Eucharist for Sunday Services – The Church of the Holy Ghost Genoa, Italy

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Church of the Holy Ghost:

Sunday Eucharist 2024

Our usual Sunday service of Eucharist is below.

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

Taking of the Bread and Wine

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!

You may use this QR code to download the service.

Sunday’s Hymns and Readings

Church of the Holy Ghost – 14th Sunday after Trinity, 1 September

The Entrance Hymn

1. May the mind of Christ my Saviour

live in me from day to day,

by his love and pow’r controlling

all I do and say.

2. May the word of God dwell richly

in my heart from hour to hour,

so that I may triumph only

in his saving pow’r.

3. May the peace of God my Father

rule my life in ev’rything,

that I may be calm to comfort

sick and sorrowing.

4. May the love of Jesus fill me,

as the waters fill the sea;

him exalting, self abasing,

this is victory.

5. May I run the race before me,

strong and brave to face the foe,

looking only unto Jesus,

as I onward go.

The Collect

Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence:

give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

All Amen.

New Testament reading (James 1.17-27 )

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

This is the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God

Psalm 45 1-2,6-9

Refrain: Behold our defender, O God, and look upon the face of your anointed.

Behold our defender, O God, and look upon the face of your anointed.

My heart is astir with gracious words; ♦ as I make my song for the king, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

You are the fairest of men; ♦ full of grace are your lips, for God has blest you for ever.

[R] Behold our defender, O God, and look upon the face of your anointed.

Your throne is God’s throne, for ever; ♦ the sceptre of your kingdom is the sceptre of righteousness.

You love righteousness and hate iniquity; ♦ therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.

All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia; ♦ from ivory palaces the music of strings makes you glad.

Kings’ daughters are among your honourable women; ♦ at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

[R] Behold our defender, O God, and look upon the face of your anointed.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Gospel Reading (Mark 7.1-8,14,15,21-23 )

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.” You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’ Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand:

there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, O Christ.

The Offertory Hymn

1. Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

forgive our foolish ways!

Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,

in purer lives thy service find,

in deeper rev’rence praise,

in deeper rev’rence praise.

2. In simple trust like theirs who heard,

beside the Syrian sea,

the gracious calling of the Lord,

let us, like them, without a word,

rise up and follow thee,

rise up and follow thee.

3. O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

where Jesus knelt to share with thee

the silence of eternity,

interpreted by love!

Interpreted by love!

4. Drop thy still dews of quietness,

till all our strivings cease;

take from our souls the strain and stress,

and let our ordered lives confess

the beauty of thy peace,

the beauty of thy peace.

5. Breathe through the heats of our desire

thy coolness and thy balm;

let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,

O still small voice of calm!

Post Communion Prayer

Lord God, the source of truth and love, keep us faithful to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, united in prayer and the breaking of bread, and one in joy and simplicity of heart, in Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen.

The Sending Hymn

You shall go out with joy

and be led forth with peace,

and the mountains and the hills

shall break forth before you.

There’ll be shouts of joy

and the trees of the field shall clap,

shall clap their hands.

And the trees of the field

shall clap their hands,

and the trees of the field

shall clap their hands,

and the trees of the field

shall clap their hands,

and you’ll go out with joy.

Repeat

Notices:

We thank Rev.d Ed Hanson for returning to us as locum chaplain for the month of September.
Midweek Eucharist – Wednesday at 12:30pm
Our food and clothing banks are open before and after the Sunday and Wednesday services.
Saturday 14 September: Tea and Book Sale – 3-6pm
Sunday 22 September: Concert by soprao Kat Alston – 5:30pm

It is possible to give to the church online, either direct or via the diocesan “JustGiving” page. Use the QR code below to discover how, or this link: http://anglicanchurchgenoa.org/information-links/ . If you use “JustGiving”, please add a note saying that your gift is for Holy Ghost Genoa.