SM26Jul

Service of the Word with
Holy Baptism
26th July 2020
7th Sunday after Trinity
We welcome Nathan Byers
Welcome and Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you all.
And also with you.
Hymn 712
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the
Lord:
unnumbered blessings, give my spirit
voice;
tender to me the promise of his
word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart
rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his
name:
make known his might, the deeds his
arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the
same;
his holy name, the Lord, the Mighty
One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his
might:
powers and dominions lay their glory
by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are
put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted
high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his
word:
firm is his promise, and his mercy
sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the
Lord
to children’s children and for evermore.
Timothy Dudley-Smith ( b. 1926)
The Introduction
Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that
to enter the kingdom of heaven we
must be born again of water and the
Spirit, and has given us baptism as
the sign and seal of this new birth.
Here we are washed by the Holy
Spirit and made clean. Here we are
clothed with Christ, dying to sin that
we may live his risen life. As children
of God we have a new dignity and
God calls us to fullness of life.
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Penitence
Let us affirm our trust in God’s mercy,
and confess that we need
forgiveness.
Lord God, you created the world,
and made us in your own image.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, through your Son you
overcame evil and death. Rescue us
from slavery to sin.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord God, by your Spirit you restore
us to fellowship with you and with
one another. Breathe your love and
freedom into our lives.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Absolution
Almighty God, who forgives all who
truly repent, have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your
sins, confirm and strengthen you in
all goodness, and keep you in eternal
life; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Acclamation
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
And all that is within me, praise his
holy Name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
And forget not all his benefits.
He forgives all your sin:
and heals your infirmities.
The Lord is full of compassion and
mercy, slow to anger and of great
goodness.
As far as the east is from the west:
So far has he set our sins from us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son:
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Collect of the day
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good
things: Graft in our hearts the love of
your name, increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in
the same; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Ministry of the Word
sit
First Reading
The first reading is from Paul’s letter
to the Romans chapter 8 beginning
at the 31st verse.
What shall we say about such
wonderful things? If God is for us,
who can ever be against us? Since he
did not spare even his own Son but
gave him up for us all, won’t he also
give us everything else? Who dares
accuse us whom God has
chosen for his own? No one—for
God himself has given us right
standing with himself. Who then will
condemn us? No one—for Christ
Jesus died for us and was raised to
life for us, and he is sitting in the
place of honour at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.
– 4 –

Can anything ever separate us from
Christ’s love? Does it mean he no
longer loves us if we have trouble
or calamity, or are persecuted, or
hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or
threatened with death? (As the
Scriptures say, “For your sake we
are killed every day; we are being
slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite
all these things, overwhelming victory
is ours through Christ, who loved us.
And I am convinced that nothing can
ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life, neither angels
nor demons, neither our fears for
today nor our worries about
tomorrow—not even the powers of
hell can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the
earth below—indeed, nothing in all
creation will ever be able to separate
us from the love of God that is
revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Gospel stand
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ according to Matthew chapter
13 beginning at the 31st verse.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is another illustration Jesus
used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is
like a mustard seed planted in a
field. It is the smallest of all seeds,
but it becomes the largest of garden
plants; it grows into a tree, and birds
come and make nests in its
branches.”
Jesus also used this illustration: “The
Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast
a woman used in making bread. Even
though she put only a little yeast in
three measures of flour, it permeated
every part of the dough.”
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a
treasure that a man discovered
hidden in a field. In his excitement,
he hid it again and sold everything
he owned to get enough money to
buy the field.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is
like a merchant on the lookout for
choice pearls. When he
discovered a pearl of great value,
he sold everything he owned and
bought it!
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is
like a fishing net that was thrown into
the water and caught fish of every
kind. When the net was full, they
dragged it up onto the shore, sat
down, and sorted the good fish into
crates, but threw the bad ones away.
That is the way it will be at the end of
the world. The angels will come and
separate the wicked people from the
righteous, throwing the wicked into
the fiery furnace, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do
you understand all these things?”
“Yes,” they said, “we do.”
Then he added, “Every teacher of
religious law who becomes a
disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is
like a homeowner who brings from
his storeroom new gems of truth as
well as old.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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sit
The Sermon
The Presentation
We welcome him who has come to
be baptised. I invite his sponsors to
present him now.
We present Nathan to be
baptised.
Parents and Godparents, will you
accept the responsibilities placed
upon you in bringing Nathan for
baptism and answer on his behalf?
By your own prayers and example,
by your teaching and love, will you
encourage him in the life and faith of
the Christian Community?
With the help of God, we will.
In baptism Nathan begins his
journey in faith, you speak for him
today.
Will you care for him, and help him
to take his place within the life and
worship of Christ’s Church?
With the help of God, we will.
The Decision
The presiding minister says to the
sponsors
In baptism, God calls us from
darkness to his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin
and rising to new life with him.
Therefore I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all proud
rebellion against God?
I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and
corruption of evil?
I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that
separate us from God and
neighbour?
I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the Way, the
Truth and the Life?
I come to Christ.
The presiding minister says to the
congregation.
You have heard these our brothers
and sisters respond to Christ. Will
you support them in this calling?
We will support them.
The Baptism
The baptismal party move to the
font. Water is poured into the font.
Sponsors and congregation join in
the responses.
Praise God who made heaven and
earth.
Who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
It is right to give our thanks and
praise.
We give you thanks that at the
beginning of creation your Holy Spirit
moved upon the waters to bring forth
light and life.
With water you cleanse and replenish
the earth; you nourish and sustain all
living things.
Thanks be to God.
– 6 –

We give you thanks that through the
waters of the Red Sea you led your
people out of slavery into freedom,
and brought them through the river
Jordan to new life in the land of
promise.
Thanks be to God.
We give you thanks for your Son
Jesus Christ: for his baptism by John,
for his anointing with the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
We give you thanks that through the
deep waters of death Jesus delivered
us from our sins and was raised to
new life in triumph.
Thanks be to God.
We give you thanks for the grace of
the Holy Spirit who forms us in the
likeness of Christ and leads us to
proclaim your Kingdom.
Thanks be to God.
And now we give thanks that you
have called Nathan to new birth in
your Church through the waters of
baptism.
Pour out your Holy Spirit in blessing
and sanctify this water so that he who
is baptised in it may be made one
with Christ in his death and
resurrection.
May he die to sin, rise to newness of
life, and continue for ever in Jesus
Christ our Lord, through whom we
give you praise and honour in the
unity of the Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
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The presiding minister asks the
sponsors
Do you believe and accept the
Christian faith into which Nathan is
to be baptised?
I do
The presiding minister says to the
congregation
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to
profess together with Nathan the
faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the
Father?
I believe in God, the Father
almighty, creator of heaven and
earth.
Do you believe and trust in God the
Son?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only
Son, our Lord
who was conceived by the Holy
Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was
buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of
the Father,
and he will come again to judge
the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy
Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The presiding minister baptises by
pouring water on the child saying
Nathan, I baptise you in the Name of
the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
The presiding minister makes the
sign of the cross on the child’s
forehead saying
Christ claims you for his own.
Receive the sign of the cross.
Live as a disciple of Christ,
fight the good fight,
finish the race, keep the faith.
Confess Christ crucified,
proclaim his resurrection,
look for his coming in glory.
May almighty God deliver you from
the powers of darkness, restore you
in the image of his glory, and lead
you in the light and obedience of
Christ. Amen.
God has called you into his Church,
We therefore receive and welcome
you as a member with us of the
body of Christ, as a child of the
one heavenly Father, and as an
inheritor of the kingdom of God.
Nathan is presented with a Bible, a
candle and a Baptismal Certificate, and
Cards are presented to the godparents
reminding them of the responsibilities
that they have undertaken.
The Prayers
Almighty God, we thank you that
Nathan has now been born again
of water and the Holy Spirit, and has
become your own child by adoption
and a member of your Church.
– 8 –
Grant that he may grow in the faith
in which he has been baptised; grant
that he himself may profess it when
he comes to be confirmed; grant that
he may bear witness to it by a life of
service to others; and that all things
belonging to the Spirit may live and
grow in him; through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we pray for the
parents of Nathan; give them the
spirit of wisdom and love. May their
children grow up to love and
reverence you and the home share
in the joy of your eternal kingdom.
Amen.
God of truth and love, we pray for
the godparents of Nathan.
Enable them to share with their
godchildren what you have revealed
to us in your holy gospel. We ask
this in the name of the Saviour Jesus
Christ. Amen.
The Peace
All Stand
We are the body of Christ.
By one spirit we were all baptised
into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for
peace and builds up our common life
together.
The peace of the Lord be always with
you.
And also with you.

Hymn 597
Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store:
take myself and I will be
ever, only, all, for thee.
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
As our Saviour Christ has taught us,
so we are bold to say
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.
The Blessing
The God of all grace, who called you
to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you
in the faith;
and the blessing of God almighty, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you
always. Amen.
The Dismissal
God has delivered us from the
dominion of darkness and has given
us a place with the saints in light.
You have received the light of Christ;
walk in this light all the days of your
life.
Shine as a light in the world to the
glory of God the Father.
Go in peace to love and serve the
Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Hymn 643
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my
heart,
naught be all else to me, save that
thou art;
thou my best thought in the day and
the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my
light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true
word,
I ever with thee, and thou with me,
Lord;
thou my great Father, and I thy true
heir;
thou in me dwelling, and I in thy care.
– 9 –

Be thou my breast-plate, my sword
for the fight;
be thou my armour, and be thou my
might;
thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my
high tower,
raise thou me heavenward, O Power
of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor vain empty
praise,
thou mine inheritance through all my
days;
thou, and thou only, the first in my
heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure
thou art!
High King of heaven, when the battle
is done,
grant heaven’s joy to me, O bright
heaven’s sun,
Christ of my own heart, whatever
befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Early Irish
Tr Mary Byrne
Please take this
service sheet home
with you and leave
your Contact Details
Sheet on your seat
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