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Sunday Worship from Down Cathedral in Downpatrick.

Script may not be as broadcast and may include various production notes and possible errors. It is provided as a guide only for those who wish to refer to the service content.

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MUSIC: C茅ad mile f谩ilte romhat (Traditional Irish)

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DEAN HENRY HULL听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

Cead mile failte romhat a Iosa

Gladly I welcome you O Jesus, those words of the Introit set the scene and the theme for our service today from Down Cathedral. In our worship we seek to welcome God and respond to his welcome of us; whilst at the same time we welcome all who are joining us in this service both here in person and listening on the radio 鈥� you are all most welcome!

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REV ADRIAN DORRIAN

O Lord, open our lips

and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

Let us worship the Lord.

All praise to his name.

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Blessed are you, Sovereign God, Creator of all,

to you be glory and praise for ever.

You founded the earth in the beginning

and the heavens are the works of your hands.

In the fulness of time, you made us in your image,

and in these last days you have spoken to us

in your Son Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh.

As we rejoice in the gift of your presence among us

let the light of your love always shine in our hearts,

your Spirit ever renew our lives

and your praises ever be on our lips.

Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God for ever.

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As we explore the theme of welcome in today鈥檚 service, our first hymn is a reminder that God awaits and welcomes us as we come to him in worship: God is here as we his people鈥�

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MUSIC:听 God is here! As we his people meet to offer praise and prayer

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REV ADRIAN DORRIAN

I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 鈥楩补迟丑别谤, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.鈥�

Let us confess our sins to God our Father.

O God, our loving Father in heaven,

we confess that we have sinned against you;

we have broken your commandments;

we have often been selfish,

and we have not loved you as we should.

For these, and all our sins, forgive us, we pray:

through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.听 Amen.

May the Father of all mercies cleanse you form your sins,

and restore you in his image to the praise and glory of his name,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.听 Amen.

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Your word is a lantern to my feet

and a light upon our path.

O Lord, your word is everlasting:

It stands firm for ever in the heavens.

Let us then receive the word of the Lord.

So may the light of your presence shine into our hearts.

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As we offer worship and welcome in Down Cathedral, we greet visitors of all faiths and none from around the world.听 Sally King, a Diocesan Reader and the Revd Sabrina Cooke, our Team Curate, are among those who lead the office daily here in the Cathedral.听 They will read our lessons this morning, between which the choir sings Psalm 67.

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READER:

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 13 beginning at verse 1:

Let mutual love continue.听Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.听 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, 鈥業 will never leave you or forsake you.鈥櫶齋o we can say with confidence, 鈥楾he Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?鈥�

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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MUSIC Psalm 67 (Oakley in G)

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READER A Reading from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 15 beginning at verse 11:

Then Jesus听said, 鈥楾here was a man who had two sons.听The younger of them said to his father, 鈥淔ather, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.鈥� So he divided his property between them.听A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.听When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.听So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.听He would gladly have filled himself with听the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.听But when he came to himself he said, 鈥淗ow many of my father鈥檚 hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!听I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, 鈥楩补迟丑别谤, I have sinned against heaven and before you;听I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.鈥櫶�鈥澨齋o he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.听Then the son said to him, 鈥淔ather, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.鈥澨鼴ut the father said to his slaves, 鈥淨uickly, bring out a robe鈥攖he best one鈥攁nd put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.听And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;听for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!鈥� And they began to celebrate.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

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DEAN HENRY HULL Sermon

May I speak in the name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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As we explore the theme of welcome today I would like to reflect on that theme as it is found in our scripture readings.

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The parable of the Prodigal, or wayward son, is perhaps one of the most well known stories which Jesus told. It is a story which communicate a number of important ideas and this morning I would like to focus on the father鈥檚 extravagant welcome of his son.

In the culture of that day, asking for one鈥檚 inheritance in advance, was like saying to a parent, I wish you were dead. Then to go and fritter it all away in dissolute living was most unforgivable.

It would have unthinkable for a father to welcome someone back after all they had done.

Yet in this story, as the son returns home, perhaps rehearsing his lines,

鈥楩补迟丑别谤,

I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called

your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.,鈥�

we read that the father saw him and was filled with compassion;

he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

And as the son tries to mumble his penitential lines, the father interrupts him saying to his servants,听 鈥淨uickly, bring out a robe鈥攖he best one鈥攁nd put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!鈥�

This extravagant response of the father, which would have been so unexpected to those listening to Jesus, was told to illustrate the depth of love and compassion God has for us.

Even though we may have wandered away from God, or perhaps never engaged with him in any meaningful way, yet when we turn towards God, he rushes to meet us, to forgive us and to welcome us home. This picture runs both through the teachings of Jesus and his own interaction with those whom he met. It is a welcome of love that God longs for us all to discover and experience in our lives too.

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As we hear of God鈥檚 compassion and love for us, there is a question as to how are we respond?

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A picture that comes to mind for me is that well known painting by Holman Hunt, The Light of the World, a copy of which hangs in St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral in London. It is based on the passage from Revelation Chapter 3 where Jesus says,

听Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.

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It is an invitation for us to open the door and welcome him into our lives.

Some of us, like the wayward son, might feel we are unworthy to do so, but nevetheless, as we reflect on God鈥檚 compassion for us, and if we听 鈥渙pen the door鈥� and welcome Jesus into our lives, we too can discover the depths of the Father鈥檚 love for us.

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Then as we are embraced by God鈥檚 love, just as the Father embraced the penitent son, with that should come a desire or longing within to respond by offering our lives back to God in love and gratitude and to desire to walk in the way of Jesus, part of which is learning like Jesus to reach out to welcome and embrace others.

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At the entrance to our Cathedral Church we have a stone plinth with the words,

鈥淚 was a stranger and you welcomed me鈥�, engraved upon it.

These are words of Jesus from the sermon on the mount, where he taught that welcoming the outsider was one of the hallmarks of being his disciple.

We have it at our entrance to let all know, even if strangers, that they are welcome to come in.

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Our building was originally an abbey by Benedictine monks in 1183 and today we maintain very close relationship with the monks of a modern day Benedictine Abbey not far away in Rostrevor Co Down. We are reminded of this heritage and call to welcome all, in the words of St Benedict, who wrote in his rule, 鈥淟et all guests who arrive be received like Christ鈥�

And this also parallels the instruction in our reading from Hebrews, Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

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It is part of ministry here to welcome all who come in.

Just this week I have been previlleged to speak with visitors from the United States, Spain, Australia ..

Not only are we able to welcome those who physically come into our building but via our webcam in the past year we have been able to welcome people from over 117 countries joining our worship.

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At the heart of our welcome of others is first and foremost God鈥檚 welcome of us .

We are enabled to reach out with God鈥檚 love and welcome because we have discovered it in our own lives, as St John put it,

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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.听

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We love because he first loved us

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It has been our delight to welcome you to share with us in this service, as it is our delight to welcome warmly all who visit our Cathedral, but above our prayer is that you also might know God鈥檚 overarching desire to welcome you into his kingdom and to lavish his love upon you, as the father did to his wayward son in the parable told by Jesus.

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This morning鈥檚 Anthem continues the theme of love and hospitality for all.听 The Cathedral Choir sings 鈥楪o forth into the world in peace鈥� by John Rutter.

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MUSIC:听 Go forth into the world in peace; (John Rutter)

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REV ADRIAN DORRIAN Affirmation of Faith

Do you believe and trust in God the Father who made the world?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind?

I believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit who gives life to the people of God?

I believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith.

We believe and trust in One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.听 Amen.

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We prepare for our intercessions as we wing the hymn 鈥楩补迟丑别谤, hear the prayer we offer鈥�.

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MUSIC : Father, hear the prayer we offer(SUSSEX)

The Prayers of the People

READER Loving God, you call us to be a people of welcome.听 May we follow the example of your Son Jesus Christ, who reached out and connected with those who were on the margins of society.听 Help us to see in the faces of the marginalised that spark which is your likeness.听 We pray for those around the world who have been internally displaced or forced to become refugees as a result of conflict, persecution or poverty.听 [Especially we pray for the safety of those who feel they need to take to small vessels to cross the Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel,

Welcoming God: hear our prayer.

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Heavenly Father, we see your grace so clearly in the father鈥檚 response to the return of his prodigal son.听 Thank you that you take the same delight when we come to you with hearts that are penitent.听 We pray that you would speak听 to each person joining in this service, wherever they are, that they may know your power to restore us even when we carry heavy burdens from our own life experience.

Welcoming God: hear our prayer.

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READER Lord Jesus Christ, your ministry of hospitality was rooted in humility.听 You washed the feet of those who followed you: grant to our leaders today and听 that same sense of humble service. May they also know your gifts of wisdom and discernment as they make choices and take decisions that will impact the lives of many people.听 Help each of us to play our part in civic and community life; as we do so, may we too be guided by the example of Jesus as the one who came not to be served but to serve.

Welcoming God: hear our prayer.

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Holy Spirit of God, you dwell among your people and you sustain us in daily living.听 We pray today for all those whose daily lives are full of challenge:听 those for whom serious illness is a daily reality; those whose jobs take them to places of risk.听 As we watched the devastation unfolding in Hawaii and parts of Europe as a result of the recent fires, we pray for your protection on all emergency services 鈥� police, ambulance, fire and coastguard services 鈥� and we give thanks for the commitment of those who bless us through their work as first responders.

Welcoming God: hear our prayer.

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REV ADRIAN DORRIAN

The Collect of the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

O God,听you declare your almighty power听
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:听
Mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,听
that we, running the way of your commandments,听
may receive your gracious promises,听
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;听
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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The Lord鈥檚 Prayer

Gathering our prayers and praises into one, we pray together:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever.听 Amen.

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The final hymn today reflects the theme of the Church as part of the work and witness of Christ.听 Each verse ends with a reminder of the Church鈥檚 call to unity as we sing the words One Church, One Faith, One Lord.听

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MUSIC听 Thy hand, O God, has guided (THORNBURY)

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REV ADRIAN DORRIAN

and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ.听 Amen.

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CLOSING 听ANNOUNCEMENT听 Healey Willan鈥檚 Postlude in D concludes Sunday Worship which came from Down Cathedral, Downpatrick and was led by the Reverend Adrian Dorrian. The preacher was the Dean, the Very Reverend Henry Hull. The Music was directed by Michael McCracken and the organist was Stephen Hamill.

The producer was Bert Tosh.听