Sunday April 26th Holy Communion Service

Join us on zoom at 10:30 am - Meeting ID: 839 9501 5952 Password: 521569

Welcome

We meet in the name of the Father,

and the Son and the Holy Spirit

Amen

Alleluia Christ is Risen

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has given us new life and hope.

He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Song: Here I am to worship - https://youtu.be/YXg2ztge8f0

Opening prayer

Faithful one, whose word is life:

come with saving power

to free our praise,

inspire our prayer

and shape our lives

for the kingdom of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Invitation to Confession

Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us.

Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil

and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord,

we come to you in sorrow for our sins,

and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

We have lived by our own strength,

and not by the power of your resurrection.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes,

as faithless and not believing.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone,

and doubted our home in heaven.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

May the God of love and power

forgive us and free us from our sins,

heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,

and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Collect

Risen Christ,

you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope:

strengthen us to proclaim your risen life

and fill us with your peace,

to the glory of God the Father.

Gloria

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest! Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!

To him be glory for ever! To him be glory for ever! Halleluia, amen,

Halleluia, amen. Halleluia, amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in Christ Jesus Glory to God, glory to God, glory in Christ Jesus

To him be glory for ever! To him be glory for ever! Halleluia, amen,

Halleluia, amen. Halleluia, amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the Spirit Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the Spirit

To him be glory for ever! To him be glory for ever! Halleluia, amen,

Halleluia, amen. Halleluia, amen.

New Testament reading: Acts 2:14A, 36-41 - Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God

And now on our feet…….next song with actions!

Song: Every move I make I make in you Jesus - https://youtu.be/MPvnZILn6EY

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35 - https://youtu.be/dmmTWQn95xQ

Talk

Two disciples, two journeys and one road to Emmaus

In this isolation- when we go out, how direct our journey has to be, we go from A to B and back to A again. Where A of course is home.

Question:

Where do you go on your journey- either walking the dog, or daily exercise?

For these two disciples their journey along the road to Emmaus must have seemed very straight forward- until the stranger joined them. A stranger who was willing to listen and learn from them- how did he not know what had been going on recently?

Here is an artist impression of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus

So what had been going on there recently?

• Why Jerusalem?

• Arrival of a new teacher/ Rabbi. One who could work miracles and spoke with an authority on the Scriptures- not matched by anyone else. They called him Jesus of Nazareth.

• Passover- celebratory meal

• Jesus’ arrest, trial in front of Pontius Pilate and eventual crucifixion

• And now the 3rd day? What next?

Still Easter Day- still the 3rd day after Jesus’ death.

These disciples are a bit confused and unsure.

Question:

Having just re-visited some of the events of Jesus’ life- imagine if you had been around at that time, which bit would you find the hardest to believe?

Jesus comes to redirect these two disciples- set them back on the right spiritual path. . Jesus points back to the scriptures- to all the signs and prophecies about him. The Jewish scriptures consisted of 3 parts- Law of Moses, Prophets and the rest known as the Writings. He started with the book of Moses and then followed through with the prophets.

He showed them through the Scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer and die and be raised up on the 3rd day- and resurrection on the 3rd day was crucial. It is central to the Christian faith.

Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world. Gives meaning to the Lord’s supper- the church’s regular feast

This journey with all its’ revisited and re-interpreted signs led the three travellers to Emmaus. And only after Jesus had been persuaded to stay and eat with them, did the true revelation as to who he was, take place.

Question:

If someone were to ask you, who was Jesus Christ- what would you tell them and how much would come from fact (narrative) and how much from faith?

Sharing in the breaking of bread together makes us a stronger community. Although sharing in the bread of Holy Communion or the Eucharist together is something we cannot do just now, the fact that we have, and the fact that we will at some point, holds us together as family in faith-holds us together spiritually.

We are still united although apart- perhaps more so than we ever were before, because, we are each looking out for the other by playing our part through our shared humanity and through our faith.

Question:

Who would you like to tell the Good News of Christ to-write their name or who would you like to bring into a closer relationship with God?

What we believe

Let us declare our faith

in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ died for our sins

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he was buried;

he was raised to life on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures;

afterwards he appeared to his followers,

and to all the apostles:

this we have received,

and this we believe.

Amen.

Our Prayers led by Keith and Ally

(using our feet)

The Peace

The two disciples told what had happened on the road to Emmaus,

and how Jesus had been made known to them in the

breaking of the bread. Alleluia.

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace. (via zoom)

Song: I will offer up my life - https://youtu.be/kQkzHwz2eLE

Holy Communion - https://youtu.be/ZhUy9XuDZ0Q

Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

we believe you, and all we have heard is true.

When you break bread

may we recognize you as the fire that burns within us,

that we may bring light to your world.

Amen.

The Lord is here

All His Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give thanks and praise.

Lord of all life,

you created the universe,

where all living things reflect your glory.

You give us this great and beautiful earth,

to discover and to cherish.

You give us happy times

and things to celebrate.

In these we taste your kingdom,

a feast for all your children.

You made us all,

each wonderfully different,

to join with the angels

and sing your praise:

All Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

[Blessed is he who comes

in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.]

We thank you, loving Father,

because, when we turned away,

you sent Jesus, your Son.

He gave his life for us on the cross

and shows us the way to live.

Send your Holy Spirit

that these gifts of bread and wine

may be for us Christ’s body and his blood.

On the night before he died,

when darkness had fallen,

Jesus took bread.

He gave thanks, broke it,

and shared it with his disciples, saying:

‘This is my body, given for you.

Do this to remember me.’

After they had eaten, he took the cup of wine,

gave thanks, and shared it with his disciples, saying:

‘This is my blood, poured out for you and for many,

for the forgiveness of sins.’

So Father, with this bread and this cup

we celebrate his love, his death, his risen life.

As you feed us with these gifts,

send your Holy Spirit,

and change us more and more

to be like Jesus our Saviour.

Help us, Father, to love one another,

as we look forward to that day

when suffering is ended,

and all creation is gathered in your loving arms.

And now with St Catherine and all your saints

we give you glory,

through Jesus Christ,

in the strength of the Spirit,

today and for ever.

All Amen.

We continue with the words of

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

We break this bread

to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body,

because we all share in one bread.

Every time we eat this bread

and drink this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Prayer of spiritual communion

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ,

for all the benefits you have given me,

for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.

Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,

I ask you to come spiritually into my heart.

O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,

may I know you more clearly,

love you more dearly,

and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen

The Blessing

God the Father,

by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,

strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;

and the blessing …of God Almighty, the Father Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and those whom you love, now and for evermore. Amen.

Final Song: Hallelujah praise the one who set me free - https://youtu.be/_QRqNHppjQc