SUNDAYS

Welcome 
The Lord be with you!
And also with you

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.
God is close to those who trust in him.
Nahum 1.7

Opening prayer

A candle is lit and silence is kept.

O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Pause for reflection as you offer the day to God.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.

Confession

Come, Holy Spirit of God,
and search our hearts with the light of Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this:

‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Amen. Lord, have mercy.

After a period of reflection

Let us confess our failures and sin to God together:
God our Father, long-suffering, full of grace and truth,
you create us from nothing and give us life.

You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us aside.
We confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour.
We have wounded your love and marred your image in us.

Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord enrich us with his grace,
and nourish us with his blessing;
the Lord defend us in trouble and keep us from all evil;
the Lord accept our prayers,
and absolve us from our sins,
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

Amen.

 Psalm 23

¹The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
²He makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
³He shall refresh my soul
and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
⁵You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.
⁶Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd

He restores my soul
He leads me by still waters
He restores my soul

Surely Your goodness and mercy
Are chasing after me
All of the days of my life

Even when I’m lost in the deepest valley, I’ll fear no evil
Even when the silence falls around me
I know You hear me
Even when it feels like we’re separated
You’re holding onto me

You lift my head You wipe my tears
You restore my soul
You draw me into Your embrace
You restore my soul

Surely Your goodness and mercy
Are chasing after me
All of the days of my life

Even when I’m lost in the deepest valley, I’ll fear no evil
Even when the silence falls around me
I know You hear me
Even when it feels like we’re separated
You’re holding onto me

You restore my soul
You restore my soul

Who, oh Lord, could save themselves
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us

Led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You, oh Lord, have made a way
The great divide You healed
For when our hearts were far away
Your love went further still
Yes, your love goes further still

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us

Led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes
You’re the Giver of Life

You alone can rescue
You alone can save
You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us

Led us out of death
To You alone belongs the highest praise

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus You brought heaven down
My sin was great Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

Readings
Isaiah 43.1-3a

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.

Reflecting on the passage together

Paul’s prayers

Ephesians 1:15-23 (The Passion Version)

¹⁵ Because of this, since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your tender love toward all his devoted ones, ¹⁶ my heart is always full and overflowing with thanks to God for you as I constantly remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him.

¹⁸ I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones!

¹⁹ I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power ²⁰ that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honour and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! ²¹ And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised, not only in this age, but in the age that is coming!

²² And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. ²³ And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it!

Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Passion Version)

¹⁴ So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ¹⁵ the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. ¹⁶ And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favour until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power.

¹⁷ Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life.

^18–19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

²⁰ Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.

²¹ Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that’s never failing,
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour,
The hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is mighty to save,
He is mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow,
Everything I believe in.
Now I surrender.

Shine Your light
and let the whole world see
We’re singing
For the glory of the risen King.

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing remains
One thing remains

Your love never fails
It never gives up
Never runs out on me (x3)
Your love

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never ever have to be afraid
One thing remains
One thing remains

In death in life I’m confident and
Covered by the power of Your great love
My debt is paid there’s nothing that
Can separate my heart from Your great love 

Intercessions

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes.
God is close to those who trust in him, so let us pray to him in faith.

Our Father, we pray for the health and well-being of our nation,
that all who are fearful and anxious
may be at peace and free from worry:

We pray for those who are guiding our nation at this time,
and shaping national policies,
that they may make wise decisions:

We pray for the isolated and housebound,
that we may be alert to their needs,
and care for them in their vulnerability:

We pray for our homes and families,
our schools and young people,
and all in any kind of need or distress:

We pray for a blessing on our local community,
that our neighbourhoods may be places of trust and friendship,
where all are known and cared for:

Prayer in our homes

Let us join together in prayer in each of our homes right now
in silence or out loud, alone or with others, and pray for any of the following:

• For those who are ill
• For all hospital and medical staff
• For business and our economy
• For schools and teachers
• For all those supplying food and essential utilities
• For the Government and the nations
• For the Christian community

A personal prayer

I am giving you worship with all my life,
I am giving you obedience with all my power,
I am giving you praise with all my strength,
I am giving you honour with all my speech.
I am giving you love with all my heart,
I am giving you affection with all my sense,
I am giving you my being with all my mind,
I am giving you my soul, O most high and holy God.

Praise to the Father,
Praise to the Son,
Praise to the Spirit,
The Three in One.

adapted from Alexander Carmichael,
Carmina Gadelica (1900)

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples, ‘I am with you always’.
Be with me today, as I offer myself to you.

Hear my prayers for others and for myself,
and keep me in your care.

We are not people of fear: we are people of courage.
We are not people who protect our own safety:
we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety.
We are not people of greed: we are people of generosity.
We are your people God, giving and loving, wherever we are,
whatever it costs, for as long as it takes, wherever you call us.

Amen

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Notices

The four ways we want to express ourselves as church

• Worshipping from home
• Sustaining community
• Growing as disciples
• Loving our neighbours

And other news:

• Palm Sunday next week
• Use the website for updates for Easter
• It’s Lynn Evan’s last week this week as our Church Administrator
• Check out our fantastic Children and Youth Pages
• Keep in touch!

As Jesus, taught us so we pray:

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.

For your goodness and generosity in giving us all we need,
help us to praise you O God.

In every circumstance of life, in good times and bad,
help us to trust you, O God.

In love and faithfulness, with all that we have and all that we are,
help us to serve you, O God.

As we speak or write or listen to those nearby or far away,
help us to share your love, O God.

In our plans and work for ourselves and for others,
help us to glorify you, O God.

In every thought and word and deed, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
this week, may we live for you, O God.

Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage;
hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted;
honour everyone; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:13-22