Virtual Service 1

Introduction

Welcome and thank you for choosing to take part in the first ever Sanctus 1 virtual service!

If you would prefer to print a copy of this service and run it offline, we have included a PDF of this page for you to download.

You will need to allow 20-30 minutes for the service, and it can be at any time and any location that suits you. The service could require a few optional items, which you can pick up from a local supermarket if you would like a more immersive experience, these include:

  • candles
  • lighter/matches
  • pen/pencil
  • paper
  • internet connection and email account
  • self-raising flour
  • sugar or sugar substitute
  • cocoa
  • 1 egg
  • skimmed milk
  • vegetable or sunflower oil
  • a microwave-safe mug
  • microwave

Before we begin

Take a moment to bring inner calm and aid reflection.

breathe in, pause, breathe out.

breathe in, pause, breathe out.

Feel connected to everyone in Sanctus 1, who is doing this service, somewhere, at sometime, who is breathing in, and breathing out with you.

Lighting of the candles

You will need:
3 candles (any size, colour or fragrance is fine) and a means to light them

Please place the candles on a flat, non-flammable surface, out of reach of small children and animals. If you prefer, you can leave the candles unlit, or watch this video instead.

As you light each candle, read out loud or to yourself the following:

- I light this candle for the father, the benevolent

- I light this candle for the son, the friend

- I light this candle for the spirit, the protector

- God be with me here, now, and with everyone, everywhere, Amen

Video 1

Think about our community at Sanctus 1, the different people, every one of them unique and with something to contribute, playing the different roles of a family, or a team. Try to remember as many community members as possible, writing down as many as you can think of. Then watch this video.

Activity 1

You will need:
a pen or pencil, and a piece of paper or card

Spend a couple of minutes writing down all of the 'teams' you are a part of in your life. This can be anything, from work and family, to book groups, running clubs, choirs, anything where you are part of a group of people, and don't forget to include Sanctus 1.

When you have your list, take a moment for each 'team' and consider the reasons that you are a part of them, and what you are thankful for about each one.

Reading 1

Matthew 18:20 (Amplified Bible)

For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.

Jesus is saying in this passage that if we connect with fellow believers and those who are drawn together in faith, then He will be there, as a comforter, a healer and a friend. In this modern age where distance and communication are no longer mutually exclusive, we can be together as a community, and know God is with us, through the cables, satellites and transmissions surrounding us. We are gathered, and God is here.

Activity 2

You will need:
an internet connection and an email account

Send an email with a subject heading of ‘Hello Sanctus 1’ to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Let us know you are with us.

Tell us of anything you would like to share, or pray about.

Start a conversation, on anything you like.

Let us know if you would like replies (you will get at least one, guaranteed!)

Reading 2

1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV)

And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.

We, Sanctus 1, are part of a bigger community, the Christian church, a family that spans the entire world. Every time we eat the bread at communion, we share an experience with millions of others, all acknowledging that we are a global team, part of something great and diverse.

Activity 3

You will need:
4 tablespoons self raising flour
4 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute
2 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons skimmed milk
1 egg
3 tbsp vegetable/sunflower oil
A microwave-safe mug
A microwave

To symbolise the sharing of the sacrament and eating together across the world, we have provided a recipe for a cake that you can bake and enjoy. However, you can choose to make bread, or cookies, or anything else you like, or you can simply watch this video, and imagine making the food instead.

Directions:

  1. In a large mug, mix all the dry ingredients together and then mix in all the wet ingredients
  2. Microwave for about 4 minutes (may be more or less depending on microwave power) and watch it rise
  3. Enjoy!

Activity 3.5

You will need:
an internet connection and an email account

Send us photos of your mug cake! Take a picture and send by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (subject heading ‘Cake’) or tweet it to @sanctus1mcr

Share your success (or horror stories!) and describe the taste. And as you eat your cake (or other food item) know that others are doing the same, in different places, and at different times, but together in this way.

Reading 3

1 Corinthians 12:12-26 (CEV)

The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does. Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God’s Spirit baptised each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit.

Our bodies don’t have just one part. They have many parts. Suppose a foot says, “I’m not a hand, and so I’m not part of the body.” Wouldn’t the foot still belong to the body? Or suppose an ear says, “I’m not an eye, and so I’m not part of the body.” Wouldn’t the ear still belong to the body? If our bodies were only an eye, we couldn’t hear a thing. And if they were only an ear, we couldn’t smell a thing. But God has put all parts of our body together in the way that he decided is best.

A body isn’t really a body, unless there is more than one part. It takes many parts to make a single body. That’s why the eyes cannot say they don’t need the hands. That’s also why the head cannot say it doesn’t need the feet. In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest. We take special care to dress up some parts of our bodies. We are modest about our personal parts, but we don’t have to be modest about other parts.

God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honoured, the whole body will be happy.

Close

Look again at the names on your list of Sanctus 1 community members and pray for each, one by one. As you blow out the candles, think about your Sanctus 1 family, and how you are a vital, integral part of the community. Think about what you can do to enrich that family.

- With the first candle, contemplate the people you see on a regular basis

- With the second candle, consider those who you don't see much, either on Sunday or Wednesday

- With the third candle, think about you, and your place in this body of Christ

Thank you for taking part in this inaugural Virtual Service. We hope you have gained something from it and we look forward to spending time with you again soon.

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