Worship
At the heart of all that we do as Christians is the worship of Almighty God. As we celebrate 1100 years of Bath & Wells we shall be worshipping together as a diocese. We shall also be offering resources to parishes and schools for their own local celebrations.
Dates for your Diary
Bath Abbey, Saturday 10 January 2009, 2.00pm
Both our Bishops invite you to join them in this significant act of worship, in which we will mark 1100 years through music and prayer. The Bishop of Bath & Wells will be our preacher.
The Bath Abbey Choir will sing Haydn's St Nicholas Mass as a setting, and there will be specially written prayers for the celebration.
Do remember that Bath can be very busy on a Saturday afternoon. You may find it helpful to use one of the several Park & Ride services from the edge of the city. Please also be aware that there are no public toilet facilities at the Abbey.
Glastonbury Abbey, Saturday 4 July 2009, 12.00 Noon
This all-day event will begin with the arrival of Bishop Peter Price as he ends his walk around the diocese, "Peter's Progress." We will mark this with an act of worship in word and song, recalling the contribution made by our ecumenical partners to our part of the story of the Christian Church in Somerset since 909. The service will reflect the family focus of the day.
Wells Cathedral, 21 November 2009, 2.00pm: "For the future take us..."
This will be a service to formally bring to a close our year of celebration. We will be thanking God for all that is going on among us today and which offers hope for the future.
Other Resources for Worship
A range of other resources are planned or available:
Prayer Cards in the form of a bookmark for adults and children bearing a special prayer for the year - see Prayer cards on the left hand menu.
Liturgical texts that can be incorporated into existing services in parish churches across the Diocese. The following texts, which are suitable for celebrations of Holy Communion, have been specially written and authorised for use in our Diocese during the year.
Propers and Liturgical Material (Modern Language)
To mark the 1100th Anniversary of the Diocese of Bath and Wells
Opening Sentence
You have been our rock, our dwelling place through all the ages
From everlasting to everlasting, you are God!
Opening Prayer
Sovereign God, Lord of the past, present and future..
We come together to celebrate the men and women of faith who have been witnesses to your message of good news through the centuries in this Diocese.
As we receive your love in word and sacrament
deepen our commitment
strengthen our faith
and lead us to proclaim your story through our lives
for the generations yet to come.
Confession
Celebrating your love that bring strength through our weakness
we ask forgiveness for our failings:
Lord of all power
You brought all things into being, breathing life and love into all creation
Forgive us when we rely on earthly strength and knowledge
and forget your infinite wisdom and boundless might.
Teach us to put our trust in you from whom all things come.
In our failure to live as your people
Lord, forgive us and lead anew on your path
Incarnate Lord
You set aside your majesty to live with us and share humanity
Forgive our petty divisions that tear your world and people apart,
Enlarge our vision and inspire our minds
that we may find ways to love where there is hatred
and heal where there is pain.
In our failure to live as your people
Lord, forgive us and lead anew on your path
Lord of all faithfulness,
you have been constant in love and abundant in mercy
Forgive our selfishness and lack of generous care for those around us. Show us again your ways of love that we might share your good news with every breath.
In our failure to live as your people
Lord, forgive us and lead anew on your path
Collect (Official 1100 Prayer)
God of ages and God of new beginnings,
we bless you for all who have gone before us
living the Gospel of Jesus Christ
over eleven hundred years.
As day by day
we share in the rich legacy of their faith,
teach us again its meaning.
Kindle we pray
a new fire of love for you.
As we learn to wait in stillness and trust
for your coming,
set us free from our fears and timidity,
and give us confidence to rise up
and live a strong new day,
alive in the love of Jesus Christ.
For your love's sake,
Amen.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia.
‘From the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations'
Alleluia!
Introduction to the Peace
Behold' says the Lord, ‘I am with you always to the end of the age'
The peace of the Lord always be with you.....
Prayer at the Preparation of the Table
Lord, as you have blessed your people through the ages
so pour upon us the abundance of your blessings
through this sacrament of grace.
As we offer our service,
may the gifts that we bring be used to further the work
of your Kingdom for all ages.
Short Preface
And now we give you thanks,
for your great faithfulness and constancy through the centuries
in which you have guided and blessed your people;
We celebrate the calling you offer us today
to be a part of the unending story of your saving power.
Therefore, with saints and angels and in union with all
who have worshipped your name through eleven centuries of witness,
we share their festal song of praise .......
Extended Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy
always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise,
almighty and eternal Father.
And so we thank you for the pilgrim story of our Diocese,
for the countless multitudes who have borne witness through its history
and, inspired by your Spirit,
have brought us the gospel to continue in your name.
Here, we remember your gift of love in Christ incarnate,
your saving power shown forth to all creation
and the ultimate sacrifice that revealed your eternal redemption .
Here we celebrate the gift of your Spirit,
to challenge, inspire, and transform us more closely to your likeness.
Therefore, with saints and angels and in union with all who have
worshipped your name through eleven centuries of witness,
we share their festal songs of praise .......
Invitation to Communion
Jesus Christ, the alpha and omega, offers himself to all who will receive him.
Come, be restored as we adventure together into the Kingdom of love.
Post-Communion Prayer
This prayer may be said by the congregation or by the president alone as a collect prayer.
In either case there is no need to use any additional post-communion prayer
Lord,
as we have received the food of your Kingdom ,
may we remember all that you have done,
rejoice in all you are doing
and be open to receive and share all that is yet to be.
May we place our trust in you alone,
the God of the past, present and future,
and be ready to journey with you, wherever you may lead,
knowing that you are Emmanuel - God with us.
Blessing
May God the Father, the Source of all Being
Recreate in us a fresh image of His glory.
Amen.
May God the Son, the Incarnate Word,
Redeem our past.
Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit, the Life Giver
Renew us for His service.
Amen.
And the blessing...
Amen.
ALSO BEING PREPARED...
Resources for School Worship linked to educational material for class and whole school. These will be suitable for whole school worship, year group or class assemblies - see the Children/YP section of the website.
Keep watching this page for developments and opportunities to take part.
For enquiries please contact the Revd Robin Lodge (Chair of the Diocesan Liturgical Advisory Group) on tel.01278 783671 or by e-mail to
