Embertide

Contents

Embertide

Notes

Invitations to Confession

Kyrie Confession

Collects

Gospel Acclamation

Intercession

Introductions to the Peace

Prayer at the Preparation of the Table

Prefaces

Extended Preface

Post Communions

Blessing

Acclamation

Short Passages of Scripture

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.

F2

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.

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