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

  1. 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