A Service for the fifth Sunday of Easter
10th May 2020
With our communal worship services currently "on hold", in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, what follows is a contemporary service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in reguar typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Oh yes, if you come across LARGE BOLDFACE text ... that is meant to be shouted !
Christ is Risen .....
He is Risen indeed, Alleluia !
I knew you'd get the idea :)
Opening Hymn
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud with the lyrics, of the wonderful "And Can It Be."
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Call to Worship
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed, alleluia!
Kia ora, te whānau,
welcome to you my sisters and brothers.
Grace and peace to you from God.
God fill you with truth and joy.
Let us pray.
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
so that we may truly love you and worthily praise your holy
name through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Happy are those whose sins are forgiven,
whose wrongs are pardoned.
I will confess my sins to the Lord
I will not conceal my wrongdoings.
Pause to give yourself a moment for quiet reflection.
In God there is forgiveness
God forgives and heals us
We need your healing merciful God,
give us true repentance.
Some sins are plain to us,
some escape us,
some we cannot face.
Forgive us,
set us free to hear your word to us;
set us free to serve you.
An Assurance of Forgiveness
(click the "play" button, below:)
The Sentence for the Day
Jesus said: If you dwell within the revelation I have brought, you are indeed my disciples; you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The Prayer for the Day (Collect)
Let us pray together.
God of truth, hidden force of all creation, you long to set us free. Confront us with your tenderness, fire us with your justice; that, at your coming, we too may see the world alight. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A reading from The Psalms
(click the "play" button, below:)
A reading from The New Testament
(click the "play" button, below:)
Pause for a moment of silent reflection.
The Gradual Hymn
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing along with, "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind."
REMEMBER : even if we, in our human frailty, end up "running in the wrong direction", Jesus Christ IS ever-present as the signpost to guide us back on the way and forgives our foolish ways.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Gospel Reading, John 14:1-14 (Jesus, The Way to The Father)
(click the "play" button, below:)
Christ is Risen .....
He is Risen indeed, Alleluia !
Did you remember to shout it out :)
A Sermon for the Fifth
Sunday of Easter
(click the "play" button, below:)
If you prefer to read the full sermon notes rather than to listen then please CLICK HERE.
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Reflect upon how, in our lives, we have been in a "lost place" and how Jesus brought us back to The Way.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by listening as a "The Apostles Creed" is read to us.
(click the "play" button below when you are ready to listen)
Let us pray for the Church and for the World, giving thanks for God's goodness
(click the "play" button, below:)
Let us pray together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Peace
E te whānau, Brothers and sisters, we are the body of Christ.
By one Spirit we were baptised into one body.
Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Amen. We are bound by the love of Christ.
I say to you all:
The Peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The Lord's Prayer
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ has taught us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
The Risen Lord Christ
May the Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards you. May the Risen Lord Christ cause His light to shine upon you. May the Risen Lord Christ grant you His peace. Amen
A Closing Hymn (Traditional)
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing along with one of the wonderful hymns that reminds us that we CAN face tomorrow, no matter what the world may bring ... "Because He Lives".
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Closing Hymn (Modern)
I'm alive, I'm alive, because he lives.
Listen to the young people of the "West Coast Choir" in the USA as they sing a modern version of "Because He Lives"
If you would like to join in the chorus:
AMEN, AMEN
I'm alive, I'm alive,
because He lives.
please feel free to do so ... and ... you'll know when.
When you are ready to continue, click the "play" button in the video window, below:
... and now ... let YOUR song join the one that NEVER ends.
BECAUSE HE LIVES, I can face tomorrow,
BECAUSE HE LIVES, every fear is gone!
Dismissal
Go now to love and serve The Lord,
Go in peace.
Amen, we go in the name of Christ.
