Festival of Dedication
12th September 2021
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity Church, Stirling, as we celebrate our Festival of Dedication on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Here you can find resources for our Sunday liturgy to pray at home or wherever you are. The readings for this Sunday and some of the prayers of our liturgy can be found on the downloadable pew sheet.
Preparation
As the whole of creation looks with eager longing for the redemption of humankind, let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our Creator God, the Father who is the maker of all things, the Son through whom all things are made, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who renews the face of the earth.
Organ Prelude – JS Bach: Lob sei dem allmächtigen Gott BWV 704
Opening
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Opening Responses
Believing that God made and loves the world, we gather.
That it may be restored to fulfil God’s purposes, we pray.
To seek a wisdom deeper than our own, we listen.
To honour God who gave us a voice, we worship.
© 2021 Wild Goose Resource Group
Gloria reflection – Johann Gottfried Walther: Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr
Collect
Almighty God,
to whose glory we celebrate the dedication of this house of prayer:
grant that all who seek you in this place may find you;
and being filled with the Holy Spirit
may become a living temple acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First reading: Genesis 28.11-18 (read by Nick Morris)
Psalm 122 (please join in saying the psalm, pausing shortly at the *asterisk)
Refrain: I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’
I was glad when they said to me, *
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’
Now our feet are standing *
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is built as a city *
that is at unity with itself.
To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, *
the assembly of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.
For there are the thrones of judgement, *
the thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
‘May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls *
and quietness within your towers.
For my brethren and companions’ sake, *
I pray for your prosperity.
Because of the house of the Lord our God, *
I will seek to do you good.’
Refrain: I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’
Second reading: 1 Peter 2.1-10 (read by Nick Morris)
Gospel: John 10.22-29 (The Rector)
Sermon (The Revd Val Nellist)
Nicene Creed
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 substance with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of 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.
With the Father and the Son,
he is worshipped and glorified.
He 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.
Intercessions led by Mary Kenyon
We join in the final prayer together:
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Loving God, you are the source of all that is, creating and sustaining every living thing.
Called to be good stewards of your creation, we acknowledge the ways in which we have marred your image within us, as we confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Silence
God our Father, we confess to you
and to our fellow members in the Body of Christ
that we have sinned in thought, word and deed,
and in what we have failed to do.
We are truly sorry.
Forgive us our sins,
and deliver us from the power of evil.
For the sake of your Son who died for us,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
God, who is both power and love,
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by the Holy Spirit
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Peace
We meet in Christ’s name.
Let us share his peace.
The Liturgy of the Sacrament
In church we continue with the Liturgy of the Sacrament
Offertory – Max Reger: Melodia in B flat op.129,4
Offertory Prayer
Eucharistic Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
The Lord’s Prayer
Please join in the prayer Jesus himself taught us:
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Agnus Dei: Organ Reflection – Georg Philip Telemann: O Lamme Gottes, unschuldig
Thanksgiving and Sending Out
A Blessing is pronounced:
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord:
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us always.
Amen.
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Organ Postlude – Georg Friedrich Kauffmann: Nun danket alle Gott
Thank you for joining us at Holy Trinity Church, Stirling for our Festival of Dedication on the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
THIS WEEK
Sunday 19th September
17th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10.30 Sung Eucharist
online resources will be available on this website
Readings
Jeremiah 11.18-20
James 3.13-4.3,7-8a
Mark 9.30-37
The climate crisis is a storm we all face, but we’re not all in the same boat. For some, the storm is stronger and the waves are already breaking.
Every day, people living in poverty battle the worst of a crisis they did not create. This is deeply unjust. But a better way is possible.
Together we can tackle the inequalities in wealth and power that have led to this climate crisis – starting now.
In November 2021, the UK Government will host the United Nations’ key climate talks, COP26. This is a decade-defining opportunity to impact and influence the decisions made. We must ensure our global neighbours are heard.
That’s why Christian Aid is joining together with Young Christian Climate Network (YCCN) for Rise to the Moment – a journey of prayer and action in the run up to COP26.
Together we can amplify our prophetic voices and create one unified movement for change. From now on, every moment matters and every action counts in the fight for climate justice.
Will you rise to the moment? Join in with the Christian Aid prayer boat activity in the run-up to COP26:
STEP 1: Write a prayer on a piece of scrap paper (ideally A5)
Focus your prayer on one of the following themes:
- The impact the climate crisis is currently having on vulnerable communities around the world.
- The safe passage of the YCCN volunteers as they take part in the relay.
- The willingness of decision makers to listen to our calls for climate justice and make bold commitments to change at COP26.
STEP 2: Fold your piece of paper into a boat
Step-by-step instructions for folding your piece of paper into an origami boat can be found at: christianaid.org.uk/pray/prayer-chain
STEP 3: Bring your boat to HT to add to our display
Thousands of boats from across the UK will come together in a special installation at COP26 to deliver your prayers and messages to world leaders.
We’ll send the boats collected at HT.
To add your boat individually (or encourage others to do so), send it to PO Box 100, London SE1 7RT.
Please ensure your boats arrive by 15 October to be part of the fleet.