Welcome to the CHS Vientiane Worship Service Resources
We invite you to take time this Sunday, in families or very small groups of friends, to responsibly share space to worship God together. If you are on your own, please be assured we are together in the Spirit and if you have needs, or just want to share concerns, please don't be afraid to reach out and share these with the CHS community. Contact details can be found on our church website at: http://www.thechs.org/
Ideas for parents to use with their children at home can be found on this page (click this link).
~ Pastor Tony
Scripture Sentence
“Through
Christ we have access to the Father
in
the one Spirit.”
(Ephesians 2:18)
Collect
Almighty
and eternal God,
through
your Word and Spirit
you
created all things.
In
Jesus Christ the Word made flesh,
you
reveal your salvation
in
all the world.
Through
your Holy Spirit,
you
give us a share
in
your life and love.
Keep
us firm in this faith,
and
fill us with the vision of your glory,
that
we may serve and praise you all our days;
through
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who
is alive and reigns
with
you and the Holy Spirit,
one
God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Call to Worship
Creation:
the
moon, the stars,
the
sun, the sky,
the
hills, the seas,
beauty
abounds before our eyes.
Gather
round
as
we come before our Creator God,
maker
of all we see and hear,
smell
and touch.
Gather
round
as
we wonder again
at
our story of creation.
God
- we gather in your presence.
Father
- we long for more of you.
Jesus
- we place you at the centre.
Holy
Spirit - come and fill our time together.
Help
us to be fully present here,
to
your word, to one another,
and
to your creation which you love.
Amen.
Opening Hymn of
Praise
Holy,
holy, holy (MP237)
1 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
early in the morning our song shall rise to
Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! – merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the
glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before
Thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! – though the darkness hide
Thee,
though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may
not see;
only Thou art holy, there is none beside
Thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
all Thy works shall praise Thy name, in
earth, and sky, and sea:
Holy, holy, holy! – merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
Approach to God
God,
there has been no time when You have not been creating;
no
space where You have not been imagining.
Before
our earliest ancestors existed,
You
were dreaming and designing what people could be.
We
were born into the flow of Your creativity
and
breathe our every breath in Your company.
Come
close to us,
come
alive in us,
stir
us like clouds caught by a summer breeze,
may
we cling to You like sweet peas to a fence
and
be as open to You as a blossoming sunflower to the sun.
Give
us an expansive vision of what our world is and can be,
and
let us move to the music of Your resounding call.
We
surrender to You, Abundant and Almighty God,
and
offer You our worship.
Amen
Confession
Our
heavenly Father
thank
you that you love us and care for us all the time.
We
know that this week we have not always lived the way you tell us.
We
have done wrong things and not done all the good things we should have done.
Only
you can save us,
so
please forgive us
and
help us to live as your friends.
We
ask this in Jesus’ name.
Silence
God,
You know the bitter taste of failure,
You
fully understand the temptation to give up.
You
stay with us
and
quell all those gremlins of defeatism and pessimism and discouragement.
You
have forgiven us
for
all that’s gone wrong in our living and loving.
Pick
us up as we pick up our mats and walk on.
So
be it.
Amen.
“If
we confess our sins,
he
is faithful and just
and
will forgive us our sins
and
purify us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1: 9)
Creed
We
believe in God the Father,
Maker
of all things.
We
believe in his Son Jesus Christ,
Lord
and Saviour of the world.
We
believe in the Holy Spirit,
giver
of life and light.
We
belong to the Church,
God’s
family everywhere.
Amen.
Bible Readings
Psalm: Psalm 8
First reading: Genesis 1:1-2:4
Second reading:2 Corinthians 13:11-14
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Children’s Song
God of wonders (MP1089)
1 Lord of all
creation,
of water, earth and sky,
the heavens are Your tabernacle;
glory to the Lord on high.
God of wonders beyond our galaxyYou are holy, holy;the universe declares Your majesty.
You are holy, holy;
Lord of heaven and earth,
Lord of heaven and earth.
2 Early in the
morning
I will celebrate the light,
and as I stumble in the darkness
I will call Your name by night.
God of wonders . . .
Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth! (3 times)
Prayer for / with the
Children
Father,
We are yours.
We cannot be bought; you paid the great price.
We bow down as servants; you lift us up friends.
We are yours.
We cannot be bought; you paid the great price.
We bow down as servants; you lift us up friends.
Jesus,
We are good.
Made in your image, channelling your blessings.
We bow down as sinners, you lift us up saints.
Spirit,
We are called.
You know us, you speak our names
We bow down as failures, you lift us up
to stand before Our Heavenly Father
as his precious children.
We are good.
Made in your image, channelling your blessings.
We bow down as sinners, you lift us up saints.
Spirit,
We are called.
You know us, you speak our names
We bow down as failures, you lift us up
to stand before Our Heavenly Father
as his precious children.
Amen.
Sermon
A transcript of the CHS sermon for Sunday 7.06.20 can be found here.
A video of the CHS sermon for Sunday 7.06.20 can be found here.
A video of the CHS sermon for Sunday 7.06.20 can be found here.
*Bonus feature: here is the midweek sermon
from Bishop Rennis Ponniah
of the Anglican Diocese
of Singapore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH0NUGq7iD0&feature=emb_logo
Song
We
have a gospel to proclaim (MP728)
1 We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a saviour’s name:
we sing His glory, tell His worth.
2 Tell of His birth at Bethlehem,
not in a royal house or hall
but in a stable dark and dim:
the Word made flesh, a light for all.
3 Tell of His death at Calvary,
hated by those He came to save;
in lonely suffering on the cross
for all He loved, His life He gave.
4 Tell of that glorious Easter morn:
empty the tomb, for He was free;
He broke the power of death and hell
that we might share His victory.
5 Tell of His reign at God’s right hand,
by all creation glorified;
He sends His Spirit on His Church
to live for Him, the Lamb who died.
6 Now we rejoice to name Him king:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth;
this gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing His glory, tell His worth.
Offering
(Please
do bear in mind that as long as we are still able to,
CHS
is continuing to support various projects and people
in
need and needs will likely increase during this time.
You
may want to set aside some money in an envelope every Sunday
and
bring these to church when we next meet back at ARDA.)
Dedication of our
Offering
God
of all goodness,
accept
the gifts we bring.
Use
them and us for your glory
and
the work of your Church;
through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Intercessions
At
this time, when the tragic death of George Floyd
at the hands of police
officers in Minnesota, USA
has led to protests and unrest around the world,
we
seek to turn our thoughts on this
and other matters to God in prayer, let us
pray.
God
of righteousness,
you
have taught us through your Son
to
set our minds on your kingdom and its values
before
everything else.
Give
us courage and energy at this time
to
think for ourselves clearly and fairly,
to
seek for the truth and to follow it whatever the cost.
Help
us to believe
that
whatever is right is always possible,
and
that what accords with the mind of Christ
is
upheld by his almighty power.
Grant
that in us and in others
suspicion
may give way to trust,
and
strife to peace,
that
we might live and work together
in
unity and love;
Leader: Lord, in
your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
God
and Father of us all,
in
your love
you
made all the nations of the world
to
be a family,
and
your Son taught us to love one another.
Yet
our world is riven apart
with
prejudice, arrogance and pride.
Help
the different races and peoples
to
love and understand one another better.
Increase
among us sympathy,
tolerance
and goodwill
that
we may learn to appreciate the gifts
that
people of other backgrounds bring to us,
and
a desire to see all people
as
our brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.
Save
us from jealousy, hatred and fear,
and
help us to live together
as
members of one family in the world, though not of it,
sons
and daughters of one Father
who
live in the freedom of the children of God.
This
morning we pray particularly for the family and friends of George Floyd,
Comfort
them in their distress with your peace that passes all understanding.
Bring
peace to the streets of Minneapolis and other cities
where
anger and fear has spilled over into violence.
May
it not be an easy peace,
in
which the status quo of oppression is maintained.
May
Government, law enforcement agencies and communities,
turn
to you and receive healing, even if the medicine is difficult to swallow.
Your
Kingdom come.
Leader: Lord, in
your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
As
we seem to be tentatively emerging from the initial Covid19 crisis here in
Laos,
we
are aware that in other countries around the world, there is still much sorrow
and
suffering…
Lord,
we are those who journey.
And
there are many who find that journey hard today.
We
are those who journey.
And
who long to find our hope renewed.
Lord,
whether in our own company or with companions beside us,
We
journey on.
Whether
sure, or unsure, as to our journey’s end,
Come
beside us through the risen Lord.
Leader: Lord, in
your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
Lord,
we pray for others;
For
carers of the living and of the dying;
For
the bereaved and for the anxious;
For
those fearing loss of work and of business.
Lord,
we pray for scientists and researchers;
For
those seeking to understand the challenge we face;
For
those creating potential vaccines;
For
those advising decision-makers.
Leader: Lord, in
your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
Lord,
we pray for those who shape our life:
We
pray for the Government of Laos and its leadership and also for the leaders and
governments
of the countries we come from.
Grant
to them wisdom, compassion and understanding.
We
pray for the Lao churches and other churches for the international community.
May
you guard and protect your Church from all evil.
May
the power from on high, which we celebrated last Sunday with
our brothers and sisters from all over the Diocese of Singapore and its Deaneries,
enable your people to shine as lights in the darkness,
showing
your loving kindness, sharing the Good News of Jesus in word and deed.
Lord,
we pray for your Kingdom to come.
And
for your will to be done,
On
earth.
As
it is in heaven.
Leader: Lord, in
your mercy
All: Hear our prayer
Amen.
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.
Closing Song
Days
of Elijah (MP1012)
1 These are the days of Elijah,
declaring
the word of the Lord:
and
these are the days of Your servant Moses,
righteousness
being restored.
And
though these are days of great trial,
of
famine and darkness and sword,
still
we are a voice in the desert crying,
‘Prepare
ye the way of the Lord.’
Behold He comes riding on the clouds,shining like the sun at the trumpet call;lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee,out of Zion’s hill salvation comes.
2 These are the days of Ezekiel,
the
dry bones becoming as flesh;
and
these are the days of Your servant David,
rebuilding
the temple of praise.
These
are the days of the harvest,
the
fields are as white as the world,
and
we are the labourers in the vineyard,
declaring
the word of the Lord.
Behold He comes . . .
Prayer of Sending and
Blessing
God
has made us,
God
has shaped us,
God
has chosen us,
God
has sent us.
May
we go now
to
be makers of God’s peace,
shapers
of God’s love,
choosers
of God’s way
and
senders on the journey.
And
may God be ever with us,
ever
creating us,
ever
moulding us,
ever
calling us
and
ever leading us.
God
the Holy Trinity make you strong
in
faith, and hope, and love.
And
the blessing of God almighty,
the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be
among you and remain with you.
Go
in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in
the name of Christ.
Amen
