CALL TO WORSHIP, AND OPENING PRAYER

The kingdom of God is at hand:

Come, let us worship.

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ, the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

Alleluia!

Blessed are you, sovereign God,

ruler and judge of all,

to you be praise and glory for ever.

   [a few words of praise and adoration may be said here]

Awaken in us joyful hope

as we look for Christ's reign of peace,

when every voice shall give you praise,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever!

PSALM, AND SCRIPTURE SONG

Psalm 2

Why do the nations conspire,
   and the peoples plot in vain? 
The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and the rulers take counsel together,
   against the Lord and his anointed, saying, 
‘Let us burst their bonds asunder,
   and cast their cords from us.’ 

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
   the Lord has them in derision. 
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
   and terrify them in his fury, saying, 
‘I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.’ 

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
   today I have begotten you. 
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and the ends of the earth your possession. 
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
   and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ 

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth. 
Serve the Lord with fear,
   with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
   for his wrath is quickly kindled. 

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for ever. Amen.

A Song of the Church [Te Deum]

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

all creation worships you,

the Father everlasting.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,

the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh to set us free

you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.

You overcame the sting of death

and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

SHORT READING

Revelation 4.9-11

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives for ever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing, 
‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they existed and were created.’

a time for reflection on the Scriptures ...

... completed with:

The Lord will be your everlasting light.

Your God will be your glory, your everlasting light.

CANTICLE OF THE SEASON

THE LORD’S PRAYER,

thanksgiving, petition, intercession

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 for ever. Amen.

a time for personal prayer and intercession …

… you may include this ‘Prayer for the Earth’:

Lord Christ, give us the expectant hope

that this damaged earth will be healed of its pain

and restored to wholeness.

Come among us to judge the world with righteousness

and to change both hearts and minds.

Refine our priorities,

so that we turn away from exploitation

towards the nurture of creation.

… and sum up your own prayers with these responses:

In joyful hope we pray to you, O Lord:

come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your Church as Lord and Judge;

give us a longing for your loving rule.

Come to your world as King of the nations;

let righteousness and peace prevail.

Come to us as Saviour and Comforter;

break into our failure and free us to serve you.

Come to us with power and great glory.

Lift up our hearts to meet you in joy.

CONCLUDING PRAYER, AND ENDING

Gracious Father, by whose tender compassion

the light of Christ has dawned upon us:

open our hearts, so that, joyfully receiving Christ,

we may declare his glory to the ends of the earth.

He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,

so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Olympic Park, London, Summer 2012