HOLY EUCHARIST the Annunciation of the Lord

The Parish of Bushey

HOLY EUCHARIST The Annunciation of the Lord

8.00pm, 25th March 2021 St James’s Church Bushey ‘

WELCOME! For seven hundred years Christian worship and ministry have been offered in this place, the Parish Church of Bushey.

You are all most welcome.

The visitation of Mary by the angel is a precious encounter, recorded only in Luke’s gospel. The angel prophesies the birth of a Saviour, Jesus Christ, and connects him to the long-held hopes of Israel for a deliverer. It marks the Child Jesus as the utterly unique incarnation of God, special from his very conception, and offers us w one of the richest and most joyful songs of praise in the Bible ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour…’

The conversation between Mary and the angel (traditionally the archangel Gabriel) is a tender, subtle exchange, one of the most frequently depicted in Christian Art through the ages. In Mary, we see the response of perfect obedience to the will of God: ‘Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word’

As we hear the story, and in this eucharist celebrate the event, we are inspired to wonder also what God may wish to bring to birth in our own lives. We pray today for the receptivity and surrender that characterized Mary’s life, so that we too may be channels of God’s grace in the world.

2 GREETING

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

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

We light a candle of hope. Lord Jesus, light of the world, shine mercy and peace on your people.

The Celebrant introduces the Mass.

PENITENTIAL RITE

Invitation to Confession The grace of God has dawned upon the world through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself for us to purify a people as his own. Let us confess our sins. cf Titus 2.11-14 Kyrie Confession Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh and splendour of the Father: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

3 Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COLLECT

Let us pray A short period of silence is kept.

We beseech you, O Lord, pour your grace into our hearts, that as we have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

Sit

NEW TESTAMENT READING:

Hebrews 10:4-10

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said,

‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; 6 in burnt-offerings and sin-offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, “See, God, I have come to do your will, O God” (in the scroll of the book[b] it is written of me).’

4 8 When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sin- offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, ‘See, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. 10 And it is by God’s will[c] that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

At the end of the reading: This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 1:26-38

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory. The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory. John 1.14 Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’[a] 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will

5 name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34 Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’[b] 35 The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38 Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

At the end of the reading: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit for the SERMON by Revd Andy Burgess

A short silence follows the Sermon.

Stand for THE CREED

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

6 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 with 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.

INTERCESSIONS The Celebrant introduces the prayers and the congregation kneels.

After each petition: Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

At the prayer for the departed: Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord. Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

Stand for THE PEACE

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

The Congregation shake hands with those immediately around them, saying ‘Peace be with you’.

Those who join us online may wish to write the word 'Peace' or another suitable greeting in the comments bar. As we place bread and wine on the altar during the next hymn, members of the congregation watching from home are invited to write a short phrase in the comments section of the Facebook live stream placing an experience they have had this week on the altar.

You are welcome to donate in the following ways:

BACS (Sort Code: 09-01-54 Account Number: 78501986).

www.justgiving.com/busheyparish

Thank you for your gift.

Almighty God, so fill us with your grace, that we in all things may accept your holy will and with the Virgin Mary, full of grace, rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE 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 indeed right and good, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. We give you thanks and praise that the Virgin Mary heard with faith the message of the angel, and by the power of your Holy Spirit conceived and bore the Word made flesh. From the warmth of her womb to the stillness of the grave he shared our life in human form. In him new light has dawned upon the world and you have become one with us that we might become one with you in your glorious kingdom. Therefore earth unites with heaven to sing a new song of praise; we too join with angels and archangels as they proclaim your glory without end:

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!

We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.

On the night before he died he had supper with his Friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, gave it to them and said: 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.

So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory.

Great is the mystery of faith: Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with our Lady Mary, St James. St Paul all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and ever. Amen!

THE LORD’S PRAYER

As our Saviour 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.

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

AGNUS DEI

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.

PRAYER OF HUMBLE ACCESS

We do not presume, to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy, so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table; but you are the same Lord, whose nature

11 is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood; that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his Body, and our souls washed through his most Precious Blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen. The Celebrant invites the people to Communion saying:

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper. Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION Those who are participating remotely, and cannot receive Christ in the form of bread and wine, may say:

Gracious Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit, shape in us the death and resurrection of your Son, and bring us into mystic sweet communion with you.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

God most high, whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh: we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption you visit us with your Holy Spirit and overshadow us by your power; strengthen us to walk with Mary the joyful path of obedience and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

12 Amen.

Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory. May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world. Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill you with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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

THE ANGELUS

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women,

13 and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your Word.

And the Word was made flesh, And dwelt among us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, your Grace into our hearts; that as we have known the incarnation of Christ, your Son by the message of an angel, so by His passion and cross we may be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Order of service printed using Arial size12 CCLI 199484

Streaming License: 89317