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This is a Service of Holy Communion

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

Led by Revd. AnnenSardeson

 

Call to Worship

To all who are imprisoned, God says, “Come out.”
To all who are living in darkness, God says, “Show Yourselves”.
To all who hunger and thirst, God gives food and springs of water.
To all who are far away, God makes smooth the way home.
God will not forget us, we are inscribed on the palms of His hands.

 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
you who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

Fear not, He is with thee, O be not dismayed;
for He is thy God, and will still give thee aid;
He’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by His righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters He calls thee to go,
the rivers of grief shall not thee overflow;
for He will be with thee, in trouble to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
His grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; His only design
thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

 

 

Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness

 

 

Prayer of Illumination

Readings : Jonah 3 : 10 – 4 : 1
Matthew 20 : 1 – 16

 

Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion city of our God!
He whose word can ne’er be broken formed thee for His own abode.

Chorus : On the Rock of Ages founded who can shake Thy sure repose?
With salvation’s wall surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

‘Round her habitation hov’ring, see the cloud and fire appear,
for a glory and a covering, showing that the Lord is near.
Sing Chorus twice

 

Sermon

 

Affirmation of Faith

We believe in God creator of all whose word sustains the life of humanity, and directs our history. God is our life.
We believe in God’s Son, born amongst the poor, light in our night,
first-born from the dead. He is alive.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who gives birth to the new life of God, who breathes life into the struggle for justice and leads us to hope, who is a living force.
We believe in the holy universal Church, herald of the Good News which frees people and brings new life.
We believe in the coming of a new world where Jesus Christ, our Lord, will be all in all. Amen.

 

 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares
we have already come
‘Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
and grace will lead us home.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

 

Prayers of Concern

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Communion Introduction

…Holy, holy, holy God, God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of our God,
hosanna in the highest.

….we take the bread and wine.

 

Prayer after sharing

 

God is Love: let heav’n adore Him; God is Love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before Him, and exalt Him with one voice.
He who laid the earth’s foundation, He who spread the heav’ns above,
He who breathes through all creation, He is Love, eternal Love.

God is Love: and he enfoldeth all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp he holdeth every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow’s iron rod,
then they find that self-same aching deep within the heart of God.

God is Love: and though with blindness sin afflicts the souls of all,
God’s eternal loving-kindness holds and guides us when we fall.
Sin and death and hell shall never o’er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever o’er the universe must reign.

 

Blessing