Sunday, August 2, 2020: Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

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
“Never again shall they feel hunger or thirst;
for the lamb who is at the centre of the throne
will be their shepherd and will guide them
to springs of the water of life.”
                                     (Revelation 7:16,17)


Collect
Almighty God,
your Son Jesus Christ
fed the hungry
with the bread of his life
and the word of his kingdom.
Renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by the true and living bread,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.


Call to Worship
Leader: We have gathered here
All: to meet Jesus.
Leader: We have come seeking
All: the one who can heal us.
Leader: We are hungry
All: for the word of God
that satisfies and gives us life.

We gather today as people
who are in need of healing and
who are hungry for God’s word.
Let us worship our God
who is extravagantly generous
to all people.

Amen.


Opening Hymn of Praise 
Come thou fount of every blessing (MP 1164)

1  Come, O Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing Your grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise:
songs of God’s abundant treasure,
sung by angel tongues above,
songs that tell the boundless measure
of my Lord’s unchanging love!

2  I remember God’s great mercy:
by His help I’ve safely come;
and I know He will not fail me,
but will surely bring me home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger
wandering far away from God,
and, to rescue me from danger,
shed for me His precious blood.

3  Through God’s grace I am His debtor –
daily I this thought renew!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter
bind my wandering heart to You.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love!
Take my heart, O take and seal it,
seal it from Your courts above!


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.
Amen.

Silence

Jesus died and rose again for us.
In humble penitence let us
accept his pardon and receive his peace.
Amen.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from you alone come everlasting joy and peace.
Fill us with joy in your promises,
and send us out to be bearers of your peace;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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
First reading:  Isaiah 55:1-5
Second reading: Romans 9:1-5
Gospel:  Matthew 14:13-21

Children’s Song
We are a moment (Be Unto Your Name) (MP 1122)

We are a moment, You are for ever
Lord of the ages, God before time.
We are a vapour, You are eternal,
love everlasting, reigning on high.

Holy, holy, Lord God almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
Highest praises, honour and glory
be unto Your name, be unto Your name.
We are a moment . . .
Holy, holy . . .


Prayer for / with the Children
(Based on the Lectionary Gospel reading, Matthew 14:13-21)

Jesus wanted to be alone,
to mourn the loss of his cousin,
but the people followed him.
When Jesus saw the crowd
he was filled with compassion.
His own needs were put to the side.
Jesus spent the day healing the sick
and by evening the people were hungry.
So, Jesus blessed what they had,
five loaves and two fish,
and everyone shared together
with twelve whole baskets left over.
The bits left over,
what of those?
Pieces left strewn around,
no longer required.
A field littered with scraps,
yet Christ leaves none discarded
but calls for all to be gathered in,
saved and treasured.
Baskets filled with an extravagance, excess cherished.
Pictures that mean something
that can only be imagined.
A hungry crowd,
a boy’s packed lunch, a great big picnic.
People fed
and still enough
to go on sharing
the blessing, abundance,
and grace of God.
Thank you God for your kindness that overflows to us.
May our lives also overflow with kindness to others.
We pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen.


Sermon
A transcript and video of the CHS sermon for Sunday 19.07.20
is normally posted here prior to the normal service time of 10.00 am.
As Pastor Tony is on holiday, unfortunately there is no CHS sermon resource available this week. 
Things should be back to normal for next Sunday.

Alternatively you may wish to use the Holy Communion Service available from the Anglican Diocese of Singapore. Click here.

Song
Before the throne of God above (MP 975)

1  Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
a great High Priest whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heaven He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

2  When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me,
to look on Him and pardon me.

3  Behold Him there! The risen lamb,
my perfect, spotless righteousness;
the great unchangeable;
I AM  the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die,
my soul is purchased with His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Saviour and my God,
with Christ my Saviour and my God.


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
Lord, our God,
we acknowledge that
you are our father,
we are your children,
our neighbours are people
whom you cared enough about
to come and die for.
To their service and to your glory
we dedicate ourselves,
our hearts and minds, our wills and works.
Strengthen our resolve
to stand fast in your faith,
to seek the help of the Holy Spirit,
and to work willingly for your perfect kingdom,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Thanksgiving and Intercessions
Thanksgiving
It is good, Lord God,
for us to live with thankful hearts.
But now we voice our thanks,
together as Your praising people.
We sit socially distanced, restricted by Covid19 measures,
but our hands and hearts are lifted in reverence and awe,
our throats are pulsing with Your praise,
our eyes are wide open to the wonder of who You are.

Thank You, God,
for giving us what we need to live in this world –
food, shelter, conversation,
family, friendship, warmth, purpose.
Thank You for giving us a gospel worth sharing with others.
Thank You for the hope of a life which is not snuffed out by death.
Thank You for the sciences with which we explore the universe,
and for the arts which help us to appreciate its wonder.

Thank you, God,
for the challenging times,
when we have had to struggle through alone,
when we have had to keep listening for Your voice a long time,
when we have had to come to terms with who we really are.

Thank You for all who have helped us along life’s journey,
not least those lost to our earthly sight,
who share the splendour and joy of heaven.

Thank You God,
for the gift of Jesus,
the gift of the Spirit,
the gift of faith.
Amen


Intercession 
Almighty and ever-living God, who by your holy apostles has taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks, for all people: we humbly beg you to receive these our prayers, which we offer to your divine majesty; begging you to always inspire the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord; and grant that all who confess your holy name may agree in the truth of your holy word, and live in unity and godly love.



Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

We thank you especially for the people of faith who founded the Church of the Holy Spirit, and those who have worshipped in the church over the years.

We thank you that we are able to worship here and pray that each of us, in our own way, may strengthen the church by our contributions to its activities.

Lord, please bless and support our pastor Tony and his family in their life and work here in Vientiane.


We also pray for your blessing on Ian Hadfield, our dean, and Rennis Poniah, our retiring bishop and for the Bishop designate, Titus Chung, as he prepares to succeed Bishop Rennis.
 
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

We beg you to lead all nations in the ways of righteousness and peace; and so to direct all rulers, that under them your people may be well governed.

Please grant that the leaders of Laos and all that are put in authority under them may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of stability and the continuing development of the country for the good of all people.

Lord, please help the United States as it deals with economic collapse, civil unrest and unstable and divisive leadership.

We thank you that Laos has been able to avoid deaths from Corona virus, and pray that you will help the Minister for Health and his staff as they continue to work to avoid more cases.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Guide and prosper, we pray, those who are laboring for the spread of your gospel among the nations, especially here in Laos, and enlighten with your Spirit all places of education and learning; that the whole world may be filled with the knowledge of your truth.

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

And we humbly beg you of your goodness, O Lord, to comfort and support all those who in this transitory life are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

Lord, we pray for Rosemary Dickens, wife of our former dean as she undergoes chemotherapy for lymphoma. And we beg your blessing on all people in Laos who are getting chemotherapy for malignant diseases.



We bring before you all the sick and suffering around this country. Please help them to get the best possible outcome in their illnesses. Please bless all health care workers and inspire them to strive to learn more and do better in their jobs.



We pray particularly for all men, women and children in Laos who are in the end stages of illness: please help then get the best supportive care possible and help their families and friends as they share the problems of the dying people.


Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

And to all your people give your heavenly grace; and specially to those of us here, that, with humble hearts and due reverence, we may hear and receive your holy word, truly serving you in holiness and righteousness all the days of our lives.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

And we commend to your gracious keeping, O Lord, all your servants who have departed this life in your faith, asking you, according to your promises, to grant them refreshment, light and peace in your presence.
And here we give you most high praise and hearty thanks for all your saints, who have been the chosen vessels of your grace, and lights of the world in their many generations; and we pray that, rejoicing in their fellowship and following their good examples, we may be partakers with them of your heavenly kingdom.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.


Hasten, Lord, the day when people will come from east and west,
from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom,
and we shall see your Son in his glory.
Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only mediator and advocate.
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
My Jesus, my Saviour (MP 1003)

My Jesus, my Saviour,
Lord, there is none like You.
All of my days I want to praise
the wonders of Your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter,
tower of refuge and strength,
let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship You.

    Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing,

    power and majesty, praise to the King.
   Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
   at the sound of Your name.
   I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
   for ever I’ll love You, for ever I’ll stand.
   Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.


Prayer of Sending and Blessing
May your mouth speak the praise of the Lord,
your mind think the wisdom of the Lord,
your hands and feet do the will of the Lord:
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you
and remain with you for ever, Amen
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in the name of Christ.
Amen





Sunday, July 26, 2020: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

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
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and planted in his field.
Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows,
 it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
(Matthew 13:31-32)


Collect
Almighty God,
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without you nothing is strong, nothing is holy.
Increase and multiply upon us your mercy,
that with you as our ruler and guide,
we may so pass through things temporal,
that we lose not the things eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever and ever.
Amen.


Prayer of Approach
God, your kingdom is...
among us all
in surprising places,
hidden in the everyday,
small but precious,
above us and below us.
Your kingdom is here
and we gather as part of it
to worship and adore you, O God.

Responses
Leader: The Kingdom of God is...
All: within us.
Leader: The Kingdom of God is…
All: found in the most surprising of places.
Leader: The Kingdom of God is…
All: hidden in the everyday things of life.
Leader: The Kingdom of God is…
All: small but very precious.
Leader: The Kingdom of God is…
All: here and now.
Let us worship God
who reigns over the Kingdom.
Amen.


Opening Hymn of Praise 
Open our eyes Lord (MP 545)

Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus –
to reach out and touch Him
and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
and help us to listen:
O open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus!


Adoration and Confession
Gracious, Loving God,
We come this day to worship and praise Your holy name.
We gather with thanksgiving on our lips and love in our hearts
to sing to Your glory;
to be touched and inspired by Your word;
to dwell in Your house in unity.
Lord, forgive the times when we choose not to look…
Not to look out for those in need.
Not to look for glimpses of Your glory.
Not to look for opportunities to share Your good news with others.
Forgive us, Lord.

Pause

Open our eyes to You, O God…
May Your Holy Spirit reinvigorate us.
May we rub our eyes and focus on what You call us to do 
this day and every day.
Open our eyes,
open our hearts,
open our mouths
and open our minds we pray,

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.
Amen.

Silence

Jesus died and rose again for us.
In humble penitence let us
accept his pardon and receive his peace.
Amen.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from you alone come everlasting joy and peace.
Fill us with joy in your promises,
and send us out to be bearers of your peace;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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
First reading:  1 Kings 3:5-12
Second reading: Romans 8:26-39


Children’s Song
All I once held dear (Knowing You) (MP799)

1  All I once held dear,
built my life upon,
all this world reveres,
and wars to own,
all I once thought gain
I have counted loss;
spent and worthless now,
compared to this:
        Knowing You, Jesus,
        knowing You,
        there is no greater thing.
        You’re my all,
        You’re the best,
        You’re my joy, my righteousness,
        and I love You, Lord.

2  Now my heart’s desire
is to know You more,
to be found in You
and known as Yours,
to possess by faith
what I could not earn,
all-surpassing gift
of righteousness.
       Knowing You . . .

3  Oh, to know the power
of Your risen life,
and to know You in
Your sufferings,
to become like You
in Your death, my Lord,
so with You to live
and never die.
       Knowing You . . .


Prayer for / with the Children
Dear God
Like looking through a kaleidoscope
we see your presence amongst us in different ways...
A tiny shard of coloured glass
through which to view the kingdom:
each shard lending
a different colour,
a different perspective.
Seeds that grow into sheltering trees,
yeast that ferments
and leavens the dough,
treasure and pearls and nets,
all worth letting go of everything else for
in order to secure it.
So many ways
of describing the indescribable,
putting the pieces together
still doesn’t produce a whole
but perhaps the knowledge
of such a multi-stranded tapestry
will serve to remind us of the enormity
and the mystery
of your amazing Kingdom.
So help us we pray to have our eyes open to you
and be opened by you to live with a sense of wonder
and praise at your handiwork.
Give us a willingness to graciously work alongside you
in doing what you call us to do
to reveal your beauty in and through our lives.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.




Song
Be the centre (MP1076)

1  Jesus, be the centre,
be my source, be my light, Jesus.

2  Jesus, be the centre,
be my hope, be my song, Jesus.
       Be the fire in my heart,
       be the wind in these sails,
       be the reason that I live,
       Jesus, Jesus.

3  Jesus, be my vision,
be my path, be my guide, Jesus.
       Be the fire in my heart . . .


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
Accept, O Lord, these gifts of our time,
talents and treasure.
However great or however small,
May they and may we be used to grow Your kingdom.
May our mustard seeds grow into great trees
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Intercessions
Lord Jesus Christ,
Words cannot express how thankful we are
that You consider us to be Your children;
Your treasure, Your pearl beyond all price.
Words cannot express how grateful we are that nothing:
Angels, demons, death, life...
nothing can separate us from Your love!

Lord, we pray this day for all who are yet to hear this news.
May You continue to sustain all who seek
to make You known across our world.
Be with mission workers, Bible translators, children and family workers,
chaplains, ministers, preachers and pastors.
Be in conversations, Bible studies, Alpha courses,
Christianity Explored and Emmaus courses.
Be in high churches, café churches, messy churches,
house groups and cathedrals.
Be in all that opens people’s eyes to You, Your love and Your call.

God of love and compassion,
We pray for all who seek to make a difference in the lives of others.
Be with carers and counsellors, medics and mediators,
Be with those with listening ears and those with caring hands,
Be in all that opens people’s eyes to You, Your love and Your call.

God of justice and peace,
We pray for all who seek to challenge injustices
and stand up for what is right.
Be with the politician and the protester,
The activist and the pacifist,
The vocal and the silent.
Be in all that opens people’s eyes to You, Your love and Your call.
Hear us and help us to see You this day,
we pray in Jesus’ name.
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
Amazing grace (MP31)

1  Amazing grace – how sweet the sound –
    that saved a wretch like me!
    I once was lost, but now am found,
    was blind, but now I see.

2  ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    and grace my fears relieved;
    how precious did that grace appear
    the hour I first believed.

3  Through many dangers, toils and snares,
    I have already come;
    ’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
    and grace will lead me home.

4  When we’ve been there ten thousand years
    bright shining as the sun,
    we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
    than when we’ve first begun.


Prayer of Sending and Blessing
Take the smallest seed
and produce life.
Add yeast to the bread of life
and it will grow.
Find the hidden treasure in your life,
invest all you have in living for God.
Cast wide your net
and haul in the catch.
All these blessings and more are yours
from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
there for you today and always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in the name of Christ.
Amen