CHS Worship Resources: Church Service on Sunday, March 21st, 2021 Fifth Sunday in Lent

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

"Jesus died for all so that those who live should cease to live for themselves, and should live for him who for their sake died and was raised to life."

(2 Corinthians 5: 15)

The Collect

Most merciful God,

by the death and resurrection

of your Son Jesus Christ,

you created humanity anew.

Grant that by faith in him

who suffered on the cross,

we may triumph in the power of his victory;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Call to worship

Look upon us, O Lord,

and let all the darkness of our souls

vanish before the beams of Your brightness.

Fill us with holy love,

and open to us the treasures of Your wisdom.

All our desire is known to You,

o perfect what You have begun,

and what Your Spirit has awakened us to ask.

We seek Your face,

turn Your face unto us and show us Your glory.

Only then will our longing be satisfied,

and our peace shall be perfect.

Amen

Opening Hymn of Praise

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOCfPjLOvC4

Be still, for the presence of the Lord (MP 50)

1 Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here;
come bow before Him now
with reverence and fear:
in Him no sin is found –
we stand on holy ground.
Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.

2 Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire,
with splendour He is crowned:
how awesome is the sight –
our radiant King of light!
Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.

3 Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister His grace –
no work too hard for Him.
In faith receive from Him.
Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.

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

Lord we would see Jesus,

We would love Jesus,

We would follow Jesus,

We would serve Jesus.

Lord,

Create in us clean hearts,

Renew your spirit within us.

Do not turn us away from your presence,

do not take your holy spirit from us.

Restore to us the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in us a willing spirit.

Write on our hearts,

your love O God,

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 51:1-12

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10

Gospel: John 12:20-33

Song:

In my life Lord, be glorified (MP 335)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5bpU3hzMXs

1 In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in my life, Lord, be glorified today.

2 In your Church, Lord, be glorified, be glorified;
in your Church, Lord, be glorified today.

Prayer with and for the children

Here is one little seed,

(hold up finger & thumb as if a seed is between them)

that I want to keep,

(pull ‘seed’ to chest)

I don’t want to let it go, (shake head)

it’s a seed of love and care,

(two hands against heart)

should I keep or should I share

(flatten hands against chest, spread arms wide)

so the love in the world can grow?

(hands cupped as heart shape, raise from floor up like a growing flower)

Here is one little seed,

(hold up finger & thumb as if a seed is between them)

I’ll plant it at my feet,

(mime pushing seed into ‘soil’ near feet)

I’m happy to let it go,

(look happy, point down where seed planted)

it’s a seed of love and care,

(two hands against heart)

that God wants me to share

(spread arms wide)

so the love in the world can grow!

(hands cupped as heart shape,raise from floor up like a growing flower)

Amen

Sermon

A transcript for the C.H.S. sermon for Sunday 21.3.21 can be found here.

Song

The power of Your love (MP 880)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyHNNljZ-Yk

1 Lord, I come to You,
let my heart be changed, renewed,
flowing from the grace that I’ve found in You.
And, Lord, I’ve come to know
the weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away
by the power of Your love.
Hold me close,
let Your love surround me;
bring me near,
draw me to Your side.
And as I wait,
I’ll rise up like the eagle,
and I will soar with You,
Your Spirit leads me on
in the power of Your love.

2 Lord, unveil my eyes,
let me see You face to face,
the knowledge of Your love as You live in me.
Lord, renew my mind,
as Your will unfolds in my life
in living every day
in the power of Your love.
Hold me close . . .

Dedication of our Offering

Lord our God,

we acknowledge that

you are our Father,

we are your children,

our desire is for neighbours
to be our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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 your Holy Spirit,
and to work willingly for your perfect kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Thanksgiving

God of all blessings,

source of all life,

giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:

for the breath

that sustains life,

for the food of this earth

that nurtures life,

for the love of family and friends

without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation:

for the beauty

that the eye can see,

for the joy

that the ear may hear,

for the unknown

that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,

for the expanse of space

that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities:

for families

who nurture our becoming,

for friends

who love us by choice,

for companions at work,

who share our burdens and daily tasks,

for strangers

who welcome us into their midst,

for people from other lands

who call us to grow in understanding,

for children

who lighten our moments with delight,

for the unborn,

who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day:

for life

and one more day to love,

for opportunity

and one more day to work for justice and peace,

for neighbours

and one more person to love

and by whom be loved,

for your grace

and one more experience of your presence,

for your promise:

to be with us,

to be our God,

and to give salvation.

For these,

and all blessings,

we give you thanks,

eternal, loving God,

through Jesus Christ we pray.

Amen

Intercessions

Have mercy on us,

O God,

according to your loving kindness;

in your great compassion,

hear our prayers.

We pray for the whole church,

all the people of God,

all who respond to the call of Jesus,

‘follow me’.

Wash us through and through,

And cleanse us from our sin.

We pray for our nation,

for all the nations of the earth,

and for all who govern and judge.

Purge us from our sin,

And we shall be pure.

We pray for those who hunger,

those who thirst,

those who cry out for justice,

those who live under the threat of terror,

and those without a place to lay their head.

May they hear of joy and gladness,

that those who are broken may rejoice.

We pray for those who are ill,

those in pain,

those under stress,

and those who are lonely.

Give them the joy of your saving help,

and sustain them with your bountiful Spirit.

Create in us clean hearts,

O God,and renew a right spirit within us.

We pray for those who have been bereaved

Give them your comfort and peace.

We especially pray for... (named individuals in particular need)

We pray for... (particular issues in the news, community or church)

Lord Jesus,

you taught your disciples that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains just a single grain,

but if it dies it bears much fruit;

as we prepare our hearts to remember your death and resurrection, grant us the strength and wisdom to serve and follow you,

this day and always.

Hear us, we pray

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

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)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UracNSSlfTo

Verse 1

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)

Chorus

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.

Verse 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.

Chorus

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.

Bridge

We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes,

You're the giver of life. (x4)

Chorus

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.

Prayer of Blessing and Sending

O God,

who by the passion of thy blessed Son

hast made the instrument of shameful death

to be unto us the means of life and peace:

Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ

that we may gladly suffer shame and loss;

for the sake of the same thy Son our Lord.

Amen

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

in the name of Christ.

Amen