we have sung your praise with shepherds and angels:
may Christ be born in our hearts today.
Praise to Christ our light.
We have shared the joy of Simeon and Anna;
help us, like them, to trust in your word.
Praise to Christ our light.
We have greeted Jesus the light of the world;
may we be filled with the light of your love.
Praise to Christ our light.
THE CONCLUSION
We stand near the place of new birth.
Let us shine with the light of your love.
We turn from the crib to the cross
Let us shine with the light of your love.
We go to carry his light.
Let us shine with the light of your love.
Thanks be to God.
Voluntary
Adapted from Common Worship
Copyright: The Archbishop’s Council 2000