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 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord;
   give heed to my sighing. 
Listen to the sound of my cry,
   my King and my God,
   for to you I pray. 
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
   in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. 

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
   evil will not sojourn with you. 
The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
   you hate all evildoers. 
You destroy those who speak lies;
   the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful. 

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
   will enter your house,
I will bow down towards your holy temple
   in awe of you. 
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
   because of my enemies;
   make your way straight before me. 

For there is no truth in their mouths;
   their hearts are destruction;
their throats are open graves;
   they flatter with their tongues. 
Make them bear their guilt, O God;
   let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
   for they have rebelled against you. 

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
   let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
   so that those who love your name may exult in you. 
For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
   you cover them with favour as with a shield.

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 God’s Gladness [from Zephaniah 3. 14-20]

Sing aloud, O daughters of Zion,

rejoice and exult with all your heart!

The Lord has taken away

the judgements against you;

you shall fear disaster no more.

The Lord your God is in your midst,

a warrior who gives victory:

he will rejoice over you with gladness,

he will renew you in his love,

he will exult over you with loud singing

as on a day of festival.

‘I will deal with all your oppressors at that time,’

says the Lord.

‘I will bring you home

and restore your fortunes before your eyes.

I will save the lame and gather the outcast;

I will change their shame

into praise and renown in all the earth.’

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.

SHORT READING

Ephesians 4.11-13

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

a time for reflection on the scriptures …

… completed with:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name, you are mine.

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’:

Father almighty,

we remember with shame that we have sometimes exercised

the high dominion of humankind with contempt and cruelty,

so that the song of the earth has been a groan of travail.

Help us to follow the humble example of Christ our King

and bring us,

with our fellow creatures and the whole created order,

to worship at his feet.

… 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

God our Father,

by your command the order of time runs its course;

forgive our impatience, perfect our faith,

and, while we wait for the fulfilment of your promises,

grant us to have a good hope because of your word;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

walking through Whitehall to mark the abolition of slavery

and protest current people trafficing