Watchword for the Week
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:
everything old has passed away; see, everything
has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2016)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and OPENING RESPONSES
God welcomes you to this place – if it is your
first time, if you were here last week, or if you
are returning after a long time away.
We rejoice to be in God’s presence!
God is with us on our Lenten journey, providing
the nourishment and love that we need. We
remember God journeying with his people out
of Egypt and through the desert.
We praise God for his faithfulness.
On their journey home, God greeted his people
in the Promised Land with new food to replace
their meals of manna. God was doing a new
thing in their lives. We are looking for the new
thing that God is doing in our lives today.
God welcomes you to this place – where all will
find love, forgiveness, and restoration.
We celebrate in God’s presence!
Hymn 198 * Let us build a house
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
PRAYER of APPROACH (The Coventry Litany)
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,
and so, together, we all pray:
The hatred which divides nation from nation,
race from race, class from class,
Father, forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to
possess what is not their own, Father, forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human
hands and lays waste the earth,
Father, forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of
others, Father, forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned,
the homeless, the refugee, Father, forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men,
women and children, Father, forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves
and not in God, Father, forgive.
WORDS of ASSURANCE
In Christ, God has shown us the way out of our
sin and our division: “Be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.” Thanks be to God. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NT p. 226
Hymn 779 * Listen now for the Gospel!
St. Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 NT p. 99
People may stand for the Gospel reading.
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 555 * Amazing grace!
SERMON Rev. James Brown
Hymn 685 For everyone born, a place…
(Hymn of the Month, March 2016)
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
(Communion gifts are brought forward)
AFFIRMATION “Celebrating the Ministry of Jesus”
A: He is among us:
the one who gave sight to the blind
and insight to the close-minded;
B: the one who gave hearing to the deaf
and listening ears to those
who heard only their own voices;
All: the one who made the lame walk
and is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
A: He is among us:
the one who healed the sick
and helped the hopeless;
B: the one who drove out demons
and gave new names to those
who were only known for their problems;
All: the one who was criticised for coming
too close to the contaminated.
A: He is among us:
the one who agreed with fair taxation
and handled money;
B: the one who spoke for the poor
and who spoke to the privileged
of the good things their wealth could do;
All: the one who entrusted himself
to women as much as men,
without prejudice or favour.
A: He is among us
to touch, to heal,
B: to bless, to inspire,
A: to comfort, to convert,
B: to show at all times
the human face of God.
All: He is among us.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
…So now, in gratitude, we join our voices to
those of the Church on earth and in heaven:
Hymn 769 * Holy, holy, holy
PRAYERS for OTHERS / LORD’S PRAYER
BREAKING of BREAD
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world
Grant us your peace.
SHARING the ELEMENTS
Please remain at your place. Bread and wine will be
brought to you into the “body of the church.”
PASSING the PEACE
NOTICES and THANKSGIVING
Hymn 682 Go in grace and make disciples
BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)
ORGAN POSTLUDE