Service of the Word Sunday 8 September 2024
The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hymn 358 King of glory, King of peace Tune Gwalchmai
The light and peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
God in Christ has revealed his glory.
Come let us worship.
Give him praise, you servants of the Lord.
O praise the name of the Lord.
Introductory prayer
Faithful one, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives for the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Invitation
Jesus said, Before you offer your gift, go and be reconciled. As members of God’s family, we come together to ask our Father for forgiveness.
Confession
God our Father, full of grace and truth, you create us from nothing and give us life. You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism. You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us aside. We confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour. We have wounded your love and marred your image in us. Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to your heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Forgiveness
May God, who loved the world so much, that he sent his Son to be our Saviour, forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect
Almighty God,
who looked upon the lowliness of the blessed Virgin Mary
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son:
Grant that we who are redeemed by his blood
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Proclaiming and Receiving the Word
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
This is the Word of the Lord. Isaiah 61: 10-11
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 45
10 Hear, O daughter; consider and incline your ear; ♦︎
forget your own people and your father’s house.
11 So shall the king have pleasure in your beauty; ♦︎
he is your lord, so do him honour.
12 The people of Tyre shall bring you gifts; ♦︎
the richest of the people shall seek your favour.
13 The king’s daughter is all glorious within; ♦︎
her clothing is embroidered cloth of gold.
14 She shall be brought to the king in raiment of
needlework; ♦︎
after her the virgins that are her companions.
15 With joy and gladness shall they be brought ♦︎
and enter into the palace of the king.
16 ‘Instead of your fathers you shall have sons, ♦︎
whom you shall make princes over all the land.
17 ‘I will make your name to be remembered through all
generations; ♦︎
therefore shall the peoples praise you for ever and ever.’
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.
A reading from the Epistle of St Paul to the Galatians
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
This is the Word of the Lord. Galatians 4: 4-7
Thanks be to God.
The Gradual Hymn 639 O thou who camest from above Tune Hereford
The Gospel
Hear the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, according to St Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Luke 1: 46-55
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Statement of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received and this we believe. Amen.
Hymn 553 Jesu, lover of my soul Tune Aberystwyth
Prayers of the People
Heavenly Father,
hear the prayer of the Church for its work and worship, as we look for the coming of the Kingdom. Keep all Christian people faithful in prayer, trusting that as we ask so we shall receive.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
We pray that the will of God may be done through all the world, until its people are made one in him. We pray for a new spirit among nations, that disputes shall be ended, differences reconciled and debts forgiven.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Come in blessing to us, to our families, friends and neighbours, and give us what we need day by day. Give grace to all in our community, to share generously the good things we are given with those who have little or nothing.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Bring hope and healing to all people and communities devastated by disease and hunger, violence and strife, or climate change. We pray for the advancement of medical science and the preservation of human life.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Receive in mercy the souls of the departed and forgive the sins of their lives on earth. Grant them peace and joy for ever in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Looking for the coming of the kingdom among us, let us pray in the words that Jesus taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven:
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
A prayer for our Parish
Heavenly Father, may your kingdom be increased by all we do in this our parish. Encourage us to share the good news of your Son with family, friend and stranger. Teach us to live according to your will and send your Holy and life-giving Spirit into our hearts, and the hearts of all people. This we ask through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Acclamation
We go into the world to walk in God’s light,
to rejoice in God’s love and to reflect God’s glory.
Praise to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen.
Hymn 567 Forth, in thy name, O Lord, I go Tune Song 34 (Angel’s Song)
The Parish of Saint Catherine & Saint James with Saint Audoen
Canon Mark Gardner Tel: 01 454 2274 Mobile 087 266 0228
Email: markgardner300@gmail.com
Diocesan Lay Reader: James Kilbey
Parish Reader: Cletus Ogbata
Organist: Olesia Borsuk
Review Distribution: Margery Bell Tel: 01 4542067
Website: stcatherineandstjameswithstaudoen.ie
St Audoen’s Cornmarket, 10.00 Eucharist (every Sunday) with Hymns and Anglican Chant. Organist, Olesia Borsuk. Access on foot through St Audoen’s Park. Cars may be parked between Francis Street and Christ Church. The Church and the OPW Visitor Centre are open every day.
St Catherine & St James, Donore Avenue, 11.30 Service of the Word (Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month). Organist, Olesia Borsuk. Cars may be parked in the Churchyard.
Diary Dates
On Sunday 29 September feast of St Michael and All Angels the Rector will be in residence in St Patrick’s Cathedral. On Sunday 6 October Stuart Nicholson will bring the choristers to sing at St Catherine & St James.
Holy Baptism
At the Church of St Catherine & St James, Anniela, daughter of Jose and Yuleni Barboza, home worker, of Islandbridge (adult) and Sebastian Miguel, son of Miguel Fuenmayor and Anniela Barboza, Godparents Marcus Gaiti and Orlianys Gaiti Villalobos.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice
At the end of June I invited everyone on the parish list to a celebration of my fortieth anniversary of ordination to the Priesthood. There was a great gathering in the Church of St Catherine & St James followed by a reception provided by my friend Noel Clarke of the Bakery on Cabra Road. It was a very enjoyable occasion and it was good to see so many in Church at a time when congregations have fallen low. Some family members and personal friends also attended. Presentations were later made to me by the clergy and people of St Teresa’s Donore Avenue and the Church of South India Holy Trinity congregation which meets in the Church of St Catherine & St James.
and weep with them that weep.
It came as a great shock to learn of the untimely death of John McGuire at a comparatively young age, apparently of a heart attack, after some years of battling cancer. The funeral was brought to the family Church at Enfield followed by interment in the adjoining Churchyard. The following Sunday at St Audoen’s where he was Churchwarden, I said a few words at the beginning of the Eucharist. His partner of 15 years, Darwin, repeated the tribute he had paid to John at Enfield, and Tom Tynan, Churchwarden, read from the devotional writing of John O’Donohue. The staff of the OPW kept the Visitor Centre closed as a mark of respect and attended the service.
Music at St Audoen’s
As part of The Liberties Festival, we are very happy to co-host an evening of music in St. Audoen’s Church on Tuesday 23rd July. These informal performances will run between the hours of 6 and 9:30pm with free entry, so everyone is welcome to drop in at any time and experience the sounds and the surroundings.
Olesia Borsuk, church organist and a student of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, has curated a programme of music to tie into aspects of the very long history of this building. Inside the still-used parish church, three organists will continually play Erik Satie’s ‘Vexations’ – a mesmerizing piece known for its repetitive and contemplative structure. This minimalist composition is roughly contemporary with the construction of the beautiful pipe organ in 1885, on which it will be performed.
Meanwhile, accomplished musicians and singers will perform music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras within the ruins of the Chancel and Portlester Chapel, which date back to the 14th and 15th centuries.
St. Audoen’s is known for its exceptional acoustics, as will be demonstrated by this expert organ recital. This will also be a very rare opportunity to hear music performed in what was once the ‘Choir’ of the medieval church, so don’t miss out! Entry will be through the visitor centre entrance on High Street.
St Catherine and St James with St Audoen Heritage Ireland OPW – Office of Public Works
