ST. DAVID’S CHURCH CHRIST CHURCH
Solemn Mass & Holy Confirmation
The Most Reverend & Dr The Honourable John W.D. Holder, CBE, LLD Former Archbishop of the West Indies Primate and Metropolitan Former Bishop of Barbados at the request of The Rt. Rev’d Michael Maxwell Bishop of Barbados on The Last Sunday after Pentecost The Feast of Christ the King
Sunday November 22, 2020 7:45am
1
INTROIT HYMN 197 The Lord is King! lift up thy voice, O earth, and all ye heavens, rejoice; from world to world the joy shall ring, ‘The Lord omnipotent is King.’ The Lord is King! Who then shall dare resist his will, distrust his care, or murmur at his wise decrees, or doubt his royal promises? He reigns! ye saints, exalt your strains; your God is King, your Father reigns; and he is at the Father's side, the Man of love, the Crucified. Alike pervaded by his eye all parts of his dominion lie; this world of ours and worlds unseen, and thin the boundary between. One Lord one empire all secures; he reigns, and life and death are yours; through earth and heaven one song shall ring, ‘The Lord omnipotent is King.’ OPENING SENTENCE There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4: 4-6 THE GREETING PRESIDENT: ALL:
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! And blessed be His Kingdom now and for ever. Amen. Alleluia! Alleluia!
THE DECLARATION In Baptism we became members of Christ, children of the Heavenly Father, inheritors together of the Kingdom. This was the work of God who adopted us as His children and made us members of the family of God. We are to continue to grow in grace and in faith, to worship with the family and to respond to the living Word.
2
Through the laying on of hands in Confirmation, the indwelling Spirit enlightens, frees, transforms and sanctifies those who in Baptism were made God’s children. Let us therefore pray that those who now come for Confirmation may be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit; and that they may live in righteousness and true holiness all their days. PRESIDENT: ALL:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray Grant, Almighty God, that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, may be renewed in your Holy Spirit, and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under His most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24 Mrs. Cynthia Reid READER: A Reading from the Word of God written in the Book of Ezekiel Chapter 34 beginning at the 11th verse. For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and 3
be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. READER: ALL:
Here ends the Reading. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 27: 1-7 Dominus illuminatio 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?* the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,* it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army should encamp against me,* yet my heart shall not be afraid. 4 And though war should rise up against me,* yet will I put my trust in him. 5 One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek;* that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; 6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord* and to seek him in his temple. 7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter;* he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock. Glory to the Father, and to the Son:* and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now:* and shall be forever. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Ephesians 1: 15-23 READER: A Reading from the Word of God written in the Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 1 beginning at the 15th verse. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
READER: ALL: 4
Here ends the Reading. Thanks be to God
THE GRADUAL HYMN 193 Rejoice! The Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; mortals, give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore: lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice. Jesus, the Saviour, reigns the God of truth and love; when he had purged our stains, he took His seat above: lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice. His kingdom cannot fail; he rules o’er earth and heaven; the keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given: lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice. He sits at God’s right hand till all his foes submit, and bow to his command, and fall beneath his feet: lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice.
THE HOLY GOSPEL The Lord be with you. And also with you. A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew Glory to Christ our Saviour. At that time Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me 5
something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The Gospel of Christ. Praise to Christ our Lord.
THE SERMON The Most Reverend & Dr The Honourable John W.D. Holder, CBE, LLD Former Archbishop of the West Indies, Primate and Metropolitan, Former Bishop of Barbados
THE PRESENTATION AND EXAMINATION The Candidates are presented by The Rev’d Canon Noel A. Burke, MA, Rector PRIEST: Reverend Father in God, I present unto you these persons who have been duly baptized to be confirmed. BISHOP: Have you examined them and found them ready and desirous to be confirmed? PRIEST: I have examined them and found them so to be.
6
The Bishop then addresses the confirmands BISHOP: You who have come to be confirmed must now renew the solemn promise and vow that you made or that was made in your name at your baptism, and must pledge to believe and to do all those things which you or your Parents and Godparents then undertook. Do you declare and promise that you will, with the help of God, live your life in the faith of Christ into which you were baptized? ANSWER: I do. BISHOP: Do you commit yourself in love to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? ANSWER: I do. BISHOP: Will you continue in the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers? ANSWER: I will. BISHOP: Will you persevere in resisting evil and repent whenever you fall into sin? ANSWER: I will. BISHOP: Will you be a witness in your daily life to God’s saving work in Christ? ANSWER: I will. BISHOP: Will you seek and serve Christ by loving your neighbour as yourself remembering that every person is loved and valued by God? ANSWER: I will. BISHOP: Do you put your whole trust in His grace and love? ANSWER: I do, and with God’s help I will follow Christ as my Saviour and Lord. The Bishop then addresses the congregation BISHOP: Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ? ALL: We will.
7
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH BISHOP: Let us join with those who are to be confirmed in the profession of our Faith. ALL I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried, He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. HYMN 200 (All kneeling) Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire; thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart. Thy blessed unction from above is comfort, life, and fire of love; enable with perpetual light the dullness of our blinded sight: Anoint and cheer our soiled face with the abundance of thy grace: keep far our foes, give peace at home; where thou art guide no ill can come. Teach us to know the Father, Son, and thee, of both, to be but one; 8
that through the ages all along this may be our endless song. ‘Praise to thy eternal merit, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.’ PRAYER FOR THE CONFIRMANDS Mrs Cynthia Reid The congregation remains kneeling during the prayers. BISHOP: Let us pray for these persons to be confirmed, and for all the baptized everywhere. LEADER: That they may be filled with your Holy and life-giving Spirit. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. LEADER: That the Holy Spirit may open their hearts to your grace and truth. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. LEADER: That they may be redeemed from all evil and rescued from the way of sin and death. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. LEADER: That they may be kept in the faith and communion of your Holy Church. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. LEADER: That they may go out into the world to witness to your love and transforming power. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. LEADER: That they may be brought to the fullness of your peace and glory. Lord in your mercy; ALL: Hear our prayer. Then the Bishop says the following, stretching out his hands towards the confirmands, all kneeling.
9
Father, in your Son Jesus Christ you have given to these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the Holy Spirit, and have given the forgiveness of all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit strengthen them now: The Spirit of wisdom and understanding; The Spirit of counsel and inward strength; The Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; The Spirit of reverence and true religion; And graft in their hearts the love of your most Holy Name: Through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the same Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen. THE CONFIRMATION Then all of them in order, kneeling before the Bishop, he shall stretch out his hand toward the head of each of them saying: Confirm O Lord your servant N……………….. with your heavenly grace that he/she may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until he/ she comes to your everlasting kingdom. And each one answers: Amen. The Bishop makes the sign of the cross on each one with the holy chrism saying: The seal of the Spirit, the promise of the Father. The Bishop concludes with this prayer: Almighty and everliving God we pray for these your servants upon whom after the example of your Holy Apostles we have now laid our hands. Let your fatherly hand ever be over them, let your Holy Spirit ever be with them and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of your word that they may faithfully serve you in this life and dwell with you in the life to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE GREETING OF PEACE: BISHOP: ALL:
Christ is our peace, he has reconciled us to God in one Body by the cross. We meet in His name and share His peace.
BISHOP: ALL:
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
10
THE OFFERTORY HYMN 672 O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; be thou for ever near me, my master and my friend: I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide. O let me feel thee near me: the world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear; my foes are ever near me, around me and within; but, Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin. O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still, above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self-will; O speak to re-assure me, to hasten or control; O speak, and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul. O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee, that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be; and, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; O give me grace to follow, my master and my friend. O let me see thy footmarks, and in them plant mine own; my hope to follow duly is in thy strength alone; O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end; and then in heaven receive me, my Saviour and my friend.
11
THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERINGS PRESIDENT AND PEOPLE: Father, we offer you these gifts which you have given us; this bread, this wine, this money. With them we offer ourselves, our lives, and our work, to become through your Holy Spirit a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice. As this bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, so may we and all your people become channels of your love; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER PRESIDENT The Lord be with you. ALL And also with you. PRESIDENT Lift up your hearts. ALL We lift them up to the Lord. PRESIDENT Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ALL It is right to give God thanks and praise. PRESIDENT It is right, and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father Almighty, everlasting God. Because in Jesus Christ our Lord you have received us as your sons and daughters, made us citizens of your kingdom, and given us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name: ALL 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. PRESIDENT Sovereign Lord and Father, To you be glory and praise for ever. In your boundless wisdom you brought creation into being; In your great love you fashioned us in your image; 12
In your tender compassion you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour, to share our human nature; In the power of the Holy Spirit, He overcame the power of sin and death and brought your people to new birth as first fruits of your new creation. On the night that He was betrayed He took bread, and when He had given thanks to you, He broke it and gave it to his disciples and said: “Take this, and eat it: This is my Body which is given for you, Do this for the remembrance of me.” And after supper He took the cup of wine: and when He had given thanks, He 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. Whenever you drink it, Do this for the remembrance of me.”
PRESIDENT Therefore, Father, according to the command Of your dearly beloved Son ALL We remember His death We proclaim His resurrection We await His coming in glory.
PRESIDENT And we offer you Father, our sacrifice of thanks and praise. Send your Holy Spirit on these gifts of bread and wine that they may become the Body and Blood of your Son, Jesus, our Lord and Redeemer. As we partake of this holy food of new 13
and unending life, may your Holy Spirit establish us as a royal priesthood with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. David, St. Basil and all your sons and daughters who share in your eternal inheritance; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. With Him and in Him and through Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit we worship you, Father Almighty, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, in songs of everlasting praise: ALL Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER PRESIDENT As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray: ALL Our 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Amen.
PRESIDENT We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. ALL Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
14
THE INVITATION PRESIDENT The Gifts of God for the people of God. ALL Our souls will feast and be satisfied, and we will sing glad songs of praise to Him. Agnus Dei 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. COMMUNION HYMNS HYMN 671 My God, accept my heart this day, and make it always thine, that I from thee no more may stray, no more from thee decline. Before the cross of him who died, behold, I prostrate fall; let every sin be crucified, and Christ be all in all. Anoint me with thy heavenly grace, and seal me for thine own; that I may see thy glorious face, and worship near thy Throne. Let every thought, and work, and word to thee be ever given; then life shall be thy service, Lord, and death the gate of heaven. All glory to the Father be, all glory to the Son, all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee, while endless ages run.
15
HYMN 569 Alleluia, sing to Jesus! His the sceptre, his the throne; alleluia, his the triumph, his the victory alone; hark, the songs of peaceful Sion thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood. Alleluia, not as orphans are we left in sorrow now; alleluia, he is near us, faith believes, nor questions how: though the cloud from sight received him, when the forty days were o’er, shall our hearts forget his promise, ‘I am with you evermore’? Alleluia, Bread of angels, thou on earth our food, our stay; alleluia, here the sinful flee to thee from day to day: Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, plead for me, where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea. Alleluia, King eternal, thee the Lord of lords we own; alleluia, born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne: thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh, our great High Priest; thou on earth both Priest and Victim in the Eucharistic feast. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glory be to God on high; alleluia to the Saviour, who has gained the victory; alleluia to the Spirit, fount of love and sanctity; alleluia, alleluia to the Triune Majesty.
16
HYMN 607 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour, first-begotten from the dead, thou alone, our strong defender, liftest up thy people’s head. Alleluia, alleluia, Jesu, true and living bread. Here our humblest homage pay we, here in loving reverence bow; here for faith’s discernment pray we, lest we fail to know thee now. Alleluia, alleluia, thou art here, we ask not how. Though the lowliest from doth veil thee as of old in Bethlehem, here as there thine angels hail thee, Branch and Flower of Jesse’s Stem. Alleluia, alleluia, we in worship join with them. Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished once for all when thou wast slain, in its fullness undiminished shall for evermore remain, Alleluia, alleluia, cleansing souls from every stain. Life-imparting heavenly Manna, stricken Rock with streaming side, heaven and earth with loud hosanna, worship thee, the Lamb who died, Alleluia, alleluia, risen, ascended, glorified. POST COMMUNION PRAYERS ALL Almighty Father, we thank you for feeding us with the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ. May we who share His Body live His risen life; we who drink His cup bring life to others; 17
we upon whom your Spirit shines give light to the world. Help us to continue in faithful witness to your Word, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty God, whose Holy Spirit equips the Church with a rich variety of gifts: Grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ by lives built on faith and love. Make us ready to live His Gospel and eager to do His will, that we may share with all your Church in the joys of eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE BLESSING BISHOP Our help is in the name of the Lord All: The Maker of Heaven and Earth Blessed be the name of the Lord All: From this time forth, for ever more The Holy Spirit of God lead you into all truth, give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and to proclaim the word and works of God: And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen. NOTICES & ANNOUNCEMENTS RECESSIONAL HYMN HYMN 673 Once pledged by the cross, as children of God, to tread in the steps your Captain has trod, now, sealed by the spirit of wisdom and might, go forward, Christ’s soldiers, go forward and fight! Your weapons of war are sent from above: the Spirit’s good sword, the breastplate of love; your feet with the Gospel of peace be well shod; put on the whole armour, the armour of God.
18
Full well do ye know the foe must be met full well do ye feel that Satan has set his powers of darkness in battle array; but those who are for you are stronger than they. The fight may be long, but triumph is sure, and rest comes at last to those who endure; the rest that remaineth, the victory won, and dearer than all things your Captain’s ‘Well done!’ Then, on to the fight ’gainst sin and the world! stand fast in his strength, his banner unfurled; and, sealed by the spirit of wisdom and might, go forward, Christ’s soldiers, go forward and fight! Bishop: All:
The Lord be with you And also with you
Bishop: All:
Go in peace and serve the Lord In the name of Christ. Amen
19
List of Confirmands 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
20
Liam Bryan Sienna Callender Aidan Deane Rafe Gooding Ashton Hurley Taylor Hurley Francesca Johnson Candace Jones Dominque Jones Petal Kelly Benjamin King Josie Maloney Warren Povey Makayla Quimby Jack Simpson Krystian Thomas
St. David’s Church Christ Church, Barbados Tel. No: Church- 437-1801 Residence - 435-4272 Email: stdavidbb@icloud.com