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
"Those who live on the level of the spirit have the spiritual outlook, and that is life and peace."
(Romans 8: 6)
The Collect
Gracious Father,
your blessed Son Jesus Christ came from heaven
to be true bread which gives life to the world.
Evermore give us this bread,
that he may live in us, and we in him,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Call to worship
Leader: For God so loved the world,
All: with the love of a Creator.
Leader: For God so loved the world,
All: with the love of a Redeemer.
Leader: For God so loved the world,
All: with a love that lasts forever.
Opening Hymn of Praise
Lord I lift your name on high (MP 881)
Lord, I lift Your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing Your praises;
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.
Lord, I love to sing Your praises;
I’m so glad You’re in my life,
I’m so glad You came to save us.
You came from Heaven to earth
to show the way,
from the earth to the cross
my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave,
from the grave to the sky,
Lord, I lift Your name on high.
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 107:1-3;17-22
First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
Second Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
Gospel: John 3:14-21
Dedication of Neriah Hensman
Song
God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
Once born in Bethlehem:
Christ the King, Christ, the King.
Our Savior heaven sent. Christ the King.
Once born in Bethlehem:
Christ the King, Christ, the King.
Our Savior heaven sent. Christ the King.
God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
Behold Emmanuel:
God with us, God with us, .
Oh hear the first Noel, God with us.
Behold Emmanuel:
God with us, God with us, .
Oh hear the first Noel, God with us.
Chorus
For all who will believe
will not perish but live:
for all who will believe in the Son.
For all who will believe
will not perish but live;
For all who will believe, life has come.
will not perish but live:
for all who will believe in the Son.
For all who will believe
will not perish but live;
For all who will believe, life has come.
[interlude]
God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
who paid our sacrifice
at the cross, at the cross.
The fullness of new life, at the cross. (Chorus)
who paid our sacrifice
at the cross, at the cross.
The fullness of new life, at the cross. (Chorus)
For all who will believe
will not perish but live:
for all who will believe in the Son.
For all who will believe
will not perish but live;
For all who will believe, life has come.
will not perish but live:
for all who will believe in the Son.
For all who will believe
will not perish but live;
For all who will believe, life has come.
[interlude]
God so loved the world He gave His only Son,
this gift is yours and mine:
will you come, will you come?
Where hope and mercy shines: will you come?
this gift is yours and mine:
will you come, will you come?
Where hope and mercy shines: will you come?
Prayer with and for the children
Looking to Jesus...
This week, when we are afraid, we will look
to you;
We trust in you and are saved.
This week, when we know we have done wrong and need forgiveness,
We trust in you and are saved. We trust in you and are saved.
This week, when we know we have done wrong and need forgiveness,
This week, when we face opposition from
those who do not love you,
We trust in you and are saved.
We trust in you and are saved.
Thank you Jesus!
Amen
Sermon
Song
You are before me, Lord you are behind
You are before me, Lord, You are behind.
And over me You have spread out Your hand;
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
Too high to grasp, to great to understand.
Then from Your Spirit where, Lord, shall I go;
And from Your presence where, Lord, shall I fly?
If I ascend to heaven You are there,
and still are with me if in hell I lie.
If I should take my flight into the dawn,
If I should dwell on ocean's farthest shore,
Your mighty hand will rest upon me still,
And Your right hand will guard me evermore.
If I should say, "Let darkness cover me,
And I shall hide within the veil of night,"
Surely the darkness is not dark to You;
The night is as the day, the darkness light.
Search me, O God, search me and know my heart;
Try me, O God, my mind and spirit try;
Keep me from any path that gives You pain,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Dedication of our Offering
In the name and in the spirit of Jesus,
we bring our gifts to you;
and seek the grace to give with them
a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyful heart,
and to dedicate our lives
to the truth of the gospel
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,
in whom we see your everlasting goodness
and receive your kindly care.
Amen
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Thanksgiving
God of hope,
Your steadfast love endures forever.
We give You thanks that, time after time,
You break into the darkness of our world
and of our lives
with signs of Your everlasting love.
You bring light,
sometimes the merest flicker that brings us a focus,
other times a brightening glow
that confronts us with the reality of Your presence.
Your love endures
through all our doubt and confusion,
persisting until we recognise the signs of hope
that break through to remind us of Your grace,
revealing the divine spark in each of us
as we were created in love.
We thank You especially at this time
for the skill of scientists and medics,
continuing to find ways to live in harmony with creation,
harnessing the gifts You have given
to find protection from disease.
We thank You
for all who put the needs of others before themselves,
choosing to put another’s welfare above their own comfort.
We thank You
for all whose work continues to ensure
that the hungry are fed,
the sick are healed,
the homeless are sheltered
and the poor are cared for,
those who, in their everyday lives
show You at work in the world.
May our giving thanks,
O God be manifest in our playing our part where we can
for the healing of our world,
for love’s sake.
Intercessions
In every sadness, O God,
You are there,
holding out comfort.
In every darkness, O God,
You are there,
holding out light.
In every fear, O God,
You are there,
holding out hope.
In everything, O God,
You are there,
holding out love.
When we don’t know where to go...
When we fear what lies ahead...
When we long for what we knew...
May we see You,
sometimes ahead of us leading us
Sometimes behind us, nudging us
Often beside us accompanying us through it all
May we rest our weary souls
in the balm of Your grace and Your love
until we are renewed to carry on,
following where You lead in steadfast love.
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
Lift high the cross (MP 417)
Lift high the cross,
the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world
adores His sacred name!
1 Come, Christians, follow where the captain trod,
the King victorious, Christ, the Son of God:
Lift high the cross . . .
2 Each new-born soldier of the crucified
bears on his brow the seal of Him who died:
Lift high the cross . . .
3 This is the sign that Satan’s armies fear
and angels veil their faces to revere:
Lift high the cross . . .
4 Saved by the cross on which their Lord was slain,
see Adam’s children their lost home regain:
Lift high the cross . . .
5 From north and south, from east and west they raise
in growing unison their songs of praise:
Lift high the cross . . .
6 Let every race and every language tell
of Him who saves our souls from death and hell!
Lift high the cross . . .
7 O Lord, once lifted on the tree of pain,
draw all the world to seek You once again:
Lift high the cross . . .
8 Set up Your throne, that earth’s despair may cease
beneath the shadow of its healing peace:
Lift high the cross . . .
Prayer of Blessing and Sending
The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Live in that steadfast love wherever You go
knowing that God so loved the world.
And the blessing of God who created You,
Christ who redeems You
and the Spirit who sustains You
go with You always.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in the name of Christ.
Amen
