The Parish Churches ofSt James the Great Hanslope

and Ss Simon & Jude, Castlethorpe

“It is wonderful for us to be here!”

The Feast of theTransfigurationCelebrant: Fr Adam Burnham SSC

A bell rings, the people stand and the words of the opening hymn are said

'Tis good, Lord, to be here!Thy glory fills the night;Thy face and garments, like the sun,Shine with unborrowed light.

'Tis good, Lord, to be here,Thy beauty to behold,Where Moses and Elijah stand,Thy messengers of old.

Fulfiller of the past,Promise of things to be,We hail thy Body glorified,And our redemption see.

Before we taste of death,We see thy kingdom come;We fain would hold the vision bright,And make this hill our home.

'Tis good, Lord, to be here!Yet we may not remain;But since you bidst us leave the mountCome with us to the plain.

Words: Joseph Armitage (1858-1933)

Look to your covenant, O Lord, and forget not the life of your poor ones for ever.

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.The Lord be with youAnd also with you

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CONFESSION AND GOD’S ASSURANCE OF SINS FORGIVENIn a moment of quiet we prepare ourselves to meet Christ in word and sacrament. All kneel or sit and silence is kept for personal reflection.When Christ appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. As he is pure, all who have grasped this hope make themselves pure.So let us confess our sins that mar his image in us.Your unfailing kindness, O Lord, is in the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, and your justice as the great deep: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.For with you is the well of life and in your light shall we see light:Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.May Almighty God have mercy upon you, forgive you your sins, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.GLORIA IN EXCELSIS all stand

Glory to God in the highest,and peace to his people on earth.Lord God, heavenly King,almighty God and Father,we worship you, we give you thanks,we praise you for your glory.Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,Lord God, Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world:have mercy on us;you are seated at the right hand of the Father:receive our prayer.For you alone are the Holy One,you alone are the Lord,you alone are the Most High,Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

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We remain standing for the COLLECT (THE PRAYER FOR THE DAY) and the Priest introduces a short period of silent prayer with the words “Let us pray” Father in heaven,whose Son Jesus Christ was wonderfully transfiguredbefore chosen witnesses upon the holy mountain,and spoke of the exodus he would accomplish at Jerusalem:give us strength so to hear his voice and bear our crossthat in the world to come we may see him as he is;who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever. . Amen

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

All sitFIRST READING Daniel 7:9-10,13-14This is the Word of the LordThanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM from Psalm 97The Lord is King, most high above all the earth

All stand for the GOSPEL ACCLAMATIONAlleluia, alleluia!This is my Son, the Beloved: he enjoys my favour.Listen to him.Alleluia!

The Lord be with you and also with youHear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Glory to you, O Lord.

Matthew 17:1-9At the end: This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

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All sit

THE PRAYERS

These words may be used:

Lord, hear us Lord graciously hear us

Rest eternal grant unto them O Lordand let light perpetual shine upon them

We join our prayers with those of Our Lady, Consoler of the Afflicted, as we greet her and say:Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among 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.

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

THE PEACE

Christ will transfigure our human bodyand give it a form like that of his own glorious body.We are the body of Christ. We share his peace.

The peace of the Lord be always with youand also with you.

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THE MINISTRY OF THE SACRAMENT

O vision blest of heavenly light,Which meets the three disciples' sight,When on the holy mount they seeTheir Lord's transfigured majesty.

More bright than day his raiment shone;The Father's voice proclaimed the SonBelov'd before the worlds were made,For us in mortal flesh arrayed.

And with him there on either handLo, Moses and Elijah stand,To show how Christ, to those who see,Fulfils both law and prophecy.

O Light from light, by love inclined,Jesu, redeemer of mankind,Accept thy people's prayer and praiseWhich on the mount to thee they raise.

Be with is, Lord, as we descendTo walk with thee to journey's end,That through thy cross we too may rise,And share thy triumph in the skies.

To thee, O Father; Christ, to thee,Let praise and endless glory be,With whom the Spirit we adore,One Lord, one God, for evermore. Amen.

Words: G.B. Timms (1910-1997)

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OFFERTORY PRAYERS

Pray my brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father;May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His Name, for our good, and the good of all His Church.

Holy God,receive all we bring before you this day,and bring us also to that radiant glorywhich we see in the transfigured faceof Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

The Lord be with youand also with you.Lift up your heartsWe lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

All kneel

It is indeed right and good,our duty and our joy,always and everywhere to give you thanks,holy Father, almighty and eternal God,through Jesus Christ our Lord.For on this day he revealed his glorybefore his chosen witnessesand filled with divine splendourthe human flesh in which he is one with us.So he prepared his disciplesto bear the scandal of the crossand showed that in the Church, his body,

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the same glory would be fulfilledthat shone forth from him, its head.And so with joyful hearts we echo on earththe song of the angels in heavenas they praise 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.

Lord, you are holy indeed, the source of all holiness; grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and winemay become the body and bloodof our Lord Jesus Christ;who in the same night that he was betrayed,took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:

TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODYWHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying:

DRINK THIS, ALL OF YOU; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THEFORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

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Great is the mystery of Faith:All say Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

And so, Father, calling to mind his death on the cross, his perfect sacrifice made once for the sins of the whole world; rejoicing in his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming in glory, we celebrate this memorial of our redemption.

As we bring before you this bread and this cup, we offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and we thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.

Lord, may this sacrifice,which has made our peace with you,advance the peace and salvation of all the world.Strengthen in faith your pilgrim Church on earth;your servant Jonathan our bishop, and all the bishops.

Welcome into your kingdom our departedbrothers and sisters, and all who have left this world in your friendship.

Send the Holy Spirit on your people and gather into one in your kingdom all who share this one bread and one cup, so that we, in the company of Mary,

the virgin Mother of God, of James, Simon & Jude, and all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

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All 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.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

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.

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

THE INVITATIONBehold the Lamb of God, behold Him 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.

The Body of Christ Amen.The Blood of Christ Amen.

When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.10

COMMUNION HYMN is said after the Distribution is complete

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;Thy justice, like mountains high soaring aboveThy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest--to both great and small;In all life thou livest, the true life of all;We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,Then wither and perish--but naught changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;All praise we would render; O help us to see'Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

Words: Walter C .Smith (1824-1908)POST-COMMUNION PRAYER Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:may we who are partakers at his table reflect his life in word and deed,that all the world may know his power to change and save.This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

The Lord be with you And also with you

Christ, whose glory fills the skies, fill you with radianceand scatter the darkness from your path. Amen.Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,gladden your eyes and warm your heart. Amen.Christ, the Dayspring from on high,draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace. Amen.

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And the blessing of God almighty,the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

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

THE ANGELUS

The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary: And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among womenand 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it 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 may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that as we have known the Incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by His Cross and Passion may we be brought unto the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000) (including the Psalter as published with Common Worship); The Christian Year: Calendar, Lectionary and Collects (1997, 1998, 1999); material from which is

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included in this service, are copyright © The Archbishops’ Council. The text of the copyright hymns in this Mass are

reproduced under CCLI licence number 1072483

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