Download our 3 churches newsletter for Sunday 13 May below.
The Angel of the Lord
The Angelus is a devotion that focuses our attention on the Incarnation. Its name comes from its opening word in Latin. It is prayed by reciting three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer “Hail Mary”. It is an ancient devotion, already well established 700 years ago. It probably originated with the 11th-century monastic custom of reciting three Hail Marys during the evening bells. The first written documentation stems from the 1260s. The devotion has traditionally been recited in churches, convents, and monasteries three times daily: 6:00am, noon, and 6:00pm, and some churches still follow the devotion, while many people pray it at home. The Angelus is often accompanied by the ringing of the Angelus bell. The manner of ringing the Angelus – the triple stroke repeated three times, followed by a longer peal – is also long established, and was described in the 15th-century constitutions of Syon monastery.
The Angel of the LORD declared unto Mary, And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary... Behold the handmaid of the LORD. Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary... And the Word was made flesh. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary... Pray for us, O' Holy Mother of God. That we might be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Let us pray, Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O LORD, Thy grace into our hearts; that, we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen
Christ the King bidding prayers, 10 May 2018 (Feast of the Ascension)
The Celebrant will introduce and also conclude the prayer. The reader should pause for several moments between the intercession and its response. Leave about 20 seconds for quiet prayer.
There is no response after this – move straight to the Hail Mary.
CELEBRANT:Brothers and Sisters, how infinitely great is the power that Christ has exercised for us believers.Let us pray in the certainty that He will hear us:
READER:The response is : Lord, graciously hear us.
READER: Let us pray for the Church. May we be witnesses to the Risen Lord to the ends of the Earth, spreading the Good News.……. (PAUSE)……Risen Lord, hear us……Lord, graciously hear us.
READER: We pray for those given the gift of being pastors, teachers and leaders. May they use their gifts wisely to guide and inspire their people.….. (PAUSE) ……Risen Lord, hear us. …Lord, graciously hear us.
READER: Let us pray for those suffering from natural disasters such as volcanic eruption, earthquake, dust storms and torrential rain. May they find help and hope from those less unfortunate. ..… (PAUSE)……Risen Lord, hear us. … Lord, graciously hear us.
READER: May we do all we can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds us together.
…….. (PAUSE)……Risen Lord, hear us. …Lord, graciously hear us.
READER:In a few moments of silence let us consider our needs and those of the parish ….. (Long Pause)…. Let us ask help of Mary who sits with Jesus in HeavenHail Mary, full of grace, etc.
After a short pause the Celebrant will conclude the prayer.
CELEBRANT: Lord, You are our refuge and strength, we trust in You. Grant then our petitions,we ask, through the risen Christ Jesus, Amen.
Christ the King bidding prayers, 6 May 2018 (6th Sunday of Easter)
Priest– Let us pray to our Heavenly Father asking him to look favourably on the needs of the Church, the world and ourselves.
Reader– The response to our prayers is – Hear our prayer.
We pray that the church’s message of peace and love may be heard and acted upon throughout the world – pause – Heavenly Father……… Hear our prayer.
We pray that our government may always act in the best interests of the people, particularly at present in the Brexit negotiations – pause –
Heavenly Father………..Hear our prayer.
We pray for the repose of the souls of all who have died recently particularly Nick Chitsega and John Cook whose funerals take place shortly and for the comfort of their bereaved relatives and friends – pause – Heavenly Father………
Hear our prayer
We pray for all who are ill, infirm or disabled in any way that they may feel your healing comfort and receive compassionate care – pause – Heavenly Father…………Hear our prayer.
In a few moments of silence let us place our own needs before our Heavenly Father……….
Mary is our Mother, let us ask her to plead for us to Jesus, her beloved son, as we say…..Hail Mary…
Priest–We humbly make our prayers through Jesus your Word and our Saviour ….Amen
3 churches newsletter, 6 May 2018
Download our 3 churches newsletter for Sunday 6 May 2018 below.
Back to Thursday
The Holydays of Obligation of the Epiphany and the Ascension have returned to their traditional places on the twelfth day of Christmas (except if that is a Saturday or Monday – which it was this year!) and Thursday after the 6th Sunday of Easter.
Here is Malcolm Guite’s sonnet on the Ascension. He captures the double meaning very well – this feast tells us that we are now part of heaven’s story, while heaven shows us a human face. The words are well worth our reflection.
We saw his light break through the cloud of glory Whilst we were rooted still in time and place As earth became a part of Heaven’s story And heaven opened to his human face. We saw him go and yet we were not parted He took us with him to the heart of things The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness, Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight, Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness And sing the waning darkness into light His light in us, and ours in him concealed, Which all creation waits to see revealed.
Fr Matthew