An Iona Communion for Mothering Sunday

and Vanda’s leaving service

 

Vestry Prayer

God our Creator help me to come before you now in this act of worship with open heart and mind, ready to heed your call, attentive to the word you have for me today.  Amen.

 

Hymn         Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
was blind, but now I see.
 

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
’tis grace that brought me safe thus far
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me
his word my hope secures
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail
and mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil
a life of joy and peace.
Published in 1779, with words written in 1772 by the English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton (1725–1807).

 

The Lord be with you                                 And also with you.

For the care of people who love us        Thanks be to God

For the care of the Mother church         Thanks be to God

For their patience when tested             Thanks be to God

For their love when despairing              Thanks be to God

For their service without limit                Thanks be to God

For bread and wine                                    Thanks be to God

 

Confession         

Let us sit quietly in the company of God. We know how complex relationships can be – with our parents, with each other and, of course, with you God. But just for a time we sit quietly, needing to be near the one who is mother of us all. And we bless all those who have mothered us.

[Quiet]

My brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate the presence of Christ in word and sacrament, let us call to mind and confess our sins.

For when we have betrayed your world Lord;          We bow in sorrow.

For when we have betrayed other people Lord;          We bow in sorrow.

For when we have betrayed ourselves Lord;           We bow in sorrow.

For when we have betrayed You Lord;                      We bow in sorrow.  

 

Absolution

The God of love who is more powerful than we can imagine, gives you forgiveness and healing for all that is past, and peace for all that is to come.  Amen.

 

Collect:  Loving God, as a mother feeds her children at the breast you feed us in this sacrament with the food and drink of eternal life: help us who have tasted your goodness to grow in grace within the household of faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reading                Colossians 3 12-17     

¹²As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ¹³Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

 

Reading     from Anselm of Canterbury 1190                   

1        Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you; ♦
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.

2        Often you weep over our sins and our pride, ♦
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.

3        You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds, ♦
in sickness you nurse us, and with pure milk you feed us.

4        Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life; ♦
by your anguish and labour we come forth in joy.

5        Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness; ♦
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.

6        Your warmth gives life to the dead, ♦
your touch makes sinners righteous.

7        Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us; ♦
in your love and tenderness remake us.

8        In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness, ♦
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

 

Hymn         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.

 

Written by: JACK SMITH, LUKE SHEETS, LUKE HARRY SHEETS WALKER, TODD JAMES SMITH

Lyrics © MIKE CURB MUSIC, DO WRITE MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

 

 

Gospel                 

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John 19: 25b - 27

Glory to you, O Lord.

²⁵Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ ²⁷Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.                 Praise to you, O Christ.

Address    

 

Take this Moment                 sung by Sarah McQuaid         

Take this moment, sign and space; take my friends around; 

here among us make the place where Your love is found. 

 

Take the time to call my name, take the time to mend 

who I am and what I've been, and I've failed to tend. 

 

Take the tiredness of my days, take my past regret, 

letting Your forgiveness touch all I can't forget. 

 

Take the little child in me, scared of growing old; 

help him/her here to find his/her worth made in Christ's own mould. 

 

Take my talents, take my skills, take what's yet to be; 

let my life be Yours, and yet, let it still be me.

 

By John L. Bell and Graham Maule. Words and Music:

From Love From Below © 1989, WGRG, Iona Community.

 

Creed                   

I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.  

I believe in love even when I cannot feel it. 

I believe in God, even when I cannot see Him. 

I believe.  I believe that I am never alone.

God is with me.  He is my Father.  He has made all things, including me. 

I believe I can never stray so far away from God

that there can be no way of return. 

I believe that God wills life for me, not death,

joy for me, not misery, and he is with me today, and all eternity.

 

Intercessions               

Dear Jesus, we thank you for all mothers and carers around the world, and for all they do for their children. We thank you for their patience when we don’t get things right. We thank you for their encouragement when we find life hard. We pray that mums would feel really special today, and that you would remind us every day to show them as much love and help as they give to us. Amen

 

Loving God, you have given us the right to be called children of God. Help us to show your love in our homes that they may be places of love, security and truth. Loving God, hear our prayer.

 

Loving God, Jesus, your Son, was born into the family of Mary and Joseph; bless all parents and all who care for children; strengthen those families living under stress and may your love be known where no human love is found. Loving God, hear our prayer.

 

Loving God, we thank you for the family of the Church. We pray that all may find in her their true home; that the lonely, the marginalized, the rejected may be welcomed and loved in the name of Jesus. Loving God, hear our prayer.

 

Loving God, as we see the brokenness of our world we pray for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; that your love may bring peace to all your children. Loving God, hear our prayer.

 

add prayers for the day:

 

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

https://www.churchofengland.org/prayerworship/worship/texts/newpatterns/sampleservicescontents/npw14.aspLord, in your mercy                                     

 

The Peace                                    

God says: As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.

The peace of the Lord be always with you               and also with you.

Hymn         I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem's manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured,
And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken hearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendour
When He the Saviour, Saviour of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world is King!

Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher Author: W. Y. Fullerton Tune Londonderry Air source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/christmascarols/i/icannottelllyrics.html

The altar is prepared.

 

Offertory    

The work of human hands is respected by God: the bread risen in the warmth, the wine, crushed in bitter sweetness.  All that we offer is received and transformed into new possibilities.

Blessed be God forever.

 

The Eucharist from the Iona Community

The Lord is here                      His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts                 We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God 

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

 

It is indeed right, for you made us, and before us you made the world, and the heavens in which through Christ we have a place.

All that is spectacular, all that is plain have their origin in you; all that is lovely, all who are loving point to you.

 

We praise you for coming to earth in Jesus, for his life that informs our living, for his compassion which changes our hearts, his innocent suffering, his fearless dying, his rising to life breathing forgiveness, we praise and worship him.

 

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 sit or kneel)

 

And now we fall silent and remember him who came, because words weren’t enough.

 

Merciful God, send now in kindness your Holy Spirit on this bread and wine, and fill them with the fullness of Jesus.

And let the same Spirit rest on us, converting us from the patterns of this world, until we conform to the shape of him whose food we now share.

 

Among friends, gathered around a table Jesus took bread, broke it and said, ‘This is my body broken for you, take, eat to remember me’

Later he took a cup of wine and said ‘This is my blood, shed for you, drink it, all of you, to remember me.’

 

This is the table where God intends us to be nourished; this is the time Christ can make us new.

 

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, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever Amen.

 

We break this bread, the body of Christ; Those who wish to follow him one day will eat of this broken bread together.

 

Come all who hunger and thirst for a deeper faith, a better life, a fairer world, come and join the feast.

Vanda receives communion on behalf of us all.

 

After communion

In gratitude for this moment, this meal, these people, we give ourselves to you.  Take us out to live as changed people, because we shared the Living Bread and cannot remain the same. Ask much of us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us. Lord may we live to your glory always.  Amen

 

PRAYING OUR FAREWELLS

God of our beginnings and endings, we celebrate all we have shared with Vanda and with Bob and ask your blessing on them as they continue on their journey. May the power of your presence bless this moment of our leave-taking; this we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen

 

As you journey onward, we ask forgiveness where we have failed you; we give thanks for all you have given us; we assure you of our love and prayers. We know that God goes with you.

Vanda: As I leave, I ask forgiveness where I have failed you; I give thanks for all that you have given to me; I assure you of my love and prayers. I know that God goes with me, and God is with you.

 

As you meet the poor, the pained, and the stranger on the Way, we pray that you may see in each one the face of Christ

Vanda: I know that God goes with me, and God is with you.

 

As you walk through the good times and the bad, we pray that you may never lose sight of the shelter of God’s loving arms.

Vanda: I know that God goes with me, and God is with you.

 

As you ponder your decisions and wonder over the fruits of your choice, we pray that the peace of Christ may reign in your heart.

Vanda: I know that God goes with me, and God is with you.

 

As you leave Cornwall, we thank God for Messy Church, for funny school worship, and for being with us as we learned about God and his love together.

Vanda: I know that in the messiness of life, I shall remember you and our fun in Messy Church, I know that God of the mess of real life will continue to be with you, and me too as I help the inmates to learn about God and his love. Thank you for helping me learn about God with you.

 

In thanksgiving for shared stories, support and care, with those of other faith traditions, we call a blessing on you in your journey. May you be blessed Vanda, so shall it be.

 

Vanda: In thanksgiving for all I have learnt and shared with you, for your care and support, I call on God to bless you each day and night, with the turning of the season, be blessed by the moon and sun, by all of creation.

 

 

We praise and thank you, God of the journey, for Vanda our sister who is leaving us. We entrust her into your loving care, knowing that you are always the faithful traveller and companion on the Way. Shelter and protect her from all harm and anxiety. Grant her and Bob the courage to meet the future, and grace to go into new lives; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

 

Hymn         In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The love of God was magnified-
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

 

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Stuart Townend & Keith GettyCopyright © 2001 Thankyou Music (Adm. by CapitolCMGPublishing.com excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, songs@integritymusic.co

 

Blessing and Dismissal

 

Praise God who loves us.     Praise God who cares.

 

God, who gave birth to all creation, bless you:
God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless you:

God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless you.

The blessing of God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

be yours now and for ever. Amen.

 

In work or worship                God is with us

Gathered or scattered          God is with us

Now and always                     God is with us.   Amen

 

Prayer of St Columba (to his disciples on his death-bed)

See that you be at peace among yourselves, my children, and love one another. Follow the example of good men and women of old, and God will comfort you and help you, both in this world and in the world which is to come. Amen.       

 

Thanks be to God.

 

Thank you to each person who took part in this service, whether leading, reading or playing, and to all who attended and prayed. I am so very grateful for your support on this bittersweet day.