THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
26th February 2023, 6pm | All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi
TOPIC: Responding to Divine Visitation
Leader:
Assisted by:
Preacher: Rev. Enoch Opuka
Capt. Geoffrey Maina
Rev. Jandson Njoroge
STREAMING LIVE |
THEME FOR THE YEAR: Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Gen. 18:14)
i. This service flows as provided in the programme without announcements.
ii. Families are encouraged to use this liturgy to follow the live stream service and respond accordingly.
iii. The service program is found on the Cathedral Website
www.allsaintsnairobi.org
(People Stand during the procession)
1. WELCOME REMARKS
2. OPENING HYMN: Lord Jesus think on me
Lord Jesus, think on me, And purge away my sin; From earthborn passions set me free, And make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me With many a care opprest; Let me thy loving servant be, And taste thy promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me, Nor let me go astray; Through darkness and perplexity Point thou the heavenly way.
Lord Jesus, think on me, That, when the flood is past, I may the eternal brightness see, And share thy joy at last.
(People Kneel/Sit)
(said only by the celebrant/ leader of the service)
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive
them that trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
(People Kneel/Sit)(To be said by all)
All: Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify Thy Holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader:
God spake these words, and said; I am the Lord Thy God: Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keepthis law.
Leader:
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord Thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shew mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my commandments.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader:
Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord Thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh His Name in vain.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader:
Remember that Thou keep Holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maidservant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader:
Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth Thee.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader: Thou shalt do no murder.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader: Thou shalt not commit adultery.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader: Thou shalt not steal.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
All: Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Leader:
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his.
All:
Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts we beseech Thee.
Minister:
Today is the First Sunday in Lent, let us join in saying the Collect
All:
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen Minister: Let us also join in the prayer for Ash-Wednesday
All:
Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Then the Psalm is sung)
7. PSALM 130 (De profundis)
1. Out of the deep have I called unto ' Thee O ' Lord: Lord ' hear ' my ' voice.
2. O let thine ears con'sider ' well: the ' voice of ' my com'plaint.
3. If thou Lord wilt be extreme to mark what is ' done a'miss: O ' Lord who ' may a'bide it?
4. For there is ' mercy with ' Thee: therefore ' shalt ' thou be ' feared.
5. I look for the Lord, my ' soul doth ' wait for Him: in His ' word is ' my ' trust.
6. My soul fleeth ' unto the ' Lord: before the morning watch, I say be'fore the ' morning ' watch.
7. O Israel trust in the Lord, for with the Lord ' there is ' mercy: and with ' him is ' plenteous re'demption.
8. And he shall re'deem ' Israel: from ' all ' his ' sins.
(People Sit)
8. O.T READING Genesis 21: 1 – 6 ~ Rose Ndaru
9. CHOIR ANTHEM: Lord, I flee to thee
(F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy))
Lord, I flee to Thee for refuge, Bow Thine ear unto my prayer.
If my sins Thou shouldst remember, Evermore must I despair, Evermore must I despair.
Shall my troubles last forever? Is grief my daily lot?
Weak and helpless must I languish, By my God, alas, forgot?
Lord I flee to Thee for refuge, Bow Thine ear unto my prayer
If my sins Thou shouldst remember, Evermore must I despair, Evermore must I despair. Evermore, Evermore, Evermore.
(People stand for the gospel reading)
11. HYMN: Still nigh me, O my Saviour, stand
Still nigh me, O my Saviour, stand, And guard in fierce temptation's hour; Hide in the hollow of thy hand, Show forth in me thy saving power; Still be thine arm my sure defence: Nor earth nor hell shall pluck me thence.
Still let thy love point out my way: How wondrous things thy love hath wrought! Still lead me, lest I go astray; Direct my work, inspire my thought; And if I fall, soon may I hear Thy voice, and know that Love is near.
In suffering be thy love my peace, In weakness be thy love my power; And when the storms of life shall cease, Jesus, in that tremendous hour, In death as life be thou my guide, And save me, who for me hast died.
Leader:
We stand and confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed.
All:
I believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, Begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God, Begotten, not made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made: Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day He rose again according to the scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead : Whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord the giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and
the son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe in one Catholick and Apostolick Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
15. OFFERTORY [The Minister invites people to offer their gifts by using the details displayed on the screens]
Paybill No. 303036 for offertory, tithes, Organ Restoration etc
Paybill No. 303035 for Children and Teens Centre (CTC) Project.
Airtel users: Paybill 303035: Indicate what you are giving for Cash offering using the baskets provided
16. OFFERTORY HYMN: Christian, seek not yet repose
'Christian, seek not yet repose,'
Hear thy guardian angel say;
'Thou art in the midst of foes: Watch and pray!'
Principalities and powers,
Mustering their unseen array, Wait for thine unguarded hours:
Watch and pray!
Gird thy heavenly armour on, Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lurks the evil one: Watch and pray!
Hear the victors who o'ercome;
Still they mark each warrior's way
All with one sweet voice exclaim:
'Watch and pray!'
Hear, above all, hear thy Lord, Him thou lovest to obey; Hide within thy heart his word:
'Watch and pray!'
Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray!
(People remain seated/kneeling)
Celebrant:
Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church militant here in earth.
Almighty and everliving God, who by Thy Holy Apostle Hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications and to give thanks, for all men; We humbly beseech Thee most mercifully to accept our alms and oblations, and to receive these our prayers which we offer unto Thy Divine Majesty; beseeching Thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: and grant, that all they that do confess Thy Holy Name may agree in the truth of Thy Holy Word, and live in unity, and godly love. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth Thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer Thy Holy Sacraments. We beseech Thee also to save and defend our President and all leaders of our country; that under Him, they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of Thy true religion, and virtue.
And to all Thy people give Thy heavenly grace; and specially to this
congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive Thy Holy Word; truly serving Thee in Holiness and righteousness all the days of their life. And we most humbly beseech Thee of thy goodness, O Lord to comfort and succour all them, who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity. And we bless Your Holy Name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom: Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen
Celebrant:
Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in His Holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this Holy Sacrament to Your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.
All:
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; we acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that us past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee in newness of life, To the honour and glory of Thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Celebrant:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of His great mercy Hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto Him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all the truly turn to Him.
Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you
St. Mathew 11.28
So God loved the world, that he gave His only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. St. John 3.16
Hear also what Saint Paul saith. This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. 1 Timothy 1.15
Hear also what Saint John saith
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins. 1 St. John 2.1
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts
All: We lift them up unto the Lord
Celebrant: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God
All: It is meet and right so to do.
Celebrant:
It is meet, right and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. Therefore with Angels and Arch-angels and with the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising Thee, and saying,
All:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory: Glory be to Thee, O Lord most high. Amen
All:
We do not presume to come to this Thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But Thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our
sinful bodies may be made clean by His body, and our souls washed through His most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in Him, and He in us. Amen
Celebrant:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of Thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there (by His one oblation of Himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in His Holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that His precious death until His coming again; Hear us, O merciful Father, we most humbly beseech Thee; and grant that we receiving these creatures of bread and wine, according to Thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of His death and passion, may be partakers of His most blessed Body and Blood: who, in the same night that He was betrayed, took bread; and, when He had given thanks, He brake 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. Likewise after supper He took the Cup; and, when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all
of this; for this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins: Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. Amen.
Celebrant:
The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for Thee, preserve Thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Take and eat this is remembrance that Christ died for Thee, and feed on him in Thy heart by faith with thanksgiving.
Assistant:
The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for Thee, preserve Thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for Thee, and be thankful.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy upon us,
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy upon us
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant us thy peace.
24. AGNUS DEI (SUNG)
Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face; Here faith would touch and handle things unseen; Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace, And all my weariness upon thee lean.
Here would I feed upon the Bread of God; Here drink with thee the royal Wine of heaven; Here would I lay aside each earthly load; Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
I have no help but thine; nor do I need Another arm save thine to lean upon: It is enough, my Lord, enough indeed, My strength is in thy might, thy might alone.
Bread of heaven, on Thee we feed, For thy Flesh is meat indeed; Ever may our souls be fed With this true and living Bread; Day by day with strength supplied Through the life of Him who died.
Vine of heaven, Thy Blood supplies
This blest Cup of Sacrifice;
Lord, Thy wounds our healing give, To thy Cross we look and live:
Jesus, may we ever be Grafted, rooted, built in Thee.
Celebrant:
And now as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray:
All:
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive
them that 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.
All:
O Lord and heavenly Father, we Thy humble servants entirely desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching Thee to grant, that by the merits and death of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of His passion. And here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, Holy, and lively sacrifice unto Thee; humbly beseeching Thee, that all we, who are partakers of this Holy Communion, may be fulfilled with Thy grace and heavenly benediction. And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto Thee any sacrifice, yet we beseech Thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto Thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.
Celebrant:
The peace of God, which passeth 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 Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
Now thank we all our God, With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom his world rejoices: Who from our mother's arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours to-day.
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in his grace, And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God, The Father now be given, The Son, and him who reigns With them in highest heaven, The one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore, For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.
1. Shadrack Kuria Kinuthia from Uzima Church Ruiru and Hellen
Wairimu Thuo of All Saints' Cathedral Church
This is the first time of announcing
2. Benson Oshiamha of Holy Trinity Catholic Church Kileleshwa & Margaret Wallace of St. Annes Liverpool, UK
This is the third time of announcing
If any one of you has any just cause why these people should not be joined in marriage you are to declare it to the Provost.
To be held on 4th March 2023 at 8.00am at the Chapter House.
Will be held on 11th March from 9.00am. All senior citizens are welcome to attend.
Will be held on 11th March 2023 at 10.00am. All members are invited to attend.
Notice is hereby given for the All Saints’ Cathedral Church AGM to be held on 19th March 2023 at 1.00pm. Attendance will be both physical and virtual. However, Voting will be strictly online and Cathedral members are required to register through the link to be sent to their phones. Nomination forms are available at the Provost’s Office. Kindly return the complete nomination forms to the Provost’s Office on or before 12.00noon on 11th March 2023. Details are on the Notice Board.
i. World Day of Prayer on Friday 3rd March at 2.00pm in the Main Sanctuary
ii. Mother's Union AGM on 18th March at 10.00am
iii. Ladies Interested in joining Mother's Union to register at the Information Tent.
Registration for Confirmation classes is ongoing. Kindly register on the Cathedral website.
Registration ongoing at the Information Tent. All men who are not enrolled are requested to register.
The Cathedral has a service for children with special needs at 9.30am in the CTC 2nd floor. Parents with special needs children are requested to plug in.
The children ministry is registering all children aged 8 year and above who are interested in Bible reading or preaching. Kindly register at the Sunday school office. Training will be on 18th March.
In order to effectively serve the congregation that are homebound, the Family Department requests those who have loved ones that need to be visited and served Holy Communion to register at the Information Tent after the service or call the office through 0702 645 069 between 9.00am - 4.00pm on week days.
The 2023 ROPES classes will begin in March 2023. The classes are open to all teens and preteens aged 12-14 years. Please register your child on the Cathedral website.
All form 4 leavers are invited to participate in the ASC Teens Ministry excans program. The program is set to kick off in March 2023. To register, please go to the Cathedral website. Registration is open to all form 4 leavers.
The Cathedral would like to revive International Community Fellowship (ICF); interested members from other countries are requested to register at the Information Tent or on the Cathedral website.
We would like to inform you that we now have professional counselors on the ground. They are available from 8.00am to 5.00pm weekdays. Please call 0702 645 069 or you give your contact at the Information Tent.
The Provost appreciates all those that responded generously to the donations of flowers during the Christmas season. We wish to partner with you in this ministry by giving you an opportunity to give towards the flower fund. 4 flower arrangements are required every Sunday at 3,500/= each except during Lent. You may give for one flower arrangement or more as an individual, family, friends or institution. Pay via Mpesa paybill no. 303036 account number is your first name, then flowers e.g. Peterflowers.
Email: info@allsaintsnairobi.org
Tel: 0728 271 715 or 0702 645 069
Prayer & Pastoral Care Line: 0110 095533 (from 9am to 4pm)
Email: prayerline@allsaintsnairobi.org
FOLLOW US ON
You Tube/ Facebook/ Twitter: All Saints’ Cathedral, Nairobi
1. For Tithe, Thanksgiving, Offertory, Organ Restoration, etc: Paybill No. 303036
Account Name: All Saints’ Cathedral Church
ABSA Bank, Queensway Branch
A/C No. 0941048099
2. For CTC payments: Mpesa Paybill No. 303035
Account: Your phone number
Bank A/C Name: All Saints Cathedral CTC
ABSA Bank, Queensway Branch
A/C No. 2034405894
I tell you, will prevail
I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:29