The Parish of Sprotbrough
3rd January, 2009.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you tomorrow at the final service of worship in St. Edmund’s Anchorage Lane – at least for the foreseeable future. As I write this, snow is falling in Sheffield and I hope your final service is not too disrupted by the weather.
When I visited St. Edmund’s earlier in the year I was impressed by the sense of prayerfulness and reverence in the building. I was impressed even more by the hard work and dedication of the people who have sustained Christian worship here over the years and particularly in recent times.
Thank you on behalf of the Diocese of Sheffield for all of your generosity, love and prayer. I would like to thank and pay particular tribute to John Richards for his careful and wise leadership in recent months. The decision to cease to hold regular worship in the church has not been an easy one to take but seems the only possible way forward at the present time.
We will continue to explore new possibilities for the future of St. Edmunds. As you will know, there is to be a feasibility study in the New Year on the extent of repairs needed. The Deanery has begun to explore possibilities in the medium term.
I hope and pray that all members of St. Edmunds will continue as active and worshipping members of the Church either at St. Mary’s Sprotborough or elsewhere. Our allegiance as Christians must always be greater than to one particular place or building.
May the God of peace and new beginnings bless you on this day and in the coming months with every blessing in Christ Jesus
+ Steven Sheffield
L-R Revd Katy Francis, Geoff Hill, Betty Brockman, Therese Paskell and Revd John Richards
Service of Thanksgiving
for the life of
St Edmund’s Church
Anchorage Lane
Sprotbrough
Sunday 3rd January 2010
Welcome and Introduction
Opening Prayer:
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;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hymn: Jesus, where’er thy people meet (367)
Confession
Come let us return to the Lord and say:
Lord our God,
in our sin we have avoided your call.
Our love for you is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes away early.
Have mercy on us;
deliver us from judgement;
bind up our wounds and revive us;
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
O Lord, open our lips:
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise
Reading: Psalm 24
Hymn: Crown him with many crowns (137)
Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-11
Hymn: Thine be the glory (672)
Reading: Matthew 28:8-10 & 16-end
‘Reflections’
Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God:
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hymn: Christ is our cornerstone (98)
Singing Group – ‘Thanks for the years’
Prayers of Intercession
Hymn: Now thank we all our God (474)
Blessing
Hymn: Lord for the years (409)
The following song was written especially for the final service
THANKS FOR THE YEARS
Music & Words by Jean Rowson. Orchestrated by Michael Towle
for the final service of thanksgiving at St Edmunds Church, Sprotbrough, January 2010.
Verse 1
Thank you Lord for the years we’ve been together
We have prayed in this place safe in your care
Now we’re leaving to you we pray
Guide us and show us the way.
Verse 2
Yesterday we have known love, joy and sorrow
And our fears stay a while for the new day
Firm his promise, his mercy sure
Children of God ever more.
Verse 3
As we sing we praise now and forever
We will try everyday to do your will
If we love you and we are true
Dear Lord please lead us to you
And we’ll stay close by your side when we pray.
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| Revd Canon Geoffrey Harbord | St Edmund's 1954-2009 | Cutting the cake |
Enjoying fellowship
A brief history of St Edmund's