During these strange times, we are taking church into our homes - after all, church is the people of God, not the building!

On Sunday mornings we will be celerating an Agape meal 'together'. The service will be livestreamed at 10am on Sunday but if you can't join us online then, you could still use the liturgy below t any time of the day, alone or with others.

Before we start

Gather together the following, if you can:

A candle (with a safe place to put it) and matches
Some bread – a slice, a roll, a ricecake or whatever you have
A drink – water or juice, wine or tea!
A bible (the readings will also be printed in the service book)
A cross

You might like to arrange these on a table, then (if joining us online) go to the St Anne’s homepage and click on ‘Join us for Sunday Worship ’., or just click here to open ‘zoom’. You might like to log on and get used to this 10-15 minutes before the service starts.

At the bottom left corner of ‘zoom’, you will see a microphone symbol and a video symbol. These will enable you to be heard and seen, or not. In order to minimise feedback in the system, we will invite everyone to join in the opening and closing responses so we hear one another’s voices, but please press ‘mute’ in between. We can all say the responses (in bold) in the comfort of home, without our microphones on; with just one or two nominated people leading us.

If you have specific prayer requests, or things to be thankful for, please add them (in brief!) using the ‘chat’ function, where they can be typed in and seen during the service. We will try to include them in the intercessions, or during morning or evening prayer during the week.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

(As we gather for worship, please light your candle)

Leader: In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: AMEN.

Leader: Grace, mercy and peace

from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ

be with you.

ALL: AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Please ‘mute’ your device now

OPENING RESPONSES

Leader: Out of darkness came light;

All: and the power of God was revealed

Leader: in the running wave and the flowing air

All: in the quiet earth and the shining stars.

Leader: Out of the dust came life;

All: and the image of God was revealed

Leader: in the human face and the gentle heart

All: in the warmth of flesh and the depth of soul.

Leader: Out of justice came freedom;

All: and the wisdom of God was revealed

Leader: in the need to grow and the will to love,

All: in the chance to know and the power to choose.

Leader: And God looked at the creation,

All: and behold, it was very good.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Leader: Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?

Giving God, you blessed us with saltiness,

All: But we become bland.

Leader: You gave us your living Word,
All: But we did not keep it.

Leader: You gave us a world to live in, and others to love,
All: But we neglect them.

Leader: You give us all that we need,
All: But we forget to thank you.

Leader:    God, in your mercy:
All:           Forgive us.

(Silence)

Leader: Forgiving God, we believe that you have called us.
All: To be salt and light.

Leader: that you offer us time and space and strength.
All: To begin again.

(Silence)

Leader: Giving and forgiving God,
All: We thank you.

Leader: May we be salt and light again, and be at peace with one another.

READING: Colossians 3.12-17

12 As 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.

READING: John 19.25b-27

25Meanwhile, standing 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.

REFLECTION

INTERCESSIONS & THANKSGIVINGS

Leader: God of love,

All: Hear our prayer

THE PEACE

Leader: May the God of peace make you perfect and holy,

that you may be kept safe and blameless

in spirit, soul and body,

for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you all.

All: And also with you.

(We share the peace of Christ with each other using British Sign language – make sure your hands can be seen!)

INTRODUCTION TO THE AGAPE

Leader: Taste and see that God is gracious;

All: Blessed is the one who trusts in Him.

Leader:    As we tear and share this bread, and these drink,
All:           We thank you, God, for our daily bread.
Leader:    For the food which delights and nourishes us
All:           For companionship, in all forms, that sustains us.
Leader:    And for your living water which transforms our lives.
All:           Amen.

(as music plays, enjoy your bread and drink. Take time to really taste it and enjoy it)

PRAYER AFTER AGAPE

Leader: With gratefulness to each other for all that we have shared,

All: and thankfulness to God and all the people who have brought this good food to us,

we begin to look outwards and ahead to our lives beyond this week and this place.

Leader: So let us pray as Jesus taught us:

All: 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.

CLOSING RESPONSES

Leader:    O God of life, of all life and of each life,
All:           We lay our lives before you;
Leader:    We give our lives to you.
All:           From whom nothing in us is hidden.

Leader: You are before us, God, you are behind.
All: You are around us, God, you are within.

Leader: O God of life, O generous Spirit,
All: Renew us with your life today, tomorrow and always. Amen

THE BLESSING

Leader: Giving God, bless all who have gathered to share in this food today, and all who feel alone.

May we know the fullness of your presence at every meal and in all our sharing,

and may we be welcomed with all your saints to the heavenly feast on the day of your kingdom.

Leader: God to enfold us,
All: God to surround us;

Leader: God in our speaking,
All: God in our thinking;

Leader: God in our life,
All: God on our lips;

Leader: God in our souls,
All: God in our hearts.

Leader: And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All: Amen.

Please ‘un-mute’ your device now

THE DISMISSAL

Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

ALL: IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. AMEN.

Church at home - Agape liturgy