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Church of the Holy Ghost:
Sunday Eucharist 2025
The words of our usual Sunday service of Eucharist are below.
Click here to follow today’s readings and hymns
The Liturgy of the Word
The opening hymn is sung as the ministers enter. The people stand.
The Priest says:
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People and also with you.
The Priest says:
Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
The Priest introduces the confession.
All say: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name.
Amen
The Priest says
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
All stand and sing:one of the following versions of Gloria in excelsis Deo (not during Advent or Lent)
Said
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Or sung
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo! (Sung twice)
Lord God, heavenly King, peace you bring to us,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we sing our song of praise. (Refrain)
Jesus Saviour of all, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away our sin, O Lord: have mercy on us all. (Refrain)
At the Father’s right hand, Lord, receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One and you alone are Lord. (Refrain).
Glory, Father and Son, glory, Holy Spirit.
To you we lift our hands up high; we glorify your name. (Refrain).
In Advent and Lent instead of the Gloria, we say or sing:
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Collect
The Priest says to the people
Let us pray
The Priest says the Collect. At the end all say: Amen.
The Readings
The people sit.
The reader announces: A reading from the book of …
After the reading the reader says: This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
There may be a time of silence after the reading.
All stand to sing: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
A minister reads the Gospel beginning with these words:
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to …
All Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end of the reading the minister says: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon
After this all stand and say The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
The prayers usually include these concerns and may follow this sequence:
¶ The Church of Christ
¶ Creation, human society, those in authority
¶ The local community
¶ Those who suffer
¶ The communion of saints
These responses may be used
Lord, in your mercy
All : hear our prayer.
And at the end
Merciful Father,
All accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Peace
All stand: The Priest introduces the Peace and says
The peace of the Lord be always with you
People and also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
All may exchange a sign of peace.
Preparation of the Table
A hymn is sung.
The gifts of the people are gathered and presented.
The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it. A prayer may be said.
The Priest takes the bread and wine, saying these words.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
All Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
All Blessed be God for ever.
The Prayer of Thanksgiving
(If a long Preface is used, it replaces all words between the opening dialogue and the Sanctus.)
Priest: The Lord is here.
All: His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Father, we give you thanks and praise through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent by you in your great goodness to be our Saviour. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put an end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people.
(A short Preface may be inserted here)
Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:
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.
Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks; he broke 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. In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: 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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Great is the mystery of faith:
All Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption. As we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, we bring before you this bread and this cup and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of (St N. and) all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All Amen.
Breaking bread and sharing in Communion
The Priest says
Let us pray as our Saviour has taught us.
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.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
The Priest breaks the consecrated bread, saying:
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.
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, mercy on us. (said twice)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.
Priest: Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.
All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.
Or from Easter to Pentecost
Alleluia! Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us,
All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Or during Christmastide and on other special occasions
God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people.
All Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, then distribute it to the people.
All who have been confirmed in the Church of England, or who belong to other Christian traditions and are used to receiving communion in their own church, are welcome to share in the bread and wine. Those who wish to receive a blessing are asked to come forward carrying their order of service, so that the ministers can recognise them.
The bread and cup are offered to the communicants with these words:
The Body (Blood) of Christ. [Amen.]
During the distribution of Communion hymns and Psalms may be sung.
After the Communion the Priest says: Let us pray and may say a prayer.
All may say:
Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory. Amen.
A hymn is sung.
The Priest blesses the people in these or other suitable words,
The peace of God, which passes 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 Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
A minister says
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All In the name of Christ. Amen.
Or in Eastertide
Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
Common Worship, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006.
You may use this QR code to download the service.
Common Worship, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000-2006.
Sunday’s Hymns and Readings
Church of the Holy Ghost – 2nd Sunday in Easter 27th April
The Entrance Hymn
1. Christ the Lord is risen again,
Christ hath broken every chain.
Hark, angelic voices cry,
singing evermore on high,
Alleluia.
2. He who gave for us his life,
who for us endured the strife,
is our paschal Lamb today;
we too sing for joy, and say:
Alleluia.
3. He who bore all pain and loss
comfortless upon the cross,
lives in glory now on high,
pleads for us, and hears our cry:
Alleluia.
4. He who slumbered in the grave
is exalted now to save;
now through Christendom it rings
that the Lamb is King of kings.
Alleluia.
5. Now he bids us tell abroad
how the lost may be restored,
how the penitent forgiven,
how we too may enter heaven.
Alleluia.
The Collect Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification:
grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.
New Testament reading (Acts 5.27-32)
When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God
Responsorial Psalm: 118.14-29
Refrain: I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
The Lord is my strength and my song, ♦ and he has become my salvation. Joyful shouts of salvation ♦
sound from the tents of the righteous: The right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds; the right hand of the Lord raises up; ♦ the right hand of the Lord does mighty deeds.’ I shall not die, but live ♦ and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has punished me sorely, ♦ but he has not given me over to death.
[R] I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, ♦ that I may enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; ♦ the righteous shall enter through it. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me ♦
and have become my salvation. The stone which the builders rejected ♦has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, ♦ and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; ♦ we will rejoice and be glad in it. Come, O Lord, and save us we pray. ♦ Come, Lord, send us now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; ♦ we bless you from the house of the Lord. The Lord is God; he has given us light; ♦ link the pilgrims with cords right to the horns of the altar.
[R] I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
You are my God and I will thank you; ♦ you are my God and I will exalt you. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; ♦ his mercy endures for ever.
[R] I will give thanks to you, for you have become my salvation.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. All: Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel Reading (John 20.19-31)
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah,the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
This is the Gospel of the Lord All: Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon
The Offertory Hymn
1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
he is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
2. In Christ alone! who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save:
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied –
for every sin on him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.
3. There in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain:
then bursting forth in glorious day
up from the grave he rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am his and he is mine –
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from his hand;
till he returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!
The Communion
Post Communion Prayer
Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ you have assured your children of eternal life and in baptism have made us one with him: deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in your love, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All Amen
The Sending Hymn
1. To God be the glory!
great things he hath done;
so loved he the world that he gave us his Son;
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
let the earth hear his voice;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
let the people rejoice:
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory; great things he hath done.
2. O perfect redemption,
the purchase of blood!
to every believer the promise of God;
the vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3. Great things he hath taught us,
great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.
Notices:
Our thanks to Fr Michael Bullock for being with us again over the past three Sundays. We wish him a safe return to the UK.
- Midweek Prayers 12:30pm on Wednesday.
- Our food and clothing banks are open before and after Sunday and Wednesday services.
- Please stay for refreshments after the service today.
- Find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnglicanChurchoftheHolyGhostinGenoa
This service includes material from Common Worship: Services and Prayers and from Common Worship: Times and Seasons, which are copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000, 2006.
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