Worship for All Saints Sunday

Opening Rite

If you’re at home you might wish to light a candle, make sure you are sitting comfortably and take a few deep breaths to still yourself. 

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you  and also with you.                  

Rejoice, people of God, praise the Lord! Let us keep the feast in honour of all God’s saints, in whose victory the angels rejoice and glorify the Son of God.

Prayers of Penitence

Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, looking to Jesus in penitence and faith.                                                                                                            Hebrews 12.1

Lord, you are gracious and compassionate: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

You are loving to all and your mercy is over all your creation: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Your faithful servants bless your name and speak of the glory of your kingdom: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect

You might like to keep a few moments of silence

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Daniel 7:1-3,15-18

In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.  As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter: ‘As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.’

Responsorial Psalm 149

/R: My mouth, O Lord, shall speak of wisdom

Alleluia. O sing to the Lord a new song; Sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.  /R:

Let Israel rejoice in their maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance; let them sing praise to him with timbrel and lyre. /R:

For the Lord has pleasure in his people and adorns the poor with salvation. Let the faithful be joyful in glory; let them rejoice in their ranks.  /R:

With the praises of God in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands; to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,  /R:

To bind their kings in chains and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the judgement decreed; such honour have all his faithful servants. Alleluia.  /R:

Ephesians 1:11-end

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.  I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The Gospel according to Luke                                            Chapter 6:20-31

Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.  ‘Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  ‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.  ‘But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.  ‘Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. ‘Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.  ‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.  ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

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

Reflection

The Gospel passage also reflects on the contrast between the ‘now’ of following Jesus, and the ‘then’ of seeing the fulfilment of God’s promises. Those who are hungry now are promised that they will be filled; those who are weeping now will laugh in the times to come. Perhaps more challenging for Christians living in wealthy, developed countries is that the opposite is also indicated to be true! But the message is not that food or life’s comforts are bad in and of themselves, but that they should not become things to be idolised, because their benefit only endures for this lifetime.  By contrast, followers of Jesus should live in the hope of heaven’s rewards, which are greater and will endure.  When material goods and earthly comforts are viewed in this way, reckoned as transitory and unimportant, it becomes natural that believers should not be dismayed when they are mocked, abused or even robbed – our future hope.  This does not mean, however, that Christians should be passive as victims of (or witnesses to) crime and mistreatment – it is clear throughout scripture that God’s people are called to work for justice. However, when justice feels delayed or denied, the words of Jesus here encourage us to stand firm, to keep the faith, and to draw strength from the promises of God which are eternal.    

Reproduced with permission www.rootsontheweb.com 2002-2021  

Prayers

Spend a few moments praying for the people you know and love, for the world, for peace and for the relief of refugees everywhere. 

On All Saints Sunday

God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age: as we rejoice in the faith of your saints, inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Praying for the Earth                                                             Climate Change

Help us to respond with wisdom and foresight to the threat of climate change. We pray for those affected by rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions. Help us, in reducing our own carbon footprint, to play our part in reducing this country’s carbon emissions. Grant us the personal and political will to make a difference. Amen

From the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer for the Church

Porvoo Communion: Diocese of Winchester and Diocese of Agder and Telemark (Church of Norway)

Anglican Communion: The Church of the Province of West Africa

Primate: Most Revd Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith

Alnwick Deanery: Benefice of Whittingham and Edlingham with Bolton Chapel Vicar: Rich Townend

From our Parish Prayer Cycle this week 

Pray for all residents of Ainthorpe Gardens and The Crescent

For the sick and those being cared for in hospital or at home      

For those in residential care    

For the recently departed

         Muna Al-Rehani

For those whose year’s minds are this week 

Henrietta Howlett, John McMurchie, Christopher Dickenson, Gladys Buglass, Raymond Coates, Pauline White, Frank Bowen, Eddie Wolverson, Janet Proud, Eva Cooper, Edith Luke, Robert Atkinson, Reginald Hawkins, William Atkinson and Allen Titley

You might like to end your prayers with The Lord's Prayer  

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.

The Conclusion

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

Let us bless the Lord!     Thanks be to God!