Service of Holy Communion in Eastertide May 18th, 2025

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Welcome to St Clement Church Service of Holy Communion in Eastertide May 18th, 2025 Notices for next week: May 25th, 2025 9am Holy Communion at St Nicholas Church with the Dean of Jersey, The Very Reverend Mike Keirle 10.30am Family Service with the Dean of Jersey, The Very Reverend Mike Keirle A&M 823 Who would true valour see, let him come hither; one here will constant be, come wind, come weather; there's no discouragement shall make him once relent his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim. Whoso beset him round with dismal stories, do but themselves confound; his strength the more is. No lion can him fright, he'll with a giant fight, but he will have a right to be a pilgrim. Hobgoblin, nor foul fiend can daunt his spirit; he knows he at the end shall life inherit. Then, fancies fly away, he'll fear not what men say, he'll labour night and day to be a pilgrim. The Greeting The Lord be with you. and also with you. Prayer of Preparation: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayers of Penitence: Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Amen. Lord, have mercy. Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart. We sit or kneel Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief. We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us. We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us. We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us. May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sins, heal and strengthen you by his Spirit, and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, Heav'nly 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 for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen The First Reading is taken from Acts, Chapter 11, beginning to read at the first verse (Acts 11 1-18) The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God CA 672 Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son, endless is the vict’ry 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, conqu’ring Son, endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death has 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. (Refrain) No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life! Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife. Make us more than conqu’rors through thy deathless love. Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. (Refrain) The Gospel Reading: Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (John 13 31-35) Glory to you, O Lord. When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ. Sermon David: I must admit that when Jesus says he will only be with them a little while longer and where he is going they cannot come I thought it a good reading for the last service of a departing rector - through the tunnel and all the way to the wilds of St. Peter. It is also a good reading because Jesus crystalizes his teaching for his followers then and for the church which emerges. Love one another as I have loved you, he teaches. My favourite definition of love which I have quoted in many weddings taken over thirty years is wanting the best for someone. That is a challenge for the church then and now. Almost any church division can be boiled down to differing opinions about what God wants us to do about a particular moral or practical issue and therefore they declare as God is love, what is best for someone. As churches St. Clement and St. Nicholas have been drawn into few uncrossable lines in the sand about behaviour and concentrated our efforts on commands of Jesus to love people in practical ways. A lovely letter came as I leave from one of the forty or more people who came to us for weeks and some months on work schemes via prison or probation. St. Clement congregation sit on the cushions made to measure by a highly skilled prisoner. The first refurbishment of St. Nicholas was largely done by workers from the prison - St. Nicholas is patron saint of prisoners. So many people within and thousands more beyond joined us in raising money for health, water and education projects in Kenya and the Lent lunches have covered a wide range of causes. Our churchyard, cared for so well by Mike, gives comfort to many at their darkest times and our work creating the Meadow gave us the added benefit of a lovely church home during Covid. Like an iceberg only a part of the work of the church is public, whether by clergy or congregation, much of our mission is unsung and unknown- except by God - as we follow in Christ's footsteps inspired guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. None of us ever retire as Christians we just exercise our ministry in different ways according to the gifts God has given us. Let us all seek God's guidance as church members and individuals and continue the work Jesus left us to do. We stand to say the Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Prayers of Intercession Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer. God of love, hours before betrayal and arrest Jesus commanded his disciples to love. Make this our first thought and intent and fill your Church with your abiding grace. Spend a little time praying for the new Pope Leo XIV as he seeks to lead the Roman Catholic church. Pray too for the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury. God of love, heal us of all anger and bitterness in which violence and hatred breed. May hearts and mind turn towards peace. Spend a little time praying for peace in the world especially between Ukraine and Russia, Gaza and Israel. God of love, you challenge us to meet the needs of the vulnerable. Guide our footsteps to the people we are able to help. God of love, embrace in your love all who cry for relief in their suffering. Spend a little time praying for someone you know who needs to know God's healing presence. God of love, welcome to your heavenly city all who have died. Take away the heartache of grief and replace it with the joy of your eternity. God of love, at this time of David's retiring, we remember and give thanks for his ministry among us. Bless David's endeavours and may he know times of rest and refreshment. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. The Peace We stand to share the Peace The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia. The peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you All: May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. CA 67 Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here. Come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear. In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground. Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here. Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around; he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned. How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light! Be still for the glory of the Lord is shining all around. Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place; he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace. No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him, Be still for the power of the Lord is moving in this place. Creator of all, you wash away our sins, you give us new birth by the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate the resurrection, renew your gift of life within us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. 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, 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 : 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. 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. 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. Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again. 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, in the company of 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: Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us 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. We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread. 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. Prayer before the distribution: We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. Draw near with faith. Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you, and his blood which he shed for you. Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. Taize Chants during Communion Prayers After Communion: Eternal God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life: grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen life; who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living he declared your love, gave us grace and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; We who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Dismissal: The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the 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. A&M 484 You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace, and the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you. There’ll be shouts of joy, and the trees of the field shall clap, shall clap their hands, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and you’ll go out with joy. You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace, and the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you. There’ll be shouts of joy, and the trees of the field shall clap, shall clap their hands, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and the trees of the field shall clap their hands and you’ll go out with joy. We say the Grace together: May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

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