St Andrew S and All Saints, Malvern

St Andrew’s and All Saints, Malvern

Confirmation Service

Sunday 21st May 2017

The Rt Revd Graham Usher

Bishop of Dudley

Welcome to St Andrew’s for this morning’s joint Confirmation service.

It is great to welcome you all to celebrate together at today’s confirmation service. A special welcome also to Bishop Graham, the Bishop of Dudley, who will lead our service today.

It is so encouraging to see all of our candidates choosing to take this step of faith. Some have only recently joined us in here, some have been brought up in here and are now wanting to step out in faith for themselves. Thank you to all of you who have been part of their journeys over recent months and years, and please continue to pray for them in the weeks ahead. I hope that today will be an encouragement to us all, as we once again recognize the grace of God at work in their lives and our lives.

After the service, refreshments will be served in the Church Hall. Please do stay and join us.

The collection today, after deduction of the costs of this service, will be divided equally between the Kingdom People Fund and the Bishop of Worcester’s Discretionary Fund, both of which give grants in support of the mission of the Church and to those in need.

Those being confirmed

Levi Baker

Alice Crumpler

Ellie Hancock

Annia Hornby

Oscar Hoyle

Ivor Jones

Ginny Jones

Edward Levett

Will Levett

Iris Senior

James Williams

Welcome & Introduction

The Revd Dave Bruce, Rector

Hymn How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the works Thy hand hath made

I see the stars I hear the mighty thunder

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

Then sings my soul my Saviour God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

When through the woods and forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze

And when I think that God His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in

That on the Cross my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

And take me home what joy shall fill my heart

Then shall I bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim my God how great Thou art

Stuart Wesley Keene Hine

The Greeting

The Bishop greets the people.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever.

Amen.

There is one body and one spirit.

All There is one hope to which we were called;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

All one God and Father of all.

Peace be with you

All and also with you.

The Bishop introduces the service.

The Collect

God our redeemer,

you have delivered us from the power of darkness

and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:

grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,

so by his continual presence in us

he may raise us to eternal joy;

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.

AllAmen.

Meeting the Candidates

The Bishop asks the candidates

Have you been baptized in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?

I have.

Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?

I am.

Testimonies

An opportunity for some of the candidates being confirmed to give a brief testimony….

The Bishop addresses the whole congregation

People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?

AllWith the help of God, we will.

The Decision

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.

Therefore I ask:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

I reject them.

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

I renounce them.

Do you repent of the sins that separate us

from God and neighbour?

I repent of them.

Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?

I turn to Christ.

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

I submit to Christ.

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?

I come to Christ.

The Bishop says

May God who has given you the desire to follow Christ

give you strength to continue in the Way.

All Amen.

Song My Lighthouse Chosen by Will

In my wrestling and in my doubts

In my failures You won't walk out

Your great love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh

You are the peace in my troubled sea

In the silence You won't let go

In the questions Your truth will hold

Your great love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh

You are the peace in my troubled sea

My Lighthouse my Lighthouse

Shining in the darkness

I will follow You, oh

My Lighthouse my Lighthouse

I will trust the promise

You will carry me safe to shore

Safe to shore safe to shore safe to shore

I won't fear what tomorrow brings

With each morning I'll rise and sing

My God's love will lead me through

You are the peace in my troubled sea, oh

You are the peace in my troubled sea

Fire before us

You're the brightest

You will lead us

Through the storms

(REPEAT)

Rend Collective

The Bishop leads the following prayer of thanksgiving for baptism

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

AllIt is right to give thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, sovereign God of all,

to you be glory and praise for ever.

You are our light and salvation.

From the deep waters of death

you have raised your Son to life in triumph.

Grant that all who have been born anew

by water and the Spirit

may daily be renewed in your image,

walk by the light of faith,

and serve you in newness of life;

through your anointed Son, Jesus Christ,

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit

we lift our voices of praise.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit

AllBlessed be God for ever.

Profession of Faith

The Bishop addresses the congregation

Brothers and sisters,

I ask you to profess together with these candidates

the faith of the Church.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

All I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

All I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.
Amen.

The candidates come forward to be sprinkled by the Bishop.

The Bishop says

Almighty God,

we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith

with all who have been baptized into your name.

Keep us faithful to our baptism,

and so make us ready for that day

when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

All Amen.

Song Our God Saves

The Bishop and the candidates return from the font.

In the name of the Father in the name of the Son

In the name of the Spirit Lord we come

We're gather'd together to lift up Your name

To call on our Saviour to fall on Your grace

Hear the joyful sound of our offering

As Your saints bow down as Your people sing

We will rise with You lifted on Your wings

And the world will see that

Our God saves our God saves

There is hope in Your name

Mourning turns to songs of praise

Our God saves our God saves

Brenton Brown | Paul Baloche

Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music)

The younger children go out to their groups

The First Reading: Acts 17:22-31

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading: John 14:15-21

When the Gospel is announced the reader says

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the light of the world, says the Lord.

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness
but will have the light of life.

All Alleluia.

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

All Glory to you, O Lord.

And after

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

A time of Silence may be kept after the Sermon.

Confirmation

The Bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed, and says

Our help is in the name of the Lord

Allwho has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Allnow and for ever. Amen.

The Bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and says

Almighty and ever-living God,

you have given these your servants new birth

in baptism by water and the Spirit,

and have forgiven them all their sins.

Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them:

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding;

the Spirit of counsel and inward strength;

the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness;

and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord.

AllAmen.

Each candidate looks into the eyes of the Bishop who addresses them by name, and anoints them, saying

N, God has called you by name and made you his own.

Each candidate bows their head and prays for the gift of the Holy Spirit as the Bishop lays his hands on the head of each, saying

Confirm, O Lord, your servant with your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The Bishop invites the congregation to pray for all those who have been confirmed

All Defend, O Lord,

these your servants with your heavenly grace,

that they may continue yours for ever,

and daily increase in your Holy Spirit
more and more

until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

The Bishop may invite the congregation to greet them with applause.

Prayers of Intercession

The Bishop introduces the intercessions with the words

As a royal priesthood, let us pray to the Father

through Christ who ever lives to intercede for us.

A member of the Congregation leads the prayers

Reveal your kingdom among the nations;

may peace abound and justice flourish.

In particular, we pray for…

Your name be hallowed.

All Your kingdom come.

Send down upon us the gift of the Spirit

and renew your Church with power from on high.

In particular, we pray for…

Your name be hallowed.

All Your kingdom come.

Deliver the oppressed, strengthen the weak,

heal and restore your creation.

In particular, we pray for…

Your name be hallowed.

All Your kingdom come.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of the Church on earth,

we join our prayers with all the saints in glory.

Your name be hallowed.

All Your kingdom come.

The Bishop concludes the prayers with the following

Hasten, Lord, the day when people will come
from east and west,
from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom
and we shall see your Son in his glory.

Merciful Father

All accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Peace

The Bishop introduces the Peace.

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’

Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia.

John 20.19,20

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Song In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The arms of love were opened wide

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

The offering is received. The holy table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

Holy Communion

The Bishop takes the bread and wine.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:

through your goodness
we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
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 to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.

All Blessed be God for ever.

Creator of all, you wash away our sins,

you give us new birth by the Spirit,

and redeem us in the blood of Christ.

As we celebrate the resurrection,

renew your gift of life within us.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.

AllAmen.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you.

All And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

AllWe lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word,
through whom you have created all things;
who was sent by you in your great goodness

to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh;
as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin,
he lived on earth and went about among us;
he opened wide his arms for us on the cross;
he put an end to death by dying for us;
and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life;
so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.

And now we give you thanks

because through him you have given us eternal life

and delivered us

from the bondage of sin and the fear of death

into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Therefore with angels and archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we proclaim your great and glorious name,
for ever praising you and saying:

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;