Welcome to our service - 1 May
This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
OPENING
SAY:
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Alleluia.
He has defeated the powers of death.
Alleluia.
Jesus turns our sorrow into dancing.
Alleluia.
He has the words of eternal life.
Alleluia.
SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJRqM45Y8Gk
All creatures of our God and King
lift up your voice and with us sing:
hallelujah, hallelujah!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise Him, O praise Him,
hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!
2. Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise Him, hallelujah!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice:
O praise Him…
3. And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, hallelujah!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear
praise God and on Him cast your care:
O praise Him…
4. Let all things their Creator bless
and worship Him in humbleness
O praise Him, hallelujah!
Praise, praise the Father,
praise the son,
and praise the Spirit, Three-in-One:
O praise Him…
Words: St Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
tr W H Draper (1855-1933)
Music: from Geistliche Kirchengesang c.1623
arr R Vaugn Williams
CONFESSION
Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.
We have lived by our own strength,
and not by the power of you resurrection.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived by the light
of our own eyes,
as faithless and not believing.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
We have lived for this world alone,
and doubted our home in heaven.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Lord, hear us and help us.
ABSOLUTION
May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT
Risen Christ,
you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:
strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
and fill us with your peace,
to the glory of God the Father. AMEN
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhvXOIVsRv4
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: trad. arr. Bainbridge, Hogg & Bryant
READINGS
James 5: 1 – 6 New International Version - UK
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Luke 4:18-19 New International Version – UK
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
TALK written by Sam Chubb
As Christians, we have a duty of standing up for what is right and true. It can be difficult to do this due to our own personal boundaries, location, or resources, but this is something we must challenge ourselves in, even if it feels uncomfortable. Jesus unconditionally transformed the societal structure for those met with rejection, hurt, and suffering, by showing them unconditional love.
What we have, is a God who loves and uses us in ways we can’t imagine. God’s love is for all - and we are called to be lights for those who are experiencing any kind of injustice or violence. Racial injustice, social injustice, wars – are all inexplicably wrong, yet are unfortunately a part of the world we live in today. How as Christians can we respond to those who are experiencing injustice or are involved in conflicts around God’s creation? We’ll be taking some time to chat about this together in small groups, or breakout rooms for those on zoom, during the sermon today.
The war in Ukraine is a horrendous act of violence that has been condemned worldwide. We can never truly understand what the people in Ukraine are going through, but our hearts cry out for them and long for this war to end. I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt pretty helpless at times, and it can feel that way from praying the same prayer for peace, whilst continuing to see the atrocities on the news happening on a daily basis, and hearing the personal testimonies coming from those forced to flee their homes and who are continuing to stay. There are cries for peace and a longing for intervention, from inside and outside of Ukraine and in many other worldwide conflicts. It takes strength to stand firm with those affected by conflict or injustice when there seems to be no resolution in sight. But these are exactly the situations where God calls us to help in – the places where there is no light in the darkness, where people see no end to the wrong they are experiencing, where frustrations and sufferings weigh so heavy that they become unbearable. There are so many people and places out there that need faithful, trustworthy action to restore hope and create meaningful change in the midst of injustice and conflict.
In the UK, the cost of living has risen dramatically recently and will continue to rise this year, placing many individuals and families in predicaments where they are having to make sacrifices to pay the bills. People can’t do anything about the price rises, but are still expected to meet the demands. This is an injustice very close to home, where we may be affected ourselves or know someone who is having to make difficult choices in amongst daily life. It’s the things that we often don’t think about that many are struggling with the most. A problem that might not exist for us will always be someone else’s biggest problem.
So, how do we share the good news of Jesus, the reconciler, provider, prince of peace, in amongst the struggle that so many are experiencing? – 1 Corinthians 15:58 is our verse of the term as interns in the Sheffield and Leeds diocese.
‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain’. By giving ourselves fully to the work of God, this will allow him to use us as he pleases to make good change, the change that he desires, the change that many living today are longing for. The reversal of what is wrong and unjust in the world today can happen by standing firm for the sake of those affected by injustice and conflict. We can pursue peace and reconciliation through a faithful response in the name of Jesus. No labour in the Lord’s name is ever in vain.
What is it that you feel provoked to stand up for? How can we use our faiths to bring meaningful change that benefits those affected by injustice and violence? And, practically, what does this look like?
Luke 4: 18-19 states ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
This has often been called the Jesus manifesto. At the beginning of his ministry Jesus stands before the religious leaders and declares that he is the anointed one. Today, he declares in verse 21: ‘this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
The Spirit of the Lord anointed Jesus to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, set the oppressed free and the year of the Lord’s favour. We get to carry this scripture forward into today and the future by God’s grace and his spirit – the same Spirit of the Lord that rested upon Jesus.
The same Spirit of the Lord that Jesus read about in the synagogue at Nazareth, is here for us to receive and follow in Jesus’ ways. To make sure that we reach all of those who are experiencing hardship, have been through dark times, feel they can’t be forgiven, who are lost and cannot see.
There’s an account on social media called God Behind Bars. They’re a group in America that reunite family with incarcerated mothers and fathers for the day, give inmates chances to do Christian college courses and host live worship sessions in the prisons themselves. One incredible story of the many by the grace of God they have, was when they held the largest prison event in the history of Florida. The largest prison event in the history of Florida is a time of worship. They hosted this time of worship and 1300 inmates attended. The prison holds 1400 inmates. Almost every inmate heard the name of Jesus! They’ve had inmates writing to them saying they have accepted Jesus. They say that the prison has seen peace and revival since the event. This is one example of a group of Christians taking their faiths and living out the word of God for the benefit of connecting people who are lost and need saving.
Another is IJM, the International Justice Mission. They’re a global organisation that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. Their 2030 vision is to rescue millions, protect half a billion and equip justice systems to shut down the businesses of slavery and violence – making justice for people who are poor, unstoppable.
James talks about faith without deeds. ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds?’ He goes onto say… ‘You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone’. We must physically respond to the needs of others so that we can bring Jesus physically into injustice and conflict. He can transform the lives of those affected through us, when we give ourselves fully to being his hands and his feet, his work in action. We are called to be lights in the darkness. If a candle stays lit in one room of a darkened house and doesn’t move around, then the other rooms will never see the light.
By being lights that move, we can together transform unjust structures of society, challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation.
Let’s take a moment of quiet to pray for this in our hearts. Amen
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth
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.
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
O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
Come and listen to me.
Jacques Berthier/Taizé.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS - written by Grace Jackson
Our Father in heaven, thank you for the beauty of this season, for the trees coming into leaf, Spring flowers, lambs in the fields, new life everywhere in gardens and countryside as birds and wild animals rear their young. Above all we thank you for the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and for the eternal life which he has won for us.
Lord, we pray that your Spirit will be at work amongst us as we learn more about the Mission you have given to your Church. Help us to see just how this applies to each of us personally so that together we may become a church which is engaged in every aspect of this mission. Help us to love one another, and to respond to the needs we see around us with loving service, both as a church and individually. Fill us with your love to want to share the Gospel with our friends and neighbours. Give us courage to overcome our natural reticence, and at the same time sensitivity to the guidance of your Spirit. We pray for your blessing upon Alistair and Catherine, and ask that you will give them the strength they need day by day to fulfil their ministry amongst us.
We pray for our mission partners, David and Helen in Manchester. Bless them as they settle into their own house, and make them a blessing to their neighbours in their street and in the wider neighbourhood. Help David in his part time sports coaching role, that he and two colleagues, from Iran and North Africa, may be able to show unity in diversity. We pray for Tom and Gemma in Uganda, that you will be at work in and through them during their remaining time in the country, and keep them safe in their travels as they visit other health projects.
As we look out to the world, our Creator God, we can but cry out to you for the people of Ukraine. We pray particularly for Christians in Ukraine, that you will protect them and strengthen them and make them a blessing to others around them. We pray that people still trapped in Mariupol may be rescued, and that those who have arrived in the UK from Ukraine may be matched with their host families, and may settle in and feel safe. Lord, we can see on our TV screens so much of what is happening in Ukraine, but as Tom reminded us last week, there are many more armed conflicts going on around the world. We pray that you will look upon them all in your mercy, and grant that your peace will prevail in all the places of war. We thank you for the compassion which has been shown to people fleeing from Ukraine and pray that this may be extended to all refugees fleeing from violence.
We pray for our own Prime Minister and Government Ministers, that you will direct them to act always with justice, integrity and compassion. Give them wisdom in the decisions they take and the pronouncements they make. We ask for your help for many people who have fallen into poverty since the pandemic. We pray that those without jobs may find work, and for an increase in wages for the lowest paid so that they are fairly rewarded for the work they do.
Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings to us. Please keep us mindful of the needs of others.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
LORD’S PRAYER
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
SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACHPwx7EGQA
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
slain for us, and we remember
the promise made that all who come in faith
find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this Bread of Life
and we drink of His sacrifice
as a sign of our bonds of peace
around the table of the King.
The body of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
torn for you; eat and remember
the wounds that heal,
the death that brings us life
paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this Bread of Life
and we drink of His sacrifice
as a sign of our bonds of love
around the table of the King.
The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
shed for you; drink and remember
He drained death's cup
that all may enter in
to receive the life of God.
So we share in this Bread of Life
and we drink of His sacrifice
as a sign of our bonds of grace
around the table of the King.
And so with thankfulness and faith we rise
to respond, and to remember
our call to follow in the steps of Christ
as His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
we proclaim Christ will come again
and we'll join in the feast of heaven
around the table of the King.
Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
© 2007 Thankyou Music
CCLI Song # 5003372
OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.
SAY:
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you,
and of your own do we give you.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPbD2G3i-7Y
Love divine all loves excelling
Joy of heaven to earth come down
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling
All Thy faithful mercies crown
Jesus Thou art all compassion
Pure unbounded love Thou art
Visit us with Thy salvation
Enter every trembling heart
Breathe O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast
Let us all in Thee inherit
Let us find Thy promised rest
Take away the love of sinning
Alpha and Omega be
End of faith as its beginning
Set our hearts at liberty
Come Almighty to deliver
Let us all Thy grace receive
Suddenly return and never
Never more Thy temples leave
Thee we would be always blessing
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing
Glory in Thy perfect love
Finish then Thy new creation
Pure and spotless let us be
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee
Changed from glory into glory
Till in heaven we take our place
Till we cast our crowns before Thee
Lost in wonder love and praise
© Public Domain
CCLI Song # 1461324
CCLI Licence No. 5119
BLESSING
God, who through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the victory, give you joy and peace in your faith; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen