St John the Evangelist, Kingston Sunday 21 st January 2018 Sacred Space Opening Sentences Gladness Let your light shine! Let your hearts be glad! God is faithful to us, and God rules in love. Let us worship God.
Hymn: I will enter his gates sung twice I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. He has made me glad. He has made me glad. I will rejoice for He has made me glad. Lyrics Copyright 1976 Children going for children s church are invited to the front. The minister says a prayer before they leave for their activities. Prayers of Penitence Let us come before God with the whole of our lives, the good, the bad, and the holy. Let us pray together: Holy God, at times we have delusions of grandeur, and we forget to see what is small the falling leaf that holds the beauty of creation; the kind word that is a testament to grace; the child who is vital not only for the future but for the present. Help us to remember our place in this world you made, to give thanks for things great and small, to be humble and hopeful. And hear us now as in silence we open our heart to you.
Silent Prayer Assurance of Forgiveness Friends, this is the Good News: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! And we are not only forgiven, we are also freed. Let us greet the world as people made new in Christ. Poem: Going Down Hill on a Bicycle By Henry Charles Beeching A Boy s Song With lifted feet, hands still, I am poised, and down the hill Dart, with heedful mind; The air goes by in a wind. Swifter and yet more swift, Till the heart with a mighty lift Makes the lungs laugh, the throat cry: O bird, see; see, bird, I fly. Is this, is this your joy? O bird, then I, though a boy, For a golden moment share Your feathery life in air! Say, heart, is there aught like this In a world that is full of bliss? Tis more than skating, bound Steel-shod to the level ground.
Speed slackens now, I float Awhile in my airy boat; Till, when the wheels scarce crawl, My feet to the treadles fall. Alas, that the longest hill Must end in a vale; but still, Who climbs with toil, wheresoe er, Shall find wings waiting there. Hymn: Sing to God new songs Sing to God new songs of worship all his deeds are marvellous; he has brought salvation to us with his hand and holy arm. He has shown to all the nations righteousness and saving power; he recalled his truth and mercy to his people Israel. Sing to God new songs of worship earth has seen his victory; let the lands of earth be joyful praising him with thankfulness. Sound upon the harp his praises, play to him with melody; let the trumpets sound his triumph, show your joy to God the King!
Sing to God new songs of worship let the sea now make a noise; all on earth and in the waters, sound your praises to the Lord. Let the hills rejoice together, let the rivers clap their hands, for with righteousness and justice he will come to judge the earth. After Psalm 98, Michael Baughen (born 1930) Michael Baughen/Jubilate Hymns Bible Reading Psalm 100 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Address
Reflection Reflect on a time you felt glad. What was it that filled you with joy? How could you practise gladness more in your life? Reflect on Psalm 100. What do you notice in this passage? What will you do or change in the light of what you have noticed? Hymn: O Lord my God (How great Thou Art) Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed; Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze; Chorus And when I think that God His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die - I scarce can take it in, That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin: Chorus When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home - what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art! Chorus
Prayers The Lord s Prayer 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 but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen. Notices about our community life and the children return from children s church Hymn: You shall go out with joy sung three times During which a collection will be taken for the work of the church You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace, and the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you. There'll be shouts of joy and the trees of the field shall clap, shall clap their hands. And the trees of the field shall clap their hands, And the trees of the field shall clap their hands, And the trees of the field shall clap their hands, And you ll go out with joy. CCLI number: 1352220
Blessing You are invited to place your right hand on the shoulder of the person next to you for the Blessing. Blessing and laughter and loving be yours the love of a great God who names you and holds you while the earth turns and the flowers grow this day, this moment and forever. Amen. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO STAY FOR REFRESHMENTS AFTER THE SERVICE Poem: Everyone Sang By Siegried Sassoon Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom, Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on - on - and out of sight. Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted; And beauty came like the setting sun: My heart was shaken with tears; and horror Drifted away... O, but Everyone Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.