Holy Communion - 31st March 2013 - MS Black Watch

Welcome & Introduction

Christ is alive!
Christ is with us! Alleluia!
This is the season of Easter
the celebration of resurrection.
the festival of hope,
the promise of new beginnings,
the dance of faith,
the song of joy,
the music of gladness,
the hymn of love.

Let us worship our life-giving God!

Hymn: "Christ is alive. Let Christians sing"

God of resurrection,
with the dawn of Easter comes a new creation.
You have rolled away the stone, and nothing will ever be the same again.
In our joyful celebration we open our hearts and lives to you,
that we may be prepared for your coming as Light and Word, in Bread and Wine.

Loving God,
you have searched us and known us, our blindness, our frailties,
our fears and our selfishness.
Forgive us and restore us to life in all its fullness,
and walk with us on our journey into faith.
Amen


In any person, and in all circumstances, God works with wondrous power,
forgiving us, renewing and restoring us, reconciling us to one another and to God.

We are a forgiven people. Glory be to God.

God, alive and among us this day,
to you no door is closed, to you no heart is locked;
draw us beyond our doubts and fears, till we see the living Christ
and say in our hearts, "We believe."
Amen.

Hymn: "You tell me that the Lord is risen"

Reading: John 20: 19-29

Reflection

Let us declare our faith in God:

We trust in God, who is Love,
and who has given the earth to all people.

We trust in Christ, who heals us
and frees us from all forms of oppression.

We trust in God's Spirit, who works in us
and through all who turn towards truth.
We trust in the community of faith,
which is called to be at the service of all people.

We trust in God's presence to transform,
fulfilling the promise of a new heaven and a new earth
where justice and peace will flourish.

We commit ourselves to following Christ,
to one another as brothers and sisters,
and to the work of God in the world,
through the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.


Jesus said: "Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you are to love one another."

God's peace be always with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

The Peace is shared

Hymn: "Now the green blade rises"

Blessed are you, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.

As life bursts forth from the darkness of earth's soil,
so Christ bursts the darkness of despair.
Sadness ends,
hope abounds,
joy springs forth.
Strength is found to face every tomorrow;
God's wholeness brings healing to all.


The stone is rolled away -
we are released!
The tomb is empty -
we can be free!
Christ is risen -
life can be full!
Thanks be to God.

Holy and redeeming God, we see your grace and truth in Jesus.
In an upper room, gathered with those who loved him,
he took bread and gave you thanks;
he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
"Take, eat;
this is my body which is broken in love;
Whenever you do this, remember me."

In the same way, after supper he took the cup of blessing,
gave it to his friends, and said,
"Drink from this, all of you;
In this cup is poured out the blessing of a new promise.
Whenever you do this, remember me."

We celebrate Christ,
who is,
who was,
and who is to come.


Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,
that they may be for us a sign of your living presence in our midst.

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us light and life.

Hear us as we pray together as one family the words that Jesus taught us:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
and deliver us from evil;
for the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.
Amen


The gifts of God for the people of God

God here among us, light in the midst of us, bring us light and life.

The bread of life, and the cup of blessing.

Come, for all things are now ready.

The Sharing of Bread and Wine

Life-giving God,
may we who have shared this bread share new life through Christ;
we who have shared this cup bring new life to others;
we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name.
Amen.

Hymn: "Yours is the glory, resurrected One"

From this Easter festival, we go forth to live resurrection,
in the name of the God who makes us,
in the name of Christ who makes us free,
in the name of the Spirit who frees us to be one.

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

So may the blessing of God,
who raises us to life in Christ,
surround and attend you,
all those whom you cherish
and all those who cherish you,
this day and for evermore.
Amen.

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