Communion

Saint Edmund, Chingford
Communion: Third Sunday in Creationtide
Sunday 20 September 2026 10.00

Hymn

Here in this place, new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away.
See, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in – the lost and forsaken,
gather us in – the blind and the lame.
Call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

We are the young – our lives are a mystery,
we are the old – who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in – the rich and the haughty,
gather us in – the proud and the strong.
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.

Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat the bread that is you.
Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven, light years away,
but here in this place, the new light is shining;
now is the Kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in – and hold us forever,
gather us in – and make us your own.
Gather us in – all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Greeting

We gather in praise of the God
who is Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.
Amen.

Sit

Introduction and Welcome

This may include an Act of Commitment for Creationtide.

Prayer of Preparation

The Spirit of God hovered over the water
and brought life to all creation.
Come, Holy Spirit
and renew the face of the earth.

Triune Lord,
wondrous community of infinite love,
teach us to contemplate you
in the beauty of the universe,
for all things speak of you.
Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined
to everything that is.
Seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty.
Amen.

Sit or kneel

Prayers of Penitence

The priest invites us to reflect and confess our sins using these or other suitable words

Let us confess our greed
and repent of the ways in which we have damaged God’s good creation:

We confess to you
our lack of care for the world you have given us.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

We confess to you
our selfishness in not sharing the earth’s bounty fairly.
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

We confess to you
our failure to protect the environment.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

May the Father of all mercies
cleanse you from your sins,
and restore you in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Stand

Song of Praise

The Gloria in excelsis (as follows) is sung, or another song of praise may be used.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.

Lord God, heavenly King,
peace you bring to us;
we worship you,
we give you thanks,
we sing our song of praise.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.

Jesus, Saviour of all,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away our sins, O Lord,
have mercy on us all.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.

At the Father’s right hand,
Lord, receive our prayer,
for you alone are the Holy One,
and you alone are God.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.

Glory, Father and Son,
Glory, Holy Spirit,
to you we raise our hands up high,
we glorify your name.

Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo.
Gloria, gloria in excelsis deo,
in excelsis deo, in excelsis deo.

The Collect

Almighty God,
whose will it is that the earth and the sea
should bear their fruit in due season:
bless the labours of those who work on land and sea,
grant us a good harvest
and the grace always to rejoice in your fatherly care;
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.

Sit

Old Testament Reading

A reading from the book of Deuteronomy.

Moses said to all Israel: When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, you shall make this response before the LORD your God: ‘A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.

The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.

Psalm

A reading from the book of Psalms

Bless the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great.
All your creatures look to you
to give them their food in due season.
When you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with
good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath, they die
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are
created;
and you renew the face of the ground.

Gradual Hymn

Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here;
come, bow before him now,
with reverence and fear:
in him no sin is found
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
how awesome is the sight –
our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
he comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him,
in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.

Gospel Reading

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

Jesus said to those who were around him along with the twelve, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

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

Sermon

Hilda Gilbert

The Creed

We say together in faith
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.

We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
for by his will they were created
and have their being.

We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
for with his blood,
he purchased us for God,
from every tribe and language,
from every people and nation.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
the Spirit and the Bride say,‘Come!’
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen.

Kneel or sit

Prayers of Intercession

These responses may be used

God of life:
hear our prayer.

And at the end

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

Stand

The Peace

You shall go out in joy and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

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

Offertory Hymn

Colours of day dawn into the mind,
the sun has come up, the night is behind.
Go down in the city, into the street,
and let’s give the message to the people we meet.

Go through the park, on into the town;
the sun still shines on, it never goes down.
The light of the world is risen again;
the people of darkness are needing a friend.

Open your eyes, look into the sky,
the darkness has come, the sun came to die.
The evening draws on, the sun disappears,
but Jesus is living, his Spirit is near.

Remain standing

The Preparation of the Table

The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed be God,
by whose grace creation is renewed,
by whose love heaven is opened,
by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.
Blessed be God for ever.

The Eucharistic Prayer

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.

Father, we give you thanks and praise
for your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is the image of the unseen God,
the firstborn of all creation.
He created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
thrones, dominions, sovereignties, powers,
all things were created through him and for him.

Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is the radiant light of your glory:
he holds all creation together by his word of power.

Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

He is first to be born from the dead.
All perfection is found in him,
and all things were reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross.

Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.

The Church is his body,
he is its head.
He takes his place in heaven
at your right hand,
where we worship you with all of your creation, singing:

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 praise and bless you, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord;
and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit,
that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you.
He broke the bread, gave it to them and said:
Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;
do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine.
Again he praised you, 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.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did,
in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice
made once for all upon the cross.

Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation,
we proclaim his death and resurrection
until he comes in glory.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.

Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with Edmund and all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Please feel free to say the Lord’s Prayer in your own language.

Rejoicing in God’s new creation
we 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.

The Breaking of 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.

We sing

Jesus, Lamb of God:
have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins:
have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world:
give us your peace.

Giving of Communion

The president says the invitation to communion.

Draw near with faith.
Jesus Christ is holy,
Jesus Christ is Lord.
Glory to God the Father.

Prayer after Communion

Silence is kept.

The President reads the Post Communion Collect.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
creator of light and giver of life,
to you be glory and praise for ever.
In Jesus your light has shone out;
and you have given your Holy Spirit
as a mighty stream of life-giving water
to refresh and renew the face of the earth.
Let your light shine in us
that we may be beacons of justice
and bearers of hope.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.

Notices are given.

The Blessing

May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the source of all goodness,
pour his blessing upon all things created,
and upon us his children,
that we may use his gifts to his glory
and the welfare of all peoples;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Hymn

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

The Dismissal

A minister says

Tend the earth, care for God’s good creation,
and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

Prayer of Preparation taken from ‘A Christian prayer for union with creation’ published in Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, Laudato Si (2015)

Hymns
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St Edmund, Chingford

A church in E4 at the heart of the community

Communion

Hymn

Greeting

Introduction and Welcome

Prayer of Preparation

Prayers of Penitence

Song of Praise

The Collect

Old Testament Reading

Psalm

Gradual Hymn

Gospel Reading

Sermon

The Creed

Prayers of Intercession

The Peace

Offertory Hymn

The Preparation of the Table

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

The Breaking of Bread

Giving of Communion

Prayer after Communion

The Blessing

Hymn

The Dismissal

Hymn

Greeting

Introduction and Welcome

Prayer of Preparation

Prayers of Penitence

Song of Praise

The Collect

Old Testament Reading

Psalm

Gradual Hymn

Gospel Reading

Sermon

The Creed

Prayers of Intercession

The Peace

Offertory Hymn

The Preparation of the Table

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

The Breaking of Bread

Giving of Communion

Prayer after Communion

The Blessing

Hymn

The Dismissal

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