The Parish of St. George's Enfield
30 April 2025 at 7pm
Confirmation
Service
by
the Rt Revd Dr Anderson Jeremiah
the Bishop of Edmonton
When the bell rings, all stand for the entry of the Bishop and the altar party.
¶ Opening Hymn (stand)
1. O worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness!
Bow down before him,
his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience,
and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him:
the Lord is his Name!
2. Low at his feet
lay thy burden of carefulness,
high on his heart he will
bear it for thee,
and comfort thy sorrows,
and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps
as may best for thee be.
3. Fear not to enter
his courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth
thou wouldst reckon as thine;
for truth in its beauty,
and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings
to lay on his shrine.
4. These, though we bring them
in trembling and fearfulness,
he will accept
for the Name that is dear;
mornings of joy give
for evenings of tearfulness,
trust for our trembling
and hope for our fear.
5. O worship the Lord
n the beauty of holiness!
bow down before him,
his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience,
and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him:
the Lord is his Name!
¶ The Preparation (stand)
Blessed be God, Father, Son
and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be his kingdom,
now and for ever. Amen.
There is one body and one spirit.
There is one hope
to which we were called;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
The Bishop introduces the service then says the Collect.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
by the power of your Holy Spirit
you give your faithful people
new life in the water of baptism.
Guide and strengthen us
by the same Spirit,
that we who are born again
may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature
of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
now and for ever.
Amen.
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
¶The First Reading (sit)
Acts 5:17-26
After the reading;
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
All stand to sing Gradual Hymn.
¶ Gradual Hymn (stand)
1. We have a gospel
to proclaim,
Good news for men
in all the earth;
The gospel of a Saviour’s name:
We sing His glory, tell His worth.
2. Now we rejoice
to name Him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel message we proclaim:
We sing His glory, tell His worth.
All stand and face the priest, who proclaims the Gospel.
¶ The Gospel (stand)
John 3:16-21
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
After the Gospel;
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The priest brings the Book of Gospel to the Bishop to kiss and bless the people.
Then all sit for the Homily.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
¶ Homily (sit)
Rt. Revd. Dr. Anderson Jeremiah
The Bishop of Edmonton
All remain seated.
¶ Presentation of Candidates (sit)
Parish priest says;
Reverend Father in God,
I present these candidates
for the Sacrament of
Holy Baptism and Confirmation.
The bishop asks those who are candidates for baptism;
Do you wish to be baptized?
Candidates: I do.
To the candidates for confirmation who have been baptised;
Have you been baptised
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit?
Candidates: I have.
The bishop asks all the candidates;
Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart
to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?
Candidates: I am.
Then the Bishop addresses to the whole congregation;
Faith is the gift of God to his people. In baptism the Lord is adding to our number those whom he is calling.
People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?
With the help of God, we will.
¶ The Decision
The bishop addresses all the candidates;
In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him.
Therefore, I ask:
Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?
Candidates: I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?
Candidates: I renounce them.
Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
Candidates: I repent of them.
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
Candidates: I turn to Christ.
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
Candidates: I submit to Christ.
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?
Candidates: I come to Christ.
The bishop makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of each candidate for baptism, saying;
Christ claims you for his own. Receive the sign of his cross.
Do not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified.
Fight valiantly
as a disciple of Christ
against sin, the world
and the devil,
and remain faithful to Christ
to the end of your life.
May almighty God deliver you
rom the powers of darkness,
restore in you the image of his glory, and lead you in the light and obedience of Christ.
Amen.
¶ Prayer over the Water (Stand)
The bishop and all candidates for baptism & confirmation stand around the Font.
Praise God
who made heaven and earth,
who keeps his promise for ever.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks
and praise.
We thank you, almighty God, for the gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us from the death of sin to newness of life.
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in joyful obedience to your Son, we baptize into his fellowship those who come to him in faith.
Now sanctify this water that, by the power of your Holy Spirit, they may be cleansed from sin and born again. Renewed in your image, may they walk by the light of faith and continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
¶ Profession of Faith (stand)
The Bishop addresses the whole congregation;
Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess together with these candidates the faith of the Church.
Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
N, I baptize you
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Bishop addresses the newly baptised;
May God, who has received you by baptism into his Church, pour upon you the riches of his grace, that within the company of Christ’s pilgrim people you may daily be renewed by his anointing Spirit, and come to the inheritance of the saints in glory.
Amen.
The candidates for confirmation who have previously been baptized will be sprinkled with the Holy Water as a reminder of their Baptism.
Almighty God, we thank you for our fellowship in the household of faith with all who have been baptized into your name. Keep us faithful to our baptism, and so make us ready for that day when the whole creation shall be made perfect in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The bishop and candidates gather at the place of confirmation.
¶ The Confirmation (sit)
The candidates stand.
The Bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed and says;
Our help is in the name
of the Lord;
who has made heaven and earth.
Blessed be the name of the Lord
now and for ever. Amen.
¶ Prayer over the Candidates (sit)
The bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and says;
Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given these your servants
new birth in baptism
by water and the Spirit,
and have forgiven them
all their sins.
Let your Holy Spirit
rest upon them:
the Spirit of wisdom
and understanding;
the Spirit of counsel
and inward strength;
the Spirit of knowledge
and true godliness;
and let their delight be
in the fear of the Lord.
Amen.
After this prayer, all candidates sit.
The parish priest presents each candidate to the Bishop.
N, God has called you by name, and made you his own.
He then lays his hands on the head of each, saying;
Confirm O Lord, your servant N with your Holy Spirit.
Amen.
And anoints each candidate with Oil of Chrism, saying;
N, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Bishop invites the congregation to pray for the newly confirmed;
Defend, O Lord,
these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase in your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
All stand for the Peace.
¶ The Peace (stand)
God has made us one in Christ.
He has set his seal upon us
and as a pledge of what is to come
as given the Spirit
to dwell in our hearts.
The peace of the Lord
be always with you.
And also with you.
The parish priest says;
Let us offer one another a sign of Christ’s peace.
Peace be with you.
During the Offertory Hymn, a collection will take place.
Collection at a service is for the Bishop of Edmonton’s Discretionary Fund to support clergy training and other needs in the area.
¶ Offertory Hymn (stand)
1. All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This our song shall ever be,
for we have no hope, nor Saviour,
if we have not hope in Thee!
2. All for Jesus thou wilt give us
strength to serve thee, hour by hour;
none can move us from thy presence
while we trust thy love and power.
3. All for Jesus! At thine altar
thou dost give us sweet content
there, dear Saviour, we receive thee
in thy holy sacrament.
4. All for Jesus! Thou hast loved us
all for Jesus! thou hast died
all for Jesus! thou art with us;
all for Jesus glorified.
5. All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
This the Church's song must be
till, at last, her sons are gathered
one in love and one in Thee!
¶ Eucharistic Prayer B (stand)
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks
and praise.
Father,
we give you thanks and praise
through your beloved Son Jesus Christ, your living Word, through whom you have created all things; who was sent my you in your great goodness to be our Saviour.
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh; as your Son, born of the blessed Virgin, he lived on earth and went about among us; he opened wide his arms for us on the cross; he put to an end to death by dying for us; and revealed the resurrection by rising to new life; so he fulfilled your will an won for you a holy people.
Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name
for ever praising you and singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might;
holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might;
heaven and earth are full,
full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest;
Hosanna in the highest.
Then all kneel (or sit).
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:
Take, eat:
this is my body
which is given for you;
do this, in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper
he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying:
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.
Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.
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 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.
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. George, and all the saints, may praise and glorify you for ever, through Jesus Christ our Lord;
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 boldly sing or say;
Amen.
All kneel/sit for the Lord’s Prayer.
¶ The Lord’s Prayer (kneel/sit)
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.
men.
¶ Lamb of God (sit)
Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us,
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace,
grant us peace.
¶ Giving of Communion (sit)
This is the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those
who are called to his supper.
Lord,
I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word,
and I shall be healed.
The newly confirmed receive the Holy Communion first.
Come up to the altar rail to receive the Blessed Sacrament if you have been confirmed or have received your first communion in the Catholic Church or Orthodox Church. If you wish to receive Blessing, come up to the bishop, and bow your head, so that the bishop knows what you want.
* It is not a ‘break time’ in the middle of service to chat.
Rather, it is a time to offer our prayer to God. Please, show your respect to others who pray to God in silence.
¶ Communion Hymns (sit)
1. Sweet Sacrament divine,
Hid in thine earthly home,
Lo, round thy lowly shrine,
With supplication hearts we come;
Jesu, to thee our voice we raise,
In songs of love and hearfelt praise:
Sweet Sacrament divine,
Sweet Sacrament divine.
2. Sweet Sacrament of peace,
Dear home for every heart,
Where restless yearnings cease,
And sorrow all depart;
There in thine ear all trustfully,
We tell our tale of misery:
Sweet Sacrament of peace,
Sweet Sacrament of peace.
3. Sweet Sacrament of rest,
Ark from the ocean’s roar,
Within thy shelter blest,
Soon may we reach the shore;
Save us, for still the tempest raves,
Save, lest we sink beneath the waves:
Sweet Sacrament of rest,
Sweet Sacrament of rest.
4. Sweet Sacrament divine,
Earth’s light and jubilee,
In thy far depths doth shine,
The Godhead’s majesty;
Sweet light, so shine on us, we pray,
That earthly joys may fade away:
Sweet Sacrament divine,
Sweet Sacrament divine.
***
1. This is my body,
broken for you,
bringing you wholeness,
making you free,
take it and eat it,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
2. This is my blood
poured out for you,
bringing forgiveness,
making you free.
Take it and drink it,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
3. Back to my Father
soon shall I go.
Do not forget me;
then you will see
I am still with you,
and you will know
you’re very close to me.
4. Filled with my Spirit,
how you will grow!
You are my branches;
I am the tree.
If you are faithful,
others will know
you are alive in me.
5. Love one another
I have loved you,
and I have shown you
how to be free;
serve one another,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
All kneel or sit for Prayer after Communion.
¶ Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
God of mercy, by whose grace alone we are accepted and equipped for your service:
stir up in us the gifts of your Holy Spirit and make us worthy of our calling; that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.
Amen.
All sit for the Notice.
¶ Notices (sit)
The newly confirmed receive a Confirmation Candle and the Bible from Bishop.
All stand.
¶ Commission, Blessing and Dismissal (stand)
Those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into
sin, repent and return to the Lord?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God
in Christ?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your
neighbour as yourself?
With the help of God, I will.
Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society,
by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?
With the help of God, I will.
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, that you may be
rooted and grounded in love and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory
n Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen
and settle you in the faith;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you
and remain with you always.
Amen.
Then the priest says;
Go in the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God.
Alleluia, alleluia!
¶ Recessional Hymn (stand)
1. For all the saints,
who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith
before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus,
be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their Rock,
their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain
in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness
drear, their one true Light. Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. For Martyrs, who
with rapture kindled eye,
saw the bright crown
descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it,
Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
4. O blest communion,
fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle,
they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee,
for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. 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!
6. 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!
You are all warmly invited to the reception after the service,
but please show your respect
to those who wish to have
a moment of silence
in the church after the service.
CCLI Licence Certificate Numbers
Church Copyright Licence (CCL) C 1334293, Music Reproduction Licence (MRL) C 1334303, PRS for Music Church Licence C 1370343
First edition published as Liturgical Texts for Local Use, © The Central Board of Finance of the Church of England 1988, 1994.
Second edition published as A Brief Guide to Liturgical Copyright, © The Central Board of Finance of the Church of England 1997.
Third edition © The Archbishops’ Council 2000.
Materials in this leaflet are used for local use only as pre-authorised by the Archbishop’s Council 2000.