Holy Communion - 17th April 2016 - MS BalmoralTo the fishermen Jesus said,"Follow me and I will make you fish for people. To the tax collector Jesus said, "Follow me." To the rich man Jesus said: "Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At the last supper Jesus said, "Follow me." To us, each one, Jesus says: "Follow me!" HYMN - "Dear God, who loves all humankind"We are summoned here by our holy God,who calls us each by name, and gathers us together in unity. From many different places, we are called into God's presence. Gracious God, you touch our lives with mystery and hope. We come to this place today, ready to see your love working in us. Open our hearts and minds that we may hear afresh your call; in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. God forgives and heals us. We need your healing, merciful God: give us true repentance. Some sins are plain to us; some escape us, some we cannot face. Forgive us; set us free to listen for your word to us; set us free to hear it, and set us free to serve you. Listen! I have something to say! Our past is behind us. We are free to live new lives, to be new people, to try again to be who and what God calls us to be. Rejoice! I say again, rejoice! Hymn - Lord, you chose your first disciples
God, all life is call and response.You call us to sail out of our comfortable harbours into the uncharted waters of faith, to wander from our predictable paths to follow you into the unpredictable footsteps of your kingdom, to leave the security of our homes and follow you into places and situations we might normally avoid. Yet so many people on this planet sail into such waters, end up on such paths and trip over such situations without having a choice, perhaps fleeing devastation for a hoped-for security which might still be less secure than what they have left behind Most of us cannot imagine how this must feel. So we think of people whose lives have changed course for the worse, those who live with regrets, or with pain, or with anger and frustration. We think of those still searching for their right path, for those at the beginning of a lifetime without hope, without love. Grant to us, gracious God, a sensitive spirit and a willing heart towards all we meet, whatever their circumstance, tendering to them the love and compassion we see in Jesus - in whose name we pray, Amen Now let us declare our faith in God - (from the C of E Prayer & Worship) We believe in God, creator of all that is, of all that has been and of all that ever will be, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in the Christ of God, the Word of God made flesh in Jesus, who lives in our hearts by faith and fills us with God's love. We believe in God's Spirit, who strengthens us with God's power and leads us in The Way for all our days. Lord, we believe: help us where faith falls short. HYMN - "The Kingdom is upon you, the voice of Jesus cries"God says,"Come, you who hear my call. Come, you who don't hear my voice. Come, you who search for a name for the sacred within you. Come, you who have got used to religion and miss out on faith Come - and I'll turn your lives upside down!" So we have come, from life's highways and by-ways, with all kinds of baggage, knowing what we're used to and what makes us comfortable. God, help us be ready to be surprised by life and love. We come to God's table, with open hearts and open hands, loved and cherished by the God who gives us life. Jesus and the Twelve met together in an upper room to eat together in Jerusalem. During supper Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he broke it, and gave it to them all. "Take, eat," he said. "This is my body, given for you. Whenever you do this, think of me." Later he took the cup of wine. "Take, drink", he said. This cup, poured out for you, is the promise of God. Whenever you drink this, remember me." As we now take bread and wine, we remember Jesus. Holy God, we pray for your Spirit. Make us, while many, one. Make us, though broken, whole. Make us, despite death, alive. And so we pray: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Praise be to God, the Source of love! Praise be to Christ, Love incarnate! Praise be to the Spirit, Love's power! Praise be to God! Amen. Here are the gifts of God for us, people of God The Sharing of bread and wine
Eternal God, we thank you |