Printed Service – Sunday 7th April 2024
Prepared by Rev. Saul Tadzaushe
‘Witnesses’
Call to worship Psalm 16:5-6
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Prayer of Adoration
Blessed be to God, Father and mother of mercy, giver of life and hope.
We will rejoice in your love
Blessed be to God ,Saviour and Christ, giver of freedom and peace
We will rejoice in your love
Blessed be to God, Holy compassion spirit of glory and peace.
We will rejoice in your love.
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn STF455 – All my hope on God is founded
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All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
Author: Joachim Neander
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.
Hymn STF51 – Great is thy faithfulness
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Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not,
as thou hast been thou for ever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided –
great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Chorus
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Chorus
Reflections on the Theme Witnesses.
We are all Witnesses.
We saw him through our life experiences.
We saw a risen Jesus Christ through our transformed lives.
We all have a living testimony of a life with Jesus Christ.
John 20:19 -31 underscores the themes of peace, justice forgiveness, faith, and love.
It encourages believers to trust in the presence of Jesus, even in times of fear, doubt, loss, sickness, and death.
He appeared to his disciples.
He is appearing to us all.
Let us go and be the Witnesses of the risen Christ .
He is alive. He is risen.
Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Let us pray for the world for peace and justice
Let us pray for the sick and the poor in our communities
Let us pray for those in positions of influence in our communities.
Let us pray for the church in its ministry and mission.
Let us pray for our Circuit Ipswich Circuit and its leadership
Let us pray for our families and friends who support and help us in times of need. Amen.
Hymn STF707 – Make me a channel of your peace.
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Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt true faith in You
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life
Dismissal