麻豆社

The 80th Anniversary of the Priesting of Florence Li Tim-Oi

Thursday 25 January 2024, 11.00am

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Thirtieth Anniversary of the Li Tim-Oi Foundation

Presider Revd Frances Shoesmith

Preacher Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover

Assisted by Rt Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, Bishop of London

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

Radio 4 announcement

麻豆社 Radio 4, it鈥檚 ten past eight and time now for Sunday Worship, which is a recording of a service held at St Martin in the Fields earlier this week celebrating the first woman to have been ordained in the Anglican communion. It鈥檚 led by Revd Christina Rees - Director of the Li Tim-Oi Foundation

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Christina: We are gathered together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the ordination of Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first woman to be ordained priest in the Anglican Church and to give thanks for 30 years of the priestly ministry of women in the Church of England and for ten years since women have been able to be consecrated as bishops. The service will be led by the Reverend Frances Shoesmith, the granddaughter of Bishop Hall who ordained Florence Li Tim-Oi on 25th January 1944 in in Shui Hing, Free China.

Christina: Let us pray: Almighty God, who pours out your Spirit upon your sons and daughters: Grant that we, following the example of your servant Florence Li Tim-Oi, chosen priest in your church, may with faithfulness, patience, and tenacity proclaim your holy gospel to all the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Opening Hymn - She who would valiant be

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Please sit or kneel.

Confession

By the power of the Holy Spirit, God has given us gifts of grace. Let us confess how we have not used those gifts aright.

Silence.

We have neglected and suppressed the gifts you have given us.

Lord, have mercy.

All Lord, have mercy.

We have failed to encourage your gifts in others.

Christ, have mercy.

All Christ, have mercy.

Abundant God, who forgives and restores all who repent, have mercy upon you, and through the grace of the Holy Spirit, renew a right spirit within you and raise you to new life in Christ.

All Amen.

The Collect

Gracious God, we thank you for calling Florence Li Tim-Oi, much beloved daughter, to be the first woman to exercise the office of a priest in our Communion. By the grace of your Spirit inspire us to follow her example, serving your people with patience and happiness all our days, and witnessing in every circumstance to our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

All Amen.

Please sit.

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LINK 鈥揟he music this morning will be led by St Martin鈥檚 Voices and the Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, who will now sing Make Me an Instrument of Your Perfect Light

Anthem - "Make Me An Instrument (Of Your Perfect Light) The Arrows arr SSGC鈥�

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LINK 鈥揑n a moment well hear from the Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, who will be preaching for us. First, the Gospel.

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Gospel Reading Luke 1: 46-55 read by Revd Christina Rees

And Mary said, 鈥楳y soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.鈥�

Hear the word of the Lord.

All Thanks be to God.

Please sit after the opening prayer.

Sermon Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin

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Thanksgiving Hymn - Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

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LINK -The Prayers will be led by Mandy Marshall and Jane Namurye, two Trustees of the Li Tim-Oi Foundation, which give grants to women in the majority world to enable them to follow their calling in ministry and other professions.

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We pray in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

We give thanks for Florence Li Tim-Oi, for her calling to be a priest in your church, to witness to your love and faithfulness and to be the hands and heart of Christ for those among whom she lived and worked.

All We give you thanks, O Lord.

We give thanks for the women who have persevered in following your calling in their lives, for overcoming the obstacles of prejudice, self-doubt and lack of resources, keeping hope and faith alive that you were with them and in their heart鈥檚 desires.

All We give you thanks, O Lord.

We give thanks for 30 years of the priestly ministry of women in the Church of England, that through their lives and ministries we have gained a fuller understanding of who we are as beloved children of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

All We give you thanks, O Lord.

We give thanks that for ten years the Church has been able to consecrate women as bishops, to share in the oversight of your priests and people, helping the world to see the mutuality that women and men have in Christ.

All May heaven come and your will be done. Amen.

Please stand.

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The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All and also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

All may exchange a sign of peace.

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Anthem 鈥� Let all the world 鈥� (Sally Albrech) - St Martin鈥檚 Voices

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Preparation of the Table

Taking of the Bread and Wine

Blessed be God, who feeds the hungry, who raises the poor, who fills our praise.

All Blessed be God for ever.

Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

(SAM WELLS Prayer)

God of Sarah, Hagar and Deborah, at Christmas you gave us your presence, at Easter you dismantled sin and death, and at Pentecost you empowered us to bear your image and spread your grace. God of Chloe, Phoebe and Priscilla, in mission you equip us to go to the four corners of the earth and rediscover what your Spirit is doing and meet you in the face of the stranger. And so we gladly thank you, with saints and angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending praise:

All Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

God of Ruth, Naomi and Esther, in Jesus you show us the extent of mission and the cost of ministry. Send your Holy Spirit, that your people may be filled with love, joy, and peace, and that these gifts of bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, 鈥楾ake, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.鈥� After supper he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 鈥楧rink 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.鈥�

Great is the mystery of faith.

All Christ has died:

Christ is risen:

Christ will come again.

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God of Junia, Tryphena and Tryphosa, as you take bread and wine and make them the bearers of your Son鈥檚 risen life, take our flesh and blood and make them the channels of your peace. Bless the ministry of women throughout the Anglican Communion and beyond. Transform your church that it may resemble the generosity, joy, and abundance of your Trinity. God of Julia, Persis and Claudia, raise up those whose gifts have been suppressed, neglected, ignored or rejected. Renew your people through humble service and prophetic witness, that your name may be known in the face of injustice, poverty, and tyranny. God of Mary, Mary Magdalene and Elizabeth, show your glory through agents of healing and learning, and shower your people with your love, until the day comes when every eye beholds you, full of grace and truth, ever one God, world without end.

Amen.

All Amen.

Please sit or kneel.

LINK: The Lord鈥檚 Prayer, first recited in Cantonese by the Revd Aggy Palairet:

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray, each in our own preferred language.

All Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

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Breaking of the Bread

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

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Giving of Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

All Lord, I am not worthy you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

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LINK 鈥� We鈥檒l now hear Souls Sanctuary Choir sing A Grateful Heart composed by Winie Kampire from Uganda, who is a singer and songwriter and who trained to be a teacher, after which the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, will give the final Blessing.

Anthem -听 鈥淎 Grateful Heart鈥� - Winie Kampire

Silence is kept.

Prayer after Communion

All Gracious God, you gather us to be your holy people, the body of Christ in the world. Increase in us the virtues of patience and devotion that, like Li Tim-Oi, we may live always in your radiance.

We pray in Jesus鈥� name. Amen.

The Dismissal

Blessing

May God, who in Christ has invited us to share eternal life, perfect in you the image of God鈥檚 glory. And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.

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鈥淗ow I Got Over" Trad听arr Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin et al鈥�

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