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A Gathering and Greeting

Greetings, calls to worship
and other introductions

General
A1

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with you

and also with you.

General
A2

Welcome in the name of Christ.
God's grace, mercy and peace be with you
and also with you.

General
A3

The grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.

General
A4

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
and also with you.

cf 1 Timothy 1.2

General
A5

The Lord of glory be with you.
The Lord bless you.

(This greeting may be used before or after other introductions. 'The Lord of glory' may be replaced by other similar phrases, for example 'The risen Lord','The Lord of mercy','the Lord of all creation'.)

General
A6

Through Christ let us offer our sacrifice of praise to God.
Let our lips proclaim his praise.

cf Hebrews 13.15

General
A7

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Praise the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.

cf Psalm 51.15; 70.1

General
A8

Praise our God, all you his servants:
those who fear him, both small and great.

cf Revelation 19.5

General
A9

Praise the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God.

Lord, open our lips
and we shall praise your name.

cf Deuteronomy 32.3; Psalm 51.15

General
A10

The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us rejoice and shout for joy,
giving God the glory.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

cf Revelation 19.6,7

General
A11

The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Let us worship God.

General
A12

We come from scattered lives to meet with God.
Let us recognize his presence with us.
Silence is kept.
As God's people we have gathered:
let us worship him together.

General (morning)
Incarnation
A13

God in Christ has revealed his glory.
Come let us worship.

From the rising of the sun to its setting
the Lord's name is greatly to be praised.

Give him praise, you servants of the Lord.
O praise the name of the Lord!

General (morning)
Resurrection
A14

The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.

The glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
Let us rejoice and sing God's praise for ever.

General (morning)
Resurrection
A15

This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118.24

General (evening)
A16

O Lord, we call to you: come to us quickly.
Hear us when we cry to you.

Let our prayers rise up before you like incense.
Let our lifted hands be like an evening sacrifice.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

cf Psalm 141.1,2

General (evening)
A17

May the light and peace of Jesus Christ our Lord
be with you.
The Lord bless you.

General (evening)
Resurrection
A18

Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
a light no darkness can quench.

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening:
and the day is almost over.

Even the darkness is not dark for you:
and the night shines like the day.

Let your light scatter the darkness:
and fill your church with your glory.

cf John 1.5; 8.12; Psalm 139.12; Luke 24.29

General
Father, Son and Spirit
A19

We meet in the name of God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

General
Father, Son and Spirit
A20

We meet in the name of God:
God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Spirit:
God is one.

General
Resurrection
Holy Spirit
A21

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Give us the joy of your saving help
and sustain us with your life-giving Spirit.

General
Holy Spirit
A22

God is spirit.
Let us worship him in spirit and truth.

The Lord is with us.
Let us praise his name together.

cf John 4.24

General
Father, Son and Spirit
A23

Let us worship God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

General
Heaven
A24

We stand before the throne of God
with countless crowds
from every nation and race, tribe and language.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour, power and might
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

cf Revelation 7.9, 12

General
Living in the world
A25

Let everything be said and done in the name of the
Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ.

Sing psalms, hymns and sacred songs:
let us sing to God with thankful hearts.

Open our lips, Lord:
and we shall praise your name.

cf Colossians 3.16,17

General
Time
A26

God is good
all the time.
All the time
God is good.

Christ's coming
Resurrection
A27

Praise God! For the Lord our God the almighty reigns!
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory.

Happy are those who have been invited
to the wedding-feast of the Lamb.
Amen. Praise the Lord!

cf Revelation 19.6,9

Incarnation
A28

Today we remember Jesus and the story of his birth;
Jesus is our King.
A candle may be lit.
Jesus Christ is the light of the world;
Jesus is our Way.
With Jesus even dark places are light;
Jesus is the Truth.
In Jesus we shall live for ever;
Jesus is our Life.

Incarnation
A29

We meet to celebrate the coming of Christ into the world.
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
and we beheld his glory.

Incarnation
A30

I bring you good news of great joy:
a Saviour has been born to you. Alleluia.
Unto us a child is born,
unto us a Son is given. Alleluia.

[Hear the words of St Luke:
When the angels had gone from them into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
' Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened
which the Lord has made known to us.'
So they hastened, and found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in a manger.]

He is Christ the Lord. Alleluia.
We worship and adore him. Alleluia.

Resurrection
A31

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:
he has given us new life and hope
by raising Jesus from the dead.

[God has claimed us as his own:
He has made us light to the world.]

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Ascension
A32

Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Christ has ascended on high.
He reigns for ever. Alleluia.

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

Heaven
A33

Jesus Christ has made us a kingdom of priests
to serve his God and Father.
To God be glory and kingship for ever and ever.

Grace, mercy and peace be with you
and also with you.

Lament
Relationships and healing
A34

We meet in the presence of God
who knows our needs,
hears our cries,
feels our pain,
and heals our wounds.

 

Opening prayers

General
A35

Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray.
Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

General
A36

Faithful one, whose word is life:
come with saving power
to free our praise,
inspire our prayer
and shape our lives
for the kingdom of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

General
A37

Loving God, we have come to worship you.
Help us to pray to you in faith,
to sing your praise with gratitude,
and to listen to your word with eagerness;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

General
Resurrection
Ascension
A38

Almighty God,
your Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence.
Give us new hearts and constant wills
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

General
Word
A39

Lord, speak to us
that we may hear your word.
Move among us
that we may behold your glory.
Receive our prayers
that we may learn to trust you.
Amen.

General
Living in the world
Time
A40

God of our days and years,
we set this time apart for you.
Form us in the likeness of Christ
so that our lives may glorify you.
Amen.

Father, Son and Spirit
A41

Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.
Silence
Eternal God, source of all blessing,
help us to worship you
with all our heart and mind and strength;
for you alone are God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Holy Spirit
A42

Let us pray.
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful people,
and kindle in us the fire of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Holy Spirit
Relationships and healing
A43

Be with us, Spirit of God;
nothing can separate us from your love.
Breathe on us, breath of God;
fill us with your saving power.
Speak in us, wisdom of God;
bring strength, healing and peace.
Silence is kept.
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

Holy Spirit
A44

Faithful God,
who fulfilled the promises of Easter
by sending us your Holy Spirit,
and made known to every race and nation the way of
eternal life;
open our lips by your Spirit,
that every tongue may tell of your glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Notes for this section

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