Communion

Saint Edmund, Chingford
All Saints’ Sunday
All Age Communion
Sunday 1 November 2026 10.00

Hymn

Let saints on earth in concert sing
with those whose work is done;
for all the servants of our King
in heaven and earth are one.

One family, we dwell in him,
one church, above, beneath;
though now divided by the stream,
the narrow stream of death.

One army of the living God,
to his command we bow:
part of the host have crossed the flood,
and part are crossing now.

E’en now to their eternal home
there pass some spirits blest;
while others to the margin come,
waiting their call to rest.

Jesu, be thou our constant guide;
then, when the word is given,
bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,
and bring us safe to heaven.

The Beginning

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

We Say Sorry

Father in heaven
we have not loved you
with our whole heart.

We have hurt you and others
with what we have said.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We have hurt you and others
with what we have thought.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

We have hurt you and others
with what we have done.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

May the God of love
bring us back to himself,
forgive us our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

We Sing A Song Of Praise – The Gloria

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest.
To God be glory forever.
To God be glory forever.
Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia, amen.
Alleluia amen,
alleluia amen.

The Prayer For The Week

Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son 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.

First Reading

A reading from the book of Revelation.

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of John.

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Hymn

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come,
who was, and is, and is to come.

Lift up his name with the sound of singing,
lift up his name in all the earth,
lift up your voice and give him glory,
for he is worthy to be praised.

We Hear The Word Of The Lord
(Gospel Reading)

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon – We Talk About What We Have Heard

Caroline Harding

We Declare What We Believe

Let us declare our faith in God.

We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and earth is named.

We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with love.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.

We believe in one God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

We Pray For The Church And For The World

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

And at the end

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

We Share God’s Peace

God has called us to live in peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

We offer each other a sign of peace.

Hymn

Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.

We Offer Our Gifts To God

Bless these gifts for our use,
and us for your service.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.

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.

It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation;
in your love you made us for yourself.
When we turned away, you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.