Watchword for the Week
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord my whole life long. (Psalm 23:6)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2017)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Verses from Psalm 23 – The Message translation)
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of GOD
for the rest of my life.
Hymn 462 * The King of Love my Shepherd is
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
PRAYER of APPROACH
The whole of Creation shouts its adoration to
you, our God; our glorious world proclaims your
power and love. Every tree and flower tells of
your might, the stars, the sun and moon, the
changing seasons, of your amazing care of us.
What are we that you are mindful of us, and
humankind that you care for us so much?
What a gracious, faithful God you are,
that your love for us is new every morning
and we awake to a new start
as your new creations, ready to soar and fly,
free from past mistakes and difficulties.
We thank you for this gift of creation, the gift of
life, the gift of our lives. We thank you also for
the faculties which enable us to enjoy it:
our eyes to see the wonders of your world,
our ears to hear speech and the sound of music,
our lips with which to talk and sing,
our hands for working and our feet for walking.
Make us daily grateful for all your gifts and help
us to use them all for your glory. Forgive our
neglect of you, our world and our neighbours.
Help us build a place of love, kindness,
honesty, truthfulness and faith;
a touching place where we can all catch hold
of your vision for us and your world,
where everyone is gathered in.
Help us always to do what is right,
to think what is right, and to say what is right,
for the benefit of ourselves, those we come into
contact with, and for you our Creator,
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
God doesn’t look at things like humans do.
Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but
God sees into the heart. God forgives you all
that weighs upon you, and sets you free to new
and everlasting life. Thanks be to God. Amen.
CHILDREN’S TIME
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Ephesians 5:8-14 NT p. 244 (243)
Hymn 779 * Listen now for the Gospel
St. John 9:1-11, 35-41 NT p. 130
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 259 v. 1-2 + 5 Beauty for brokenness
(Hymn of the Month, March 2017)
SERMON Rev. James Brown
Hymn 352(2) * O for a thousand tongues
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
DEDICATION PRAYER
Loving God, giver of all things, as people
alive to your goodness, we offer these gifts
and the talents of this community to the
service of all our children within our
neighbourhood and beyond, throughout
our nation and our world. Amen.
Joyful Singers Are you washed in the blood?
My mouth shall sing your highest praise
NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS
Light of the world, open our eyes!
The LORD’S PRAYER (Yoruba, Nigeria)
(Please use your preferred language for praying.)
English words at: Hymn 652, Second Form (b)
Baba wa ti mbe li orun; Ki a bowo fun oruko
- Ki ijoba re de; Ife tire ni ki a se, bi ti orun,
beni li aiye. Fun wa li onje ojo wa loni. Dari
gbese wa ji wa, bi awa ti ndariji awon
onigbese wa. Ma si fa wa sinu idewo, sugbon
gba wa lowo bilisi. Nitori ijoba ni tire, ati
agbara, ati ogo, lailai. Amin.
Hymn 516 * We are marching in the light of God
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE