Leader: We are here to celebrate the memory of Peter & Paul –
& to learn something of them that will inspire us to live more fully.
All: And so we say, glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. Alleluia.
Please join in the hymn if you wish (Anthology 1. Tr 3).
We walk by faith, & not by sight: no gracious words we hear
Of him who spoke as none e’er spoke, but we believe him near.
We may not touch his hands or side, nor follow where he trod;
Yet in his promise we rejoice, & cry, ‘My Lord & God’.
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief, & may our faith abound;
To call on you when you are near,& seek where you are found.
Then when our life of faith is done in realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are in full & endless sight.
Please sing Psalm 116 & its antiphon as indicated.
Cantors : ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’;
Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona.
Side 1: A fragment of praise from the psalmist of old,
Let all the people praise the name of our God.
Side 2: So now in a quiet moment of praise,
Our gratitude whispers on the gentlest of breaths.
Side 1: Not always with jubilant shouts
Do we sound our thanksgiving & joy,
Side 2: From the depths of a silent heart
Comes a word but softly spoken.
Side 1: Secure in the loving kindness of God,
Knowing the love that always endures,
Side 2: Transforming the evils we face into good,
We waft the breeze & adore.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen.
All: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’;
Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona.
Please sing the second psalm & antiphon as indicated.
Cantors: You are Peter,
And on this rock I will build my Church.
Side 1: How good it is to sing praises to our God!
How pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
Side 2: The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
He gathers the exiles of Israel.
Side 1: He heals the broken-hearted
And binds up all their wounds.
Side 2: He counts the number of the stars
And calls them all by their names.
Side 1: Great is our Lord & mighty in power;
There is no limit to his wisdom.
Side 2: The Lord lifts up the lowly,
But casts the wicked to the ground.
Side 1: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Make music to our God upon the harp.
Side 2: He makes grass grow upon the mountains
And green plants to serve us all.
Side 1: He provides food for flocks & herds
And for the young ravens when they cry.
Side 2: He has established peace on your borders,
He satisfies you with the finest wheat.
Side 1: He sends out his command to the earth,
And his word runs very swiftly.
Side 2: He gives snow like wool;
He scatters hoar frost like ashes.
Side 1: He scatters his hail like bread crumbs;
Who can stand against his cold?
Side 2: He sends forth his word & melts them;
He blows with his wind & the waters flow.
Side 1: He declares his word to Jacob,
His statutes & judgements to Israel.
Side 2: He has not done so to any other nation;
To them he has not revealed his judgements.
Side 1: Great is our Lord,
And mighty is his power.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen.
All: You are Peter,
And on this rock I will build my Church.
Reading: Rom 1 1,2&7
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle & set apart for the
gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets
in the Holy Scriptures. To all in Rome who are loved by God & called to be saints:
Grace & peace to you from God our father & from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader: The apostles proclaimed the gospel of God & feared no-one.
All: The apostles proclaimed the gospel of God & feared no-one.
Leader: They gave testimony to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
All: The apostles proclaimed the gospel of God & feared no-one.
Leader: Glory be to the Father & to the Son & to the Holy Spirit.
All: The apostles proclaimed the gospel of God & feared no-one.
Please sing the Magnificat & its antiphon as indicated.
Cantors: Glorious are the apostles of Christ; they loved each other in this life;
They are not separated in death.
Side 1: My being proclaims your greatness,
And my spirit finds joy in you, God my Saviour;
Side 2: For you have looked upon me, your servant, in my lowliness:
All ages to come shall call me blessed.
Side 1: God, you who are mighty, have done great things for me:
Holy is your name!
Side 2: Your mercy is from age to age
Towards those who fear you.
Side 1: You have shown might with your arm,
And confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.
Side 2: You have deposed the mighty from their thrones,
And raised the lowly to high places.
Side 1: The hungry you have given every good thing,
While the rich you have sent away empty.
Side 2: You have upheld Israel, your servant,
Ever mindful of your mercy-
Side 1: Even as you promised our ancestors,
Promised Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants for ever.
All: Give praise to the Father Almighty,
To his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
To the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
Both now and for ever, Amen.
All: Glorious are the apostles of Christ; they loved each other in this life;
They are not separated in death.
Intercessions:
Reader: Tonight let us pray for all who strive to spread the gospel as apostles of the Lord.
All: Risen Lord, give us energy & courage.
Reader: Let us pray for the land where Peter first met Jesus: pray
for the Israelis & the Palestinians and their leaders.
All: Risen Lord, bring peace to your land.
Reader: We pray for people of all faiths & particularly for
Jewish people living in this area.
All: Risen Lord, hear our prayers.
Reader: Let us pray for all those known to us who have the name
Paul…………….(mention any names)
All: Risen Lord, hear our prayers.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today, and for those who
will die tonight. We also remember in prayer those whose
anniversaries occur tomorrow, remembering especially:
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father….
Leader: Lord our God, may the blessed apostles Peter & Paul support
us by their prayers. Through them you first taught your
Church the Christian faith. Provide us now, by their
intercession, with help for our eternal salvation. We make
our prayer through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
All: May God who made the world protect us this evening – May Christ who redeemed the world give us peace this evening- May the spirit who sustains the world be with us through this night – May almighty God bless us – the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen