Service for Sunday 4th May 2025, which included communion, and was conducted by Mr Geoffrey Webber

Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

Are you familiar with the game “Murder in the Dark”? It is an indoor game that can be played by people of all ages in any home environment.

The idea of the game is that all who are playing the game get a small piece of paper. Depending on the number of people playing, one or two people have an “M” on their piece of paper indicating that they are a “murderer”. Everyone else is a potential “victim”. When everyone knows which role they are playing, the main lights in the area are turned off, with one or two peripheral lights staying on so that the area isn’t completely pitch dark.

Everyone is to walk around the area in which the game is being played. The non-murderers seek to avoid coming into close proximity with everyone else in case they encounter the murderer. The murderers’ aim is to silently approach someone and whisper “You’re dead.”, hopefully without the victim suspecting anything and without anyone else observing the “murder” taking place. The victim falls down where they are. When someone sees the victim lying down, they are to call out “Emergency Meeting.” The game is paused, the lights are turned on, and everyone gathers together. Except for the victim, who of course knows the identity of the murderer, everyone else is able to make an accusation as to who they think is the murderer. The murderer is able to falsely accuse someone else of being the murderer so as to deflect suspicion away from themselves. If the identity of the murderer is not proven, then the game recommences. The game finishes when the identity of the murderer is identified, or everyone is murdered.

Our three grand-daughters enjoy playing the game, especially four-year old Amelia. Lately, when the dinner is finished and the table is cleared, she is the first to ask, “Can we play ‘Murder in the Dark?’”, because she enjoys playing the game so much. But, there is an issue. She is afraid of being alone in the dark.

Ah, who can fathom the mind of a four year old? She is in mental conflict, for she greatly desires to play the game, which is played in a darkened area, but greatly fears walking around alone in a darkened area. So, how does Amelia deal with this apparent contradiction of desiring to play a game in a darkened room yet being afraid of walking around in a darkened room? She solves the problem by walking around holding on to Kerry’s hand. She moves beyond her fear of the dark because she has an absolute trust in her Nana, that Kerry will ensure that nothing fearful will happen while they are walking around in the dark. Even though Amelia will squeal loudly if her oldest sister jumps out of a dark corner saying “Boo!”, she is able to laugh it off as part of the game, solely because she is holding on to Kerry’s hand and has placed her absolute trust in Kerry to keep her safe.

This simple trust that a grandchild has for a grandparent is something to be treasured and not to be lightly dismissed. It is a trust in the grandparent not because they are a grandparent, but because they, as a grandparent, have displayed their care and compassion for the grandchild.

And is not this an illustration of our relationship with God, who, too, has promised to display His care and compassion for us, who, too, has promised to hold onto our hand?

The author of Psalm 139 writes:

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend into Heaven, you are there. If I were to be in Hell, behold, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the Sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139: 7 to 10 New KJV)

As we gather for worship today, let us be mindful that we are gathered in the very presence of Almighty God, who has promised to be present wherever we are, and who has promised to ‘hold onto our hand’ to guide us and to guard us as we journey through the darkened areas of our life.

Prayer of Praise

(from Psalm 30)

Great and glorious God, only to you do I offer worship and praise.

I cry to you in times of need and you answer me. I seek you in times of distress and you comfort me.

Loving God, to you I give unqualified and unbounded thanks.

I remember all the great and marvellous things that you have done in my life.

Holy God, I acknowledge those moments when you have chastened and corrected me,

when you showed your anger towards my failings and my wanderings.

Yet I remember a lifetime of experiencing your unfailing goodness towards me,

I rejoice because you have remained faithful to me even when I have not remained faithful to you.

Almighty God, when I was afraid of where life was heading you did not hide yourself from me,

you provided strength and security when I needed them most,

When I felt that there was no hope left and only darkness lay ahead of me,

you restored hope in my life and joy in my living.

I will not be silent; I will sing praise to you.

LORD, you are my God; I will give you thanks forever. Amen.

Hymn

“Jesus shall reign where’re the Sun” based on MHB272 AHB136 TiS207

[This hymn is mainly being sung to the tune Duke Street.]

Here is a link to a YouTube video of this hymn:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE4DDB5whyk

Verse 1 of 4

Jesus shall reign where’er the Sun

does its successive journeys run,

His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,

till Sun shall rise and set no more

Verse 2 of 4

Blessings abound where’er He reigns,

the prisoner leaps to lose his chains,

the weary find eternal rest,

and all the sons of want are blessed

CHORUS

To our King be highest praise,

rising through eternal days,

just and faithful He shall reign:

Jesus shall reign!

Verse 3 of 3

People and realms of every tongue

dwell on His love with sweetest song,

and infant voices shall proclaim

their early blessings on His name.

CHORUS

To our King be highest praise,

rising through eternal days,

just and faithful He shall reign:

Jesus shall reign!

Verse 4 of 4

Let every creature rise and bring

blessing and honour to our King,

Angels descend with songs again,

and Earth repeat the loud “Amen!”.

CHORUS

To our King be highest praise,

rising through eternal days,

just and faithful He shall reign:

Jesus shall reign!

To our King be highest praise,

rising through eternal days,

just and faithful He shall reign:

Jesus shall reign!

Isaac Watts

As adapted by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty and Ed Cash

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we are conscious of our inadequacy before your holiness, and of our unworthiness to receive your unmerited favour towards us.

We are ashamed of our sins that have caused you despair and disgust.

Merciful God, we covert the things of this World, the transient security and illusionary happiness from possessing things and experiencing pleasures,

and do not savour the delights of being in your presence. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we give credibility to the claims of the importance of belonging to race or clan, of holding onto status and privilege, or of particular social or political beliefs,

and, in doing do, deviate from our worship of you by putting our trust and hope in the gods of this Age. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we give credence to the false promise that we can achieve goodness and greatness by our own efforts and abilities,

and, in doing so, begin to believe that we can become gods ourselves. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we neglect the consequences of our words and our actions,

and grieve when we realise that we have hurt and upset others by what we do and say. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we turn away from the despair and the hurt of the needy,

and neglect to show compassion to the very people who you sought to love. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we turn away from your calling to serve you in the World,

and neglect our responsibility to bear witness to your plan for saving people from their sins, achieved through the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. Forgive us.

Merciful God, we are reminded of your lovingkindness and compassion to all who believe.

Release us from our guilt and give us peace of mind of sins forgiven and forgotten. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from 2 Corinthians 5: 19 & 21)

In writing to the Church in Corinth, Paul wrote:

“God made Christ who had no sin to be sin for us, so as to reconcile the World to Himself in Christ. In doing so, God is not counting our sins against us.”

Let us rest on this assurance that, by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God, and our souls cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

O Lord, Heavenly Father, in whom is the fullness of light and wisdom,

enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit,

and give us grace to receive your Word with reverence and humility,

without which no person can understand your truth.

To your glory we pray. Amen.

John Calvin

Bible Readings

2 Corinthians 5

16 So, from now on we regard no one from a Worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the World to Himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God. 21 God made Christ who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Acts 9:

1 Saul kept up his violent threats of murder against the followers of the Lord. He went to the High Priest, 2 and asked for Letters of Introduction to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way of the Lord, he would be able to arrest them, both men and women, and bring them back to Jerusalem.

3 As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you persecute.”, the voice said, 6 “But get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you must do.”

17 Ananias went to the house of Judas in Straight Street, where Saul was staying, entered, and placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord has sent me – Jesus himself, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here. He sent me so that you might see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 At once something like fish scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he was able to see again. He stood up and was baptised; 19 and after he had eaten, his strength came back.

Saul stayed for a few days with the believers in Damascus. 20 He went straight to the synagogues and began to preach that Jesus was the Son of God.

21 All who heard him were amazed and asked, “Isn’t he the one who in Jerusalem was killing those who worship that man Jesus? And didn’t he come here for the very purpose of arresting those people and take them back to the Chief Priests?”

22 But Saul’s preaching became even more powerful, and his proofs that Jesus was the Messiah were so convincing that the Jews who lived in Damascus could not answer him. 23 After many days had gone by, the Jews met together and made plans to kill Saul, 24 but he was told of their plan. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But one night Saul’s followers took him and let him down through an opening in the city wall, lowering him in a backet. 26 Saul went to Jerusalem.

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

John 21

1 After this, Jesus appeared once more to his Disciples at Lake Tiberias (Lake Galilee). This is how it happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael (the one from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other Disciples of Jesus, were all together. 3 Simon Peter said to the others, “I am going fishing.”

“We will come with you.”, they told him. So they went out in a boat, but all that night they did not catch a thing. 4 As the Sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the Disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he asked them, “Young men, haven’t you caught anything?” “Not a thing.”, they answered.

6 He said to them, “Throw your net out on the right side of the boat, and you will catch some.” So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in, because they had caught so many fish.

7 The Disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken his clothes off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other Disciples came to shore in the boat, pulling the net full of fish. They were not very far from land, about a hundred yards away. 9 When they stepped ashore, they saw a fire there with fish on it and some bread. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

11 Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net ashore full of big fish, a hundred and fifty-three in all; even though there were so many, still the net did not tear. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” None of the Disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 So Jesus went over, took the bread, and gave it to them; he did the same with the fish.

14 This, then was the third time Jesus appeared to the Disciples after he was raised from death.

15 After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?”

“Yes, lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” 16 A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said to him, ”Take care of my sheep.” 17 A third time Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter became sad because Jesus asked him a third time, “do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”

Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep. 18 I am telling you the truth: when you were young, you used to get ready and go anywhere you wanted to; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you up and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 (In saying this, Jesus was indicating the way in which Peter would die and bring glory to God.) then Jesus said to him, “Follow me!”

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn

“Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord” TiS390 Sing Alleluia number 2

Here is a link to a YouTube video of this hymn:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZcCnLfufQs&ab_channel=FrodshamMethodistChurch

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Verse 1 of 5

Jesus is Lord of all the Earth;

He is the King of Creation.

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Verse 2 of 5

Spread the good news o’er all the Earth:

Jesus has died and has risen.

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Verse 3 of 5

We have been crucified with Christ;

Now we shall live for ever.

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Verse 4 of 5

God has proclaimed the just reward:

New life for all! Alleluia!

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Verse 5 of 5

Come, let us praise the living God,

Joyfully sing to our Saviour.

Chorus

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,

Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

Donald Fishel

Sermon

Some 400,00 people travelled to the Vatican for the funeral of Pope Francis on 26/04/2025

You will all be familiar with the recent funeral of Pope Francis which took place on Saturday 26^th April. I was surprised (probably naively) by the magnitude of the occasion.

The above image gives you a glimpse of the vast crowd that was present, both lining the avenue leading up to St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, and seated in and standing in St Peter’s Square itself.

Who was sitting where at the funeral of Pope Francis on 26/04/2025

This image is of the front portion of St Peter’s Square. It reveals where each group of people were seated in relation to the coffin of Pope Francis. Dignitaries were sited in the background to the left-hand side. The General Public were sited in the background to the right-hand side. Cardinals and Bishops were in the foreground to the left-hand side, and other clergy were in the foreground on the right-hand side.

Some of the dignitaries attending the funeral of Pope Francis on 26/04/2025

This image is of some of the Dignitaries who were present. When I looked at this image two things came to mind.

Firstly, it must have been a very clear, hot, sunny day. Many people are wearing sunglasses. I can see several people holding the service outline to cover their eyes from the glare. But I can only see two women and one man wearing hats. Obviously, the message of “slapping on your hat” when you are out in the Sun has not permeated ‘high-end social gatherings’ in Italy to any great extent. If the funeral had been held in Australia, I am certain that you would have seen more people wearing their Akubras.

Secondly, it got me thinking as to people’s motives for attending this funeral, because, for all intents and purposes, it was a Christian worship service, where, one would expect, the all-inclusive grace of God and the all-encompassing atoning sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ were central to the message being presented in the words and to the format of the service.

But that does not mean that all who were present attended the funeral so as to participate in a Christian worship service.

Look at the image and in the centre-right you observe five men and one woman in Arab headdress. To their left, a little lower, you observe a man sitting in the aisle who is wearing a turban of a religious leader of perhaps Iran or of Iraq or of Afghanistan. My point is that it is safe to assume that these people are of the Islamic faith. One must question, then, how much did they participate in this Christian worship service, knowing that, firstly, in their home countries, participating in a Christian worship service can get you arrested, and, secondly, professing anything associated with the Christian faith is classed as heretical to their faith? So, if they could not knowingly participate sincerely and truthfully in a Christian worship service, why were they attending a Christian worship service if it was not to offer worship of Almighty God nor to offer praise for the atoning sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ?

But, this only raises the subsequent logical question. How many other Dignitaries who were also present also did not sincerely and truthfully participate in this Christian worship service. How many other Dignitaries who were also present did not sincerely and truthfully offer worship of Almighty God nor offer praise for the atoning sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ?

Yet, here they all were, attending a Christian worship service but, knowingly, for an unknown number, in their hearts and minds and spirits, not sincerely nor truthfully offering worship of Almighty God. And, on that basis, one could claim that their attendance is but clear evidence of their hypocritical pretence that ‘showing up’ to the funeral service is all that was important, a necessary fulfillment of some social or political or National obligation, with no correlation what-so-ever to any obligation to offer worship of Almighty God.

“when you are gathered together, (do so with) sincerity and truth” 1 Corinthians 5: 4a & 8b

Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered the people of Israel together to exhort them to “serve the LORD with sincerity and truth”. (Joshua 24: 14) To “serve” God carries the understanding of revering God, of worshipping God, of serving God in every aspect of your life. The Hebrew word translated as “sincerity” is the word towmeem, which has the added meaning of “with integrity” and “complete” and “undefiled”. (Strong’s OT8549) The Hebrew word translated as “truth” is the word ehmeth, has the added meaning of “trustworthiness” and “faithful” and “truly”. (Strong’s OT571)

In his Commentary on the Book of Joshua, Hugh Blair writes that Joshua is stressing to the people of Israel that in every aspect of their lives they must demonstrate “exclusive loyalty” to the LORD their God. (Hugh Blair in Joshua in the New Bible Commentary p250)

In his first Letter to the Church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul encourages them that “when you are gathered together, (you are to do so with) sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5: 4a & 8b) This instruction was given against a background of the Church in Corinth not dealing appropriately with immorality among its members. The Greek word that is translated as “sincerity” is the word eilikrineia, which has the added meaning of “clearness” and “purity”. (Strong’s NT1505) The Greek word that is translated as “truth” is the word aletheia, which simply means “truly” or “truth”. (Strong’s NT225)

In their Commentary on Paul’s first Letter to the Corinthians, Roy Ciampa and Brian Rosner write that Paul is stressing to the Church in Corinth the necessity for them to demonstrate “holy living and moral purity”, as evidence that they were sincere and truthful in their worship of God. (Roy Ciampa and Brian Rosner in 1 Corinthians in Gregory Beale and Donald Carson (ed) Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament p798)

John records the third instance when the risen Jesus meets the Disciples somewhere on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. He records Jesus asking Peter this question:

“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21: 15a)

Writers are uncertain as to what Jesus is referring with his words “more than these”.

Leon Morris in his study notes on John’s Gospel suggests three possibilities:

“more than you love these other Disciples”, or

“more than you love this fishing gear upon which you have made your living”, or

“more than these other Disciples love me”.

(Leon Morris Study Note in John in the NIV Study Bible p1666)

Various Translations and Commentaries take one or another of these options:

(refer to Good News Bible p890, William Hendriksen in The Gospel of John p486, Randolph Tasker in John An Introduction and Commentary p233, William Barclay in The Gospel of John volume 2 p285)

Essentially, we need not stress on which is the more likely option, or whether all three are correct readings of the phrase. What is the important factor in this passage is that Jesus is asking Peter, “What is the most important thing in your life?”

To which Peter replies:

Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” (John 21: 15b)

Jesus then commands him,

“Take care of my lambs.” (John 21: 15c)

Jesus was seeking from Peter an affirmation of Peter’s love and devotion to Jesus above all other people and above all other things. (Leon Morris Study Note in John in the NIV Study Bible p1666)

Jesus then reveals that such devotion to Jesus “must be demonstrated by obedience to Christ’s call (for you) to serve his People (where and when and how Christ leads you)”. (Craig Keener in John in The IVP Bible Background Commentary to the New Testament p319)

Sincerity and truth.

Does that describe your attitude as you worship Almighty God today?

In your worship of God, are you affirming your “exclusive loyalty” to God, that you have devoted your whole life to God “above all other people and above all other things”?

Are you demonstrating your declaration of loyalty to God by “holy living and moral purity”?

Are you demonstrating your declaration of loyalty to God by obedience to Christ’s call for you to serve his People where and when and how Christ leads you?

For we do not attend worship out of a requirement to fulfill some social or cultural or family obligation. We attend worship to sincerely and truthfully praise God because “God was reconciling the World to Himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us.”. (2 Corinthians 5: 19)

I found these hymn verses during the week. May they inspire you as you seek to worship and to serve Almighty God.

“Lord and Saviour, true and kind,

be the Master of my mind,

bless and guide and strengthen still

all my powers and thought and will.

Lord and Saviour, Christ divine,

reign within this heart of mine,

may my witness ever be

always, only, Lord for Thee.”

Handley Moule in verse 1 of MHB868, and

C Brandt as quoted in Witness by Marvin Williams in Our Daily Bread 28 May 2009

Amen.

Offering

Offering Prayer

As we present these offerings before You, O Lord, we ask for Your blessing upon them. May they be used wisely and effectively to further Your will on earth, bringing hope, healing and transformation to all who are touched by Your grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, we pray. Amen.

(from Uniting World Sunday Liturgy 2024 – https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/sunday/sunday-resources)

Prayers for Others

God of creation, humbly we pray for all that you have created, now being misused and facing devastation because of the World’s greed and indifference.

Guide us, O God, that we may become renewed stewards of the Earth, with a renewed concern of the Earth so as to maintain its health and balance, and to ensure that it able to meet the needs of future generations.

God of justice, humbly we pray for the World, marked as it is by oppression and injustice.

Guide us, O God, as we pursue justice and equity, respond to the needs of the poor and the marginalised in our communities, and uphold the dignity of Humanity.

God of love and peace, humbly we pray for the World, threatened by division and wars.

Guide us, O God, as we pray and work for your love to reign within and among people.

God of mercy, humbly we pray for UnitingWorld and its partners in the Pacific, Asia, Africa, and other parts of the world.

Guide them so that they may follow your will and courageously carry out the mission that you have entrusted to them, amidst the challenges brought about by the changing times and adversities of today.

Empower us, O God, to continue in our mission with courage, compassion and unwavering dedication.

May our actions be a testament to Your love, and may they inspire others to join in the work of building a World filled with justice, peace and joy.

God of love, by your love we are united, by your love we find hope, and by your love we are renewed.

Amen.

(from Uniting World Sunday Liturgy 2024 – https://donate.unitingworld.org.au/sunday/sunday-resources)

Hymn

“Be with me Lord, where’re I go”

[This hymn is being sung to the tune Quebec .]

Here is a link to a YouTube video of this hymn:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqEh4K_SMA

Verse 1 of 3

Be with me, Lord, where’re I go;

teach me what Thou wouldst have me do;

govern whate’er I think or say;

direct me in the narrow way.

Verse 2 of 3

Work in me, lest I harbour pride,

lest I in my own strength confide;

show me my weakness, let me see

I have my power, my all, from Thee.

Verse 3 of 3

Assist and teach me how to pray;

incline my nature to obey;

what Thou abhorrest let me flee,

and only love what pleases Thee.

John Cennick

Sacrament of Communion

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222)

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own. We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend. So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’” (1 Corinthians 11: 23 to 26)

And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space. We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet. You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven. We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations. Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice. In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross. You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace. By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith. With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and the cup, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ. Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the World,

Grant us peace.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love. Amen.

Hymn

“Since Jesus came into my Heart” Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 number 378

Here is a link to a YouTube video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ6e1fBVZ1Y&ab_channel=KalebBrasee

Verse 1 of 4

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought