9.00 am Holy Communion (said)

10.00 am Holy Communion (sung)

The Parish Safeguarding Policy can be found here:

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/15869/page/47923/view/ 

Image: Conversion of St Paul. Sculpture by Bruce Denny, St Paul’s Covent Garden.

Private and public

The Holy Spirit moves in mysterious ways, as one of the Persons of the Godhead.

Contrast the public and violent way it works on Saul (Paul) in today’s reading from Acts, and the enclosed yet dramatic action of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. There were obviously people around when Saul had his episode: “he saw no man; but they led him by the hand”.

You’ve heard it before from me, and you’ll hear it again that modern psychiatry suggests Saul may have suffered a temporal lobe epileptic fit. The Holy Spirit works with and through ‘disordered’ brain chemistry in the ‘ill’ as well as the ‘order’ of the ‘well’. Some of the most profound theological insights have resulted from what, today, we might consider mental illness. When we’re mentally unwell, sometimes we’re less filtered, and stuff just pops out. Sometimes these are called visions. Think of Teresa of Avila or Julian of Norwich, and in more recent times William Blake and Christopher Smart. I commend his poem Rejoice in the Lamb to you.

I pray we all remain well, and that this does not preclude our being witnesses to the Holy Spirit in what we say and do.

Come Holy Ghost,
our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire.

Fr A

Music before the service

Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist BWV 674 J.S. Bach

(O Lord, God Holy Spirit)

Introit hymn

We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a Saviour's name:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.

Tell of his birth at Bethlehem
not in a royal house or hall
but in a stable dark and dim,
the word made flesh, a light for all.

Tell of his death at Calvary,
hated by those he came to save,
in lonely suffering on the cross;
for all he loved his life he gave.
Tell of that glorious Easter morn:
empty the tomb, for he was free.
He broke the power of death and hell
that we might share his victory.

Tell of his reign at God's right hand,
by all creation glorified.
He sends his Spirit on his Church
to live for him, the Lamb who died.

Now we rejoice to name him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.

Edward J Burns (born 1938

Collect

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts 9.1-22

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and, putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest,) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Matthew 19.27-end

Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

Cycle of Prayer

Our bishops: David, Mark and Matthew
The Anglican Communion
Iglesia Anglicana de Chile.
Porvoo Communion
Church of England: Diocese of Birmingham
Church of Ireland: Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark: Diocese of Elsinore.
Schools and Colleges
All Saints; St Wilfrid’s; Briscoe Lane Academy;
Christ the King; Co-op Academy Broadhurst;
Oldham Blue Coat; Trinity High School;
Bowdoin College, Maine; Churchill College, Cambridge; University of Coventry; Edge Hill University; University of Leeds; Oldham Sixth Form College.
Parish
Carnwood Close, Ceylon Street, Chapter Street, Cheetham Street, Cheldon Walk, Chelmsford Avenue.
Book of Remembrance
Marie Atkinson’; Mary Dunn; Daphne Wickens; Arnold Knowles; Clifford Sanders; Thomas Day; Alice Corbett.

Hymn

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks; and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your Saviour come;
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim
and spread through all the earth abroad
the honours of thy name.

Words: Charles Wesley
Tune: Richmond

Voluntary

Processional William Mathias

Authorised Version of the Bible and Collects
(Book of Common Prayer, 1662)
© Crown and Cambridge University Press

Rectory/office0161 219 1807
Mobile 07596 514 541
[email protected]