Contents
Embertide
Prayer at the Preparation of the Table
Notes
1Ember Days should be kept, under the bishop’s directions, in the week before an ordination as days of prayer for those to be made deacon or priest.
Ember Days may also be kept even when there is no ordination in the diocese as more general days of prayer for those who serve the Church in its various ministries, both ordained and lay, and for vocations.
Traditionally they have been observed on the Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays within the weeks before the Third Sunday of Advent, the Second Sunday of Lent and the Sundays nearest to 29 June and 29 September.
2The material in this section may be used in the Ember seasons, and at occasions when vocation and ministry are in view.
Invitations to Confession
A1
‘I set no store by life:
I only want to finish the race and complete the task
that the Lord has assigned to me,
of bearing witness to the gospel of God’s grace.’
Let us confess our failure to live up to our calling.
A2
God has called us to follow Christ,
and has formed us into a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
to declare the wonderful deeds of him who has called us
out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Let us confess the times when we have failed to heed this call.
Kyrie Confession
B1
Lord Jesus, you said to your disciples:
‘You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.’
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, we know that the harvest is plentiful
but the labourers are few.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you appointed us to go and bear fruit that will last.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Collects
F1
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts,
by your Holy Spirit you have appointed
various orders of ministry in the Church:
look with mercy on your servants
now called to be deacons and priests;
maintain them in truth and renew them in holiness,
that by word and good example they may faithfully serve you
to the glory of your name and the benefit of your Church;
through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
F3
Almighty God,
you have entrusted to your Church
a share in the ministry of your Son our great high priest:
inspire by your Holy Spirit the hearts of many
to offer themselves for the ministry of your Church,
that, strengthened by his power,
they may work for the increase of your kingdom
and set forward the eternal praise of your name;
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.
Gospel Acclamation
G1
Alleluia, alleluia.
Go out into the whole world
and make disciples of all the nations.
Matthew 28.19
Alleluia.
Intercession
H1
We pray for the flourishing of God’s gifts to his Church, saying:
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
God our Father, you give us gifts that we may work together
in the service of your Son:
bless the leaders of your Church,
that they may be firm in faith,
and humble before you.
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
Bless those who teach,
that they may increase our understanding,
and be open to your word for them.
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
Bless those who minister healing,
that they may bring wholeness to others,
yet know your healing in themselves.
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
Bless those through whom you speak,
that they may proclaim your word in power,
yet open their ears to your gentle whisper.
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
Bless those who work in your world today,
that in the complexity of their daily lives
they may live for you, fulfil your purposes,
and seek your kingdom first.
Lord of the Church,
in your mercy hear us.
Bless those who are uncertain of their gifts
and those who are powerless in this world’s eyes,
that they may be made strong in your gift of the Holy Spirit.
Lord of the Church,
hear our prayer,
and make us one in heart and mind
to serve you with joy for ever. Amen.
Introductions to the Peace
J1
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself,
not counting our trespasses against us,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
J2
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
We belong to him through faith,
heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.
Prayer at the Preparation of the Table
K1
Heavenly Father,
as we set before you these gifts of bread and wine,
bless also the gift of our hearts and minds
as we offer our lives in your service;
for Jesus Christ’s sake.
Prefaces
L1
And now we give you thanks
because Christ came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
He calls his faithful servants
to lead your holy people in love,
nourishing them by your word and sacraments.
Therefore …
L2
And now we give you thanks
because within the royal priesthood of your Church
you ordain ministers to proclaim the word of God,
to care for your people
and to celebrate the sacraments of the new covenant.
Therefore …
Extended Preface
M1
It is indeed right and good, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks
through your servant Jesus Christ our Lord.
At his baptism he was revealed as your beloved Son
and coming among us as one who serves,
he taught that they are greatest in your kingdom
who make themselves least and the servants of all.
Although he was their teacher and their Lord,
he washed the feet of his disciples,
and commanded us to do the same.
Through your Holy Spirit you bestow upon your people
a rich diversity of gifts and ministries,
and from this royal priesthood
you raise up men and women to proclaim your word,
to care for your people
and to be the stewards of the mysteries of Christ.
You call them to serve the world your Son redeemed
and build up his body, the Church,
to the greater glory of your name.
And so with angels and archangels
and all the heavenly host,
we proclaim your glory
and join their unending hymn of praise:
Post Communions
N1
Heavenly Father,
whose ascended Son gave gifts of leadership and service
to the Church:
strengthen us who have received this holy food
to be good stewards of your manifold grace;
through him who came not to be served but to serve,
and give his life as a ransom for many,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
N2
Lord of the harvest,
you have fed your people in this sacrament
with the fruits of creation made holy by your Spirit:
by your grace raise up among us faithful labourers
to sow your word and reap the harvest of souls;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
P1
May the boldness of the Spirit transform you,
may the gentleness of the Spirit lead you,
may the gifts of the Spirit equip you
to serve and worship God;
and the blessing …
Acclamation
R1
There are varieties of gifts,
but the same Spirit.
There are varieties of service,
but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working,
but the same God is at work in all.
There is one body, one Spirit, one hope in God’s call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
There is one God, Father of all, over all and in all,
to whom Christ ascended on high.
And through his Spirit he gives us gifts:
some are apostles, some are his prophets;
evangelists, pastors and teachers he gives us,
so that we can minister together
to build up his body,
to be mature in the fullness of Christ.
Short Passages of Scripture
S1
Look around you,
and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.
John 4.35
S2
You did not choose me but I chose you.
And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.
John 15.16
S3
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few;
therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest
to send out labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 9.37,38
S4
Go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.
Matthew 28.19,20
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing.