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CHOIR/ORGAN: HYMN: A brighter dawn is breaking

1听 A brighter dawn is breaking,

And earth with praise is waking;

For thou, O King most highest,

The power of death defiest;

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2 And thou hast come victorious,

With risen Body glorious,

Who now for ever livest,

And life abundant givest.听听听听听听听听听听听听

3 O free the world from blindness,

And fill the world with kindness,

Give sinners resurrection,

Bring striving to perfection;

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4 In sickness give us healing,

In doubt thy clear revealing,

That praise to thee be given

In earth as in thy heaven.

ANDREW:

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

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ANDREW:

The Lord be with you

ALL: and also with you.

鈥�

ANDREW:

Welcome to Croydon Minster for today鈥檚 celebration of the Eucharist. This site is the ancient and enduring spiritual heart of Croydon situated in Croydon鈥檚 Old Town.It鈥檚 an historic place. The first priest of Croydon is recorded in 960. Six archbishops of Canterbury are buried here,most notably the Elizabethan Archbishop John Whitgift whose Foundation continues to this day delivering care to older people and education to the young.Today we honour St Luke the Evangelist, author of the gospel that bears his name and the Acts of the Apostles.Luke was a companion of the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys and was also a physician:at this Eucharist we ask his intercession for all who are unwell in body, mind and spirit, especially those who are housebound, isolated or shielding.

We welcome Bishop Precious Omuku as our preacher this morning,Bishop Precious is the Archbishop of Canterbury鈥檚 Special Representative on Conflict in Sub Saharan Africa and an assistant Bishop in this Diocese of Southwark.

Now let us turn our hearts, minds and bodies to worship.鈥�

JOE:

Brothers and sisters,

let us confess our sins

and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the Holy Mysteries.听

ALL:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

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ANDREW:

May almighty God have mercy on you,

forgive you your sins,听听听听

and bring you to everlasting life.

ALL: Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: GLORIA: Ireland in C

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ANDREW:

Let us pray

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Almighty God,

you called Luke the physician,

whose praise is in the gospel,

to be an evangelist and physician of the soul:

by the grace of the Spirit

and through the wholesome medicine of the gospel,

give your Church the same love and power to heal;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

ALL: Amen.

ROSEMARIE:

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.听

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 鈥楤e strong, do not fear! Here is your God.He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.鈥�

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer,and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

This is the word of the Lord.

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ALL: Thanks be to God.

CHOIR/ORGAN: GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

JOE:

The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

All: Glory to you, O Lord.

The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.He said to them, 鈥楾he harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals;and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 鈥淧eace to this house!鈥� And if anyone is there who shares in peace,your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide,for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 鈥淭he kingdom of God has come near to you.鈥�

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This is the Gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to you, O Christ.

PRECIOUS:

Paul the Apostle fondly referred to him as 鈥渢he beloved Physician鈥� 鈥� an obvious acknowledgement of the health relief Luke brought to Paul and his missionary companions.As we remember Luke the Evangelist and Physician today, we must pay tribute to health and care workers; and all emergency workers, who continue to sustain us especially in the face of the Corona virus challenge.As we heard earlier in our Old Testament reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, God promises a restoration of Israel from oppression -鈥榟e will come and save you鈥� we鈥檙e told. Isaiah was thinking about freedom from the likes of the Assyrian and Babylonian empires,both of which had brought war and destruction to the people of the Middle East. In the short term, these were fulfilled.In an earlier chapter of his book, Isaiah tells us that God promises to ultimately restore the despoiled ecology of the world after the end of the Great Tribulation,and in his letter to the Romans St Paul states that nature is eagerly awaiting that restoration.

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In this pandemic, the general message from Isaiah for us is that this is no time to have tired hands, weak knees and fearful hearts.There shall be a restoration of our ailing bodies and the world鈥檚 economies! The progress on therapeutics and vaccines, and the economic recovery in China,should give us hope.

Most Bible scholars believe that Luke the Evangelist was born in Antioch of Syria, present day Iraq. That makes him a non Jew,and the only non Jewish contributor to the Bible. In Isaiah 49:6, God promises that salvation is available for all humanity.Luke is credited by scholars as the author of two books of the Bible: the Gospel according to Luke; and the Acts of the Apostles. Together,these make up over one quarter of the New Testament. His introductions to the two Books outline his purpose.For the Gospel, Luke tells us that he set out to produce an 鈥渁ccurate account鈥� about 鈥渆verything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven鈥�.The Gospel writers compiled comprehensive volumes on the life of Jesus for their various audiences, using available documents and eyewitnesses.

For Luke, his focus was his fellow Gentiles.

Having completed his first volume, the Gospel, Luke began to document the story of what Jesus continued to do, through the power of the Holy Spirit,working through witnesses that Jesus left behind on Earth 鈥� the Apostles and disciples, and ultimately, you and me!Luke鈥檚 second book in the Bible -The Acts of the Apostles - covers the early life of the Church 鈥� the miraculous works, the persecutions,the scattering of the disciples and the spread of the Gospel! For most of the time, Luke was embedded with Paul during Paul鈥檚 missionary journeys through which the Gospel was spread to Asia and Europe,and to the ends of the earth!There are three takeaways from Luke鈥檚 life. The first is that our service to the kingdom of God should be part of our everyday life and they should feed off each other.Before I was ordained, my corporate experiences were in geology and external affairs. While serving God in my local church and my place of work,I was invited to train as a Lay Reader, and eventually as a Priest. As a new priest I was thrown into the deep end to plant a Church, and God used my prior experiences to see me through.

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Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us in our New Testament Reading this morning that 鈥淭he harvest is great, but the workers are few鈥� (Luke 10:2).

We are all called in different ways, and for some The Self Supporting or Non Stipendiary Ministry may be beckoning.Do not be afraid. The Holy Spirit is still working, as He did with the Apostles and others like Dr Luke.The second thing that Luke teaches us is humility. Luke never mentioned his name as author of the two works in the Bible.Even though he was part of the story in Acts, Luke did not make a big deal of it.听 So we should point to Jesus in our endeavours and let Him be lifted up instead.And finally, Luke demonstrates to us the importance of loyalty. He stuck with Paul throughout the dangers of Paul鈥檚 travels -from being shipwrecked at sea after violent storms, to being attacked by robbers - and to the end as Paul was in prison awaiting trial and almost certain death (Col. 4:10-14).

God uses ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things!鈥�

CHARLES:

As we celebrate St Luke the Evangelist today, we offer our prayers to our loving God:

For all who work in our National Health Service and those who care at home: may we all know the healing presence of Christ.

Lord hear us

ALL: 听听听听听听 Lord, graciously hear us.

For Elizabeth our Queen and all in positions of authority and responsibility: may they be wise in listening and gracious in speaking.

Lord hear us

ALL: 听听听听听听 Lord, graciously hear us.听

For all missionaries, for all who spread the word of God throughout the world: may we be bearers of the Good News of the gospel.

Lord hear us

ALL: 听听听听听听 Lord, graciously hear us.

For those unwell in body, mind or spirit: may they be strengthened and restored.

Lord hear us

ALL: 听听听听听听 Lord, graciously hear us.鈥�

For those whose life is drawing to a close, and the recently departed: may they know the life of heaven.

Lord hear us

ALL: 听听听听听听 Lord, graciously hear us.

We join our prayers with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Luke the Evangelist, St John the Baptist and all the saints,commending ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.

Merciful Father,

ALL:

accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: HYMN: O Holy Spirit, Lord of Grace

1听 O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace,

Eternal fount of love,

Inflame, we pray, our inmost hearts

With fire from heaven above.

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2 As thou in bond of love dost join

The Father and the Son,

So fill us all with mutual love,

And knit our hearts in one.

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3 All glory to the Father be,

All glory to the Son,

All glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,

While endless ages run. Amen.

ANDREW:

Father, accept all we bring before you this day.

Guide us with your love and feed us at your table

as you nourish the faith of the Church

by the preaching of your apostles.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ALL:听听听听听听听 Amen.

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The Lord be with you

ALL:听听听听听听听 and also with you.

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Lift up your hearts.

ALL:听听听听听听听 We lift them to the Lord.

听

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

ALL:听听听听听听听 It is right to give thanks and praise.

鈥�

ANDREW:

It is indeed right and good

that we should give you thanks, praise and glory,

almighty and everlasting God,

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

For after his resurrection

he sent out his apostles and evangelists

to preach the gospel to all nations

and lead us in the way of truth.

Himself the chief cornerstone,

he founded his Church upon the apostles

firmly to stand for ever

as a sign of your holiness upon earth

and a living witness to all

of the way that leads to heaven.

And so with angels and archangels

and with all the company of heaven

we lift our voices and join in their unending hymn of praise:

CHOIR/ORGAN: SANCTUS & BENEDICTUS: Ireland in C

鈥�

ANDREW:

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 wine

may be to us the + body and blood of 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:

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

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you;

do this in remembrance of me.

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In the same way, after supper

he took the cup and gave you thanks;

he gave it to them, saying:

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Drink this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of me.

鈥�

JOE:

Great is the mystery of faith:

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ALL:

Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.

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ANDREW:

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 offer you this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving,

we bring before you this bread and this cup

and we thank you for counting us worthy

to stand in your presence and serve you.

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Remember, Lord, your Church in every land.

Reveal her unity, guard her faith,

and preserve her in peace

together with Christopher, our bishop,

Jonathan, bishop of Croydon,

and all pastors who minster in your name.

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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 the Blessed Virgin Mary,

St Luke the Evangelist, St John the Baptist and all the saints,

may praise and glorify you for ever,

through Jesus Christ our Lord;

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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.

ALL: 听听听听听听 Amen.

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鈥�

ANDREW:

Let us prayer with confidence as our Saviour has taught us.

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ALL:

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.听

Amen.

听

鈥�

ANDREW:

Lord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you,

look not on our sins,

but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity

in accordance with your will.

who live and reign for ever and ever

ALL: Amen.

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The peace of the Lord be always with you

ALL: and also with you.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: AGNUS DEI: Ireland in C

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ANDREW:

Behold the Lamb of God

behold him who takes away the sin of the world.

Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

ALL: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,

but only say the word, and I shall be healed.

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The Body of Christ

ALL: Amen.

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CHOIR: MOTET: Justorum animae (Stanford)

ANDREW:

Let us pray.

听

Lord God, the source of truth and love,

keep us faithful to the apostles鈥� teaching and fellowship,

united in prayer and the breaking of bread,

and one in joy and simplicity of heart,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: HYMN: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

1 Ye watchers and ye holy ones,

Bright Seraphs, Cherubim and Thrones,

Raise the glad strain, Alleluya!

Cry out Dominions, Princedoms, Powers,

Virtues, Archangels, Angels' choirs,

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Refrain:

Alleluya, Alleluya,

Alleluya, Alleluya, Alleluya!

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2 O higher than the Cherubim,

More glorious than the Seraphim,

Lead their praises, Alleluya!

Thou Bearer of the eternal Word,

Most gracious, magnify the Lord, [Refrain]听听听听听听听听听听

3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,

Ye Patriarchs and Prophets blest,

Alleluya, Alleluya!

Ye holy Twelve, ye Martyrs strong,

All Saints triumphant, raise the song [Refrain]

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4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,

Supernal anthems echoing,

Alleluya, Alleluya!

To God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Spirit, Three in One, [Refrain]

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ANDREW:

The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you.

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ANDREW:

May almighty God bless you,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

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JOE:

Go in the peace of Christ.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

听

ORGAN: VOLUNTARY: F锚te (Langlais)