Post by Alfred Dunholm on Nov 10, 2010 0:22:26 GMT
Archbishop Dunholm regarded the land before him with joy and apprehension as it appeared steadily from the early morning mist. He had been little more than a toddler when he had last seen the land of his birth, an island last glimpsed through the folds of a blanket as his Mother cradled him on the packed deck of a fishing boat as they fled as refugees from the rising violence.
Today, the Archbishop knew, he would see the Cathedral of St George; a towering structure of stone and stained glass which had been shrouded in billowing black smoke on the day his family made their escape from Willow to the coast. The same fear he had felt on that morning when the blackness that separated him from the Heavens seemed impenetrable returned to Alfred and he clutched his crucifix and took comfort as the port unfolded from within the thick sea mist.
Several hours later, having been met off the ship by Nova English military officers and briefed on the situation, the Archbishop’s armoured car trundled up the battle scarred road into the old capital and the distant spires of the Cathedral came into view: once more shrouded in smoke as the battle still raged in the city. Alfred shuddered slightly but knew that he must go on and so his cortège passed beneath the arches of the King’s gate which was draped ceremonially with the banners of church and state.
At midday, having taken shelter in the old Chapter House and with the sounds of gunshots still ringing amongst the buildings of the city, Archbishop Dunholm emerged into the smoke-shrouded light. He walked up the great steps to the cathedral to the sound of the great bell ringing out over the rooftops; its tone skewed by damage inflicted during the years of chaos. Many hundreds of the residents of Willow had braved the ongoing conflict to fill the pews of the cathedral and the assembled residents applauded at the sight of the Archbishop appearing before them, framed by the great arch of the cathedral’s east door; his crosier and mitre glistening gold in the midday sun.
As the Archbishop and procession enter the Nave the congregation stand and sing:
Archbishop: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
All: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: 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. Amen
Archbishop: All have fallen short of the glory of God and tarnished His image in us, therefore let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we confess that we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and world 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 passed and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Archbishop: Almighty God who forgives all who truly repent, pardon you for all your sins and may the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.
The Choir sings the Gloria:
The first reading is announced: Luke 2:39-52
Congregation: thanks be to God.
The Archbishop stands behind the altar and sprinkles the sanctuary with Holy Water, the sanctuary lamp is lit.
Archbishop: Almighty Father, as we gather in this place where Your people once worshiped You in days gone by we pray that You may be within these walls once more, and accept the praise of your humble servants.
Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto You and does promise that when two or three are gathered together in Your name You will grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen
Incense is dispersed throughout the building and as the Archbishop and his procession leave the congregation stand to sing:
Alfred emerged once more from the Cathedral and took a deep breath as he looked out over the city; smoke still drifted accross the sky from some distant district where violence still raged, but the sun's golden rays shone down from the Heavens at that moment and the Archbishop knew that he was home.
Today, the Archbishop knew, he would see the Cathedral of St George; a towering structure of stone and stained glass which had been shrouded in billowing black smoke on the day his family made their escape from Willow to the coast. The same fear he had felt on that morning when the blackness that separated him from the Heavens seemed impenetrable returned to Alfred and he clutched his crucifix and took comfort as the port unfolded from within the thick sea mist.
Several hours later, having been met off the ship by Nova English military officers and briefed on the situation, the Archbishop’s armoured car trundled up the battle scarred road into the old capital and the distant spires of the Cathedral came into view: once more shrouded in smoke as the battle still raged in the city. Alfred shuddered slightly but knew that he must go on and so his cortège passed beneath the arches of the King’s gate which was draped ceremonially with the banners of church and state.
At midday, having taken shelter in the old Chapter House and with the sounds of gunshots still ringing amongst the buildings of the city, Archbishop Dunholm emerged into the smoke-shrouded light. He walked up the great steps to the cathedral to the sound of the great bell ringing out over the rooftops; its tone skewed by damage inflicted during the years of chaos. Many hundreds of the residents of Willow had braved the ongoing conflict to fill the pews of the cathedral and the assembled residents applauded at the sight of the Archbishop appearing before them, framed by the great arch of the cathedral’s east door; his crosier and mitre glistening gold in the midday sun.
As the Archbishop and procession enter the Nave the congregation stand and sing:
Lift up your hearts!” We lift them, Lord, to Thee;
Here at Thy feet none other may we see;
“Lift up your hearts!” E’en so, with one accord,
We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord.
Above the level of the former years,
The mire of sin, the weight of guilty fears,
The mist of doubt, the blight of love’s decay,
O Lord of Light, lift all our hearts today!
Above the swamps of subterfuge and shame,
The deeds, the thoughts, that honor may not name,
The halting tongue that dares not tell the whole,
O Lord of Truth, lift every Christian soul!
Above the storms that vex this lower state,
Pride, jealousy, and envy, rage, and hate,
And cold mistrust that holds e’en friends apart,
O Lord of Love, lift every brother’s heart!
Lift every gift that Thou Thyself hast given;
Low lies the best till lifted up to heaven;
Low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain,
Till, sent from God, they mount to God again.
Then, as the trumpet call, in after years,
“Lift up your hearts!” rings pealing in our ears,
Still shall those hearts respond, with full accord
“We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord!
Here at Thy feet none other may we see;
“Lift up your hearts!” E’en so, with one accord,
We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord.
Above the level of the former years,
The mire of sin, the weight of guilty fears,
The mist of doubt, the blight of love’s decay,
O Lord of Light, lift all our hearts today!
Above the swamps of subterfuge and shame,
The deeds, the thoughts, that honor may not name,
The halting tongue that dares not tell the whole,
O Lord of Truth, lift every Christian soul!
Above the storms that vex this lower state,
Pride, jealousy, and envy, rage, and hate,
And cold mistrust that holds e’en friends apart,
O Lord of Love, lift every brother’s heart!
Lift every gift that Thou Thyself hast given;
Low lies the best till lifted up to heaven;
Low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain,
Till, sent from God, they mount to God again.
Then, as the trumpet call, in after years,
“Lift up your hearts!” rings pealing in our ears,
Still shall those hearts respond, with full accord
“We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord!
Archbishop: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
All: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: 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. Amen
Archbishop: All have fallen short of the glory of God and tarnished His image in us, therefore let us confess our sins in penitence and faith.
All: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we confess that we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and world 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 passed and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Archbishop: Almighty God who forgives all who truly repent, pardon you for all your sins and may the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.
The Choir sings the Gloria:
Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili Unigénite, Iesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus,
Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
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
et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
Laudámus te, benedícimus te, adorámus te, glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili Unigénite, Iesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus,
Iesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.
Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
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 first reading is announced: Luke 2:39-52
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
This is the word of the Lord.
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.
This is the word of the Lord.
Congregation: thanks be to God.
The Archbishop stands behind the altar and sprinkles the sanctuary with Holy Water, the sanctuary lamp is lit.
Archbishop: Almighty Father, as we gather in this place where Your people once worshiped You in days gone by we pray that You may be within these walls once more, and accept the praise of your humble servants.
Almighty God, who has given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto You and does promise that when two or three are gathered together in Your name You will grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of Your servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen
Incense is dispersed throughout the building and as the Archbishop and his procession leave the congregation stand to sing:
To God be the glory! great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his son,
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the father through Jesus the son;
And give him the glory - great things he hath done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Refrain
Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the son:
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!
Refrain
So loved he the world that he gave us his son,
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the father through Jesus the son;
And give him the glory - great things he hath done.
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Refrain
Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the son:
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see!
Refrain
Alfred emerged once more from the Cathedral and took a deep breath as he looked out over the city; smoke still drifted accross the sky from some distant district where violence still raged, but the sun's golden rays shone down from the Heavens at that moment and the Archbishop knew that he was home.
