Welcome to the parish online Services while we are in Tier 4 · 2021. 1. 21. · welcome sheet to hear the music. 1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; bow down before him,

Services while we are in Tier 4

Safety continues to be our top priority.

Both churches are open each day. We continue to sanitise door handles and other surfaces, and are trusting visitors to touch as few things as possible.

During lockdown there will be no services with a congregation in either church. A pre-recorded 9.30 am Sunday Eucharist from St Paul’s, with welcome sheet

links to online hymns you can sing along to (see below), will be posted on our website and YouTube channel each week. To keep us all as safe as possible, just two people will be present: the priest, and John Schulz making the recording.

A Sunday children’s service continues to be posted on the website each week, thanks to Mary Copping and Olli Wilson-Smith, who does the editing.

At 8.30 am each weekday there is a short Zoom service of Morning Prayer.

Your planning team will do everything they can to get us back to more normal worship in both churches just as soon as it is safe to do so.

Singing hymns with the 9.30 online service To access the hymn tunes on YouTube while pausing the 9.30 service, it is best to open two tabs on your computer or use two devices (computer, tablet, mobile phone). Run the service on one and access the welcome sheet from the other. When you pause the service to sing, click on the first (blue) line of each hymn in the welcome sheet to get the hymn music.

If you come to church for individual private prayer, please remember:

Welcome to the parish online

24 January 2021

The conversion of St Paul

https://stmatthewstpaul.org/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQSDoObROtCJrF0WNnqUpyQ

Prayer

with the Anglican Communion we pray for the Church of Bangladesh; for Archbishop Justin

within our diocese, for Bishops Tim, David and Debbie; Winchester Cathedral, Dean Catherine and the staff and many volunteers, in their calling and vision to renew, inspire and unite, and, when circumstances permit, welcome visitors as pilgrims

give thanks for St Paul and his conversion; pray that we may be courageous to make changes in our lives and be passionate about our faith

our mission giving: £200 for the Olive Branch, a Christian counselling service for people living in Winchester and the surrounding area

the 4.5 million people in Ethiopia’s Tigray region who need emergency food aid, and the humanitarian workers trying to prevent mass starvation

wisdom and energy for the new president of the USA and his staff team; healing of the divisions in America

medical staff, administrators and logistics experts as the Covid-19 vaccine is administered across the UK; those working long hours, and all fearful about vaccination

generosity from richer countries in enabling vaccine rollout in poorer parts of the world

for governments worldwide to find ways to rebuild economies in ways that enable a sustainable future

the Basics Bank, busy providing essential food and clothing for the most vulnerable in Winchester; our commitment to support those in most need with our gifts

the unwell: Emily (age 1), Bob and Elizabeth Harland, Lauren (age 9), Phillippa Lerclercq, Grace McGilveray, Steph, Tom Mounsey, Vittorio (Irene Reggio’s father) and Patricia Watts

the long-term unwell: Caroline Behan, William Buncombe, Vera Edwards, Jean Gardner, Julia Jones, Kate Morgan, Jane Seal, Brett Tribe, Vera Willnecker and David Wilson

those who have died recently, including Elaine Hyde and Phyllis Payne (Richard’s mother); all living with the pain of untimely death; God’s comfort for their families and friends and all who remember loved ones

Please feel free to send prayer requests to [email protected]

‘Virtual’ services for 24 January

9.30 am

The gathering

Opening hymn

The greeting

Parish Eucharist (online, recorded at St Paul’s)

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

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe! From the rising of the sun until its setting your name is proclaimed in all the world.

The Lord of glory be with you. The Lord bless you.

You can pause the service here to sing the hymn. It is best to use two computer tabs or separate devices (computer, tablet, mobile phone) for the service itself and for clicking on the blue type in the welcome sheet to hear the music.

1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.

2 Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness: high on his heart he will bear it for thee, comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness, guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

3 Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine: truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness, these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.

4 These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness, he will accept for the name that is dear; mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, trust for our trembling and hope for our fear.

John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811–1875)

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytBTMr0K__I

Prayer of preparation

Prayers of penitence

Gloria

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The saints were faithful unto death and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever. As we celebrate their joy, let us bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses, and ask for his mercy.

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weaknesses and unbelief. We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us.

May God our Father forgive you your sins, and bring you to the fellowship of his table with his saints for ever. Amen.

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Collect

Liturgy of the word

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Almighty God, who caused the light of the gospel to shine throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul: grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion may follow him in bearing witness to your truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Exodus 1: 15–21 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ‘When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live’. But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?’ The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them’. So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

Acts 9: 1–22 [p. 1104] Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came,

Gradual hymn

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men who were travelling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias’. He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord’. The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name’. So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit’. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’. All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’ Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

For God’s holy word, thanks be to God.

1 O thou who camest from above the fire celestial to impart, kindle a flame of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart.

2 There let it for thy glory burn with inextinguishable blaze, and trembling to its source return in humble prayer and fervent praise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3UYybc7Xa0

Gospel reading

Sermon

Prayers

3 Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire to work and speak and think for thee; still let me guard the holy fire and still stir up the gift in me.

4 Still let me prove thy perfect will, my acts of faith and love repeat, till death thy endless mercies seal, and make the sacrifice complete.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Alleluia, alleluia. Christ was revealed in flesh, proclaimed among the nations and believed in throughout the world. Alleluia.

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

Matthew 19: 27–30 [p. 1105] Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.’

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

Canon Peter Seal

Intercessions written by Keith Jones

Let us worship the Saviour with joy and make our prayer to our heavenly Father.

Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

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

Nicene Creed

Liturgy of the sacrament

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

We are fellow citizens with the saints and the whole household of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near.

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

Offertory hymn

1 Alleluia, sing to Jesus, his the sceptre, his the throne; alleluia, his the triumph, his the victory alone: hark, the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood: Jesus, out of every nation, has redeemed us by his blood.

2 Alleluia, not as orphans are we left in sorrow now; alleluia, he is near us, faith believes, nor questions how; though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o’er, shall our hearts forget his promise, ‘I am with you evermore’?

3 Alleluia, bread of angels, thou on earth our food, our stay; alleluia, here the sinful flee to thee from day to day. Intercessor, friend of sinners, earth’s redeemer, plead for me, where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4 Alleluia, King eternal, thee the Lord of lords we own; alleluia, born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne; thou within the veil hast entered robed in flesh, our great High Priest; thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

William C. Dix (1837–1898)

Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the splendour, and the majesty; for everything in heaven and on earth is yours. All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.

Lord, accept your people’s gifts, not gold, frankincense or myrrh, but hearts and voices raised in praise of Jesus Christ, our light and our salvation. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJDWFYIkBns

Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

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 with joy we give you thanks and praise, summoning Lord, for you called creation into being; you invited a people to be your own; and in your prophets you called your children time after time to return to your ways and live. In Jesus you embodied your call to the whole world to worship you, to be your friends and to eat at this table with you. Through the Spirit you continue to beckon us to become members of your body and channels of your grace. Even when our sin put your Son on the cross, your mercy turned death into resurrection and shame into glory. And so we enjoy you now and for ever, with saints and angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, rejoicing and exalting in the hymn of your unending praise.

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.

Restoring God, at your Son’s birth you called together heaven and earth, rich and poor, humans and animals; among your Son’s disciples you called together fishermen, tax-collectors and zealots; in his ministry you summoned soldiers and widows, criminals and Samaritans; at this table now you draw together the food of daily endeavour and the cup of celebration. Send your Holy Spirit among us to make us your diverse but holy people. As your priest Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine, in which Abraham found a blessing, by the power of your Spirit make these gifts of bread and wine be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me’.

After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘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.’

Great is the mystery of faith. Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Wondrous God, you call us to join you at the marriage-supper of the Lamb, and you infuse your servants with the spirit of prophecy through the testimony of Jesus. Renew your Church that it may raise up saints for your glory and be holy as you are holy. Bring reconciliation and healing among any who have been hurt or damaged by those who bear your name. Foster humility and repentance where your people have clung to social status or notions of truth that have inhibited rather than increased the triumphs of your grace. Turn the water of your servants’ faith into the wine of your Spirit’s mercy, until your whole creation gathers around your throne and your children discover you have saved the best till last, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, ever one God. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

Agnus Dei

Giving of Communion

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray: 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.

We break the bread of life, and that life is the light of the world: God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us to light and life.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us your peace.

Lord Jesus, we believe that you are present in this most holy sacrament. We love you above all things and desire to receive you into our souls. Since we cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally together, come into our hearts. We embrace you, knowing you are already there, and unite ourselves wholly to you. Never permit us to be separated from you. Amen.

Post-Communion prayer

Post Communion hymn

Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent your Holy Spirit to the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

1 I cannot tell why he whom angels worship should set his love upon us, now or then, or why as shepherd he should seek the wanderers to bring them back, they know not how or when. But this I know, that he was born of Mary, when Beth’lem’s manger was his only home, and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured, and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

2 I cannot tell how silently he suffered, as with his peace he graced this place of tears, or how his heart upon the cross was broken, the crown of pain to three and thirty years. But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted, and stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear, and lifts the burden from the heavy laden, for yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here.

3 I cannot tell how he will win the nations, how he will claim his earthly heritage, how satisfy the needs and aspirations of east and west, of sinner and of sage. But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory, and he shall reap the harvest he has sown, and some glad day his sun shall shine in splendour when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

4 I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship, when at his bidding every storm is stilled, or who can say how great the jubilation when every human heart with love is filled. But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture, and myriad, myriad human voices sing, and earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer: ‘At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’

William Young Fullerton (1857–1932)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K9rlyhg-LQ

Blessing

9.30 am

2.30 pm

God give you grace to follow his saints in faith and hope and love; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Stay in the peace of Christ. Thanks be to God.

Online children’s service

Zoom family service, ‘The conversion of St Paul’, with songs, a play for all to take part in, chat and prayers. For the Zoom link, contact Mary Copping, [email protected]

Services for 31 January

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple; Candlemas

BCP

9.30 am

9.30 am

p. 205

Sunday Eucharist (online) Readings: Malachi 3: 1–5; Hebrews 2: 14–18; Luke 2: 22–40 [p. 430]

Children’s service (online)

Notices

WinACC open meetings The first meeting of the year will be on Sat 30 January, 10 am, via Zoom. All are welcome. They will convene on the last Saturday morning of each month, and in the evening once every other month. With the UN Climate Change conference coming up in Glasgow in November, they hope to foster a sense of the community working together to the targets of the Paris Accord, with people reducing their carbon footprint and helping meet the City Council target of net zero by 2030. To join the meeting, Meeting ID: 865 2688 4842, Passcode: 607103.

Modern slavery and human trafficking On Mon 8 February, 5.30 pm, the live-streamed Evensong from Winchester Cathedral will celebrate St Josephine Bakhita’s Day. She is the patron saint of victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. As Pope Francis stated in his Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace in 2015:

‘She is charged with showing to all the path to conversion, which enables us to change the way we see our neighbours, to recognise in every other person a brother or sister in our human family, and to acknowledge his or her intrinsic dignity in truth and freedom. This can be clearly seen from the story of Josephine Bakhita, the saint originally from the Darfur region in Sudan who was kidnapped by slave-traffickers and sold to brutal masters when she was nine years old. Subsequently – as a result of painful experiences – she became a “free daughter of God” thanks to her faith, living in religious consecration and in service to others, especially the most lowly and helpless.’

Opportunity to become a street pastor, or to be in the prayer support team Times change and lockdowns come and go, but the city’s street pastors have been out there when they could, offering reassurance, safety and support. They are currently recruiting, with training probably scheduled from early March. They are also seeking prayer pastors who will pray while their team is on the streets, either at home or from their base in Jewry Street. Contact Mark Hibbert-Hingston, 07740 288654, [email protected]. This appeal first went out to Winchester churches in November 2020 but no-one has yet come forward.

Plastic bottle tops Help reduce plastic waste and raise money for Lanterns, the nursery school on Bereweeke Road. Please put washed type 2 or 4 plastic tops in the crate outside St Paul’s. Seven great sacks of them have recently gone off to be recycled.

https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/service-live-stream/https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/service-live-stream/

Contact us

Canon Peter Seal, Rector 854849 (h) 844878 (office) M, Tu, W, Th, [email protected]

Revd Mary Copping, Children/Youth Co-ordinator & Assistant Priest 07921 886016 M, Tu, W, F, [email protected]

Revd Liz Stuart, Curate [email protected]

Katy Palacio, Parish Administrator 844878 M, W, F, [email protected]

Ursula Payne, Rector’s Assistant & Building for Life Administrator 844878 M, Tu, Th, [email protected] (please send me any notices)

Parish Office (currently closed), St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s Hill, Winchester SO22 5AB, 844878, www.stmatthewstpaul.org

Staff are working from home whenever possible, and can be reliably contacted by email; parish meetings are cancelled until further notice

Please make cheques payable to St Matthew’s PCC – all gifts gratefully received Sort code 55-81-26, Account 73264024

Bible readings: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Common Worship: Times and Seasons copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing. Eucharistic prayer from Joining the Angels’ Song: Eucharistic Prayers for Sundays and Holy Days, Years A, B, and C, copyright © Samuel Wells and Abigail Kocher 2016 and published by Canterbury Press, an imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern. Hymns copied from HymnQuest: Copyright Licence Users’ Edition, licence CCL 5838.

Printed on recycled paper

Gustave Doré, The Conversion of St Paul, from ‘The Holy Bible’ series, engraved by Ad Ligny, 1866