Please join in saying the words and singing the hymns printed in bold type.

The church is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Photography, filming, and sound recording are not allowed in St Margaret's Church during services. Please ensure that mobile telephones and other electronic devices are silent.

The service is led by The Right Reverend Anthony Ball, Canon Rector

Following the service, a collection will be taken; the money from today's services will be divided equally between the Commonwealth Forestry Association and the work of the Abbey. The Commonwealth Forestry Association exists to promote the conservation and sustainable management of the world's forests and the contributions they make to peoples' livelihoods.

Order of Service

All stand as the clergy enter

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

The president greets the congregation, to which all respond

and also with you.

All remain standing. The president introduces the Prayers of Penitence, after which all say

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word, and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.

The president gives the Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria in excelsis Deo is said

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Let us pray.

All remain standing. The president says the Collect

All sit for the Reading. At the end, the reader says

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

All stand for the Gospel, Mark 6: 30–34, 53–end

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, 'Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

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

The Homily

All kneel or remain seated for the Prayers of Intercession, during which the following response is used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

All stand. The president introduces the Peace

We are all one in Christ Jesus. We belong to him through faith, heirs of the promise of the Spirit of peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you.

All may greet one another with the words Peace be with you.

All sing the Offertory Hymn

Immortal love for ever full,
   for ever flowing free,
for ever shared, for ever whole,
   a never-ebbing sea!

Our outward lips confess the name,
   all other names above;
love only knoweth whence it came
   and comprehendeth love.

We may not climb the heavenly steeps
   to bring the Lord Christ down;
in vain we search the lowest deeps,
   for him no depths can drown;

but warm, sweet, tender, even yet
   a present help is he;
and faith has still its Olivet,
   and love its Galilee.

The healing of his seamless dress
   is by our beds of pain;
we touch him in life's throng and press,
   and we are whole again.

Through him the first fond prayers are said
   our lips of childhood frame;
the last low whispers of our dead
   are burdened with his name.

Alone, O love ineffable,
   thy saving name is given;
to turn aside from thee is hell,
   to walk with thee is heaven.

Words: from 'Our Master', John Whittier (1807–92)
Tune: 'Bishopthorpe (St Paul's)' 378 NEH, Jeremiah Clarke (c 1674–1707)

All remain standing for the Eucharistic Prayer. The president says

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.

The president praises God for his mighty acts, and all say Sanctus

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.

The president recalls the Last Supper, which may conclude with this Acclamation

Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.

The president concludes the Eucharistic Prayer, to which all respond Amen.

The president introduces the Lord's Prayer

As we join our prayers with those of the Church Universal, so we say, each in our own language, the prayer that Jesus Christ has taught us,

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The president breaks the consecrated bread

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

Agnus Dei may be said

Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.

The president says the Invitation to Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed 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.

The congregation is invited to sit as the president and other ministers begin the distribution of Holy Communion. Those wishing to receive come forward as directed by the Stewards. If you receive communion in your own church you are welcome to do so here. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please refrain from dipping bread in the chalice. Those who do not wish to receive communion are invited to come for a blessing; please bow your head as you approach. The minister says to each communicant

The body of Christ. Amen.

The blood of Christ. Amen.

When it is announced, all stand to sing the Hymn

Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old
   was strong to heal and save;
it triumphed o'er disease and death,
   o'er darkness and the grave;
to thee they went, the blind, the dumb,
   the palsied and the lame,
the leper with his tainted life,
   the sick with fevered frame.

And lo! thy touch brought life and health,
   gave speech, and strength, and sight;
and youth renewed and frenzy calmed
   owned thee the Lord of light;
and now, O Lord, be near to bless,
   almighty as of yore,
in crowded street, by restless couch,
   as by Gennesareth's shore.

Be thou our great deliverer still,
   thou Lord of life and death;
restore and quicken, soothe and bless
   with thine almighty breath;
to hands that work, and eyes that see,
   give wisdom's heavenly lore,
that whole and sick, and weak and strong,
   may praise thee evermore.

Words: Edward Plumptre (1821–91)
Tune: 'St Matthew' 324 NEH, William Croft (1678–1727) Organist of Westminster Abbey 1708–27

The president says the Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

All remain standing

The following prayer may be said

Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

The president pronounces the Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your 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 you and remain with you always. Amen.

The Dismissal

Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

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Hymns covered by Christian Copyright Licensing (International) Ltd are reproduced under CCL no 1040271 and MRL no 1040288. Common Worship (Church House Publishing, 2000), material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council. Scripture Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version.