During this service we will have the opportunity to partake in the Lord's supper.
Although we are apart physically, there is much that draws us together as a body of Christ
and we celebrate that this morning as we share together in the bread and wine.
If you wish to join in this time please prepare some bread and some wine / juice etc now,
before you begin the service, so that you are ready to join in when the time comes.
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, we will never grasp the whole truth about you, nor even a fraction of it,
but what we do see, when we take the time to look, is enough still to fill us with awe and wonder.
You are the Lord of all,
The creator of the ends of the earth, the giver and sustainer of life.
You are all good, all loving, all merciful, involved in every moment of every day.
Forgive us that we sometimes take that for granted,
Assure us of your continuing purpose, your enduring love and your final triumph
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen
Please sing (read /pray or proclaim out loud the words of these songs.)
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of His word;
In God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His name!
Make known His might, the deeds His arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age the same;
His holy name - the Lord, the mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by;
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of His word!
Firm is His promise, and His mercy sure:
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and forever more!
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, we remember today how, throughout your ministry, you looked to bring healing and wholeness.
We remember how you touched the lepers, restored sight to the blind ,and helped the lame to walk.
How you brought hope to the broken hearted, and those crushed in spirit,
peace of mind to those who were troubled, and forgiveness to those burdened by guilt or failure.
Lord Jesus Christ, we bring before you all in any kind of need, praying again for your healing and renewing touch in body, mind and spirit, this and every day.
Restore us and make us whole, by your grace.
Amen
Let us now say The Lord’s prayer..
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.
Listen to today's reading, Acts chapter 6 verse 1 to 7 and message with Rev Ali Boddington
We are now coming to a time of communion. And I do think it is appropriate that we share in this today, when we have been thinking about being
part of the body of Christ. We are individuals, we are all unique, we all have different gifts and skills that we can bring to help the body of
Christ live out its calling. We also have a responsibility to help make the body work, to work through disagreements, to challenge ourselves in
our thinking and to love each other as Christ has loved us. As we come to a time of communion, I think it is good to think about these things.
So let us pause for a few moments , prepare our hearts, ask forgiveness for anything in our lives that is not of God and give thanks that although
apart we can come as the body of Christ together.
(Time of quiet)
The Lord is merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and not easily riled.
He does not constantly accuse or forever nurse his anger,
nor does he deal with us according to our sins or repay us for our mistakes.
His unswerving love toward those that fear Him is as great as the heavens are high above the earth.
He banishes our faults from us as far as the East is from the West.
Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ, we share in this meal not in wistful nostalgia or sombre remembrance but joyfully reminding ourselves of the enormity of your love and the awesome sacrifice you made on our behalf.
So we give thanks, and we take the bread and drink wine so that we might never forget all you have done, your faithfulness instead staying fresh in our minds,
colouring each moment of every day.
Lord Jesus, whatever else we may fail to do, teach us to come in your name and to do this, in memory of you. Amen
During supper, Jesus took bread, and having given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them saying, take, eat, it is my body... So let us take the bread, apart but together, and eat.
(Time of quiet)
Then he took a cup and giving thanks to God he handed it to them and they all drank from it. Then he said, this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, shed for many. I tell you the truth, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it fresh with you in the Kingdom of God.
So let us take the cup, drink and be thankful
(Time of quiet)
We have eaten bread and drunk wine, but the meal is not over,
for Jesus offers us bread of life,
living water, food for our souls,
a cup running over with new wine.
Celebrate His gift, rejoice in His love and live each day to the full.
Until that time when we will feast with Him in his Father's Kingdom,
and taste the blessings yet in store, for all eternity.
Amen
Let us sing: My hope is built on nothing less
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' name
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' name
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
He is Lord, Lord of all
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
When he shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne
Closing prayer
The Christ who died for you, live in you.
The Christ who loves you, shine through you.
The Christ who welcomes you, go with you
now and always
Amen
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