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
"Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living One; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore." (Revelation 1:17-18)
The Collect
Lord of life and power,
through the mighty resurrection of your Son,
you have overcome death
and opened the gate of everlasting life.
Grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory,
who with you and the Holy Spirit is alive,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Call to Worship
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, conquered
death for us!
A - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
B - Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, rose triumphant from the grave.
A - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
B - Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is seated in
heaven at the Father’s side.
A - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
B - Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will return in
power and majesty.
A - Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
B - Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord.
All - Amen
Opening Hymn of Praise
Christ the Lord is risen today (MP 76)
1 Christ the Lord is risen today;
hallelujah!
sons of men and angels say:
raise your joys and triumphs high;
sing, ye heavens; thou earth, reply:
2 Love’s redeeming work is done,
fought the fight, the battle won;
Lo! our sun’s eclipse is o’er,
Lo! He sets in blood no more:
3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ hath burst the gates of hell;
death in vain forbids Him rise;
Christ hath opened paradise;
4 Lives again our glorious King;
where, O death, is now thy sting?
Once He died our souls to save;
where thy victory, O grave?
5 Soar we now where Christ hath led,
following our exalted Head;
made like Him, like Him we rise;
ours the cross, the grave, the skies:
6 Hail the Lord of earth and heaven,
praise to Thee by both be given:
Thee we greet, in triumph sing
Hail, our resurrected King:
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
God of new life and hope,
of forgiveness and restoration
and new beginnings,
we meet on this umpteenth Easter morning
to celebrate the astonishing good news that Jesus,
whom everyone thought to be dead and gone,
is alive and with us still;
that the one whom everyone thought
had been defeated has defeated death itself.
It cannot be for us as it was for his disciples
on that first Easter morning—
we know too much that they did not;
have lived through too much that they had not,
but we understand their confusion and fear.
The first response to an empty tomb is not joy,
but grief and anger.
That has the ring of truth to it.
Our response, too,
to things not being as we think
they should be is to run around in circles
looking for answers,
and then for a safe place to hide.
That also rings true.
Loving God,
we come to worship this Easter morning,
with no slick prescription
for how we should be feeling,
but exactly as we are:
sad, tired, fearful, confused;
with dawning hope
and promise and fleeting glimpses of joy.
We come as we are,
and trust against all the odds,
that you will come and find us here.
These prayers we ask in Jesus' name,
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
Easter Craft Activity
Song
The Easter Song
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
that we can be born again.
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing,
“Christ is risen from the dead!”
The angel upon the tombstone said:
“He is risen just as he said.
Quickly now, Go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead!”
Joy to the World, He is risen, Al – le – lu – ia.
He’s risen Al – le – lu – ia!
He’s risen Al – le – lu – ia! Al – le – lu – ia!
(Sing song 2x)
Bible Talk : Witness Box
Song
Let no one caught in sin remain…inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross…and run to Him who showed great love
And bled for us…freely You’ve bled for us
CHORUS
Christ is risen from the dead….trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake….come and rise up from the grave
Christ is risen from the dead….we are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake….come and rise up from the grave
Verse 2
Beneath the weight of all our sin…You bowed to none but heaven’s will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer’s crown….no burden great can hold you down
In strength You reign…forever let Your church proclaim
Bridge
Oh death, where is your sting?….Oh hell, where is your victory?
Oh church, come stand in the light….Our God is not dead…He’s alive! He’s alive!
Dedication of our Offering
Living God,
as we lay, or drop, or place
our offerings in plate or bag,
we ask for Easter grace to let go
of all that gets in the way
of abundant, Easter living.
May we not cling on to anything
that we imagine will keep us safe:
money; home; family; religion;
even life itself.
May we let go in order to find;
give without thought of receiving;
die in order to rise to newness of life.
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Prayers for others and ourselves
Risen Lord,
we thank you for the hope of Easter morning
that resonates in song and word,
in laughter and shout,
that bubbles up from the deepest places within us;
breathing new life into each place of death and despair,
filling this place with the good news
that everything has changed, forever:
despair has become joy,
fear has become courage,
questions have become faith.
While we enjoy the hopefulness of this day
we recognise that for many people
the question, “why are you weeping?”,
is very real and very present.
For too many of your beloved children,
God of new life, it does seem
as though death has the last word,
as though fear can displace compassion,
as though violence is the source of true power.
This day, of all days, is the day that laughs at those who thought that using fear, violence and death would bring their own success and happiness.
We pray on this Easter morning
for those who find themselves trapped
by the misguided decisions of others,
for those who find themselves living on the streets,
for those searching for meaningful employment,
for those whose health in body or mind is poor,
for those who struggle to raise their families,
for those who know poverty, or hunger, or thirst.
We pray that hope will find a way
to break through and bring change.
We pray on this Easter morning
for those who make decisions
that impact on the lives of others;
for Presidents, for local village heads,
for ministers of state, for business executives,
for trade negotiators, for union leaders,
God of compassion,
we pray that they may put all their skill and effort
into benefitting others,
and not just themselves.
Risen Lord, this is the day
when laughter returned to the earth
and new life was breathed into creation.
We rejoice and are glad;
and we pray for your life-giving, laughter-making spirit to be set free in our world today
and in the church,
and in us, your ever hopeful, sometimes joyful,
still wanting-to-be faithful people.
In a moment of silence we bring our prayers for others; people and situations we feel God is calling us to remember before him.
(Especially this morning we pray for Ildiko, Alma and Sarah, who mourn the loss of Ilhari as a husband and father.)
Silence
We thank you for hearing our prayers, spoken and unspoken and for your faithfulness in answering them and those of countless saints down through the ages,
for those who have gone from us to be with you in the glory of heaven
we give you our thanks and praise.
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
Song before Communion
All heaven declares (MP 14)
1 All heaven declares
the glory of the risen Lord;
who can compare
with the beauty of the Lord?
For ever He will be
the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee,
and worship Him alone.
2 I will proclaim
the glory of the risen Lord,
who once was slain
to reconcile man to God.
For ever You will be
the Lamb upon the throne;
I gladly bow the knee,
and worship You alone.
Communion
Closing Song
What a beautiful name it is
Verse 1
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
Chorus 1
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
Verse 2
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
Chorus 2
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
Bridge
Death could not hold You,
the veil tore before You
You silence 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 e-qual
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all Names
Chorus 3
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
Prayer of Blessing and Sending
Love wins.
Jesus lives and reigns.
Sin is defeated.
Death is conquered.
He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
With hope and joy in our hearts
let us go from here
to love and to serve the risen Lord.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
remain with you this Easter day and forever more.
Amen
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
in the name of Christ.
Amen
