The Parish of
St Mary and
St Nicolas Spalding
All Souls Day
A service in Commemoration of the Faithful Departed
Greeting
In the name or Christ, who died and was raised by the glory of the Father, we welcome you: grace, mercy and peace be with you all.
All And also with you.
The priest welcomes people to the service and says the following sentence from Scripture
After he had risen from the dead, Jesus met with his friends and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Hymn
During the hymn the choir and clergy process to their places. The choir then sings a short piece of music, during which the Easter Candle is lit.
Introduction
We meet this evening to remember those who are separated from us by death, those we love but see no longer; to ask God to deepen our faith and hope that death is not the end, but rather a gateway to more life.
In remembering painful things, we weep, we look, and sometimes we see signs of resurrection. Often in the looking into the dark places of our lives we see signs of God's presence with us. So, with confidence we offer to God all that we have been, all that we are, and all that we shall be.
I have set the Lord always before me:
All God is at my right hand, and I shall not fall.
Show us your mercy, 0 Lord:
Ail And grant us your salvation.
For with you is the well of life:
All And in your light shall we see light.
Hymn
The Acclamation
Blessed are you, Lord our God, lover of souls; you uphold us in life and sustain us in death: to you be glory and praise for ever!
For the darkness of this age is passing away as Christ the bright morning star brings to his saints the light of life.
As you give light to those in darkness who walk in the shadow of death, so remember in your kingdom your faithful servants, that death may be for them the gate to life and unending fellowship with you; where, with your saints, you live and reign, one in the perfect union of love, now and for ever.
All Amen.
The Word of God
All sit for the reading from the Old Testament
During the singing of a hymn or psalm, the Gospel procession moves into the main part of the church
All turn in their places to face the Gospel book for the Gospel reading
Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the resurrection and the life.
Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, says the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
All Alleluia, alleluia!
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All Glory to you, 0 Lord.
At the end of the Gospel
This is the gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, 0 Christ.
The Sermon
Hymn
The Prayers
We sit or kneel for our prayers
Our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life. We are confident that all who believe in Christ will do the same. Death has no more power over us. In this hope, we make our needs known to God, our Father, who loves us and hears us when we pray.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
As we seek after you, Lord, and ask the way, guide us into your truth and light.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
0 Lord, we pray for young people in the bloom of their lives, and for the elderly, who are maturing towards you. We pray for all the days of our lives, which are a gift of your hand, that they may be holy to you.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
0 Lord, we pray for those who are tired, whose lives feel as if they are a burden to them, whose longings are not fulfilled; we pray for those whose hopes have withered, that they might not become hard and bitter.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
Lord, give to those who mourn, hope and faith to trust in your loving care. May they know the comfort of your love.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
Help us, loving God, when we find it hard to understand, hard to believe in life beyond death. Grant us the faith to trust in your promise of eternal life to those who believe.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
Help us to leave in your care those whom we remember today. May you continue to surround them and us with your love. Enfold us in your arms of mercy, and help us to use aright the time that is left to us on earth. Strengthen us to follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus in the way that leads to eternal life.
Short silence
Hear us, risen Lord,
All Our resurrection and our life.
We ask these and all our prayers in the name of Jesus, the Lord, who will bring us ail, at the last, to joyful union with all whom we love.
All Amen.
Lord Jesus, dying you destroyed our death, and by rising again, you restored our life. Therefore we are confident to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Please sit; the choir sings the anthem
The Commemoration
Blessed be our God for ever more, now and always, from everlasting to everlasting.
All Amen.
O Lord, may the souls of those who have fallen asleep in Christ, rest in peace:
All And rise in glory.
Hear us, O loving Father, as we remember in love all those we have placed in your hands...
As music plays, the lights are dimmed and you are invited to light a candle for a loved one, and place it near the Easter Candle. If you prefer not to do this, you may take your candle home with you.
After this, names of the departed are read aloud. As the candles burn, silence will be kept to remember those who have not been named aloud. Then a minister prays
Give rest, dear Lord, to those we love, but see no longer. Give them rest with all your saints in heaven, where sorrow and pain are no more, only life everlasting.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Neither death nor life can separate us from God's love
All Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Hymn during which a collection will be taken
Blessing
Please remain standing; the priest says the blessing, and all respond
Amen.
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Some prayers you may wish to use at home
When the burden of grief feels too great to bear, even now, perhaps many years on; when the loneliness feels too painful to live with; when the hurt wells up unexpectedly from within; when we feel unloved and uncared for; when memories bring only tears; when anger and guilt rage inside us; when these things happen, Lord, be our Rock, our Refuge, our Comforter. Amen.
Eternal God, whose love is stronger than death, we rejoice that the dead as well as the living are held in your love and care. As we remember with thanksgiving those we have loved who have gone before us, we pray that we may look forward with confidence to the day when we shall be reunited with them in the joy and peace of your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
Please feel free to take this service sheet home with you
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If you feel you would like to talk to one of the clergy, you can contact them through the Parish Office (01775 722772)
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.