Thy Kingdom Come:
Global Moment - Corporate Act of Worship
Welcome - Deanery President
Welcome to our act of worship which is part of Mothers’ Union’s engagement in the
global prayer movement Thy Kingdom Come. We are responding to the invitation of
the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to pray between Ascension and Pentecost
for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. As a worldwide organisation who
seeks to share the love of God through our work with families and communities, we
gladly join together to pray Thy Kingdom Come.
We draw near to God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our
Saviour and Lord.
Opening hymn: 3 Banners will be processed, National, Diocesan and
Deanery
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.
Crown him as your Captain,
in temptations' hour;
let his will enfold you
in its light and power.
Truly, this Lord Jesus
shall return again,
with his 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.
Caroline M. Noel, 1817-1877
Opening prayer - Bishop
God of life and love,
whose Son was victorious over sin and death,
make us alive with his life,
that the whole world may resound with your praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Psalm 67– said antiphonally
1 God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
2 That your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
4 O let the nations rejoice and be glad,
for you will judge the peoples righteously
and govern the nations upon earth.
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
6 Then shall the earth bring forth her increase,
and God, our own God, will bless us.
7 God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.
Hymn –
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Karen Lafferty
Bible Reading – Luke 11 v5-13
And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight
and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread for a friend of mine has
arrived, and I have nothing to set before him”. And he answers from the within, “Do
not bother me: the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in
bed; I cannot get up and give you anything”. I tell you even though he will not get up
and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he
will get up and give him whatever he needs.
‘So I say to you Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and
the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who
searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there
anyone among you who if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?
Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?. If you then, who are evil , know
how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
This is the word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God
Homily - Bishop
Hymn – Be Still
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
David J. Evans
Lynne Tembey – Worldwide President
Mothers’ Union Prayer
Loving Lord, We thank you for your love so freely given to us all. We pray
for families around the world. Bless the work of the Mothers' Union as
we seek to share your love through the encouragement, strengthening
and support of marriage and family life. Empowered by your Spirit, may
we be united in prayer and worship, and in love and service reach out as
your hands across the world. In Jesus' name. Amen
Intercessions
God of our salvation,
hope of all the ends of the earth,
we pray:
Thy kingdom come
That the world may know Jesus Christ
as the Prince of Peace,
we pray:
Thy kingdom come
That all who are estranged and without hope
may be brought near in the blood of Christ,
we pray;
Thy kingdom come
That the Church may be one in serving
and proclaiming the gospel.
we pray;
Thy kingdom come
That we may be bold to speak the word of God
while you stretch out your hand to save,
we pray:
Thy kingdom come
That all who serve the gospel may be kept in safety
while your word accomplishes its purpose
we pray:
Thy kingdom come
That the Church may be generous in giving,
faithful in serving, bold in proclaiming,
we pray:
Thy kingdom come
That the Church may welcome and support
all whom God calls to faith;
we pray;
Thy kingdom come.
That all who suffer for the gospel
may know the comfort and glory of Christ,
we pray;
Thy kingdom come.
That the day may come
when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
we pray:
Thy kingdom come. Amen
Today in our Mothers’ Union Wave of Prayer we pray for our members throughout
the world as they share the love of Christ through their witness and work. Wherever
you join us from today, whichever Diocese, this is an opportunity to pray for your
fellow members from link Dioceses – together we shall pray for each other.
We pray for all members.
May God be with them
in every part of their lives,
encouraging them and leading them,
sheltering and strengthening them
so they may work to your praise and glory. Amen
Hymn
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The heavens are not too high, his praise may thither fly,
the earth is not too low, his praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out;
but, above all, the heart must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
George Herbert, 1593-1633
Two short testimonies’
Stand – hold hands
We reach out as hands across the world with our fellow members and with all others
who are sharing in this act of worship, to join together in the Lord’s Prayer and the
prayer for Thy Kingdom Come.
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.
Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts
with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your word may be drawn to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Closing hymn: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Offertory will be
taken for the work of the Mothers’ Union worldwide
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of His word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His name!
Make known His might, the deeds His arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name-the Lord, the mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of His word!
Firm is His promise, and His mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and forever more!
© 1961 Timothy Dudley-Smith
Final acclamation of praise, blessing and sending out
Glory to God,
whose power, at work among us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or conceive;
to him be glory in the Church
and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.
Alleluia
Go from here with faith in Christ, the one
who taught us to pray thy Kingdom come;
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain
with you always.
Amen
Procession out