Week beginning 7th April

 

Song: Rejoice and be glad

Rejoice and be Glad - Rhona Alcorn (youtube.com)

Prayer:

Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred: open the doors of our hearts, that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God the Father. Amen

Lord, make my life a window for Your light to shine through and a mirror to reflect Your love to all I meet. Amen.

Risen Lord Jesus, you come to us in the most surprising - and the most ordinary - ways. Just when we begin to forget or doubt you, when we begin to live our lives as if you don't matter, you come - speaking to us, feeding us, encouraging us. You never forget us or fail us. Without you we are weak and fail often but with you we are strong. May we be made deeply aware of your presence this day.

God of the prophets, you fulfilled your promise that Christ would suffer and rise to glory. Open our minds to understand the scriptures that we may be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity, of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Risen Christ, whose absence leaves us paralysed, but whose presence is overwhelming: breathe on us abundant life; that where we cannot see, we may have courage to believe that we may be raised with you. Amen 

www.thisischurch.com

Song: See what a morning

See What a Morning (Resurrection Hymn - 6vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 24, verses 13 to 35

Song: When we walk with the Lord

When We Walk With the Lord (Trust and Obey) - with lyrics (youtube.com)

Prayer:

Dear Lord, you transform despair to wonder with the celebration of Easter. Let Christ’s rising spread joy and peace, fill the world with light and confirm our faith in you.

Lord, as you visited the disciples in the upper room, help us see the positives and the unexpected joys that have come from these unprecedented times. For the friendships rekindled, hobbies and gifts discovered, the unexpected memory making with those we are with. Comfort those for whom, the joy cannot be found, for those scared for themselves and loved ones, those who are on their own when we need each other most and for everyone who cannot see the light in the darkness. We pray that we believe more readily than Thomas that as you have risen again, that we will also emerge stronger, embracing a normal and not taking the little things for granted.

Lord, we thank you for all the ways we are able to gather in your name even though we are apart and cannot enter our beautiful churches. We are more thankful than ever for the communities that churches build. For those ensuring we can still worship together, pray for each other and meet together, if not in person. For all the music and hymns we can listen to and sing, knowing somewhere, someone is singing with us.

We pray for our local community and for the support we can give each other.

Good shepherd, you gave your life for us. Help us to follow in your footsteps and do what we can to recover the stragglers, care for the sick and comfort those in need. We thank you for all those risking themselves for others at this time. For all our key workers, whether they are health workers, police, delivery drivers or those working in shops. May they be recognised as such always and may we and those with influence, be guided in future decisions with these people in mind.

We pray for those who are sick. For their families and friends concerned about them and for those caring for them. May they all feel your healing presence.

And now, we commend ourselves and the whole of creation to your unfailing love.

Amen

www.stjohnschurchmsn.org.uk

Song: Come and see

Come and See by UK worship leader Graham Kendrick. Easter worship song for the church. Lyric Video. (youtube.com)

One of our church members had the misfortune to tread on a nail, which penetrated quite deeply into his foot. After a rather trying journey to the local hospital, he was faced with climbing a flight of steps to reach A & E. He considers the walk to Emmaus, a distance of 7 miles (about 11 kilometres) to have been one of the most spectacular miracles of the bible. To walk this distance with nail wounds in both feet really does not bear thinking about!

Here we have one of the most beautiful stories of the new testament. Two very disheartened students of Jesus are walking home and a stranger starts walking alongside them. With the benefit of hindsight, and Luke’s narrative, we know that this is Jesus, but they did not.

We can pause to wonder why they did not recognise him, but it is not too difficult to understand; Jesus was the very last person they expected to see, he was dead! They, or at least their friends, had seen him publicly killed.

They seem amazed at the apparent ignorance of this stranger about the events of the past few days, but continue to walk with him, as he talks to them. His manner must have been reassuring, as he explained to them the scriptures, about the nature of the Messiah (the anointed one) and his ministry. They listened until they arrived at their destination, and invited him in for the night.

Only when the stranger participated in a familiar event, breaking of bread, did they recognise him. Perhaps there are times in our lives when we don’t recognise Jesus alongside us? Some of these times, it may be that we recognise his presence when something commonplace happens. Be on the lookout!

Once the disciples recognised Jesus’ presence, they were transformed. From being timid, fearful travellers, they were emboldened to go out on the road, in the dark, and return to Jerusalem. Once there, they found the other disciples to tell them of their encounter. It must have been a bit of a downer to be told that others had already had similar meetings.

An encounter with the risen Lord Jesus can transform us, completely changing our approach to events, and strengthening us in what we do.

Song: Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Come let us sing of a wonderful love (youtube.com)

Week beginning 31st March

 

There is holy communion in this worship Please prepare a small soft drink and piece of bread or a small biscuit before you watch

Happy Easter

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed hallelujah Let's celebrate this unstoppable life; let's open our hearts to the joy and wonder of infinite possibility, of unquenched hope, of eternal resurrection. We celebrate, We raise our voices and our hearts in worship and Thanksgiving. To God be the glory for ever and ever. Amen

What is the difference between "alleluia" and "hallelujah"?

''Alleluia'' and ''hallelujah'' mean the same thing: ''praise the Lord.'' However, ''hallelujah'' is derived from the Hebrew spelling of the word while ''alleluia'' is the Latin transliteration of the Greek transliteration of ''hallelujah.''

What does "allelujah" mean?

''Allelujah,'' which is also spelled ''alleluia'' or ''hallelujah,'' means ''praise the Lord.'' It is derived from the Hebrew word ''hallelujah,'' of which the root hallel means ''praise'' and the suffix yah/jah means ''Yahweh''/''Lord.''

Christ the Lord is risen today hallelujah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzy7jFNUc3w&list=RDnzy7jFNUc3w&index=2

Luke 10: 1 – 2. 17 – 24

1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” 21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Prayer

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father. That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection … We pray that isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter… We pray Father help us to build each other up in Christian love We pray Father that you may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter…

We pray Father that by your power war and famine may cease through all the world …

We pray Father that you may reveal the light of your presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, to comfort and strengthen them. We pray Father that you may send us out through the gift of your Holy Spirit that we may bear faithful witness to Christ’s resurrection, In the same way as Christ sent out the seventy two Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To God be the glory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CeBoSQsBR0

In Numbers 24:6, God describes Israel as aloes planted by the Lord! “Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like the aloes planted by the Lord, like the cedars beside the waters.” Aloes is one of the eight trees in scripture mentioned by name, which the Lord has planted. also Aloes (Aloe Vera ) used as an antiseptic on the body to stop bacterial growth

Many encyclopedic sources, when talking of Aloe and Myrrh, immediately link and associate the herbs with the events of the Crucifixion. “Myrrh is a constituent of perfumes and incense, and was highly prized in ancient times. Myrrh was one of the gifts of the Magi took to the baby Jesus in the story told in the Gospel of Matthew. Myrrh was a fact alluded to in the Christmas Carol ‘We Three Kings’…”

Luke 24: 1 – 8

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he

was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

All to Jesus I surrender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7FhoxqX2Dk

Let us pray

O Lord Almighty, eternal God, gather together your Church from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, as grain was once scattered and now has become one loaf. Our Father, we also thank you for the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed for us that our sins have been forgiven. Amen

Resurrection happened because Christ was first prepared to die. Defying death, He refused to release His hold on life and love. So now, as He encouraged us, we choose to remember so that we too can truly live. At the meal on the night before He died Jesus took bread and blessed it. Then He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: This is my body, broken so that you may know life.

Eat it and remember Me. After the meal Jesus took the cup and blessed it. Then He gave it to His disciples saying: This is my blood, shed for you so that you may have life. Drink it and remember Me.

Pick up bread or biscuit

Father God bless this food to me I eat this in remembrance of your son Jesus my Lord and saviour

Now Eat it Lord Jesus I am thankful that you died for me.

Pick up your cup of liquid

Father God bless this cup as I drink it in doing so I remember your son Jesus my Lord and Saviour

Now drink it Lord Jesus I am thankful that you died for me.

TALK

We see new life in the trees budding with green leaves. If you are able to visit a wild life park you may see baby ducks on the water, baby chicks following their mother hen.

Baby lambs leaping and playing or following their mums, daffodils crocuses and tulips are giving a wonderful display of colour

Did you receive am Easter card this year ? Did you give Easter cards to your friends and neighbours, this time of your is a time of telling friends and strangers the true Easter story.

Easter story to read

https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Easter-Story-in-Plain-English.pdf

We started with Hallelujah therefore is only right to end with Alleluia.

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZcCnLfufQs

Benediction

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.—Hebrews 13:20–21

Week beginning 24th March

 

Luke 22: 39 – 46

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’

Yield Not to Temptation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXBui52qEzo

Luke 22: 47 - 71

Jesus Arrested

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Peter Disowns Jesus

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

hymn to listen to of the stations of the cross

Where you there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFuKbssH8Xo

Mark 15: 33 – 36

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, ‘Listen, he’s calling Elijah.’

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said.

My God my God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEbWJJCv72s

Luke 23: 32 - 34

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

In the Lords prayer we say forgive our trespasses as we forgive.

Jesus prayed that we may may be forgiven some times we do not know that we are sinning and hurting others this is not an excuse but we need to pray that the Lord will open our eyes and then there fore we too can forgive others Jesus taught us this by laying gown his life for us

Matthew 6 v 12  And forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6 vv 14 -15 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Father forgive them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke2xwBT71Uc

Prayer

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, refresh me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds hide me. Let me never be separated from you. From the power of darkness defend me. In the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you, that with your saints I may praise you for ever and ever. Amen.

Anima Christi, anon 14th century

The Lord of the dance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDdQhsjNHcw

Week beginning 17th March

 

Great prayers Jesus prayed.

Father, we love you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPVN3NjbJ_U

Prayer

Glory be to you O God, bring peace to peoples. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for yours is the glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father pour your spirit into our lives; may we feel the peace of your presence.

Lord, living God grant to us your wisdom and courage in our Christian witness.

Lord, Loving God may we not anger you, nor bring you shame, may we never use your name in vain. May we never fail others or fail you. Keep us free from evil. Grant us wisdom and courage to ever serve you our only living Loving heavenly Lord God in your love and mercy hear these our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen

All of Chapter17 of St John’s Gospel split into sections.

Verses 1 – 5 Jesus prays to be glorified

1 After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed:

‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

His name is higher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFOGZ5KlI0A

Verses 6 – 19 Jesus prays for his disciples

6 ‘I have revealed you  to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of  your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 ‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by  the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Prayer

Precious Jesus, saviour, friend, thank you for praying for me. Help me to trust you more each day; thank you that you are with me every day wherever I go and what ever I do. You are my Lord and my God. Help me to tell others about your love, your gift of forgiveness, and the hope of eternal

life. Fill me with your grace help me to trust you more. Amen

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCtQMiNlTKk

Verses 20 – 26 Jesus prays for all believers

20 ‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – 23 I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 ‘Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 ‘Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.’

Wonderful words of life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7Pr0xCvFy0

There is a little booklet called “our Daily bread” published by “Our daily bread ministries” in it are thoughts for each day with Bible readings and prayers. This one is taken from November 18^th 2022

Thoughts and prayers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZduZ0LukS0

John Wesley the founder of the Methodist Church wrote many prayers one you may know very well

I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

His brother Charles wrote over 6,500 hymns. Some of these hymns are songs of praise, others focus on a personal relationship with God, such as conversion, marriage, and death. One of the best known is our next hymn

And can it be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9wIP9Ahykc

Christ died for you. If you feel moved or inspired by the Holy Spirit to write your own hymn, poem, or prayer then do share with us

Now we turn to a personal prayer Jesus prayed to his Father in Gethsemane

Mark 14:32-36 New Living Translation

32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father, he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Also see Matthew 26:36-46 Luke 22:39–53, and John 18:1–12, 

Gethsemane

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvSIWdQ7YU

The body of Christ broken for you, the blood of Christ shed for you,

The love of of Christ embrace you and fill you with peace. Amen