Sunday Worship
Following periods of suspension, we resumed Sunday morning worship in the Church on Easter Day, 4th April 2021. Please see the current guidelines below.
A recording of each live worship service will normally be available on this page, replacing earlier pre-recorded services.
Sunday 10 December - Advent 2
10.30am Morning Worship
Mr David Morgan
Sunday 17 December - Advent 3
10.30am All Age Worship
Revd Catherine Bowstead
4.00pm Carol Service
Sunday 24 December - Christmas Eve
10.30am Morning Worship
Revd Catherine Bowstead
4.00pm Christingle
11.30pm Midnight Communion
Revd Catherine Bowstead
Monday 25 December - Christmas Day
10.30am Christmas Morning Worship
Revd Catherine Bowstead
Sunday 31 December
10.00am Circuit Service at Woosehill Church
no service at Wokingham
Sunday Worship in Church: Guidelines
(revised March 2022) We are continuing to keep a close eye on the advice given to churches in the light of the recent update to government guidelines and regulations. For everyone’s safety, the doors and windows will be open to ensure good ventilation so please dress appropriately; wearing a face covering is now optional while you are in the building but you are welcome to continue wearing one if you prefer. Please consider leaving an empty chair or two between households so that we respect others' personal space.
We won’t be taking up an offering during the service but there will continue to be a basket in the vestibule for your offering if you wish.
Starting on 6th March we hope to be able to serve refreshments afterwards on the first Sunday of each month.
Service Recordings
These services are stored in SoundCloud and players are embedded below. These players use cookies in accordance with the SoundCloud Cookie policy. They may collect usage data for analytics purposes.
Advent Sunday 3 December - Holy Communion - Revd Catherine Bowstead
We regret that no recording is this morning's worship is available - technical issue.
Advent Liturgy | Response: Advent God, challenge us today |
Sue Colbourn | ||
Call to Worship | MWB p117 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 172 | Hills of the North, rejoice | tune: Little Cornard | ||
Prayers | Adoration, Confession and Collect MWB p117 |
Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 174 | Light a candle (vv 1&2) | tune: The Advent candle song | ||
Readings | Isaiah 64: 1-9; Mark 13: 24-37 | Margery Jackson | ||
Sermon | Letting stuff go | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 173 | Into the darkness of this world | tune: Maggi Dawn | ||
Prayers | Intercessions and Humble Access MWB p121 |
Catherine Bowstead | ||
The Peace | MWB p123 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 169 | Come, thou long-expected Jesus | tune: Stuttgart |
||
Offering dedicated | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Communion | MWB p124-128 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 188 | There’s a light upon the mountains | tune: M. L. Wostenholm | ||
Blessing | MWB p128 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Outro StF 204 | In the bleak midwinter | tune: Harold Darke |
Sunday 26 November - Wokingham Winter Carnival -
Morning Worship - Revd Catherine Bowstead
We regret that no recording is this morning's worship is available - technical issue.
Welcome | Call to Worship | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 317 | At the name of Jesus | tune: Camberwell |
||
Prayers | Adoration and Confession | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 707 | Make me a channel of your peace | tune: Channel of peace | ||
Introduction | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Readings | Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24 Shepherds and Sheep Matthew 25: 31-45 The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats |
Gill Manning | ||
Hymn StF 185 | Sing we the King who is coming to reign | tune: The glory song | ||
Sermon | Be a sheep not a goat | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 701 | Heaven shall not wait | tune: John L. Bell | ||
Prayers | Intersessions and The Lord's Prayer | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Offering received | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Hymn StF 706 | Longing for Light, we wait in darkness | tune: Christ be our light | ||
Blessing | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Outro StF 94 | To God be the Glory, great things he hath done! |
Sunday 19 November - All Age Worship - Mrs Kim Tame
Order of Service - this is a recording of the live service:
Welcome | Call to Worship - Psalm 123: 1-2 | Kim Tame | ||
Hymn StF 65 | Sing of the Lord’s goodness | tune: E Sands, C Walker | ||
Prayers | Adoration and Confession | Kim Tame | ||
Hymn StF 109 | In the darkness of the still night | tune: M Rizza | ||
Introduction | And that’s the best you could do? | Kim Tame | ||
Hymn StF 463 | Deep in the shadows of the past | tune: Kingsfold | ||
Reading | Judges 4: 1-23 | Jane Bonney | ||
Comment | Kim Tame | |||
Reading | Matthew 25: 14-30 |
Jane Bonney | ||
Comment 2 | Kim Tame | |||
Hymn StF 706 | Longing for light, we wait in darkness | tune: Christ be our light | ||
Prayers | Intersessions and The Lord's Prayer | Kim Tame | ||
Offering received | Kim Tame | |||
Hymn StF 742 | We trust the mighty love of God | tune: Wentworth | ||
Blessing | Kim Tame |
StF 65
- Sing of the Lord’s goodness, Father of all wisdom,
come to him and bless his name.
Mercy he has shown us, his love is for ever,
faithful to the end of days.
Come then, all you nations,
sing of your Lord’s goodness,
melodies of praise and thanks to God.
Ring out the Lord’s glory,
praise him with your music,
worship him and bless his name.
- Power he has wielded, honour is his garment,
risen from the snares of death.
His word he has spoken, one bread he has broken,
new life he now gives to all.
- Courage in our darkness, comfort in our sorrow,
Spirit of our God most high;
solace for the weary, pardon for the sinner,
splendour of the living God.
- Praise him with your singing, praise him with the trumpet,
praise God with the lute and harp;
praise him with the cymbals, praise him with your dancing,
praise God till the end of days.
Ernest Sands (b. 1949)
© 1981 Ernest Sands Used with permission ONE LICENSE #A-738126
StF 109
- In the darkness of the still night,
in the dawning of the daylight,
in the mystery of creation,
Creator God, you are there.
In the breath of every being,
in the birthing and the growing,
in the earth and all its fullness,
Creator God, you are there.
- In the homeless and the hungry,
in the broken and the lonely,
in the grieving of your people,
Creator God, you are there.
In the tears and in the heartache,
in the love through which we serve you,
in the anguish of the dying,
Creator God, you are there.
- In our hearts and in our thinking,
in the longing and the dreaming,
in the yearning of our heartbeat,
Creator God, you are there.
In the love for one another,
in the sharing of our being,
in receiving and forgiving,
Creator God, you are there.
- In our joys, our hopes, our healing,
in awakening to revealing,
in your call and our responding,
Creator God, you are there.
In our prayer and in our service,
in our praise and in our worship,
in your love that is eternal,
Creator God, you are there.
Margaret Rizza (b. 1929)
© 1999 Kevin Mayhew Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 463
- Deep in the shadows of the past,
far out from settled lands,
some nomads travelled with their God
across the desert sands.
The dawning hope of humankind
by them was sensed and shown:
a promise calling them ahead,
a future yet unknown.
- While others bowed to changeless gods,
they met a mystery,
invisible, without a name:
‘I AM WHAT I WILL BE’;
and by their tents, around their fires,
in story, song and law,
they praised, remembered, handed on
a past that promised more.
- From Exodus to Pentecost
the promise changed and grew,
while some, remembering the past,
recorded what they knew,
or with their letters and laments,
their prophecy and praise,
recovered, kindled and expressed
new hope for changing days.
- For all the writings that survived,
for leaders, long ago,
who sifted, copied, and preserved
the Bible that we know,
give thanks, and find its story yet
our promise, strength and call,
the model of emerging faith,
alive with hope for all.
Brian Wren (b. 1936)
© 1975, 1995, Stainer & Bell Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 706
- Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your Church gathered today.
- Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.
- Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.
- Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.
- Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
© 1993 Bernadette Farrell
Used with permission ONE LICENSE #A-738126
StF 742
- We trust the mighty love of God
that wraps us round,
that loves us when we're good or bad;
love so profound
it still gives hope when death has struck
and joy is drowned.
- We trust God's love that once, in Christ
was crucified.
As love's uniquely precious child
was nailed and died,
God, deeply pierced by human grief,
stayed at his side.
- In joy or grief, and deeper far
than we can tell,
love finds its way through life and death
and fathoms hell,
assuring faith, through pain and loss,
'All shall be well.'
- We trust the future, God to you:
we pray that we
may grasp our full potential here,
and faithfully
go on to find earth's love fulfilled
eternally.
Alan Gaunt (b. 1935)
© 2000 Stainer & Bell Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
Music provided by the Music Group
Remembrance Sunday 12 November - Morning Worship - Revd Catherine Bowstead
Order of Service - this is a recording of the live Remembrance service:
Welcome | Call to Worship | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 470 | Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided |
tune: Lord of the years | ||
Prayers | Adoration and Confession | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Gospel Reading | Matthew 25: 1-13 The Parable of the 10 bridesmaids |
Sue Colbourn | ||
Sermon | Are we ready? | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 131 | By a monument of marble | tune: Scarlet Ribbons | ||
Video | The video soundtrack is not in the recording, but you may wish to pause the recording to watch the video (5 mins): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw7YeReKUH8 |
|||
Act of Remembrance |
Exhortation – Last Post – silence – Reveille – Kohima Epitaph | |||
Hymn StF 132 | O God, our help in ages past | tune: St. Anne | ||
Reflection | What’s important now? by Paul Glass | Sue Colbourn | ||
Prayers | Intersessions and The Lord's Prayer | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Offering received | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Hymn StF 696 | For the healing of the nations | tune: Grafton | ||
Blessing | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Outro | Reprise: hymn StF 696 | tune: Grafton |
StF 470
- Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.
- Lord, for that word, the Word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us,
Lord of the word, receive your people's praise.
- Lord, for our land, in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.
- Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain;
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him,
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.
- Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;
past put behind us, for the future take us,
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926)
© 1976 Timothy Dudley-Smith Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 131
The words of this hymn are not included here for copyright reasons.
Music: Scarlet Ribbons, Evelyn Danzig (1901-1996) arranged John L. Bell (b. 1949)
© 1987 GIA / Iona Community / WGRG Used with permission ONE LICENSE #A-738126
StF 132
- O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.
- Under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is sure.
- Before the hills in order stood
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.
- A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
- The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
with all their cares and fears,
are carried downward by the flood,
and lost in following years.
- Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
- O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while life shall last,
and our eternal home.
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)
StF 696
- For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
- Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.
- All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span.
- You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
© 1968 Stainer & Bell Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
All music from Small Church Music. Organ played by Rev. Clyde McLennan, Hymnary.org
Last Post and Reveille from the Royal British Legion website.
Sunday 5 November - Holy Communion - Revd Catherine Bowstead
Order of Service - this is a recording of the live Communion Service:
Welcome | Call to Worship | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 745 | For all the saints who from their labours rest tune: Sine Nomine | |||
Prayers | Adoration and Confession MWB p185 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Readings | 1 Thessalonians 2: 9-13; Matthew 23: 1-12 |
Kim Tame | ||
Hymn StF 477 | Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart | tune: G Kendrick, S Thompson |
||
Sermon | Living lives worthy of God | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 746 | For all the saints who showed your love | tune: O Waly Waly | ||
Prayers | Intercessions and The Lord's Prayer Lord hear us Lord graciously hear us MWB p188 |
Kim Tame | ||
The Peace | MWB p189 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Offering brought forward MWB p191 | Catherine Bowstead | |||
Hymn StF 585 | God, whose love is all around us | tune: Quem pastores laudavere |
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Communion | MWB p191-197 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Hymn StF 748 | Glorious things of thee are spoken | tune: Austria | ||
Blessing | MWB p197 | Catherine Bowstead | ||
Outro | When the saints go marching in, O Lord, I want to be in that number |
StF 745
- For all the saints who from their labours rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blest:
Alleluia, alleluia!
- Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou in the darkness still their one true light:
Alleluia, alleluia!
- O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor's crown of gold!
Alleluia, alleluia!
- O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine:
Alleluia, alleluia!
- And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong:
Alleluia, alleluia!
- The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest:
Alleluia, alleluia!
- But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day:
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of Glory passes on his way!
Alleluia, alleluia!
- From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, alleluia!
William Walsham How (1823–1867)
StF 477
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart,
teach me to move in the power of your Spirit,
teach me to walk in the light of your presence,
teach me to dance to the beat of your heart.
Teach me to love with your heart of compassion,
teach me to trust in the word of your promise,
teach me to hope in the day of your coming,
teach me to dance to the beat of your heart.
- You wrote the rhythm of life,
created heaven and earth;
in you is joy without measure.
So, like a child in your sight,
I dance to see your delight,
for I was made for your pleasure,
pleasure.
- Let all my movements express
a heart that loves to say ‘yes,’
a will that leaps to obey you.
Let all my energy blaze
to see the joy in your face,
let my whole being praise you,
praise you.
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950) and Steve Thompson
© 1993 Graham Kendrick / Make Way Music Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 746
- For all the saints who showed your love
in how they lived and where they moved,
for mindful women, caring men,
accept our gratitude again.
- For all the saints who loved your name,
whose faith increased the Saviour's fame,
who sang your songs and shared your word,
accept our gratitude, good Lord.
- For all the saints who named your will,
and saw your kingdom coming still
through selfless protest, prayer and praise,
accept the gratitude we raise.
- Bless all whose will or name or love
reflects the grace of heaven above.
Though unacclaimed by earthly powers,
your life through theirs has hallowed ours.
John L. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958)
From 'When Grief Is Raw' © 1996 WGRG, Iona Community Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 585
- God, whose love is all around us,
who in Jesus sought and found us,
who to freedom new unbound us,
keep our hearts with joy aflame.
- For the sacramental breaking,
for the honour of partaking,
for your life, our lives re-making,
young and old, we praise your name.
- From the service of this table
lead us to a life more stable;
for our witness make us able;
blessing on our work we claim.
- Through our calling closely knitted,
daily to your praise committed,
for a life of service fitted,
let us now your love proclaim.
Fred Kaan (1929–2009)
© 1968, 1996, Stainer & Bell Ltd Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 748
- Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
- See! The streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove;
who can faint, while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage —
grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age?
- Saviour, if of Zion's city
I, through grace, a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name.
Fading are our worldly pleasures,
all their boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasures
none but Zion's children know.
John Newton (1725–1807)
Organ: Tom Barker
Sunday 29 October - Morning Worship - Revd Soba Sinnathamby
Order of Service - this is a recording of the live service. Note that a short piece of the initial welcome (after the pre-service music) is missing:
Welcome | Call to Worship | Soba Sinnathamby | ||
Hymn StF 72 | Father God, I wonder | tune: Ian Smale | ||
Hymn StF 363 | My Jesus, my Saviour | tune: Darlene Zschech | ||
Prayers | Adoration and Confession | Soba Sinnathamby | ||
Hymn StF 424 | God forgave my sin in Jesus' name | tune: Carol Owens | ||
Readings | 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22: 34-46 |
Malcolm Souter | ||
Sermon | Soba Sinnathamby | |||
Hymn StF 372 | Come down, O Love divine | tune: Down Ampney | ||
Offering received | Soba Sinnathamby | |||
Prayers | Intersessions and The Lord's Prayer | Soba Sinnathamby | ||
Hymn StF 564 | O thou who camest from above | tune: Wilton | ||
Benediction | Soba Sinnathamby |
StF 72 sung twice
Father God, I wonder
how I managed to exist
without the knowledge
of your parenthood
and your loving care.
But now I am your child,
I am adopted in your family,
and I can never be alone
’cause, Father God,
you're there beside me.
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises forever more.
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises forever more.
Ian Smale (b. 1949)
© 1984 Thankyou Music Used by permission
CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 363 sung twice
My Jesus, my Saviour,
Lord there is none like you.
All of my days I want to praise
the wonders of your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter,
tower of refuge and strength,
let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship you.
Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing,
power and majesty, praise to the King.
Mountains bow down
and the seas will roar
at the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands.
Forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand.
Nothing compares to the
promise I have in you.
Darlene Zschech (b. 1965)
© 1993 Darlene Zschech / Hillsong Publishing Used by permission CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 424
- God forgave my sin in Jesus' name;
I've been born again in Jesus' name;
and in Jesus' name I come to you
to share His love as he told me to.
He said:
'Freely, freely you have received,
freely, freely give;
go in my name and because you believe,
others will know that I live.'
- All power is given in Jesus' name
in earth and heaven in Jesus' name;
and in Jesus' name I come to you
to share His power as he told me to.
Carol Owens (b. 1931)
© 1972 Bud John Songs
EMI Christian Music Publishing
Used by permission
CCLI Streaming Licence 583214
StF 372
- Come down, O Love divine,
seek thou this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
- O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes, in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
- Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
- And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till he become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.
Bianco da Siena (d. 1434)
translated by Richard Frederick Littledale (1833–1890)
StF 564
- O thou who camest from above
the pure celestial fire to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart!
- There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
- Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work, and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me —
-
Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make the sacrifice complete.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
All music from Small Church Music. Organ played by Rev. Clyde McLennan, Hymnary.org.