Church of England home page Common Worship   Publications Site Map

All Creation Worships

Gathering

The Greeting

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

The Lord be with you
Alland also with you.

The Spirit of God hovered over the water
All and brought life to all creation.

Come, Holy Spirit
All and renew the face of the earth.

 

Silence is kept.

Prayer of Preparation

AllAlmighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Human sin disfigures the whole creation,
which groans with eager longing for God's redemption.
We confess our sin in penitence and faith.

cf Romans 8.22,23

Our misuse of creation could be represented in some way, such as by holding up or projecting images.

We confess to you
our lack of care for the world you have given us.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We confess to you
our selfishness in not sharing the earth's bounty fairly.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We confess to you
our failure to protect resources for others.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AllAmen.

Gloria in Excelsis

The Gloria, or some other song or hymn of praise, may be sung.

The congregation may be sprinkled with water as a sign of forgiveness during the singing.

AllGlory 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.

The Collect

The president says the Collect, the prayer of the day.

In a time of silence,
let us pray that our worship will bring us closer to the one who has
created all things.

The Collect is said, and all respond

AllAmen.

The Liturgy of the Word

Readings

Reader: None

At the end of each reading

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

The psalm or canticle follows the first reading; other hymns and songs may be used between the readings.

Gospel Reading

This acclamation heralds the gospel

Alleluia, alleluia.
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things.
AllAlleluia.

When the Gospel is announced, this response is used

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
AllGlory to you, O Lord.

At the end

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

Sermon

Preacher: None

Affirmation of Faith

We say together in faith

AllHoly, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
Allfor by his will they were created
and have their being.

We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
Allfor with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
Allthe Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!'
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

cf Revelation 4.8,11;5.9;22.17,20

Prayers of Intercession

Creation groans with pain like the pain of childbirth,
and longs to share the freedom of the children of God,
so we offer you our prayers for the healing of all creation.
Let us pray.

This response is used

Lord of creation
Allhear the cry of our hearts.

At the end

Merciful Father,
Allaccept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Peace to you from God who is our Father. 
Peace from Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit who gives us life.
The peace of the triune God be always with you.

Alland also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

Preparation of the Table

Hymn

The gifts of the people may be gathered and presented.

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

If the bread, wine and water are brought forward it is appropriate that on this occasion they are clearly visible, perhaps using see-through vessels rather than opaque ones. A glass bowl full of soil may also be presented and placed on the altar.

The Eucharistic Prayer

Eucharistic Prayer E

The Lord be with you
Alland also with you.

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

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

Father, we give you thanks and praise 
for your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is the image of the unseen God,
the first-born of all creation.
He created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
thrones, dominions, sovereignties, powers,
all things were created through him and for him.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is the radiant light of your glory:
he holds all creation together by his word of power.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is first to be born from the dead.
All perfection is found in him,
and all things were reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

The Church is his body,
he is its head.
He takes his place in heaven
at your right hand,
where we worship you with all of your creation, singing:

cf Colossians 1.15-18

AllHoly, 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.

We praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command,
send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, gave it to them and said:
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.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.

Jesus Christ is Lord:
AllLord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free.
You are the Saviour of the world.

Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with [N and] all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
AllAmen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:

AllOur 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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

AllThough we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

The Agnus Dei is used as the bread is broken

AllJesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

God's holy gifts
for God's holy people.
AllJesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The president and people receive communion.

Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

The deacon (or president) then lights a large (green) candle and says the following prayer

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
creator of light and giver of life,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
In Jesus your light has shone out;
and you have given your Holy Spirit
as a mighty stream of life-giving water
to refresh and renew the face of the earth.
Let your light shine in us
that we may be beacons of justice
and bearers of hope.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
AllBlessed be God for ever.

Hymn

During the final hymn the candle is taken to the door for the Blessing and Dismissal.

The Dismissal

Blessing

May God
who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the sky,
who leads the lambs to pasture and the deer to water,
who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine,
lead us, feed us, multiply us,
and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator
now and through all eternity;
and the blessing …

The Dismissal

A minister says

Go in the light and peace of Christ.
AllThanks be to God.

Copyright acknowledgment (where not indicated below):

Blessing (God in creation) © Trevor Lloyd (Adapted)

 

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are being published by Church House Publishing.