Home Church, 5th Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022 Guest Presider: Rev Jim Holland

Home Church, 5th Sunday of Easter, May 15, 2022 Guest Presider: Rev Jim Holland

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Preparing the Space Around Us

Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. 

 

Preparing the Space Within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship.

Greeting
One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you       

Call to Worship

One:  Alleluia! Christ is risen.

All:    The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

One:  May his grace and peace be with you.

All:    May he fill our hearts with joy.             

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, your son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandment, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  

Hymn: O, For A Thousand Tongues -   VU #326 Don Butt

1 O for a thousand tongues to sing

my great Redeemer's praise,

the glories of my God and king,

the triumphs of God's grace.

2 Jesus! the name that charms our fears,

that bids our sorrows cease;

'tis music in the sinner's ears,

'tis life and health and peace.

Invitation to Confession   

We pause to reflect on how we have failed to love, to manifest God’s forgiving and gracious attitude, not just as individuals, but as a church, a church that has, at time forgotten the great commandment to love all of God’s children. And so as members of the Christian church we ask forgiveness.

Silence

Prayer of Confession           

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Assurance of Grace

One:  Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all      your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you    in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

All:    Amen.

Peace of Christ 

Please unmute your microphones for the passing of the peace.

N-Z:     The Peace of Christ be with you!

A-M:    And also with you!

First Reading: Psalm 148  -   Reader: David Soy

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

   praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels;

   praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon;

   praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens,

   and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

   for he commanded and they were created.

He established them for ever and ever;

   he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

   you sea monsters and all deeps,

fire and hail, snow and frost,

   stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,

   fruit trees and all cedars!

Wild animals and all cattle,

   creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,

   princes and all rulers of the earth!

Young men and women alike,

   old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

   for his name alone is exalted;

   his glory is above earth and heaven.

He has raised up a horn for his people,

   praise for all his faithful,

   for the people of Israel who are close to him.

Praise the Lord!

Second Reading: Revelations 21: 1-6  -  Reader: David Soy

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

‘See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.’

And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

Gospel Reading -  Reader: Pat Armstrong

One:    God be with you. 

All:      And also with you.

One:    The Good News of Jesus Christ according to John;

All:      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 13: 31-35 When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

One:    This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:      Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection                         

Silent Reflection

Creed

Hear, O Israel,

the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

This is the first and the great commandment.

The second is like it:

Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no commandment greater than these.

Prayers of the People   -  Betty Schultze                                                                

One: Loving God,

All:    Hear Our Prayers

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.

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.

Offering Prayer  

Loving God, we give thanks for the many blessings we receive in community. May the gifts we offer help to pay forward these blessings to places of need in the world.

Hymn: O, For A Thousand Tongues   - VU #326  - Don Butt

3 He speaks, and listening to his voice,

new life the dead receive,

the mournful broken hearts rejoice,

the humble poor believe.

4 Hear him, you deaf, you voiceless ones,

your tongues again employ;

you blind, behold your Saviour comes,

and leap, you lame, for joy!

5 My gracious Master and my God,

assist me to proclaim,

to spread through all the earth abroad

the honours of your name.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing - Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:  The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey, guiding you, cherishing you.

N-Z:   The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,  feeding you, challenging you.

A-M:  The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living,  guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Thank You