Diocese of Barbados

Diocese of Barbados

Annual Diocesan Service

Celebrating the Ministry

of the Most Reverend Dr John Holder

February 11, 2018

“Being A Beacon of Christ’s presence in the community”

President

The Most Reverend Dr John Holder

Bishop of Barbados and

Archbishop of the West Indies

Preacher

The Right Reverend Philip Wright

Bishop of Belize

ORDER OF SERVICE

Musical prelude:

ST. CLEMENT’S ORCHESTRA
TRINITY STEEL

THE ARCH HALL JAZZ COMBO

THE DIOCESAN YOUTH CHORALE

THE DIOCESAN CHOIR

Organists:

MR. JULIAN BOWEN (DIRECTOR OF MUSIC)

MR. JOHN BURNETT (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR)

MISS JANAYE BURGESS (DIRECTOR YOUTH CHORALE)

MR. PHILIP FORDE

Organ Prelude:

HYMN374

O praise our great and gracious Lord,
and call upon his name;
to strains of joy tune every chord,
his mighty acts proclaim;
tell how he led his chosen race
to Canaan’s promised land;
tell how his covenant of grace
unchanged shall ever stand.

He gave the shadowing cloud by day,
the moving fire by night;
to guide his Israel on their way,
he made their darkness light;
and have not we a sure retreat,
a Saviour ever nigh,
the same clear light to guide our feet,
the day-spring from on high?

We, too have manna from above,
the bread that came from heaven;
to us the same kind hand of love
hath living waters given;
a rock we have, from whence the spring
in rich abundance flows;
that rock is Christ, our Priest, our King,
who life and health bestows.

O may we praise this blessèd food,
and trust our heavenly Guide;
so shall we find death’s fearful flood
serene as Jordan’s tide,
and safely reach that happy shore,
the land of peace and rest,
where angels worship and adore
in God’s own presence blest.

HYMN 386

Sing praise to God who reigns above,

the God of all creation,

the God of power, the God of love,

the God of our salvation;

with healing balm my soul he fills,

and every faithless murmur stills:

to God all praise and glory.

The Lord is never far away,

but, through all grief distressing,

an ever-present help and stay,

our peace and joy and blessing;

as with a mother’s tender hand,

he leads his own, his chosen band:

to God all praise and glory.

Thus all my gladsome way along

I sing aloud thy praises,

that men may hear the grateful song

my voice unwearied raises;

be joyful in the Lord, my heart;

both soul and body bear your part:

to God all praise and glory.

THE OPENING SENTENCE

For the God who said, “Out of darkness light shall shine,”

has caused this light to shine in our hearts, the light which is knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

11 Corinthians 4:6

ALL

Blessed Lord and Father, we have assembled in your Name and in fellowship with one another. Enable us by your grace to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; to proclaim and respond to your holy word. Teach us to pray for your world and your Church. Grant that we, confessing our sins, may worthily offer to you our souls and bodies as a living sacrifice and eat and drink of your spiritual food in this Holy Sacrament. Amen.

COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE KYRIES

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

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 theFather,

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.

THE COLLECT – The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD

The First Reading:Dr Stuart Holder

A Reading from the Word of God written in the Second Book of Kings, Chapter two, verse one to twelve.

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father!The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

READER:The Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Congregation remains seated

Psalm50: 1-6

1. The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

1. Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, God revealshimself inglory.

1. Our God will come and will not keep silence; beforehimthere is a consuming flame, and round about hima ragingstorm.

1. He calls the heavens and the earth from above towitnessthe judgment of his people.

1. "Gather before me my loyal followers, those whohavemade a covenant with me and sealed it with sacrifice."

1. Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; for God himself is judge.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit; As it was in the beginning, is now: shall be forever. Amen.

The Second Reading:Dr Melissa Pusey

A Reading from the Word of God, written in Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter four, verse three to six

Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

READER:The Word of the Lord

ALL:Thanks be to God.

HYMN 104

Songs of thankfulness and praise,
Jesu, Lord, to thee we raise,
manifested by the star
to the sages from afar,
branch of royal David's stem,
in thy birth at Bethlehem:
anthems be to thee addrest,
God in Man made manifest.

Manifest at Jordan's stream,
Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;
and at Cana, wedding-guest,
in thy Godhead manifest;
manifest in power divine,
changing water into wine:
anthems be to thee addrest
God in Man made manifest.

Manifest in making whole
palsied limbs and fainting soul;
manifest in valiant fight,
quelling all the devil's might;
manifest in gracious will,
ever bringing good from ill:
anthems be to thee addrest,
God in Man made manifest.

Sun and moon shall darkened be,
stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;
Christ will then like lightning shine,
all will see his glorious sign;
all will then the trumpet hear,
all will see the Judge appear:
thou by all wilt be confest,
God in Man made manifest.

Grant us grace to see thee, Lord,
mirrored in thy holy word;
may we imitate thee now,
and be pure as pure art thou;
that we like to thee may be
at thy great Epiphany;
and may praise thee, ever blest,
God in Man made manifest.

The Holy Gospel

Gospeller:The Reverend Audrey Griffith

READER:The Lord be with you.

ALL:And also with you.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark, the ninth Chapter, beginning at the second verse

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

READER:The Gospel of Christ.

ALL:Praise to Christ our Lord.

THE SERMONThe Right Reverend Philip Wright

Bishop of Belize

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is seen or unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

one in Being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

He came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

He was born of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.

For our sake He was crucified

under Pontius Pilate;

He suffered, died and was buried.

On the third day He rose again

Infulfilment of the Scriptures;

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right

hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge

the living and the dead,

and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and the Son

He is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic

and apostolic church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

THE INTERCESSION:

Ms Maia –Lynn Robinson - Griffith

Master AndréLashley- Proverbs

Leader: Every day is a day to be renewed, to become the people God created us to be.

People: May we learn to recognize our true selves as we reflect on God’s hope and intention for creation.

Leader: God calls us to proclaim the gospel for the salvation of all humanity.

People: May we seek to be the presence of Christ in the worldwithout creating clubs that push people away.

Leader: God calls us to shelter, nurture, and cultivate spiritual communion among all God’s children.

People: May we be a safe place for everyone to question, to know and to grow.

Leader: God calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.

People: May we abandon entertainment for profound awareness; May we share our gifts and creativity in our expression; and may the table at which we gather always have room.

Leader: God calls us to uphold the truth.

People: May we faithfully struggle to understand truth, so that instead of being chained and imprisoned to it, we may be joyfully and completely set free by it.

Leader: God calls us to be advocates for social justice.
People: May everything that seeks to undermine God’s love make us uncomfortable and passionately counteractive.

Leader: God calls us to be a visible manifestation of God’s vision of, and hope for, all creation.

People: May we live as if we truly believe, shining light in darkness, sprinkling salt on blandness, and celebrating the joy of life that we all share together. Let it be so!

Leader: O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, Sandra, Governor-General, Freundel, Prime Minister and Mia, Leader of the Opposition, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

People: Lord, keep this nation under your care.

Leader: Almighty God, giver of all good things: We thank you for the natural majesty and beauty of this land. They restore us, though we often destroy them.

People: Heal us.

Leader: We thank you for the men and women who have made this country strong. They are models for us, though we often fall short of them.

People: Inspire us.

Leader: We thank you for the Church in this Diocese

People: Help us to be faithful disciples

Leader: Today we thank you in a special way for the episcopal ministry of John our Bishop and Archbishop. We thank you for his leadership and guidance over the past seventeen years.

People: We thank you, Lord

Leader: We thank you for the lives and examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints

People: We thank you Lord

Leader: We commend to your mercy our brothers and sisters and all others who have died in your faith

People: Grant them rest.

Silence

All:

Accept, O Lord,our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us.We thank you for the splendour of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world,for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends,and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at taskswhich demand our best efforts,and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that help us to acknowledgeour dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ;for the truth of his Wordand the example of his life;for his steadfast obedience,by which he overcame temptation;for his dying,through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again,in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit,that we may know him and make him known;and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.