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Service audio for 17th January

 

Led by Rev’d Dr John McNeil Scott

 

 

This is a Service of Holy Communion

Please have bread and wine / juice ready if you wish to partake

 

 

Call To Worship

Come and see the grace of God,

Christ our teacher and our friend.

 

Come and see the son of God,

Christ our healer and salvation.

 

God is moving in this place.

Come and see! Come and see.

 

 

 

 

As a fire is meant for burning with a bright and warming flame,

so the Church is meant for mission, giving glory to God’s name.

Not to preach our creeds or customs, but to build a bridge of care,

we join hands across the nations, finding neighbours everywhere.

 

 

We are learners; we are teachers; we are pilgrims on the way.

We are seekers; we are givers; we are vessels made of clay.

By our gentle, loving actions, we would show that Christ is light.

In a humble, listening Spirit, we would live to God’s delight.

 

 

As a green bud in the springtime is the sign of life renewed,

so may we be signs of oneness ’mid earth’s peoples, many hued.

As a rainbow lights the heavens when a storm is past and gone,

may our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn.

 

 

 

Prayers of Approach, Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness

 

 

 

Prayer of Illumination

Reading : John 1 : 43 – 51

 

 

 

For your generous providing which sustain us all our days,

for your Spirit here residing, we proclaim our heartfelt praise.

Through the depths of joy and sorrow, though the road be smooth or rough,

fearless, we can face tomorrow for your grace will be enough.

 

 

Hush our world’s seductive noises tempting us to stand alone;

save us from the siren voices calling us to trust our own.

For those snared by earthly treasure, lured by false security,

Jesus, true and only measure, spring the trap to set folk free.

 

 

Round your table, through your giving, show us how to live and pray

till your kingdom’s way of living is the bread we share each day:

bread for us and for our neighbour, bread for body, mind, and soul,

bread of heav’n and human labour – broken bread that makes us whole.

 

 

 

Sermon

 

 

 

Affirmation of Faith

In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all.

Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their

needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows.

He expressed the love of God in word and deed

and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women.

But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people.

His life and teaching judged their goodness,

religious aspirations, and national hopes.

 

Many rejected him and demanded his death.

In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment

under which everyone stands convicted.

God raised him from the dead,

vindicating him as Messiah and Lord.

The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory

over sin and death for all.

 

 

 

Intercessions

 

 

 

Offertory

 

 

 

Jesus calls us here to meet him as, through word & song & prayer,

we affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care.

Praise the God who keeps his promise; praise the Son who calls us friends;

praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends.

 

 

Jesus calls us to confess him Word of life and Lord of all,

sharer of our flesh and frailness, saving all who fail or fall.

Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all may hear;

tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here.

 

 

Jesus calls us to each other, vastly different though we are;

creed and colour, class and gender neither limit nor debar.

Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth;

join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth.

 

 

Jesus calls us to His table rooted firm in time and space

where the Church in earth and heaven finds a common meeting place.

Share the bread and wine His body share the love of which we sing.

Share the feasts for saints & sinners hosted by our Lord and King.

 

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

 

 

Introduction

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

 

The Communion

 

Music during sharing –  the Sanctus from Missa Luba

performed by the Tim Keys Consort

 

Prayer after Communion

 

 

 

You are the way to heaven’s yielding fold.

You are the truth bringing freedom.

You are the life burning deep within our hearts,

for you are the boat for the journey.

 

 

You are the stream where flows the path of life,

guiding the way for disciples.

Though storms may arise you calm the fear inside,

for you are the boat for the journey.

 

 

You are our God, the living, saving Word,

You are the banquet of justice,

you know our pain, you lift us from our shame,

for you are the boat for the journey.

 

 

We’ll sing this song of never ending joy,

filled with the truth of your gospel.

With faith, hope, and love, we claim your living Word,

for you are the boat for the journey.

Love is the boat for the journey.

 

 

 

Blessing