大象传媒

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.

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OPENING ANNO:

大象传媒 Radio 4.听听 And now we go live to Llanyrafon Methodist Church in Cwmbran, South Wales for this week鈥檚 Sunday Worship.听 The service, led by the Rev鈥檇 Cathy Gale and the Rev鈥檇 Dr. Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church, explores the theme of the call of the Gospel to social holiness.听 We begin with the Introit 鈥淟ead me, Lord鈥�.

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ITEM 1听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 INTROIT 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

鈥楲ead me Lord鈥櫶�听

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ITEM 2听 听听 JOHN WESLEY EXCERPT听听听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听鈥淭he Gospel of CHRIST knows of no Religion, but Social; no Holiness but Social Holiness. Faith working by Love, is the length and breadth and depth and height of Christian Perfection. This Commandment have we from CHRIST, that he who loves GOD, love his Brother also: And that we manifest our Love, by doing good unto all Men; especially to them that are of the Household of Faith鈥�

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ITEM 3听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 INTRO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

These are the words with which John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, introduced the very first Methodist hymnbook, some 275 years ago. Methodism may have been 鈥榖orn in song鈥�, but from the very beginning it has been committed to social holiness, to the living out of the Gospel in human community led by the power of the Spirit.

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It鈥檚 in this light that we welcome you to Llanyrafon Methodist Church in Cwmbran on this Sunday after All Saints鈥� Day, to celebrate a festival which was always dear to Wesley鈥檚 heart and his preaching. We鈥檙e part of a Church which has no formal process of 鈥榗anonization鈥� to designate 鈥榮aints鈥�; yet which cherishes all those through whom Christ has spoken and bears witness to the power of God to transform both individual lives and human society in every generation, to spread what Wesley called 鈥榮criptural holiness鈥� across the nation.

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And so, true to Wesley鈥檚 鈥榗atholic spirit鈥�, we begin with a hymn from another tradition and century, with Bianco da Siena鈥檚 鈥楥ome down O love divine.鈥�

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ITEM 4听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 HYMN听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR / CONG / ORG 听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

Come down, O Love divine,

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ITEM 5听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 LINK听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

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My colleague, Cathy Gale, the minister of this Church, will reflect later on how Wesley鈥檚 call to social holiness was to inspire early Methodists to go out as missionaries across the world, and indeed to lead her to minister in the Caribbean.

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But now she retired minister Anthony Gregory call us to worship with a reading from Psalm 34.

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ITEM 6听 听听 READING PSALM 34听听听听 听听听听 CATHY GALE / ANTHONY听听 听听听听听 DUR:

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(CG) I will bless the Lord at all times;

听听听听听 his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Let the humble hear and be glad.

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(AG) O听magnify the Lord with me,

听听听听听 and let us exalt his name together.

鈥↖ sought the Lord, and he answered me,听听

听听听听听 and delivered me from all my fears. 鈥�

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(CG) Look to him, and be radiant;听听听

听听听听听 so your faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,听

听听听听听 and was saved from every trouble.

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(AG) The angel of the Lord encamps鈥�

听听听听听 around those who fear him, and delivers them. 鈥�

O听taste and see that the Lord is good;

听听听听听 happy are those who take refuge in him. 鈥�

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听ITEM 7听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 PRAYER听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CATHY GALE听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

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Mighty God and Father of us all,听

You bring us together in one family 鈥� people of every time and place.听

Your family transcends time and space 听

and we are called to worship you together.听

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As we worship today, may earthly and heavenly music blend, 听

as we join our praise with the praises of the hosts above,听

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.听 Amen.听

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Merciful God, we confess to you 听

that we have not been all that you have called us to be.听

We have been proud and conceited, 听

rather than acknowledging you and your grace in our lives.听

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We have not always shown respect to one another, 听

and so not lived out what you have shown us through Jesus Christ our Lord;听

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We have neglected the call to be holy听

and so our world has not benefitted from the service we could have given, 听

nor from the witness to your love and goodness we might have shown.听

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Forgive us, Lord, that we may be enabled to be

your saints in our time and place.听 听

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Saviour.听 Amen.听

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听ITEM 8 The Lord鈥檚 Prayer 听听听听听听听听听听听 CATHY / CONG听 DUR:

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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,

Forever and ever, Amen.

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ITEM 9听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听LINK INTO READING听听听听听听 听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听 DUR:听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

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Our New Testament reading from the Revelation of St John, chapter 7, introduces us to a vision of worship in heaven, in communion with all the saints.

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ITEM 10听 READING听 Revelation 7 - DOROTHY听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.听

They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 鈥淪alvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!鈥� And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, 鈥淎men! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.鈥�

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, 鈥淲ho are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?鈥� I said to him, 鈥淪ir, you are the one that knows.鈥� Then he said to me, 鈥淭hese are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.鈥�

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ITEM 11听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ANTHEM 听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR/听PIANO听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart

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ITEM 12听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 LINK INTO READING听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

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Our Gospel reading from Matthew chapter 5 marks the beginning of Jesus鈥� 鈥楽ermon on the mount鈥�, as he teaches the crowds following him about the ways of God鈥檚 kingdom here on earth.

听ITEM 13听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 READING听听听听听听听听听听听听 Matthew 5听听听听听听听听听 JAN听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

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When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

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听鈥楤lessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

听鈥楤lessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

听鈥楤lessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

听鈥楤lessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

听鈥楤lessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

听鈥楤lessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

听鈥楤lessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

听鈥楤lessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness鈥� sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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ITEM 14听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ADDRESS 听听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY 听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听(鈥楴o holiness but social holiness鈥�)

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Our Bible readings today have encouraged us to catch a glimpse of worship in heaven with all the saints, and then to face up to the challenge of living out God鈥檚 kingdom here on earth. And, traditionally, that has been the role of saints in the life of the Church, to offer examples of faith that could strengthen people of another generation to live out their own discipleship strengthened by the encouragement (and indeed by the prayers) of those who had gone before.

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John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, was committed to that same pattern of discipleship. He wanted all those who had come to a saving knowledge of the grace of God to be enabled to live out their new life of faith, strengthened not just by the stories of those who had gone before, but from the sharing and mutual encouragement of their fellow Christians. So what was distinctive about the early Methodists was not simply how they responded to new patterns of preaching and worship, but the way Wesley organized his followers into societies and classes, so that they could share the responsibility of watching over one another in love and building each other up in faith.

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That鈥檚 why he spoke of the Gospel knowing 鈥榥o Religion, but Social; no Holiness but Social Holiness鈥�; and it鈥檚 why to this day Methodists are still encouraged to be part of fellowship groups, where they can live out their faith in the company of others. It also provided a basis from which individual Christians could reflect on the practical outworking of their faith, and its impact on wider society. So it鈥檚 no surprise that Methodists came to play an important part in the rise of the Trades Union and then Labour movements, seeking to shape the society in which they lived so as to improve the lot of ordinary working men and women.

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For all that Wesley鈥檚 own background and politics were somewhat different, I think he would have recognized in this, something of that 鈥榩erfecting of the Saints鈥� for the edifying of the Body of CHRIST鈥� of which he wrote in his Preface to that first Methodist hymn book. For he too was convinced of the power of God to transform human lives and society, and aware also of the impact which individual stories could have on the lives of other believers.

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As I reflect on my own ministry, I can share in his testimony. We have no calendar of saints or process of canonization in Methodism; but looking back to my first appointment in south Wales, I can remember a little old lady who suffered severely from arthritis, who had lived with limited means a life marked with much personal sadness and yet also some joy.听 There was little she was able to do practically to help out in her local church; but she was a woman of great faith and commitment to prayer 鈥� and her gift was to be the focal point of a small prayer meeting that took place each Thursday morning, at which the needs of the wider world and her small local community were brought before God.

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Few people would know Mary鈥檚 name; she leaves no writings or legacy to compare say with Mother Julian of Norwich. Yet in her small community in Swansea, she lived out her faith as one of Christ鈥檚 saints on earth, in such a way as to bear witness to the love of God and build up the body of Christ. And I believe that Mary and countless others like her will come to share in that wider communion which includes all God鈥檚 saints, and who share in the life of the kingdom and the worship of heaven.

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ITEM 15 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 HYMN听听 CHOIR / CONG / ORGAN听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

Lord thy church on earth is seeking

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ITEM 16听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ADDRESS ii听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CATHY GALE听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

(鈥楬oliness and mission 鈥� in the footsteps of Thomas Coke鈥� (CG)

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The hymn we鈥檝e just sung, 鈥楲ord, Thy church on earth is seeking鈥�, was written by the Rev. Hugh Sherlock, the first President of Conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. It calls the church to a holiness which is manifest, not simply in Sunday Worship, but by being lived out in communities where the 鈥渂ruised and lonely dwell鈥�.听 It challenges us to remember the church鈥檚 dependence on God for renewal in its mission to be an instrument in sharing God鈥檚 love and in bringing people to the God who is love.听

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The Methodist Church in the Caribbean arose as a result of the combined commitment of missionaries from Britain and local people in the West Indies, many of them slaves who responded to the gospel message.听 One key missionary figure was born not very many miles from where we are gathered for this service today 鈥� Thomas Coke, born in Brecon and the bicentenary of whose death we have been remembering this year.听 Coke earned himself the nickname 鈥淭he Father of Methodist Missions鈥� as much of his ministry was taken up traveling overseas, first to America, then the Caribbean and, his last voyage was to Sri Lanka 鈥� a journey he never completed.

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Coke was a living example of social holiness in action.听 He was as much a campaigner against slavery as he was a preacher of the gospel 鈥� for him the two things went hand-in-hand.听 He saw those who were saved 鈥� whatever was their station in life 鈥� as co-workers for God, and recognized saintly virtues in the Christian slaves who suffered harsh punishments from cruel slave owners for such transgressions as attendance at prayer meetings.听 Coke lived a life of holiness in a broken world 鈥� and witnessed the same in the lives of others.听听听

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Fast forward two hundred years and there鈥檚 a personal connection here for me.听 As I prepared to leave university I found myself deeply affected by the pain of the world in which I was living.听 But what could I do?听 One day, as I lamented the injustices of the world for the umpteenth time, a friend 鈥� not a Christian, and probably a bit tired of my grumbling 鈥� said a few words that would change my life:听 鈥淲ell, do something about it then 鈥�.鈥澨� The words wouldn鈥檛 leave me and not many months later I began working as a volunteer teacher in a Methodist school in the Caribbean, later going on to train as a Methodist Minister, and serving in Jamaica for almost twenty years 鈥� benefitting there from the foundations laid by of Thomas Coke and the faithful Christian slaves with whom he worked.听

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I was continually humbled, inspired and challenged by the lives lived by ordinary but faithful people with whom I came into contact. People whose deep trust in God allowed them to live lives of serving others 鈥� very often not being paid for their service, materially poor people who would share all they had, people whose testimony to a God who carried them through the worst of times often caused others to want to hear more about the faith.

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[Perhaps those words used by my friend almost 30 years ago now are as good a translation of the call to social holiness as any 鈥� 鈥淒o something about it then 鈥�.鈥澨� ]

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As we look at a sad and broken world, filled with people facing impossible situations, we can turn inward in despair, we can turn away from its pain or we can open ourselves to the God who can transform us and give us grace to make a difference:听 to be the peacemakers, the ones who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the ones who are prepared to be persecuted for what is right.听 What might we do to help bring the Kingdom of God here on earth?听

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听ITEM 17听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 ANTHEM听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR / ORGAN听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听鈥楢ll saints鈥櫶�听

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ITEM 18 LINK听听听听听 CATHY GALE

听Our choir this morning comprises members of The Welsh Camerata, directed by Andrew Wilson-Dickson, who also arranged that version of 鈥淎ll Saints鈥�.

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ITEM 19听 Intercessions听听 CATHY / AG / CHOIR / readers听听听 DUR:

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(CG)听听听听听听 So inspired by that great Commission, and reminded of the calling each of us have to share in the work of God鈥檚 saints, let us pray;

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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR

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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me Lord;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me, Jesus; send me, Jesus;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me, Jesus; send me, Lord (repeat)

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(AG) 听听听听

We pray for the world,

this world which God loved so much that he sent his only Son

to share in its life and bring about its salvation.

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We pray for all who live in those difficult and dangerous places,

where communities are caught up in conflict and violence

and the prospects for a political solution seem slim,

asking that they may be strengthened by the knowledge

of your peaceful presence among them.

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We pray especially for鈥�

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

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听听听听听 CHOIR

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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me Lord;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me, Jesus; send me, Jesus;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Send me, Jesus; send me, Lord (repeat)

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DOROTHY

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We pray for Christ鈥檚 church,

for all who meet in his name and share in his service

in local congregations and communities across this country;

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We pray especially for our sisters and brothers across the world

Who face the threat of persecution and violence

As they seek to bear witness to their faith in Christ,

And serve as his saints upon earth.

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听听听听听 CHOIR

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听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lead me Lord;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lead me, Jesus; lead me, Jesus;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Lead me, Jesus; lead me, Lord (repeat)

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JAN 听听听听听听

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We pray for one another,

for the neighbourhoods in which we live and work,

for those people whose needs we know

and for those whose needs are known by God alone;

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We pray particularly for those new situations into which God may lead us,

asking that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit

and used as instruments of Christ鈥檚 peace and compassion;

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听听听听听 CHOIR

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fill me Lord;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fill me, Jesus; fill me, Jesus;

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Fill me, Jesus; fill me, Lord (repeat)

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CG)

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We ask these prayers in the name of the one who calls and equips

us all in his service, even our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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ITEM 20听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 LINK听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CATHY GALE听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听Our closing hymn this morning is one from that very first Methodist hymnbook, in which John鈥檚 brother Charles Wesley affirms his trust in the power of God鈥檚 鈥榮anctifying Spirit鈥� to 鈥榩erfect holiness鈥� in each of us;听 鈥楪od of all power and truth and grace鈥�.

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ITEM 21听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 HYMN听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 CHOIR / CONG / ORGAN听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

听God of all power and truth and grace,

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ITEM 听听听听 22听听听听听听听听听听 BLESSING 听听听听听听听听听听 STEPHEN WIGLEY 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 DUR:

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May the God of love

Stir up in us the gift of his grace

And sustain each of us

In our discipleship and service;

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2

(And) So to the God who is able,

By the power of his spirit within us

To do immeasurably more

than we can conceive or imagine,

to him be glory in the Church,

and in Christ Jesus,

to all generations, forever and ever,

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3

(and) May the blessing of God,

The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit,

Be upon us all, and remain with us,

For evermore,

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Amen.

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ITEM 23听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Organ postlude听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 THOMAS BREEZE

Bach Fantasia in G major

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CLOSING ANNO FROM R4

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This morning鈥檚 Sunday Worship came live from Llanyrafon Methodist Church in Cwmbran, South Wales.听 The service was led by the Minister, the Rev鈥檇 Cathy Gale and the Rev鈥檇 Dr. Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Wales Synod of the Methodist Church.听 Members of the Welsh Camerata were directed by Andrew Wilson-Dickson and the organist was Thomas Breeze. The producer was Karen Walker.

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Next week Sunday Worship for Remembrance will be a special edition recorded at Camp Bastion and also on the First World War battlefields of northern France.

[Former army chaplain, the Reverend Andrew Martlew, met the British forces in Afghanistan as they prepared to leave and attends a service for the re-internment of the remains of fifteen British soldiers 100 years after they were killed in action in Flanders.]

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