Order of service
Piano prelude: Voluntary in A minor – John James (d. 1745)
Welcome
Call to Worship – Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures for ever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Prayer of Adoration and Praise
The window frame of an upstairs window sets a limit to what I can see from it. Lord but from my seat I can see the sky – the ever changing colours and the marvellous shapes of the clouds. I know that the sky goes on and on and never ends. I praise You Lord that there is no limit to the height from which Your love for us descends and that there is no depth from which Your compassion for us does not rise. Occasionally a bird or an insect flies past and I wonder anew at the rich variety of Your created natural world and I reflect on all the gifts You gave to mankind which have enabled us to be so inventive. I praise You dear Father that Your everlasting arms uphold and strengthen me each day of my life.
Lord’s Prayer
HYMN
Tune: Evelyns – W. H. Monk (1823 – 89)
Jesus, Lord, Redeemer,
once for sinners slain,
crucified in weakness,
raised in power to reign,
dwelling with the Father,
endless in your days,
unto you be glory,
honour, blessing, praise.
Faithful ones communing
towards the close of day,
desolate and weary,
met you in the way.
So, when sun is setting,
come to us and show
all the truth, and in us
make our hearts to glow.
In the upper chamber,
where the ten, in fear,
gathered sad and troubled,
there you did appear.
Present with us now, Lord,
bid our sorrows cease;
breathing on us, Saviour,
say, ‘I give you peace.’
Patrick M. Kirkland (1857 – 1943)
Reading: Luke 24: 13 – 35
Piano interlude: Air – James Hook (1746 – 1827)
Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 50 – 58
Sermon: On the road – Rev Phil Chilvers
HYMN
Tune: Vruechten – 17th century Dutch melody,
harm. Charles Wood (1866 – 1926) and Geoffrey Shaw (1879 – 1943)
This joyful Eastertide
away with sin and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified,
has sprung to life this morrow.
Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne’er burst his three-days’ prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen, arisen, arisen
arisen!
Death’s flood has lost its chill,
since Jesus crossed the river;
lover of souls, from ill
my passing soul deliver.
Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne’er burst his three-days’ prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen, arisen, arisen
arisen!
G. R. Woodward (1848 – 1934) altd.
Offering Prayer
Our offering each day Father is the phone call made, the letter written and sent, the birthday remembered. It is the cheery greeting to a fellow walker, the thank you said to the postman or shopkeeper and the help given or accepted when possible. It is the love shown by our actions which reflect Your love for us. Accept our offerings today Father we pray.
Prayers of Intercession
Living Lord, we bring to you the needs of the world.
We pray for those who consider themselves to be strangers and outcasts. Help us always to welcome the stranger, whatever the cost, not sitting comfortably and ignoring people we think don’t fit in, not taking the easy way.
May our homes and churches be places of welcome, hospitality and love, that all may have the chance to recognise and see you in the warmth of those around them.
We pray for countries where food is in short supply. May we farm sustainably and eat sensibly, so there is enough to feed the whole planet.
May we not look only after ourselves but seek to offer the same opportunities to all. Help us not to be selfish, but always to consider others. Lord, we long for the day when all in society will be equal. May we be a part of making that happen.
We pray for those who are lonely and have no one to eat with them. May we open our doors to our neighbours, so that love and friendship can flourish, and all can enjoy the feast.
We ask in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
HYMN
Tune: St Albinus – H. J. Gauntlett (1805 – 76)
Jesus lives! Thy terrors now
can, O death, no more appal us;
Jesus lives! By this we know
thou, O grave canst not enthral us:
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! For us he died;
hence may we, to Jesus living,
pure in heart and act abide,
praise to him and glory giving:
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! Our hearts know well
naught from us his love shall sever;
life, nor death, nor powers of hell
part us now from Christ for ever:
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! Henceforth is death
entrance-gate of life immortal;
this shall calm our trembling breath,
when we pass its gloomy portal:
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! To him the throne
over all the world is given;
may we go where he is gone,
live and reign with him in heaven:
Alleluia!
C. F. Gellert (1715 – 69)
tr. Frances E. Cox (1812 – 97)
Sending out prayer
Lord Jesus,
as you walked on the road to Emmaus,
walk with us on the roads we travel.
Help us to know your presence with us,
and to be your presence to others.
And, at the end of the day,
may we all enjoy your feast.
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
Blessing
Now may the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and those you love, now and always.
Amen.
Piano postlude: Voluntary in D – William Croft (1678 – 1727)
