An Ordo for the Feast of the Presentation

presentation of Jesus in the Temple

5 february 2012

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘Joy to the World’  Common Praise #154

Introductory Responses

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.

May all the earth be filled with the glory of God.

Light has sprung up for the righteous,

and joyful gladness for those who are true-hearted.

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to God’s people on earth.

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in excelsis by Rupert Laing

Collect

Let us pray.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God,

for you have sent us your salvation.

Inspire us by your Holy Spirit

to recognize him who is the glory of Israel

and the light for all nations,

your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

Malachi 3.1-4

The Psalm

‘Holy Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place’  Common Praise 3498

Second Reading

Hebrews 2.14-18

The Gradual Hymn

‘Lord, Let Your Servant Go in Peace’  Common Praise #266

The Gospel

Luke 2.22-40

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Do you believe and trust in God, the Holy One of Israel,

source of all being and life,

the one for whom and in whom we exist?

We believe and trust in the Holy One.

Do you believe and trust in God, the Word incarnate,

who took our human nature,

died for us and rose again?

We believe and trust in the Word.

Do you believe and trust in God, the Power of the Most High,

who gives life to the people of God

and makes Christ known in the world?

We believe and trust in the Power of the Most High.

This is the faith of the church.

This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

Confession and Absolution

Let us remember before God our selfish ways,

the things we have done wrong,

the sorrows we have caused,

the love we have not shown.

Silence for reflection is kept.

Most merciful God,

forgive us our sins against you

and against each other.

Strengthen us to overcome our weaknesses,

that we may live in love

as you would have us live,

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour

and in the bonds of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by the Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’  Common Praise #384 vv. 1-3, 6

Prayer over the Gifts

Creator of light,

accept the joyful offering of your Church,

and grant that your Word may shine in us

as the light that lightens every nation.

We ask this in the name of the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Thanksgiving at the Table

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 our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth,

because in the mystery of the Word made flesh

you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts,

to give knowledge of salvation

in the face of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now with angels and archangels

and the whole company of heaven,

we lift our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name.

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.

Holy One, the beginning and the end, the giver of life:

Blessed are you for the birth of creation.

Blessed are you in the darkness and in the light.

Blessed are you for your promise to your people.

Blessed are you for the prophets’ hopes and dreams.

Blessed are you for Mary’s openness to your will.

Blessed are you for your Son, Jesus, the Word made flesh.

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

[Therefore let] us proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

With this bread and cup we remember

your Word dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth in his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Holy God, we long for your Spirit.

Come among us.  Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.  Fill us with your light.

Bring the gift of peace on earth.

Come, Holy Spirit.

All praise and glory are yours, Holy One of Israel,

Word of God incarnate, Power of the Most High,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (sung to BAS 918)

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,

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.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘God of All Being, Throned Afar’  Common Praise #490 (sung to #96)

The Sending Forth of the Community

Blessing of the Candles

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, God of steadfast love,

You sent your Word to be the dawn of redemption and

to scatter the darkness of sin and despair from our path.

We join your servants Anna and Simeon

in giving thanks for the freedom Christ brings.

May we who offer these candles

become vessels of his light

so that all the world may glory in the splendour of your peace.

Blessed are you, O God,

who gives us light in our darkness.  Amen.

The candles are distributed to the members of the congregation.  These candles may be taken home and lit during the evening meal.

Prayer after Communion

God for whom we wait,

you fulfilled the hope of Simeon

and gladdened the heart of Anna,

who together welcomed the Messiah.

Complete in us your perfect will,

that we in Christ may share in your reign of peace and justice;

for he is Lord for ever and ever.  Amen.

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘O Worship the King’  Common Praise #380 vv. 1-2, 5-6

Dismissal

Go forth to reveal Christ in the world.

Thanks be to God.

Notes

The Introductory Responses are adapted from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 96.

 ‘An Affirmation of Faith’ has been adapted from ‘Authorized Affirmations of Faith 1’ in Common Worship (2000), p. 144.

The Confession is adapted from ‘Home Prayers’ in The Book of Alternative Services (1985), pp. 691-692, and the Absolution from Common Worship (2000), p. 135.

The Prayer over the Gifts and the Prayer after Communion are adapted from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), pp. 401, 402.

The Thanksgiving at the Table is taken from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), p. 110 with the Preface of the Incarnation from The Book of Alternative Services (1985), p. 220.

The Blessing of the Candles is adapted from the Thematic Prayer for the Presentation of the Lord in Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), p. 222.

Any liturgical elements not noted here are taken from ‘The Holy Eucharist’ in The Book of Alternative Services, p. 185 ff.