The Parish Gathering | May 17, 2020 (Sixth Week of Eastertide)
Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.
Call to Worship
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Rejoice, Oh heavenly powers!
Sing, choirs of angels!
Rejoice, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!
Praise to You, Risen Christ!
Rejoice, Oh Creation dear to God,
Radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!
Darkness passes away forever!
Praise to You, Risen Christ!
Rejoice, Oh Church, Bride of the Liberating King!
The Lord of life shines upon you!
Let this place brim with joy,
Echoing the mighty song of all God’s world,
Echoing the mighty song of all God’s people:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise to You, Risen Christ!
Song: Christ is Risen
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely You have bled for us
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven’s will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer’s crown
No burden great can hold You down
In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He’s alive, He’s alive
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave
Prayers of the People
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray together as God’s people:
Living God,
day by day you sustain the weary with your word,
day by day you gently encourage us to place our trust in you.
Awaken us to the suffering of those around us;
save us from hiding in denials or taunts that deepen the hurt;
give us grace to share one another’s burdens in humble service.
Lift up prayers for the Church gathered around the world.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling, O Creator.
Creator of the universe,
you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory.
We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured
by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace,
to the glory of your name.
Offer your prayers for the welfare of the world.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
We lift up our prayers for the community of friends in this gathering,
Our families, friends, and all whose lives are closely linked with ours.
Jesus, we ask you:
for protection,
for healing,
for unity,
for justice,
for hope.
Lift up your prayers for the community around us.
You hear us calling,
You hear us calling, O Creator.
We hold up in your great light those in the darkness of deep pain,
those who suffer, all who are sick,
and the many who are worn down.
Jesus, we ask you:
for fresh strength,
for your nearness,
for Life today,
for Life to come.
Offer your prayers for those who are suffering and in need.
Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.
The Good News: John 14:15-21
‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You, Lord Christ
Song: Holy Spirit
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood our homes and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood our homes and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness
Holy Spirit, I know You.
Holy Spirit, You lead me.
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood our homes and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
The Power of Sin
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”
Luke 24:1-5
Confession: The Power of Sin
In Easter’s season, we stand outside the tomb of Jesus Christ:
We follow him there:
To the cross, being crucified with Him,
To the grave, letting go of our old lives.
Fear and shame,
we leave at the tomb.
Sin and selfishness,
we leave at the tomb.
Our old ways and our old selves,
we leave at the tomb.
Silent confession (space to notice, name, and confess your allegiance to sin and wait in God’s presence).
Be free! We are forgiven.
Laugh out loud! We are forgiven.
Love God with everything! We are loved.
Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)
May we join Jesus now,
on the other side of the Cross,
risen to a new kind of life.
The Power of Death
Confession: The Power of Death
In Easter’s season, we stand outside the tomb of Jesus Christ:
And hear the announcement afresh: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is Risen!”
So now we follow Jesus’ lead,
To the garden of a new life, leaving the sting of death behind:
Mourning and regret,
we leave at the tomb.
Violence and revenge,
we leave at the tomb.
Anger and despair,
we leave at the tomb.
Silent confession (space to notice, name, and confess Christ’s victory over death and wait in God’s presence).
May you hear deeply the words from the gardener of life:
“I who made you, now make all things new.”
Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)
May we celebrate and anticipate the life that is to come,
and with that same power that conquered the grave,
may we be empowered for life today.
Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
And so this day, we join with Saints and Angels
in the chorus of praise that rings through eternity,
lifting our voices to bless you we say:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
heaven and earth are full of Your glory,
Glory to you, O Lord most high.
Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.
This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people.
We are redeemed.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Sacrament of Desire
Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.
Song: Mystery
Sweet Jesus, Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus, Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven, broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus the Mystery
Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again
Sweet Jesus, Christ my sanity
Sweet Jesus, Christ my clarity
Bread of heaven broken for me
Cup of salvation held up to drink
Jesus the Mystery
Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes, proclaim His coming
Celebrate His death and rising
Lift your eyes, lift your eyes
Christ has died and
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again
Community Life
The Cross of Christ
All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!
Blessing & Sending
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever he may send you.
May he guide you in the wilderness,
protect you in the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing,
at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing,
once again into our doors.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia! Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3 Good Minutes
Where do you need to experience God coming to you this week?
