Call to worship Palm 118: 14-29 : The Lord is my strength and my defence he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things! The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!” I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Hymn STF313 – Thine be the glory
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Thine be the glory,
Risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes
Where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory,
Risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won!
Lo, Jesus meets us,
Risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us,
Scatters fear and gloom;
Let the Church with gladness
Hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth,
Death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory ….
No more we doubt thee,
Glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without thee:
Aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors
Through thy deathless love;
Bring us safe through Jordan
To thy home above:
The Lord’s prayer : Our Father …..
Hymn STF295 – alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.
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Refrain:
Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name.
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation. Refrain.
Spread the good news o’er all the earth.
Jesus has died and has risen. Refrain.
We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live forever. Refrain.
God has proclaimed the just reward:
Life for all men, alleluia! Refrain.
Come, let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Saviour. Refrain
Bible reading John 20:19-31 : On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So, the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. ”Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God! ”Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Reflection: Witnessing for Jesus Christ in the 21st century
John 20:19-31 recounts the appearances of Jesus Christ to his disciples after his resurrection, emphasizing the transformative power of their witness .
The disciples were gathered in fear behind locked doors. They faced uncertainty and doubt following the crucifixion of Jesus. Similarly, many people feel fear and uncertainty in a world of personal struggles, social injustice, war and poverty. A s witnesses, we too, may feel overwhelmed by these realities.
Our actions must align with our words. Witnessing in the 21st century is as much about living the gospel as it is about preaching it Let our lives reflect Christs peace and love, drawing others to Him through daily interactions and volunteering services and opportunities.
The church should be where the people are that’s where the mission of God is. We need to participate in Local charities, community events, educational support, environment efforts
As we embrace our role as witnesses for Jesus Christ, let us be bold, compassionate, and patient. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, empowering our witness in a world that desperately needs hope. Let us answer the call to share Christ’s transformative power with those around us, trusting that our witness will touch hearts and minds, leading others to believe
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, it was not just you who was broken that day you hung on a cross; it was your disciples too, their hearts were broken just surely, their dreams and hopes snuffed out, their faith cut from beneath them and laid to rest.
It was not just you who rose again that day you emerged from the tomb it was your disciple too, their hearts beating once more with joyful anticipation, their vision for the future reborn, their rekindled, bursting into unquenchable flame.
Come to us now where we are broken- where love has died, where hope has faded, where faith has grown cold.
Reach out and touch us in body, mind and spirit, and help us to walk in the newness of life which you alone can bring. In your name we pray.
Hymn STF354 – Jesus is the name we honour.
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Jesus is the name we honour;
Jesus is the name we praise.
Majestic name above all other names,
the highest Heaven and Earth proclaim
that Jesus is our God.
We will glorify, we will lift him high,
we will give him honour and praise,
we will glorify, we will lift him high,
we will give him honour and praise.
Jesus is the name we worship;
Jesus is the name we trust.
He is the King above all other kings,
let all creation stand and sing
that Jesus is our God.
We will glorify…
Jesus is the Father’s splendour;
Jesus is the Father’s joy.
He will return to reign in majesty,
and every eye at last will see
that Jesus is our God.
We will glorify…
Blessing