Opening Prayer:
Creator God, we worship and adore you.
Standing with all creation, we know ourselves to be made for your glory. Reflecting your image and likeness, we feel your touch upon our lives. Remembering your faithfulness, we bless you that you never give up on us. Hearing your call to us, through story, saint, and sage, we bless you for your compelling presence in our midst.
Lord of life, we worship and adore you. Standing at your tomb, with Mary, we weep. Failing to know you again, we want to cling to you. In your gentle love, you restore us and compel us to call others to life in your name.
Spirit of power, we worship and adore you. Recalling creation’s story, we feel your brooding presence. Travelling from slavery, we follow you into freedom. Standing before the cross, we seek you in the darkness. Burning with your fire, we are compelled to discipleship. Creator God, Lord of Life, Spirit of power, we worship and adore you,
Amen.
STF 690 The Church’s one foundation
The Church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the Word;
From heaven he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
Elect from every nation,
yet one o’er all the earth;
her charter of salvation,
one Lord, one faith, one birth;
one holy name she blesses,
and shares one holy food,
as to one hope she presses,
with every grace endued.
In toil and tribulation,
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace for evermore;
till, with the vision glorious,
her longing eyes are blest,
at last the Church victorious
shall be the Church at rest.
Yet she on earth hath has union
with God the Three in One,
and mystic, sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
O happy ones and holy!
Lord, give us grace that we,
with them, the meek and lowly,
in heaven your face shall see.
By Brian Doerksen Words & Music © 2005 Thankyou Music & Integrity Music. Admin by worshiptogether.com
CCLI Song Number: 4662491
Bible Reading
John 11: 17-27
17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarusa had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two milesb away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ 23Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ 24Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ 25Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.c Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ 27She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah,d the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’
Time to reflect:
Jesus prayed for all believers “that all of them may be one” (John 17:21). Jesus’s prayer ‘May be one’ is behind the ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’. This year it is the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Council drew together people of faith, who were diverse in their perspectives and united in their statements of faith. “We believe in the one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in the one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God”.
When I am asked as to why there are so many different church denominations, my answer refers to flavours of crisps. There are many flavours of crisps, but they are made from the same potato. Flavours relate to the different expressions and understandings of Christian faith, because God created us with individual characteristics and therefore diversity and unity go together. However, Christian unity throughout history, including at the Council of Nicaea, has been intertwined with conflicts and divisions.
This year we are being encouraged to celebrate and draw strength from sharing our Christian faith. The action of sharing our faith ecumenically brings flavours together, which give fresh insights of God’s unconditional love for all. Being strengthened and encouraged is a gift we can give to one another, which in turn enables us to reflect more of God’s love to those around us. A love that is needed in the world today, which so often appears fractured, lacking in hope, as conflicts continue and where peace is so desperately needed.
The question then for us to reflect on today is; if diversity and unity are part of our humanity and inter-connectedness, how can we better embrace our shared identity as Christians and be more of a collective witness to the world. The ecumenical monastery of brothers and sisters in northern Italy, a community that is shaped by prayer, have written eight days of reflections for us to use throughout this week of prayer for Christian unity. Each of the eight days pick out key statements within the Nicene Creed to reflect on alongside the Scriptures. Through which us encourages each other to be more of a collective witness of the love of God. Amen
Prayers of intercession
You are invited to pray silently for:
The needs of the world…
The Church and its calling…
Loved ones going through difficult times…
For peace, justice, and reconciliation…
In Jesus name.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
Now and for ever.
Amen.
StF 347 Crown him with many crowns
Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.
Crown Him the Son of God,
before the worlds began;
and ye who tread where he has trod,
crown him the Son of Man,
who every grief has known
that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for his own,
that all in him may rest.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing,
who died, and rose on high;
who died, eternal life to bring,
and lives, that death may die.
Crown Him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
Absorbed in prayer and praise.
His reign shall know no end,
And round His pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.
Crown Him the Lord of Love:
Behold His hands and side;
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
throughout eternity.
Noel Richards. © 1986 Thankyou Music. Admin: Integrity Music. CCLI Song Number: 121074
Final Prayer
Almighty God, accept our praise and thanksgiving for what already unites us.
Hasten the hour when we will recognise each other in the one communion you willed and for which you Son prayed.
Blessed be God, now and forever.
Amen.
