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