Reflection for Mothering Sunday, 2021.

THE MASS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF Ss PETER AND PAUL,

APOSTLES AND MARTYRS

THE GATHERING

Hymn

King of glory, King of peace,

King of glory, King of peace,

I will love Thee;

and that love may never cease,

I will move Thee.

Thou hast granted my request,

Thou hast heard me;

Thou didst note my working breast,

Thou hast spared me.

Wherefore with my utmost art

I will sing Thee,

and the cream of all my heart

I will bring Thee.

Though my sins against me cried,

Thou didst clear me;

and alone, when they replied,

Thou didst hear me.

Seven whole days, not one in seven,

I will praise Thee;

in my heart, though not in heaven,

I can raise Thee.

Small it is, in this poor sort

to enrol Thee:

e'en eternity's too short

to extol Thee.

NEH 391

Introit

These are the ones who, living in the flesh, planted the Church with their blood;

they drank the chalice of the Lord and became the friends of God.

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

All       Amen.

The Greeting

The Lord be with you.

All       And also with you.

This weekend is one of delayed expectation.

Normally on this Petertide weekend,

in cathedrals and churches across the land

bishops would be laying hands on candidates for ordination,

and the Holy Spirit would begin that great work of transformation

of the individual, making them Deacons and Priests of the Church.

Of course social distancing means

that bishops aren’t currently allowed

to lay hands on anyone outside their immediate household,

and as ordination is through the laying on of hand,

the ordinations due to take place this week

have necessarily been delayed.

So let us hold in prayer in this Mass

those preparing to be ordained this year,

for forbearance, patience and blessing.

Let us pray

Lord Jesus, we pray for all those preparing for ordination at this time.

We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love,

that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church.

Since they are earthen vessels,

we pray that your power shines out through their weakness.

In their afflictions let them never be crushed,

in their doubts never despair, in temptation never be destroyed,

and in persecution never abandoned.

Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising.

In times of weakness send them your Spirit,

and help them to praise you and pray for poor sinners.

By your same Holy Spirit

put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts,

to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted.

And may the gift of Mary, your Mother,

to the disciple whom you loved

be your gift to every priest and deacon.

Grant that she who formed you in her womb,

may form them in your divine image,

by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father,

All       Amen.

Prayer of Confession

My friends, let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

All       Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

we are truly sorry

and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

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 life eternal;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All       Amen.

The Gloria

All       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

Let us pray

O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul

give us the noble and holy joy of this day,

grant, we pray, that your Church

may in all things follow the teaching

of those through whom she received

the beginnings of right religion.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

All       Amen

LITURGY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

'Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod'

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

   

On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’

This is the word of the Lord.

All        Thanks be to God.

A reading from the Second Letter of St Paul to Timothy.

All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

   

The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This is the word of the Lord.

All        Thanks be to God.

Hymn

Immortal Love for ever full,

Immortal Love for ever full,

for ever flowing free,

for ever shared, for ever whole,

a never-ebbing sea.

Our outward lips confess the name

all other names above;

love only knoweth whence it came

and comprehendeth love.

We may not climb the heavenly steeps

to bring the Lord Christ down;

in vain we search the lowest deeps,

for him no depths can drown;

But warm, sweet, tender, even yet

a present help is he;

and faith has still its Olivet,

and love its Galilee.

The healing of his seamless dress

is by our beds of pain;

we touch him in life's throng and press,

and we are whole again.

Through him the first fond prayers are said

our lips of childhood frame;

the last low whispers of our dead

are burdened with his name.

Alone, O Love ineffable,

thy saving name is given;

to turn aside from thee is hell,

to walk with thee is heaven.

NEH 378

Gospel reading

Alleluia, alleluia!

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.

And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.

All       Alleluia.

The Lord be with you.

All       And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St Matthew.

All        Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All       Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Creed

All       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

These responses is used

Lord, in your mercy

All        hear our prayer.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

All    accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

The Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your Apostles:

Peace I leave with you, my I peace I give you,

look not on our sins,

but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity

in accordance with your will.

All       Amen.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All        and also with you.

Hymn

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin,

My hand will save.

I who made the stars of night,

I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne my people’s pain.

I have wept for love of them,

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

Give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them

Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame

I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them,

My hand will save

Finest bread I will provide,

Till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them,

Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

CAHON 332

Prayer over the gifts

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

through your goodness we have this bread we offer:

fruit of the earth and work of human hands,

it will become for us the bread of life.

All       Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,

through your goodness we have this wine we offer:

fruit of the vine and work of human hands,

it will become our spiritual drink.

All       Blessed be God for ever.

Pray my dear friends,

that my sacrifice and yours

may be acceptable to God,

the almighty Father.

All       May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,

for our good

and the good of all his holy Church.

May the prayer of the Apostles, O Lord,

accompany the sacrificial gift

that we present to your name for consecration,

and may their intercession make us devoted to you

in celebration of the sacrifice.

Through Christ our Lord.

All       Amen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All        and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All        We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All        It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For by your providence

the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy:

Peter, foremost in confessing the faith,

Paul, its outstanding preacher,

Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel,

Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call.

And so, each in a different way

gathered together the one family of Christ;

and revered together throughout the world,

they share one Martyr’s crown.

And therefore, with all the Angels and Saints,

we praise you, as without end we acclaim:

All       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.

Great is the mystery of faith.

All       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 Mary the Mother of God,

St Peter Prince of the Apostles, St Stephen our Patron,

St Nicholas, St Michael, St Thomas the Apostle,

and all the Apostles, Martyrs and 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.

All       Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

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 trespassas 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 Breaking of the bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ

All       Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei

All       Jesus, Lamb of God,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Behold the Lamb of God,

who takes away the sins of the world.        

Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All       Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Communion Anthiphon

Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus replied:

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.

The people make their spiritual communion

Post Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

Grant us, O Lord,

who have been renewed by this Sacrament,

so to live in the Church,

that, persevering in the breaking of the Bread

and in the teaching of the Apostles,

we may be one heart and one soul,

made steadfast in your love.

Through Christ our Lord.

All       Amen

All    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

Notices

Hymn

At the name of Jesus

At the name of Jesus

every knee shall bow,

every tongue confess him

King of glory now;

'tis the Father's pleasure

we should call him Lord,

who from the beginning

was the mighty Word.

At his voice creation

sprang at once to sight:

all the angel faces,

all the hosts of light,

thrones and dominations,

stars upon their way,

all the heavenly orders

in their great array.

Humbled for a season,

to receive a name

from the lips of sinners,

unto whom he came;

faithfully he bore it

spotless to the last,

brought it back victorious

when from death he passed;

Bore it up triumphant,

with its human light,

through all ranks of creatures,

to the central height,

to the throne of Godhead,

to the Father's breast,

filled it with the glory

of that perfect rest.

In your hearts enthrone him;

there let him subdue

all that is not holy,

all that is not true:

He is God the saviour,

He is Christ the Lord,

ever to be worshipped,

trusted, and adored.

Brothers, this Lord Jesus

shall return again,

with the Father's glory

with his angel train;

for all wreaths of empire

meet upon his brow,

and our hearts confess him

King of glory now.

NEH 338

Final blessing

God, who has prepared for you a city with eternal foundations,

bring you, with Peter and Paul and all the saints,

to the eternal and triumphant joy of that city;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All        Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All       In the name of Christ.  Amen.

         

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which 

is included in this service, is copyright of the Archbishops' Council 2000

The New English Hymnal, material from which is included in this service, is copyright of 

The Canterbury Press, 2010

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New, The New English Hymnal material from which is included in this service, is copyright of Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2000