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/
~ Pastor Tony
Scripture Sentence
“How long, Lord, will you hide yourself from sight? Remember how fleeting is our life.” (Psalm 89: 46,47)
The Collect
Almighty God,
you sent your Son Jesus Christ
to be the light of the world.
Free us from all that darkens and ensnares us,
and bring us to eternal light and joy;
through the power of him
who is alive and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Opening Hymn of Praise
Blessed be Your Name(MP 1036)
1 Blessèd be Your name
in the land that is plentiful,
where Your streams of abundance flow,
blessèd be Your name.
And blessèd be Your name
when I’m found in the desert place,
though I walk through the wilderness,
blessèd be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I’ll
turn back to praise.
And when the darkness closes in, Lord,
still I will say:
‘Blessèd be the name of the Lord,
Blessèd be Your name.
Blessèd be the name of the Lord,
Blessèd be Your glorious name.’
2 Blessèd be Your name
when the sun’s shining down on me,
when the world’s ‘all as it should be’,
blessèd be Your name.
And blessèd be Your name
on the road marked with suffering,
though there’s pain in the offering,
blessèd be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out . . .
‘Blessèd be the name . . .’
You give and take away,
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
‘Lord, blessed be Your name.’
You give and take away . . .
‘Blessèd be the name . . .’
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 you.
In humble penitence,
accept his pardon,
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
Psalm: Psalm 90:1-12
First reading: Zephaniah 1:7;12-18
Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Song
In Christ Alone (MP 1072)
1 In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
2 In Christ alone – who took on flesh,
fullness of God in helpless Babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones he came to save
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied,
for every sin on Him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.
3 There in the ground his body lay,
light of the world by darkness slain,
then, bursting forth in glorious day,
up from the grave He rose again!
And as he stands in victory
sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am His and He is mine –
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4 No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
can ever pluck me from His hand;
till He returns or calls me home,
here in the power of Christ I’ll stand! Living in the Light
Children of light
are not caught out
by the thief in the night.
Children of light
are not thrown off track
by sudden changes that might seem for the worse.
Children of light
live life in the open,
sowing seeds of love
and peace and justice,
tending crops of wisdom
and mercy.
Children of light
are beloved of God
affirmed and built up
in love.
Lord Jesus, we need your help to live as children of light.
Shine your light on us
and let us reflect it to others
wherever we go
in Jesus' name we ask these things.
Amen
Sermon
Song
You alone can rescue (MP 1375)
Who, O Lord, could save themselves,
their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea;
Your grace is deeper still.
(repeat verse 1)
And You alone can rescue,
You alone can save.
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us,
led us out of death.
To You alone belongs the highest praise.
2 You, O Lord, have made a way,
the great divide You healed;
for when our hearts were far away,
Your love went further still.
Yes, Your love goes further still!
And You alone . . .
. . . to You alone belongs the highest praise.
To You alone belongs the highest praise.
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes,
You’re the giver of life.
(x8)
And You alone . . .
. . . to You alone belongs the highest praise.
To You alone belongs the highest praise.
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
Blessed are you, Lord God,
from the first of time to the last.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the sovereignty,
and you are exalted over all as head.
Wealth and honour come from you;
you rule over all.
Of your own we now give you,
for the good of your Church
and the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayers
Thanksgiving and intercession
Loving Lord,
We give what we have.
We bring who we are.
Knowing that it can never be perfect
and never enough.
Yet
We bring our talents.
The gifts You have given us
The people You have made us.
Knowing that You accept us and love us.
Use our lives and our living to build Your people.
Use Your people to build a better world
Use this world to show the beauty of life with You.
When we get complacent or downhearted
teach us to count our blessings.
When we count our blessings,
teach us to pray for those who need Your blessing.
Today we pray for those held in prison.
We pray for changed hearts
for those who need to give up hate and hurt.
We pray for justice for those
held for their opposition to wrongful abuse of power or for their faith in you
We pray for new love
where guilt and anger has soured relationships.
We pray for those who work in prison.
We give thanks for their commitment to making things better.
We give thanks for their dedication to carrying out thankless and difficult jobs.
We give thanks for the skilful use of talents to rebuild shattered lives.
We pray for those who make decisions about how we use prison.
Bless those entrusted with decisions about justice
and how it is enacted.
We pray for politicians, advisors, judges, lawyers and police.
We ask a blessing on our prison ministry team and others
striving to improve lives on the margins.
We pray for the Embassies and their consular staff that they might ask questions
about how justice is done in this country and seek to improve the treatment and well-being of prisoners and all involved in the justice system.
We give thanks that this is a land in which, for all its challenges and inconsistencies, the rule of law is upheld.
We are thankful that people are not simply allowed to seek vengeance and incite hatred.
We pray for those living in such lawless lands and pray for change for good for all.
We pray for ourselves,
that we might seek justice and pursue it.
A time to bring community concerns.
Now gathered together as the community of God’s people,
not alone, but united we say the prayer Jesus taught us to pray….
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
What a beautiful name...
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ
What a beautiful name it is
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful name it is
The name of Jesus
You didn't want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now
What a wonderful name it is
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus
What a wonderful name it is
The name of Jesus
How sweet is Your name Lord
How good You are
We love to sing in Your name Lord
We love to sing in Your name Lord
We love to sing it through Your...
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silenced the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the name above all names
What a powerful name it is
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever, God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the name above all names
What a powerful name it is
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
What a powerful name it is
The name of Jesus
Prayer of Sending and Blessing
You are not alone.
Go into the world,
surrounded by God’s love,
supported by God’s people
and strengthened by the knowledge that God will be with us.
May the love of the Creator, the Saviour and the Spirit
sustain you today and always
Amen.
in the name of Christ.
Amen
