New Patterns for Worship (paperback) (Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England)

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The forms of intercession in this section may replace the intercessions in the Holy Communion, or be used in the prayer section of A Service of the Word, or after the third collect in Morning or Evening Prayer ( The Book of Common Prayer) or after the Creed in Morning or Evening Prayer on Sundays. They may also be used at eucharistic or non-eucharistic services on weekdays. Responses for prayers of intercession This shows a possible structure for a service in which the ‘talk’ (in whatever form it takes) is divided into three short sections, one in each of the three main sections of the service. Harvest Greeting Responses which are suitable for saying or singing together, rather than in responsive form, are marked with an asterisk*. Is there a balance between word, prayer, praise and action? For instance the Word section may be top heavy with long readings and long introductions, or too many short readings. This may be about the saint concerned or from his own writings but it should not repeat the points made in the introduction. Alternatively, it may be an Old Testament or New Testament reading.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. DO remember what was prayed for last week: should there be thanksgiving for prayer being answered? What other thanksgiving should there be? Again, as Note 15 says, ‘intercession frequently arises out of thanksgiving’. Compare this service with other services in the month. An occasional completely new form of worship may stimulate people to discover new dimensions to their ordinary worship, but a new pattern each week may be confusing and unsettling, particularly to children. If people are familiar with both structure and content of the service, they feel more secure and can take part more easily. For an all-age service, for instance, it may be better to have a standard structure, with ‘windows’ or ‘slots’ which can be changed from week to week. If this prayer is used as a meditation or Holy Week intercession, the silence comes best after the first line in each section, as here; if it is used as a Sunday intercession, it may come better before ‘Lord, hear us’, where particular requests may be inserted. This is an example of a set of intercessions which would be suitable for two people with contrasting voices: one to read the first part of each bidding and the other to lead the part after the silence.It is best not to mix the forms too much, though a set prayer may be a good way to end or sum up one of the other forms. The Lord’s Prayer and a collect should be used at every Sunday service. 5 Praise It can be effective to use a simple sung response during the intercessions. Musicians might be able to set any of the above to music. Examples follow: This public ministry of prayer may be accompanied by laying on of hands, and may also be accompanied by anointing with oil. It may be helpful to make clear in advance the form of ministry that is intended. There are a number of possibilities, such as prayer for individuals who do not explain their particular need; prayer following a brief explanation to those who will pray with them of a person’s need or concern; or prayer following an explanation to the whole congregation of a person’s need or concern. (The Laying on of Hands may be received on behalf of a third person who is not present.)

This service follows the same structure as the Morning Praise sample service, but makes different choices of texts and uses headings of a different style. inviting a grandfather to speak about what it is like to be a grandparent, including any advice he has for new parents, or any things he wishes he had done differently when his children were young. G 35 Christ became obedient unto death … Intercessions The Lord’s Prayer Going out Affirmation of Faith Blessing and Dismissal Both St Ann’s and St Bartholomew’s use the Corporate Renewal of Baptismal Vows ( here), with the interrogative form of the Apostles’ Creed, at Easter and sometimes at New Year. In previous years, the popularity of the corporate renewal of baptismal vows prompted the clergy at St Bartholomew’s to use it at almost every opportunity. This led to some objections that it was becoming meaningless, and the more regular pattern of using it only once or twice a year, with appropriate warning and chance for preparation, has left the congregation feeling much happier and valuing it even more.If a candle is lit at the section headed ‘Proclamation of Hope’, it could be carried at the front of any formal procession at the end of the service.

This form should be used only when there has been due notice and proper preparation. It is recommended that it is used no more than once or twice in any one year. Suitable opportunities include Easter, Pentecost, the Baptism of Christ in Epiphany, and the inauguration of a new ministry.time to share with others something for praise (so you may have something that God has been doing with you during the week that will contribute to the praise of the whole church); Posture needs to be thought through beforehand. If the response at the beginning of the section is led by children it would be easier to see them if everyone sits. It is probably better if everyone remains seated for the giving of the flowers or other gifts, and the mothers (or all the women) stand for the Thank you … prayer at the end. Of course local custom and architecture may suggest another arrangement. asking a pregnant woman to talk about the frustration and excitement of waiting for a baby to be born, or a new mother to describe the difference being a mother has made to her life and her faith; If occasion demands, there need only be one reading, except that if the service is Holy Communion, there should be two readings, one of which should be from the Gospels. This may vary from a simple comment by the leader, or some other suitable person, to a dramatic presentation of the saint’s life by a number of people.