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
“The Lord is good to those who look to him, to anyone who seeks him; it is good to wait in patience for deliverance by the Lord.” (Lamentations 3: 25 - 26)
The Collect
Collect:
God of power and mercy,
you call us once again
to celebrate the coming of your Son.
Remove those things which hinder love of you,
that when he comes
he may find us waiting
in awe and wonder for him;
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Approach to God
Lord Jesus,
You came
And come
To all
You came
And come
Especially to the poorest
And the most vulnerable
Come to us here, Lord Jesus
To help and to heal the poverty of our souls
To refresh and inspire us
Even through the weakness of our faith…
Come - to love and to hold us –
To give us the courage
Always to point to You
For Your names’ sake.
Amen
Opening Hymn of Praise
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (MP102)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dmO8UPlWoo
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear Desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne.
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
You, Father God,
see what we are
and still stand by us
offering us hope
and above all, forgiveness
Help us here
Help us now – to recognise that it was with us in mind that You sent the baby Jesus
It was with us in mind that He grew to live and die and to rise again
Because that’s what You think we are worth
May Your love set us free this day and always – these things we ask in the name of that Son,
whose praise we sing
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 126
First reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Second reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Song
I could sing of your love forever (MP 1006)
Over the mountains and the sea
Your river runs with love for me,
and I will open up my heart
and let the Healer set me free.
I’m happy to be in the truth
and I will daily lift my hands
for I will always sing
of when Your love came down, yeah.
I could sing of Your love for ever,
I could sing of Your love for ever,
I could sing of Your love for ever,
I could sing of Your love for ever.
Oh, I feel like dancing; it’s foolishness, I know,
but when the world has seen the light,
they will dance for joy like we’re dancing now.
I could sing of Your love . . .
Word of God, speaking creation into being,
bringing everything out of nothing, and order out of chaos,
your mark, your style is in everything we see:
We praise you for all you have made.
Word of God, speaking life into the barren places,
filling the empty with your Spirit,
raising the dead to live forever:
We praise you for the life you give to us.
Word of God, speaking light through the darkness,
dazzling in the depths of despair,
a light for our feet on dim-lit paths:
We praise you for the vision you give to us.
Word of God, speaking acceptance to us,
inviting without prejudice,
welcoming without question:
We praise you for the rest we find here.
Word of God, sustaining us in our lives,
hearing our concerns and providing for us,
meeting our needs, whether seen or unseen:
We praise you, that in you we have all we need.
As you came to dwell among us,
we ask to always remain with you.
In our joy and our sorrow, in our peace and in our discomfort,
speak to us, and may we always be ready to hear.
Amen
Song
What a beautiful Name it is
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
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.
Prayers
Intercession
Creator God,
we thank You, for Your Son – the Light of the world.
We thank You too, for those in every generation
who have faithfully pointed to Him
and who have spread His light in even the darkest times.
Lord Jesus,
May we find the courage to point to the hope
and comfort and peace You offer,
especially in times of difficulty and sorrow.
May we witness to Your love and Your goodness
Your presence and Your compassion.
And thank You –
thank You for the family of Your people meeting throughout the world this day –
all of us gathered only too aware of our faults
and our limitations,
but knowing too, that You, Lord Jesus,
can take the tiniest spark and fan it into a raging fire.
Give us the courage and the desire
to seek to serve You as best we can –
and in that service may we reflect the life You lived.
We offer You our prayers for those who struggle with this season.
We think of the bereaved,
of those who cannot afford to celebrate as they might want,
of those with no one to share a table,
and of those for whom childlessness is accentuated at this time.
Lord God,
You understand
and share
tears and silences,
disappointments and regrets.
Bring Your comfort,
fill with Your strength,
and grant all Your peace…
We pray too, for places in the world
where conflict and violence are rife…
For places where nature has been harsh –
and we have been thoughtless in caring for Your creation:
Give us greater concern for one another
and an even greater willingness to do whatever we can for each other
and for the world itself.
So may we work with You, Lord God,
to make this world, the world You intended it to be –
a world where people care and love and laugh
a world where justice reigns and peace is evident
and where all know they belong.
These prayers, along with our gratitude for the birth of Your Son,
we offer You in His name and for His sake.
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
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.
Prayer of Sending and Blessing
Comfort, joy and peace be Yours.
Know how blessed You are
and go to be that blessing to all around You.
May God Almighty hold you and all whom you love
in the palm of His hand
this day and always.
Amen
in the name of Christ.
Amen
