Hello Friends: I hope that you are all well. It was great to see so many of you at Church this morning when we welcomed Miss Susie King who led our Ascension Day Service . For any who may have missed this Act of Worship please find below the Hymns, Bible Readings and Prayer Topics that were used. I have also included a YouTube link to an Ascension Day service led by my colleague Rev Calvin Samuel.Trusting that you all have a blessed and peaceful week.
God Bless
Colin
Order of Service – Canvey Methodist Church
Sunday 16 May 2021
Complete Service Link: https://youtu.be/SkbtlFvEsxs
Call to worship
Song – Singing the Faith 28 Jesus calls us here to meet him
(1) Jesus call us here to meet him. Lyric video (StF 28) - YouTube
1 Jesus calls us here to meet him as, through word and song and prayer, we affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care. Praise the God who keeps his promise; praise the Son who calls us friends; praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends.
2 Jesus calls us to confess him Word of life and Lord of all, sharer of our flesh and frailness, saving all who fail or fall. Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all may hear; tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here.
3 Jesus calls us to each other, vastly different though we are; creed and colour, class and gender neither limit nor debar. Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth; join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth.
Prayers of Praise, Confession and Thanksgiving
Reading – 1 John 5 9 – 13
9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Concluding Affirmations
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Reading – John 17 6 – 19
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed you[a] 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[b] 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[c] 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[d] 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.
Footnotes
a.John 17:6 Greek your name
b.John 17:11 Or Father, keep them faithful to
c.John 17:12 Or kept them faithful to
d.John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with
Song – Singing the Faith 274 Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice
(1) Once Again (Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice) | Lyrics | Matt Redman cover - YouTube
Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice; you became nothing, poured out to death. Many times I’ve wondered at your gift of life, and I’m in that place once again, I’m in that place once again. And once again I look upon the cross where you died. I’m humbled by your mercy and I’m broken inside. Once again I thank you, once again I pour out my life.
Now you are exalted to the highest place, King of the heavens, where one day I’ll bow. But for now I marvel at this saving grace, and I’m full of praise once again, I’m full of praise once again. And once again…
Talk
Prayers of intercession and Lord’s prayer
Prayer Book update 14.5.21
1. Today is Ascension Day and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have put out a prayer. Christians are invited to pray for the 11 days between today and Pentecost. To pray for the world and for others to know Jesus. It is suggested that we ask God for the names of 5 people we can pray for, for them to come to faith in Jesus. Colin tells us that as we pray today, we will be praying with one objective shared by may others. Every time we conclude our prayers with "Amen" it will be multiplied many thousands of times across the world.
May God touch many hearts through the faithful prayers of his people.
Colin has given us a prayer : Loving, Living Lord, have mercy on us and the whole world: save us, and the whole world. We lift a fractured world before you. We lift those who are hurting before you. We lift those who are lost before you. We lift those we love before you and we lift the many unknown to us who need your grace and the new transforming life you bring. In Jesus Name. Amen.
2. Please pray for Pastor Steve Mayo and his family. Sadly his mother died recently. Please pray for them to know God’s love and support in their mourning. May our Lord Jesus be their Comforter and heal the sadness that they are going through.
3. We had more sad news that local preacher Ruth Hall's husband Rodney has died after a long illness. Please pray for Ruth and her family. May our Lord comfort them in their sorrow. Linda says that she remembers Ruth when she first started preaching and she spoke about the Holy Spirit and how she had prayed for a long time and others had prayed for her too, but she didn't sense any change until one day when she was busy hoovering and thinking about her jobs when suddenly, she was filled with the very presence of God's Holy Spirit! What a wonderful God we have who hears our every prayer and often answers when we least expect it.
4. Rosa has given us the news that her sister Shirley is home from hospital and is feeling much better. We pray that our Lord will continue to heal her.
5. Ken has asked for prayers for his daughter’s mother-in-law, Irene. She was taken to hospital with a suspected mini stroke and blood clot. Ken has also given us the news that Irene is now home from hospital. We pray that our Lord will restore her to full health.
6. Please continue to pray for Margaret’s family. Her daughter Helen was taken to hospital after being ill at work on Wednesday with a suspected stroke. Thanks to God, Helen is home now - not a mini or any kind of stroke. Margaret suspects stress on top of other health probs. Praise God for his answers. Candy, the little family dog was due to have a big operation yesterday. Please pray for Candy’s recovery too.
7. Rosa has asked for prayers for her friend Gloria. Rosa says - My friend Gloria has leg ulcers. She's had them for some time now so would appreciate prayers for her please.
8. We need also to have prayer for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the awful violence that is happening there.
Song – Singing the Faith 351 In Christ Alone
(1) In Christ Alone Viritual Choir - YouTube
In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song. This Cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All, Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe. This gift of love and righteousness. Scorned by the ones He came to save. 'Til on that cross as Jesus died. The wrath of God was satisfied. For every sin on Him was laid. Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain. Then bursting forth in glorious Day. Up from the grave He rose again. And as He stands in victory. Sin's curse has lost its grip on me. For I am His and He is mine. Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man. Can ever pluck me from His hand, 'til He returns or calls me home. Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Blessing
And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore. Amen.