St Nicholas Patronal Festival Service

Parish Communion and Ceremony of the Boy Bishop

This is the main service of St Nicholas Parish Church, North Walsham's, Patronal Festival

The Gathering

Processional Hymn

Thy hand, O God, has guided thy flock, from age to age

The Greeting

Boy Bishop

I greet you all. Today we give thanks for St Nicholas and rejoice that in Christ's name he spoke out fearlessly against oppression, did many acts of kindness and proclaimed God's justice.

Almighty God,
We await your coming,
We long to meet you,
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Boy Bishop

We light the third candle to remind us of that Jesus came to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace, love and service.

Acolyte lights candle

Boy Bishop

Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.

And also with you.

Invitation to confession

Boy Bishop

The saints were faithful unto death
and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever.
As we celebrate their joy,
let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses,
and ask for his mercy

Lord God,
we have sinned against you;
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us
and restore to us the joy of your salvation,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

President

The almighty and merciful Lord
grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins,
time for amendment of life,
and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Collect Boy Bishop

Almighty Father, lover of souls,
who chose your servant Nicholas
to be a bishop in the Church,
that he might give freely out of the treasures of your grace:
make us mindful of the needs of others
and, as we have received,
so teach us also to give;
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.

The Liturgy of the Word

Readings

The Boy Bishop reads the Epistle

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn

From every land and every age

Gospel Reading

Reader

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

Glory to you, O Lord.

After the reading, the reader says

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

Stand

The Creed

Let us affirm
our common faith in Jesus Christ.

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?

I believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Prayers of Intercession

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

At the end the following response will be said

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Boy Bishop

May the God of peace sanctify us:
may he so strengthen our hearts in holiness
that we may be blameless before him
at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints.
The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

The Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Offertory Hymn

Hills of the North, rejoice

The bread and wine are placed on the holy table.
The offerings of the people may be collected and presented.
These words may be used.

With this bread that we bring
we shall remember Jesus.

With this wine that we bring
we shall remember Jesus.

Bread for his body,
wine for his blood,
gifts from God to his table we bring.
we shall remember Jesus.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

You are worthy of our thanks and praise,
Lord God of truth,
for by the breath of your mouth
you have spoken your word,
and all things have come into being.

You fashioned us in your image
and placed us in the garden of your delight.
Though we chose the path of rebellion
you would not abandon your own.

Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace.
You gave your people the law and taught us by your prophets
to look for your reign of justice, mercy and peace.

As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth,
we echo the song of the angels in heaven,
evermore praising you and saying:

The choir sing the Sanctus and Benedictus

Lord God, you are the most holy one,
enthroned in splendour and light,
yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ
you reveal the power of your love
made perfect in our human weakness.

Amen. Lord, we believe.

Embracing our humanity,
Jesus showed us the way of salvation;
loving us to the end,
he gave himself to death for us;
dying for his own,
he set us free from the bonds of sin,
that we might rise and reign with him in glory.

Amen. Lord, we believe.

On the night he gave up himself for us all
he 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.

Amen. Lord, we believe.

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.

Amen. Lord, we believe.

Therefore we proclaim the death that he suffered on the cross,
we celebrate his resurrection, his bursting from the tomb,
we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high
and we long for his coming in glory.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption,
Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of your creation
be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
form us into the likeness of Christ
and make us a perfect offering in your sight.

Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Look with favour on your people
and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts.
Bless the earth,
heal the sick,
let the oppressed go free
and fill your Church with power from on high.

Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Gather your people from the ends of the earth
to feast with Nicholas and all your saints
at the table in your kingdom,
where the new creation is brought to perfection
in 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.
Amen.

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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.

Breaking of the Bread

The president breaks the consecrated bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

The choir sins the Agnus Dei

Giving of Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

The president and people receive Communion

Communion Hymn

Victim Divine, thy grace we claim

Prayer after Communion

God, shepherd of your people,
whose servant Nicholas revealed the loving service of Christ
in his ministry as a pastor of your people:
by this eucharist in which we share
awaken within us the love of Christ
and keep us faithful to our Christian calling;
through him who laid down his life for us,
but is alive and reigns with you, now and for ever.

We thank you, Lord,
that you have fed us in this sacrament,
united us with Christ,
and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet
prepared for all peoples.
Amen.

Post Communion Hymn

Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning

The Dismissal

God give you grace to follow his saints
in faith and hope and love;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Boy Bishop

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

After the service from his throne the Boy Bishop will dispense "gold coins" to the children of the congregation.

From St Nicholas Parish Church, North Walsham, Norfolk, UK. Used by permission.

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