蜜芽传媒

Opening Announcement from Continuity

蜜芽传媒 Radio 4. It's ten past eight and time for Sunday Worship, which comes live from Ipswich Minster in Suffolk. It's a service of Choral Matins, led by the Vicar, the Rev Tom Mumford, and opens now as the Minster choir and congregation sing the hymn "Lord, you give the great commission"

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Hymn: Lord you gave the great commission (Abbots Leigh)

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Welcome 鈥� Rev Tom Mumford

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Good morning, and a warm welcome to Ipswich Minster, for this service of Choral Matins. The vocation to pray and to serve has been long present here, with a Christian church on this site for more than a thousand years. And today, following our re-designation as a Minster church earlier this year, we continue in that vocation with ever greater passion and faithfulness, seeking God鈥檚 will for us and for all who make their home in this great town.

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Wherever you are joining us from, it is my sincere hope that you will know the presence and peace of God, discern something of the call and vocation put on your life, and, as always, be reminded afresh of the gospel of his love for each and every one of you. Welcome.

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Responses (Smith):

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Cantor: O Lord, open thou our lips.
Choir: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Cantor: O God, make speed to save us.
Answer: O Lord, make haste to help us.

Choir: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Choir: Praise ye the Lord.
The Lord's Name be praised.

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Psalm

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Rev Tom Mumford: The choir sings verses from the Psalm appointed for this morning, Psalm 148

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Reading: The Reverend Gregor Purdie

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The first lesson is taken from the book Genesis, the 22nd chapter,听 beginning at the 1st verse.

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Choir:

Jubilate from Collegium Regale 鈥� Herbert Howells

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Reading: The Reverend Jo Gunn

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The second lesson is taken from the Acts of the Apostles, the 11th chapter, beginning at the 5th verse.

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Creed

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Rev Tom Mumford: I believe in God,

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All: the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried

He descended into hell;

The third day he rose again from the dead

He ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost:

The holy Catholick Church;

The Communion of Saints:

The Forgiveness of sins:

The Resurrection of the body,

And the Life everlasting.

Amen.

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Responses (Smith):

Cantor: The Lord be with you.
Choir: And with thy spirit.
Cantor:听 Let us pray.

Choir:

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

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Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.

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Cantor:听 O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
Choir: And grant us thy salvation.
Cantor:听 O Lord, save the Queen.
Choir: And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
Cantor: Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.
Choir: And make thy chosen people joyful.
Cantor: O Lord, save thy people.
Choir: And bless thine inheritance.
Cantor: Give peace in our time, O Lord.
Choir: Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God.
Choir: O God, make clean our hearts within us.
Choir: And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

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The Sermon 鈥� The Reverend Tom Mumford, Vicar

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

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As the old saying goes, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans!

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When I was younger, I planned to be a professional footballer. Inability put paid to that.

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Then I wanted to be fast jet pilot (actually, if I鈥檓 honest, I still do!), but ineptitude and imperfect eyesight put an end to that.

Then I wanted to be a billionaire business man and earn lots of money鈥�well, as you can see that didn鈥檛 work out either.

鈥�One of my nephews the other day, not only had God laughing, but the whole family too. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he said: 鈥榓 dinosaur鈥�.

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鈥�Yes, if you want to make God laugh tell him your plans. But if you want him to make you smile, just say 鈥榶es鈥�.

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This is what we learn from the two stories in Scripture today, stories that speak right to the heart of vocation, of calling, of simply saying 鈥榶es鈥� to the God of surprises.

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The focus of our first reading, Abraham, is not the only one who at least initially finds God鈥檚 call to be uncomfortable.

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His story is one that disturbs and challenges, but this is overcome by close attention, perseverance, and a confidence in God鈥檚 goodness and mercy.

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Because, despite the drama we feel we鈥檙e heading to, Abraham鈥檚 story is not one about violence鈥�but about trust.

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It is a story of a man who, in response to God鈥檚 call says simply 鈥榟ere I am鈥�, and despite the confusion and unsettledness this first brings, ultimately leads to flourishing.

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It remains true, that from the perspective of creature to creator, an openness to vocation, to pursuing a sense of call, does not always equal easiness or comfort, tidiness or clarity.

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It can, at times, encounter sacrifice; it will, at times, encounter doubt and challenge.

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But what we learn from the example of Abraham is that, as the Scripture says: 鈥楪od will provide鈥�.

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Because ultimately, God鈥檚 calling, the vocation to which he leads us, will never lead to death, but to life.

鈥�And so we must listen, like Abraham, for God鈥檚 voice.

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It may come in silence or in a whisper, through a friend, or in the cries of the poor and the stranger. It may mean giving something up, it may mean changing path鈥�but properly discerned, it will only ever lead us closer to God鈥檚 heart.

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It is in our second reading that the breadth and depth of that heart, of God鈥檚 heart, is revealed鈥�and by that we see Peter鈥檚 heart stretch to fit his call.

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Finding himself criticised by his friends for eating with the gentiles, those most famous of outsiders, Peter testifies to a different Way.

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He speaks of the realisation and revelation that to God, nothing and no one is unclean, not even the gentiles. And that to the followers of Jesus Christ, there must no longer be distinction between them.

For, we hear, 鈥榯he Holy Spirit has descended on the gentiles, just as it did on the first followers, in the beginning鈥�.

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Here, in Peter鈥檚 witness, we see that the laugh of God, that laugh at our plans, is in fact a laugh of love.

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To Peter and to us, to the early church and the present one, we hear God say: 鈥淟ove bigger, love better, love beyond.鈥�

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Here we see not just the doors of Peter鈥檚 vocation blown off, but the boundaries of the Church, that is, the extent of all of ours too.

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Here we see that the foundation of all Christian vocation is started in, rooted in, an outpouring of love.

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Friends, in light of this, we must see and know that 鈥榗alling鈥�, 鈥榲ocation鈥�, is not something just for certain people with strange outfits.

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It is not reserved just for Popes, for priests or those in the religious life.

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All of us, every single one of us, rooted in our baptism, born out of the image of God which we bear鈥�all of us have a calling, a vocation.

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This may look like an ordained life, but equally important, it may also look like the life of a teacher, a nurse, a shelf stacker, a bus driver. It can be a call to parenthood, to Grandparenthood, to marriage, to civil partnership and to friendship.

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All can be holy callings. And to be made more so, they must simply be animated, inspired, guided, by the God of love.

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鈥�And if you鈥檙e sitting there thinking 鈥榳ell, I don鈥檛 have any of those!鈥�, well keep your eyes heavenward and your knees to the ground.

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Do all you do with love, open yourself to the movement of God鈥檚 spirit, say to him simply: 鈥榟ere I am鈥�.

鈥�The adventures are coming, our becoming is coming.

We must simply allow ourselves, in all that we say and do and are, to be led by the Spirit, to say 鈥榟ere I am鈥�, and to be led, even into the unexpected places.

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鈥�And whatever you do, do not put limits on God鈥檚 call.

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Do not say 鈥業 will serve, but only there鈥� or 鈥業 will welcome, but only them鈥� or 鈥業 will have compassion, but only then鈥�.

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Always remember that vocation is never for ourselves alone. It is always at least as much for the other.

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After all, Abraham鈥檚 faith blessed the nations, Peter鈥檚 openness brought in the Gentiles to the Church.

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Your 鈥榶es鈥�, your obedience to God鈥檚 call, it can be a light to others, a sign of hope, a promise of God鈥檚 mercy.

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So, I wonder, where is God calling you today?

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And I don鈥檛 necessarily mean in some distant, dramatic moment, but right now. In your home, your work, your community, this church.

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Maybe God is putting before you a call to forgive, maybe to speak up. Maybe God is calling you to serve in a way you never imagined. Or maybe God is simply calling you, for a while, just to be present, to listen, to pray.

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Whatever it is, let it begin in the same way. With the openness of Peter, with the faithfulness of Abraham, with the heart that says 鈥楬ere I am鈥�

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鈥�Friends, the world is crying out for people who will live the call of the Christian life, with courage, compassion, and faith.

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So as the Church in Ipswich and across this nation, let us be a people, let us be a Church, that listens and follows, loves and serves, let us be ones who say: 鈥渉ere I am鈥� and follow with joy.

Amen.

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The Anthem 鈥� The Call, Randall

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The Prayers 鈥� Pippa Scott

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Vicar: Let us pray,

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In the first reading we hear of God鈥檚 call not just for individuals, but also of nations. And so we pray for those who lead us.

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Eternal God and Father, from whom comes every good and perfect gift. We pray for those entrusted with the responsibility of shepherding your Church, and those who govern the nations. We pray for Pope Leo, for Bishops and Metropolitans of other Christian churches. And we pray too for political leaders. Endue them with the spirit of wisdom and a heart for the common good. That, in obedience to your laws they may promote the well-being of all, and further the cause of justice and peace in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

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In the second reading we learn of the importance of the discernment of our gifts, and the understanding of our call. So we pray for God鈥檚 guidance.

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We beseech you, O Lord, to enlighten our minds and to strengthen our wills, that we may know what we ought to do, and be enabled to do it, through the grace of your most Holy Spirit, and for the merits of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

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We pray also for all those who are, at this time, sick in body, mind, or spirit. Praying particularly for those who anxious, depressed, isolated, or alone.

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O God of love, who has taught us not to think only of ourselves, but also for the wants and needs of others; we remember before you all who are burdened or oppressed, those who are afflicted by war, those worn down by poverty, disease and illness, the weary and the heavy-laden, those who are in darkness or despair, or who are suffering for righteousness鈥� sake. Help them all to rest in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

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And, finally, we pray for ourselves and for one another, as we say the Grace together:

All: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.听 Amen.

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Hymn: Christ is made the sure foundation,

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Blessing 鈥� The Vicar

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The peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and

love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and

the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and

the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you

always. Amen.

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Final Anthem

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Organ Voluntary: Mendelssohn

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Closing Announcement from Continuity:

Sunday Worship came live from Ipswich Minster in Suffolk. The service was led by the Rev Tom Mumford, the Minster Choir was directed by Christopher Borrett, and the organist was William Baldry. The producer was Andrew Earis. You can find details of the music sung, and sermon, on the Sunday Worship webpage.听 Next week's Sunday Worship comes from North Lanarkshire, and is led by the Salvation Army's International Staff Songsters.