100th
Anniversary Celebration
Liturgy for the Anniversary of a Church
Please note that the major sources of the service are from the Book of Alternative Services others are unknow but likely have been found somewhere on the internet. Where possible people have been credited for their work. The congregation of St. Paul had the option to gather today for an out door service, however for those not quite ready to gather here is the printed version of today's worship for you to follow at home.
In the beginning all was empty and void;
God’s spirit moved above the waters.
Out of darkness came a word that brought new life:
“This is so good, let there be light.”
Then in the stillness of the night your word,
lept into our city of turmoil;
a man was born,
a man of peace and not of war,
revealing hopes yet unfulfilled.
In the beginning all was empty and void;
God’s spirit moved above the waters.
Out of darkness came a word that brought new life:
“This is so good, let there be light.”
Jesus his name,
and what a gift he was,
inspired to know Creator’s vision.
And he so loved us,
more than his own life.
What greater gift could he have shared.
In the beginning all was empty and void;
God’s spirit moved above the waters.
Out of darkness came a word that brought new life:
“This is so good, let there be light.”
Gathering the Community
Leader: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
This is the name by which our God reveals Himself.
All: This is the name He has given us in baptism.
Leader: In this name we have gathered these 100 years.
All: In this name we gather today to celebrate his gracious acts.
Anniversary Canticle
Leader: Church anniversaries ought to include not only a look back with thanksgiving, but a look forward with commitment. Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord!
All: Praise the Lord! Give thanks to him!
Leader: God has blessed us and brought us to this time.
All: God has blessed us and brought us to this place.
Leader: God has caused his name to dwell in our midst.
All: God has stirred our hearts and made us glad.
Leader: God has shown us his glory in his mighty word.
All: God has shown us the way of truth and life.
Leader: Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord!
All: Praise the Lord! Give thanks to him!
Leader: For 100 years, God has nurtured and fed us.
All: For 100 years, God has shown us his grace.
Leader: For 100 years, God has given himself in Word and Sacrament.
All: For 100 years, God has empowered us with his Holy Spirit.
Leader: For 100 years, God has made us his witnesses in the world.
All: For 100 years, God has placed us in loving fellowship with one another.
Leader: Praise the Lord for 100 years!
All : Praise the Lord for evermore! Oh, praise the name of the Lord!
Collect of the Day
O God our defender, storms rage about us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us all from unbelief; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
Reading of Scripture Matthew 10:24-39
Homily
The Prayers of the People
Leader: The Lord God is his goodness has blessed us with 100 years of mission and ministry as St. Paul’s Church. We are a remembering people, and it is good that we remember that God has chosen us,
baptized us, and brought us together as the Church of Christ in this place. As remembering people, we look back at all the saving acts of God: the Creation, the Flood, the Covenant, the Exodus, the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the Church.
We are a remembering people, but we are also a people of this day, brought together by God to be a holy fellowship of believers: the Body of Christ, sharing, caring, working in the world, and living in the hope of the world to come.
Our eyes look back with thanksgiving. Our eyes look forward in hope. Therefore, with thanksgiving for the past and hope for the future, let us dedicate ourselves and our lives to the mission which God gives us as the Church of Jesus Christ in this place.
All: Almighty God, we give you thanks for the work you have done in this place. We give you thanks for your love and faithfulness. When we called on your name, you made your presence known to us. When we prayed, you heard us. When we preached your Word and administered your Sacraments, you were in our midst. You have accepted our humble sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. You have listened to our confessions and forgiven our sins. And you have sent your Holy Spirit to heal and comfort our hurts, our sorrows, our infirmities, and our losses.
Leader: Continue to empower us with your Spirit, O Lord, that we might proclaim your Gospel to all people.
All: We dedicate our lives to your service.
Leader: Help us to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in all that we do and say
All: We dedicate our lives to your service.
Leader: Show us how we might give care and support to the needy, love and mercy to the broken and forlorn.
All: We dedicate our lives to your service.
Leader: Show us new ways of loving one another and those around us.
All: We dedicate our lives to your service.
Leader: Break down those prejudices and barriers which divide us, and make us all one in your Son, Jesus Christ.
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Leader: Renew us by the Spirit, given at our baptisms, so that we might be challenged to move beyond our ruts, our apathy, and our anxieties of inadequacy.
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Leader: Grant that we may continually grow in the Spirit and in the ministry that you give us as members of your royal priesthood, the priesthood of all believers, so that we may carry out our mission of service and love.
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Leader: Continue to comfort, heal, and lift up the broken and afflicted among us. By the promise of your presence, bring us your healing love.
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Leader: Bring us at last to the joy of your eternal kingdom, where, with the faithful of this church who have gone before us and with all your saints, we may evermore praise your name.
All: Hear our prayer, O Lord.
Leader: Blessed Lord, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills and make us wholly yours. Use us as you will, to the glory of your holy name and the welfare of your people; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Confession and Absolution
Leader: God's people Israel were not perfect; they grumbled and complained. But they asked God's forgiveness, and in grace, God gave it. We here at St. Paul’s Church are likewise imperfect people, and each week we have honestly acknowledged our sinfulness, for we know that in Christ, we have forgiveness so that we turn from our sin and seek to serve God.
All Gracious God, we know that we are in bondage to sin. We complain in spite of Your gracious provision, we grumble in spite of Your gracious provision, we grumble in spite of Your love, we rebel against Your will. Forgive us, we pray, our sinful acts and thoughts, for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ. Grant us Your Spirit that He may renew our hearts and inspire us to service.
(A time of silence)
Leader: God has forgiven your sin, as God did for Israel of old. And He does so not because we merit it. God does so because of the saving grace of Jesus, who died for us that we may live. So now, as has been done from this church numerous times, receive the grace of God, you are forgiven all your sins in the name of the Creator and of the Redeemer and of the Sustainer. Amen
Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And also with you.
Offering Hymn Comfort My People – Steve Bell With permission, Signpost Music
Listen Here
Prayer over the Gifts
Eternal God, you have made our Saviour Jesus Christ the head of all creation. Receive all we offer you this day and renew us in his risen life, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer #3
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; heaven itself cannot contain you and your glory fills all the world. You accept our setting apart of places for your worship and in them pour out your gifts of grace upon your faithful people. This table is a sign to us of the heavenly altar, where your saints and angels praise you. Here we have recalled the sacrifice of your Son; here we have been fed with the body and blood of your Son; here our sins have been forgiven; here we have tasted the joys of your eternal kingdom. Grant that in these mysteries we may be united with one another and strengthened for service in your world. Therefore, with angels and archangels and those who worship you in every age, we raise our voices in joyful praise to proclaim the glory of your name.
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.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love
you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people;
in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh,
Jesus your Son.
For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil,
and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth,
out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted,
our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
and said, “ Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “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. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
All we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
Do you know
Have you not heard
Has it been told you from the first
Have you not understood
From the forming of the earth
He sits enthroned
Above the world
And sets the heavens like a tent
A place for us to live in
A place for all to live
Chorus Who has measured the waters
In the hollow of His hands
Do you know
Who has marked off the heavens
With the breath of His word
Do you know
Comfort my people (X 3 last time)
Comfort my people
Says the Lord
He brought out
The starry host
One by one He called them by name
Why do you still complain
That He doesn't know your ways
Lift your eyes
And look to see
Who created all of these
And never more complain
That He doesn't know your ways
Chorus
The Celebration of the Eucharist
Prayer over the Gifts
Eternal God, you have made our Saviour Jesus Christ the head of all creation. Receive all we offer you this day and renew us in his risen life, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer #3
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; heaven itself cannot contain you and your glory fills all the world. You accept our setting apart of places for your worship and in them pour out your gifts of grace upon your faithful people. This table is a sign to us of the heavenly altar, where your saints and angels praise you. Here we have recalled the sacrifice of your Son; here we have been fed with the body and blood of your Son; here our sins have been forgiven; here we have tasted the joys of your eternal kingdom. Grant that in these mysteries we may be united with one another and strengthened for service in your world. Therefore, with angels and archangels and those who worship you in every age, we raise our voices in joyful praise to proclaim the glory of your name.
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.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love
you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people;
in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh,
Jesus your Son.
For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil,
and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth,
out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted,
our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
and said, “ Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “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. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
All we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving
to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament
of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant.
Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving
to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament
of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant.
Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
All We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread
The Communion
Prayer after Communion
Almighty God, guide and protect your people who share in this sacred mystery, and keep us always in your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God,
All 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 Until All Are Fed – Brian McFarland One Licence A-605236
The Lord’s Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
All We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread
The Communion
Prayer after Communion
Almighty God, guide and protect your people who share in this sacred mystery, and keep us always in your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God,
All 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 Until All Are Fed – Brian McFarland One Licence A-605236
Listen Here
The Blessing
The Dismissal (written by Rev. Nora Vedress)
Leader: So now we leave this space of worship and while so much of the road ahead is uncertain, the path constantly changing, we know some things that are as solid and sure as the ground beneath our feet, and the sky above our heads.
All: We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.
Leader: We know the Holy Spirit is there, found in the space between all things,
All closer to us than our next breath, binding us to each other, until we meet again,
Leader: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia
How long will be sing? How long will we pray?
How long will we write and send?
How long will we bring? How long will we stay?
How long will we make amends?
Chorus
Until all are fed, we cry out. Until all on earth have the bread.
Like the one who loves us, each and everyone…
We serve until all are fed.
How long will we talk? How long will we prod?
How long must we fret and hoard?
How long will we walk to tear down this façade?
How long? How long, oh lord?
Chorus
How can we standby and failed to be aghast?
How long till we do what’s right?
How could we standby and choose a lesser fast?
How long till we see the light?
Chorus
On the green, green grass they gathered long ago,
To hear what the master said.
What they had they shared - some fishes and some loaves.
They serve until all were fed.
Chorus
The Blessing
The Dismissal (written by Rev. Nora Vedress)
Leader: So now we leave this space of worship and while so much of the road ahead is uncertain, the path constantly changing, we know some things that are as solid and sure as the ground beneath our feet, and the sky above our heads.
All: We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.
Leader: We know the Holy Spirit is there, found in the space between all things,
All closer to us than our next breath, binding us to each other, until we meet again,
Leader: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia
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