Welcome to the Hawkinge Baptist Church Service

Sunday 18 April 2021

Opening Prayer

Creator God, your greatness is seen throughout the earth. We marvel at the infinite details you
give to everything. We thank you for the sights which reminds us that all life depends on you.

Who but you, O God, could so faithfully reproduce colour, and design and give
shape to every variety of tree, plant and flower?

Who but you, O God, could set before us the magnificence of a landscape refreshed after
a shower of rain, or the spectacle of a desert parched by the scorching sun?

Who but you, O God, could create the complexity of bird, beast and insect,
or the texture variety of fur, feather or hide?

Lord God we thank you for the richness of your creation and the joy that it brings to both You and us, each and every day.
Beauty in diversity. May we join in with the whole of creation to praise and worship you, our Lord and our creator.

Amen.

Please sing (read /pray or proclaim out loud the words of today's songs.)

To God be the glory, great things he hath done

To God be the glory, great things he hath done:
so loved he the world that he gave us his son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory, great things he hath done.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to ev'ry believer the promise of God.
The vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
but purer, and higher, and greater will be
our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.

Let us pray

Sovereign God, your greatness fills the heavens, your power sustains the universe, your love supports all creation
and your purpose extends to all times and all people, yet you have time for the very least of us - time for all!
For that incredible truth we give you thanks. May our lives reflect all that we receive from you, so that others may
come to know what it means to be loved and forgiven by the one true God, now and for all eternity.

Amen.

Listen to today's reading
Genesis 41 verses 41 to 57
and message with Rev Ali Boddington

Let us pray

Dear Lord, as we come to you this morning, hear our prayer.

Where life is dark, may your presence bring light.

Where evil is strong, may good be stronger.

Where suffering destroys, may healing restore.

Where sorrow bows down, may joy lift up.

Where doubts creep in, may faith hold out.

Where deceit obscures, may truth illuminate.

Where hatred divides, may love unite.

Where war rages, may peace reconcile.

Where death casts its shadow, may life shine afresh.

Sovereign God, may the victory we celebrate in Christ,
transform not just this but every moment.

Amen.

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.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory

Teach us Lord full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of power that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us
Speak, O Lord, 'til your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory

Closing prayer

To God who is always forgiving, always loving, always offering a new beginning,
be honour and glory, praise and thanksgiving, this day and for ever.

Amen.