All Saints Service

We welcome you as you join us for the All Saints service. In church today we will worship with a traditional Choral Evensong. For your home worship we offer prayers, readings and music.

Introit

“My eyes for beauty pine” ( H.Howells )
My eyes for beauty pine, My soul for Goddes grace
No other care nor hope is mine, to heaven I turn my face.
One splendour thence is shed from all the stars above,
‘t is named when God’s name is said, ‘t is love íts heavenly Love
And every gentle heart that burns with true desire,
is lit from eyes that mirror part of that celestial fire.

 

Opening Hymn

Hymn 477: Ye that know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVbS3COG1YE

 

Readings

1st Reading: Revelation 7: 9-17

2nd Reading: Matthew 5: 1-2 

 

The collect for All Saints’ Day

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body
of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord: grant us grace so to follow your
blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living,
that we may come to those inexpressible joys that you have prepared
for those who truly love you; 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

The Anthem: “There is a land of pure delight” (Grayston Ives)

There is a land of pure delight where saints immortal reign;
infinite day excludes the night and pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting spring abides and never with’ring flowers;
Death like a narrow sea divides that heav’nly land from ours.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood stand dressed in living green;
so to the Jews old Canaan stood while Jordan rolled between.
But tim’rous mortals start and shrink to cross the narrow sea,
and linger shiv’ring on the brink, and fear to launch away.
O could we make our doubts remove, those gloomy doubts that rise,
and see the Canaan that we love with unbeclouded eyes.
Could we but climb where Moses stood and view the landscape o’er;
not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood should fright us
from the shore, should fright us from the shore.

Intercessions

Heavenly Father, You know our innermost thoughts and longings before we even think or speak; we pray You to guide those thoughts and hear our prayers through the merits of Your dear Son.

At this time, we particularly remember and give thanks for All Saints, all who have lived and given their lives as a witness to You and in service to their fellows;

We give thanks too that today we could once again sing Your praises and worship You in this service of Choral Evensong.
But we do so in a world of increasing chaos and fear, wrapped up in power struggles, searching vainly for some solution to global warming and the dramatic effects thereof, confused by the mixing of social and cultural traditions, at a loss to know what to do with the persistent Covid virus. And in all these troubles it turns not to You.

And we pray for ourselves that, in these times of increasing automation and apparent easy solutions, we choose for those things that are true, honest, just and pure.

Heavenly Father, we shudder at the rough waters around us, but as the Saints in all generations trusted in You, help us too so to focus on You that we may face all challenges and uncertainties with a peaceful mind waiting for Your Son’s return in power.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all ministers in Your Church, guide and strengthen them by Your Holy Spirit, to face the daunting challenges with which they are confronted with courage and trust, in sure faith guiding the flocks in their care.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray too for all the world’s leaders, all in a position of authority and power, that they may realise that all authority is given them for the benefit of those under their care, and for which power and gifts we must all account hereafter.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for all in need or suffering in body, mind or spirit,
all for whom we personally wish to pray,
Comfort, O God, all in distress, relieve them from their suffering if it be Your will,
and lift them up in your everlasting arms;
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Looking ahead to All Souls Day on Tuesday, we remember before You all our loved one who have gone before us in your faith,
……………………………………
keep them in Your rest and peace until the day of the resurrection.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen

 

Closing Hymn

Hymn: 197 “For all the saints”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvXDY4HHC1o 

The Blessing

May God,
who kindled the fire of his love in the hearts of the saints,
pour upon you the riches of his grace.
Amen.

May he give you joy in their fellowship
and a share in their praises.
Amen.

May he strengthen you to follow them in the way of holiness
and to come to the full radiance of glory.
Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.