Welcome to our service - 30 April
This online service can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud joining in if you can with the YouTube videos.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
OPENING
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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SG3a7PTSFE
There is a Redeemer
Jesus, God's own Son,
precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
holy One.
Thank you, O my Father,
for giving us your Son,
and leaving your Spirit
till the work on earth is done.
2. Jesus, my Redeemer,
name above all names,
precious Son of God, Messiah,
Lamb for sinners slain:
Thank you, O my Father...
3. When I stand in glory
I will see his face,
and there I'll serve my king for ever
in that holy place.
Thank you, O my Father...
Melody Green (c) Word Music (UK)
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
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.
CONFESSION
Christ died to sin once for all, and now he lives to God. Let us renew our resolve to have done with all that is evil and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
ABSOLUTION
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.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsVAGsG_aGA
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.
Copyright © 1985 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music./Adm. Integrity Music Europe
READINGS
Acts 2: 43 - 47
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
John 10: 1 - 10
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognise his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Questions for Reflection
This Sunday, we would invite you to consider the questions below, focused on the passage from John, using them to reflect and pray.
· In the passage it describes the shepherd calling his own sheep by name and leading them. Consider for a moment the significance of Jesus knowing you by name. In your mind’s eye imagine him speaking and calling your name and then leading you.
· The sheep follow the shepherd ‘because they know his voice.’
o How can we grow to know and recognise the voice of Jesus?
o What other things in your life might make it difficult to hear the voice of Jesus?
· Jesus then describes himself as the ‘gate for the sheep’. How is this metaphor different to Jesus being the shepherd? Consider the purpose of a gate.
· Jesus contrasts himself to the ‘thief’ whose purpose is to ‘steal and kill and destroy’. In what ways does the thief try and do this in your life?
· Instead, Jesus gives (it is a gift) a ‘rich and satisfying life’. What might this practically look like for a believer? Does it mean a materially ‘rich’ life or something else?
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 are written by Christine Carney
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your promise in John’s gospel, that you are the gate and that whoever enters through you will be saved. We confess that we are like sheep; help us to listen to your voice, Lord, to be guided and led by you and to follow you each day. We long to have the abundant life you want for us. Help us to trust you knowing that you know what is best for us.
We pray for your blessing on the Church family. Help us to support and encourage one another and to reach out in love to others in the community. Lord Jesus, we pray that you will be powerfully at work in Greystones. We commit to you the Coronation Celebration meal together on the 7th May and pray for your blessing on those who are involved in the organisation, and that all those who come, will have a really enjoyable time.
We pray for King Charles that you will fill him with your Holy Spirit, with wisdom that comes from you, with discernment, with a knowledge of the truth and with a love for and a desire to serve his people faithfully…
Lord Jesus, we thank you for Greystones School. Please bless and encourage the Head teacher and staff, the pupils and the parents as they cope with the SATS examinations in May. We pray that there will be enough adults to staff these exams and that they will run smoothly.
Heavenly Father, we cry out to you for the people of Sudan. We pray for safety for the civilians caught up in the fighting and for those fleeing from their homes. We pray that you will raise up leaders who will seek peace and we pray for wisdom for the international community in supporting that country.
Father, we continue to pray for a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine and for protection for the Ukrainian people. Thank you, Lord, for the conversation this week between President Zelensky and President Xi of China. We pray that this will be a step forward in bringing the war to an end.
We pray for wisdom for Rishi Sunak and our government in all the decisions they have to make, and that ordinary people will turn out to vote in the local elections next week.
We pray in the name of 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
SONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQkzHwz2eLE
I will offer up my life in spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to You.
In surrender I must give my every part,
Lord receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.
Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring,
to so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung,
as a praise of Your name
for the things You have done?
O, my words could not tell, not even in part,
of the debt of love that is owed
by this thankful heart.
2. You deserve my every breath
for You've paid the great cost,
giving up Your life to death,
even death on a cross.
You took all my shame away,
there defeated my sin,
opened up the gates of heaven
and have beckoned me in.
Jesus, what can I give,
Matt Redman: (c) 1994 Unveiled Music/Kingsway's Thankyou Music
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=sT0r9DaGbmQ
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