Blessed Initiation: Mass with Baptism and Confirmation at S. Cecilia's Woolwell, Candlemas 2013

Gathering : Our God is here (CJM)

Here in this time, here in this place
Here we are standing face to face
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here

Here for the broken, here for the strong
Here in this temple we belong
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here

And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here

Here in the Word, God is revealed
Here where the wounded can be healed
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here

Here we become, what we receive
Here in this Eucharistic feast
We are His body, living as one
Our God is here.

And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here

Here in this time, here in this place
Here we are standing face to face
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here

Here for the broken, here for the strong
Here in this temple we belong
Here in our hearts, here in our lives
Our God is here

And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here

And we cry Holy, Holy, Holy are you
(we cry) Holy, Holy, Holy and true
Amen! We do believe our God is here
Our God is here

The Greeting

In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

There is one body and one spirit.
There is one hope to which we were called;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all.

Peace be with you
and also with you.

The bishop greets the people and introduces the worship, leading to an act of reconciliation

Act of Penitence

https://www.vimeo.com/33272011

Absolution Song

Come, O come, come to the river
flowing from the body of Christ.
We’ll go down, deep in the water,
but in the Lord we shall arise.

1. Washed in the waters of rebirth,
we have put on Christ Jesus.

2. Priestly people are we,
sealed and sent by the Spirit.

3. Blest are those who thirst
for the reign of God’s justice.

Come, O come, come to the river
flowing from the body of Christ.
We’ll go down, deep in the water,
but in the Lord we shall arise.
but in the Lord we shall arise.

We are sprinkled with Holy Water from a large sprig of Rosemary to symbolise our forgiveness. Followed by word of absolution

Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offences; and by his authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: +In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And of your charity, pray for me, a sinner also.

Book of Common Prayer, Visitation of the Sick p317

Gloria (t Cwm Rhonda)

Glory be to God in heaven,
songs of joy and peace we bring,
thankful hearts and voices raising,
to creation’s Lord we sing.
Lord, we thank you,
Lord, we bless you,
glory be to God our King,
glory be to God our King

Lamb of God, who on your shoulders
bore the load of this world’s sin,
only Son of God the Father,
you have brought us peace within.
Lord, have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
now your glorious reign begin,
now your glorious reign begin.

The Collect

(not shown on screen – Video for Candlemas Prayer plays behind)

Let us pray

Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel;
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God and our God.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

At the back of this reading, Bowie’s “Weeping Wall” plays

The Reading is from the prophet Malachi

God says
The Messenger will come

The one you look for will appear in his temple
The Messenger will come

He will bring good news to delight in
The Messenger will come

But who can endure the day of his coming,
The Messenger will come

and who can stand when he appears?
The Messenger will come

For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
The Messenger will come

he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
The Messenger will come

and he will purify the descendants of Levi,
The Messenger will come

until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.
The Messenger will come

then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD
The Messenger will come

God will do this.

Gradual: You love is Amazing

Your love is amazing
Steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain
Firm beneath my feet

Your love is a mystery
How You gently lift me
When I am surrounded
Your love carries me

Your love is surprising
I can feel it rising
All the joy that’s growing
Deep inside of me

And every time I see You
All Your goodness shines through
And I can feel this God song
Rising up in me

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Your love makes me sing

Gospel: Presentation in the Temple Luke 2:22-32

As the meditation is played, the altar is circled and censed. At the end, the priest faces the congregation and repeats the Nunc Dimmitis:

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, world without end. Amen

This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ

Sermon: Bishop John Ford of Plymouth

Liturgy of Initiation: Presentation of the Candidates

The bishop asks those who are candidates for baptism

https://www.vimeo.com/32795234
Do you wish to be baptized?
I do.

The bishop asks the candidates for confirmation who have been baptized

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

The bishop asks all the candidates

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

The bishop addresses the whole congregation

Faith is the gift of God to his people.
In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.

The Decision

The bishop addresses all the candidates

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.

Signing with the Cross

[vimeo.com 32972688
Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Oil of Baptism. The bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate for baptism, saying

Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of his cross.

When all the candidates for baptism have been signed, the bishop says to them

Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ to the end of your life.

The bishop says

May almighty God deliver you from the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory,
and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen.

Prayer over the Water

The bishop stands before the water of baptism and says

https://www.vimeo.com/33085723

Praise God who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise

We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water
to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.

Heavenly Father, +sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, all who are baptised in it may they be cleansed from sin and born again.

Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith
and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen

Profession of Faith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXe3pQc2Sf0

Let us profess our faith…

God waits for us,
not like a lion ready to pounce if we let our guard down
and not like an interfering mother-in-law
but like an old friend who’s seen it all before and likes us anyway
and with whom we can spend time without having to pretend or explain.

We believe in God. Three in One. Father. Son. Spirit.
Paradox. Mystery. Elemental.

We believe in a God of Justice. Compassion. Mercy. Hope. And first, a God of Love.
Love personified. Incarnated.

We believe in God, the Mother of Creation. God, the Father of Humanity.
God, the lover of us all.

We believe we are called to activity out of passivity and apathy
By the Son of God through his actions, calling down through history,
Bourne on the wings of the Spirit.

We believe we are called to community with each other
Through Christ the thread
Weaving us all together.

We believe that God
Has no favourites
Pulls no punches
Leaves no stone unturned.

We believe that life is hard
We believe that life is beautiful

And so
We believe
Does God.

Baptism

The bishop may address each candidate for baptism by name, saying

N, is this your faith?
This is my faith.

God knew you before you were formed in the womb. God knows every hair on your head. God called you into being and he now calls you into faith. Your baptism is a sign of that calling.

The bishop pours water on them, saying

N, I baptize you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Robing in White

https://www.vimeo.com/33242888

Fr Simon (or the bishop) explains the white robe. The baptismal candiates are wrapped in a white cloth

You have been clothed with Christ.
As many as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church,
pour upon you the riches of his grace,
that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people
you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit,
and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.

The candidates for confirmation who have previously been baptized may come forward to the font and the bishop sprinkles them. He then 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.
Amen.

Confirmation

https://www.vimeo.com/58473936

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

Our help is in the name of the Lord
who has made heaven and earth.

Blessed be the name of the Lord
now 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.
Amen.

God knew you before you were formed in the womb. God knows every hair on your head. God called you into being and he now calls you into faith. Your Confirmation is a sign of that calling.

Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Oil of Chrism and laying on of hands. The bishop addresses each candidate by name

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

He then lays his hand on the head of each, saying

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

at the end

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.

Commission

All those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you persevere in resisting evil,
and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you proclaim by word and example
the good news of God in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all people,
loving your neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, we will.

Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders,
by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, we will.

May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith,
that you may be rooted and grounded in love
and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Amen.

The Welcome and Peace

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism:
by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body.
We welcome you in the fellowship of faith;
we are children of the same heavenly Father; we welcome you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
to which you are called as members of one body.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

Offertory: Blessed be your name

Verse 1
Blessed be Your name,
In the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams of abundance flow,
Blessed be Your name,

Blessed be Your name,
When I’m found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.
Bridge
Every blessing You pour out,
I’ll turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in,
Lord still I’ll say:

Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,

Verse 2
Blessed be Your name,
When the sun’s shining down on me,
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’,
Blessed be Your name,

Blessed be Your name,
On the road marked with suffering,
Though there’s pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.

Bridge
Every blessing You pour out,
I’ll turn back to praise,
When the darkness closes in,
Lord still I’ll say:

Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,

Ending
You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say,
Lord blessed be your name.

Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
Blessed be Your glorious name,

The Eucharistic Prayer

https://www.vimeo.com/8697432

numbers on screen refer to paragraphs below

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

1 Father we begin buried, hemmed in, subjucated and hidden. Our faith covered by our sin, hidden by our insecurity.

2 Yet you have revealed your love for us, uncovering yourself through
the enfleshment of your Son and continue to work through the power of your holy spirit.

3 Reveal yourself to us in bread and wine,
Make us complete by the obedience of your Son to death,
even death on a cross

4 Take us and fashion us
Form us in love into the likeness of Christ through the gifts
of Baptism and Confirmation
and enable us to be freed to see that likeness in others.

5 So we enter into the mysteries of heaven echoing the song of the
angels, saints, prophets and patriarchs…

Sanctus

We are joined by angels,
Our purpose the same:
To worship the one and only God,
A little piece of heaven in this place

And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.

We are joined by angels,
With one voice we sing,
As we lift our hands to honour You,
In worship, the angels extend their wings.

And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.

The music continues softly as the Bishop continues with the prayer

6 Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness;
7 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;

8 who, in the same night that he was betrayed,
took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

9 In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks;
he gave it to them, saying:
Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
10 Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.

<no memorial acclamation>

11 And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice made once
for the sins of the whole world;
rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension,
and looking for his coming in glory,
we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

12 As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,
we bring before you this bread and this cup
and we thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.

13 Send the Holy Spirit on your people
and gather into one in your kingdom
all who share this one bread and one cup,
so that we, in the company of Our Blessed Lady,
St Anne, St Cecilia, St. Edward all the saints,
may praise and glorify you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;

14 by whom, and with whom, and in whom,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.

And we cry together: Holy, holy
For there is no other like You, Lord.
We declare together: You are awesome,
You are to be feared, honoured and revered,
For You are the Lord.

Amen

Lord’s Prayer

https://www.vimeo.com/41305949

Our Father in heaven.
Don’t say ‘Father’ if you do not behave like a son or daughter. Don’t say ‘Our’ if you only think of your self.

Hallowed by your name
Don’t say ‘Hallowed’ if you do not honour that name.

Your Kingdom come
Don’t say ‘Your Kingdom come’ if you are weighed down with material goods

Your will be done On earth as in heaven
Don’t say ‘Thy will be done’ if you do not accept the hard bits
Don’t say ‘as it is in heaven’ if you only think about earthly matters

Give us this day our daily bread
Don’t say ’Our daily bread’ if you have no concern for the hungry or the homeless

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who against us
Don’t say ‘Forgive us our sins’ if you remain angry with someone

Lead us not into temptation
Don’t say ‘Lead us not into temptation’ if you intend to continue sinning

But deliver us from evil
Don’t say ‘Deliver us from evil if you are not willing to make a stand against injustice

For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen
Don’t say ‘AMEN’ without considering the words of your prayer!

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share the one bread

Agnus Dei

[vimeo 58473935

Come not because you are strong,
but because you are weak.
Come not because any goodness of your own
but because you need mercy and help.
Come because you love the Lord a little
and would like to love him more.
Come because he loves you
and gave his life for you.

This is the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world.
Blesséd are those who are called to his supper
Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Communion is distributed

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray…

Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus when he comes to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Blessing

The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the +Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Giving of a Lighted Candle

https://www.vimeo.com/33098032

The candidate’s candles are lit from the Paschal Candle, the congregation’s votive candles are lit from the candidates and everyone gets to take a candle home with them.

The congregation candles have a sticker on them which says:

“One faith, One Lord, One Baptism” (Ephesians 4:5) Spread the light. Blesséd Initiations www.blessed.org.uk

Fr Simon (or the bishop) speaks of the symbol of the Candle.

God has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has given us a place with the saints in light. You have received the light of Christ; walk in this light all the days of your life.
Shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father.

The Dismissal

The Mass is ended. Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

The bishop may lead the newly baptized and confirmed through the church to the back.

Recessional either: Let everything that has breath

Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord.

Verse 1
Praise You in the morning,
Praise You in the evening,
Praise You when I’m young
And when I’m old.
Praise You when I’m laughing,
Praise You when I’m grieving,
Praise You every
season of the soul.

Bridge
If we could see
how much You’re worth,
Your power, Your might,
Your endless love,
Then surely we
would never cease to praise :

Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord

Verse 2
Praise You in the heavens,
Joining with the angels,
Praising You forever
and a day.
Praise You on the earth now,
Joining with creation,
Calling all the nations
to Your praise.

Bridge
If they could see
how much You’re worth,
Your power, Your might,
Your endless love,
Then surely they would
never cease to praise:

Chorus
Let everything that,
Everything that,
Everything that has breath
Praise the Lord

Chorus 2
I will worship I will worship
I will worship You in everything.

Or Window in the Skies (U2)

Verse
The shackles are undone, the bullets quit the gun
The heat that’s in the sun will keep us when there’s none
The rule has been disproved, the stone it has been moved
The grave is now a groove, all debts are removed

Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s done to me?

Verse
Love makes strange enemies, makes love where love may please
The soul and its striptease, hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head, we can reach it from our bed
You let me in your heart and out of my head, head

Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s done to me?

Bridge
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh
Please don’t ever let me out of you
I’ve got no shame, oh no, oh no

Chorus
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
Oh can’t you see?
Oh can’t you see what love has done?
What it’s doing to me?

I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Did everything but murder you and I
But love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize
To every broken heart
For every heart that cries
Love left a window in the skies
And to love I rhapsodize
Oh can’t you see?

END