The order of service for the Family Service

Welcome

Hymn

Opening Responses

When we are happy

When we are full of fun and laughter

All God welcomes us.

When we are angry

When people let us down and make us sad

All God welcomes us.

When we are tired

When we need to stop and curl up and rest

All God welcomes us.

God of welcome

God whose door is always open

All We come to you.

Prayers of Penitence (please sit or kneel)

We recall our Lord’s command to love and in a moment of silence we confess the many ways we fail to keep his command:

God of the spirit of kindness,

in the glory of earth and sea and stars,

in the patterns of humour and tenderness and touch,

All we celebrate your generosity.

Forgive us when we forget the gift in our every breath,

the care that sustains our every moment,

that grace that can transform our every day.

All forgive our careless forgetfulness.

Set us free from the prison of grudging hearts,

mean desires, resentful spirits,

give us the courage to act with justice and generosity,

All and draw us into love that does not calculate or keep scores.

May the God of love and power

forgive us and free us from our sins,

heal and strengthen us by his Spirit

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen

The minister says the Collect (prayer for the day)

First Reading

Hymn

Gospel followed by an Address (please stand)

The reader introduces the Gospel reading

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.

All Glory to you, O Lord.

at the end This is the Gospel of the Lord

All Praise to you, O Christ.

Affirmation of Faith

Let us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Father, from whom

every family in heaven and on earth is named

We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith and fills us with his love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,

who strengthens us with power from on high.

We believe in one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Hymn

The Peace

Become an instrument of God’s peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

All exchange a sign of peace

Prayers (please sit or kneel)

This response may be used

Lord, in your mercy

All hear our prayer

The prayers conclude with:

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

All Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory

are yours now and for ever.  Amen.

Blessing

On our hearts and on our houses,

All the blessing of God.

In our coming and going,

All the peace of God.

In our life and our believing,

All the love of God.

At our end and new beginning,

All the arms of God to welcome us and bring us home.  Amen

Hymn

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord

All In the name of Christ.  Amen

Please join us for coffee, etc., after the service

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