Sunday Service - 3 May — St Gabriel's

Welcome to our Service - 3 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.

To the right is Alistair’s talk. It can be watched separately or as part of the rest of the service.

If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86325176331

Meeting ID: 863 2517 6331

OPENING

SAY:

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;

I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.

Alleluia, alleluia.

SONG

HE WHO WOULD VALIANT BE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJhtviWxK4U

’Gainst all disaster,

Let him in constancy

Follow the Master.

There’s no discouragement

Shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent

To be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round

With dismal stories,

Do but themselves confound—

His strength the more is.

No foes shall stay his might,

Though he with giants fight;

He will make good his right

To be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend

Us with Thy Spirit,

We know we at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies flee away!

I’ll fear not what men say,

I’ll labour night and day

To be a pilgrim.

John Bunyan (1628–88) and others

A Songs of Fellowship Worship Resource

CONFESSION

Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

Like Mary at the empty tomb,

we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.

Lord, have mercy.

Like the disciples behind locked doors,

we are afraid to be seen as your followers.

Christ, have mercy.

Like Thomas in the upper room,

we are slow to believe.

Lord, have mercy.

ASOLUTION

May the Father of all mercies

cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in his image

to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COLLECT

Risen Christ,

faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:

teach us to hear your voice

and to follow your command,

that all your people may be gathered into one flock,

to the glory of God the Father.

AMEN

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKmlrlzTHXY

LORD, YOU ARE MORE PRECIOUS than silver

Lord, You are more costly than gold.

Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds,

And nothing I desire compares with You.

Lynn DeShazo.

READINGS

1 Peter 2: 11 - 17

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.

Reading: John 10: 1 - 10

‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

TALK written by Peter Smithers (see video above)

SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggSjE26Iivw

THE KING IS AMONG US,

His Spirit is here,

Let’s draw near and worship,

Let songs fill the air.

He looks down upon us,

Delight in His face,

Enjoying His children’s love,

Enthralled by our praise.

For each child is special,

Accepted and loved,

A love gift from Jesus

To His Father above.

And now He is giving

His gifts to us all,

For no one is worthless

And each one is called.

The Spirit’s anointing

On all flesh comes down,

And we shall be channels

For works like His own.

We come now believing

Your promise of power,

For we are Your people

And this is Your hour.

The King is among us,

His Spirit is here,

Let’s draw near and worship,

Let songs fill the air.

Graham Kendrick.

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.

PRAYERS - written by Grace Jackson

Our Father in heaven, we come to you this morning to pray for ourselves and for all around the world who have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Thank you that in these anxious times you are with us. Help us to put our trust in you, and to remember that we can look beyond the present situation to an eternal future, with Jesus as our King. Help us to be ready to share this good news with those around us and not selfishly keep it to ourselves.

Thank you that amidst the sadness and grief caused by the pandemic some really good things have emerged, such as the community spirit displayed in many places, the caring for each other especially for the elderly , the dedication and the selflessness of doctors and nurses and other key workers, as well as clean air, birdsong, the sunshine and the rain. We pray that the dedication and the spirit of kindness to one another may continue after the crisis is over, as this surely must be how you want us to live. We pray also that political leaders and all of us may take this opportunity to re-examine our attitude to travel, whether for work or holidays, climate change, and our responsibility to care for the earth.

We pray for your protection for doctors and nurses and care workers, who are risking their lives to care for the sick and vulnerable, in particular that they may have the protective clothing they need. We pray that you will comfort those who are grieving after the death of a family member. And we pray for scientists searching for a cure from this deadly virus.

During the lockdown we pray for the lonely, the isolated, those living in flats with no access to green spaces, and for parents attempting to continue their children's education at home. We pray for women subjected to domestic abuse and for children in this situation, made worse by the confinement. We pray that you will give them the strength and the opportunity to seek help and to find safe refuge.

We pray not only for our own country, but for other countries, especially those with very few medical facilities, such as Yemen amongst others. And we pray for refugees living in large camps, especially the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh where there is the largest refugee camp in the world. Lord, we ask that you will help the Bangladesh government and the international charities to be able to provide washing facilities and sanitisers in the camp. We pray for refugees stranded at sea and ask that they may find safety. God of love, you made the world and care for all your creatures, we pray that you will help these desperate people to find refuge and have a future and a hope, and that you will stimulate your people everywhere to give what support they can.

Lastly we pray for our church and the community in Greystones. Please help us to support one another during this crisis, and be ready to reach out to the community around us. We pray that you will help Alistair as he continues his ministry in very difficult circumstances. We ask your blessing on the Zoom services and pray that an increasing number of people may join in, beyond present church members.

Keep us good Lord under the shadow of your mercy

In this time of uncertainty and distress.

Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,

and lift up all who are brought low,

that we may rejoice in your comfort,

knowing that nothing can separate us

from your love in Christ Jesus.

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

OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you 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=oXc04P8d654

IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING,

No change my heart shall fear;

And safe is such confiding,

For nothing changes here:

The storm may roar without me,

My heart may low be laid;

But God is round about me,

And can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me,

No want shall turn me back;

My Shepherd is beside me,

And nothing can I lack:

His wisdom ever waketh,

His sight is never dim;

He knows the way He taketh,

And I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me,

Which yet I have not seen;

Bright skies will soon be o’er me,

Where darkest clouds have been;

My hope I cannot measure,

My path to life is free;

My Saviour has my treasure,

And He will walk with me.

Anna L. Waring (1820–1910)

BLESSING

The God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep,make you perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always.

Amen

3 May Sermon - Peter Smithers