GATHERING PRAYER
All:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Song:
Give Thanks (Drew Lane) Music and Lyrics by Drew Lane, © 2018.
Give Thanks
(Drew Lane)
Give Thanks
It’s in our attitude
In everything we do
It’s in the way we reach out so to give
It’s in the way we talk
And in the way we walk
A witness of God’s light in how we live
When we show our gratitude
To the One who made us new
We offer up a sacrifice of love
So we give thanks for who we are
We give praise to you our Father
For the hope and light
You freely give to all
To give thanks will be our way
Every moment, every day
Let our words and
works be testament to You
We give thanks for all You do
And so we all belong
One family, we are strong
Like the cord that cannot break apart
And acts, though big or small
Will unite us all
And they will show the
Spirit in our hearts
So we show our gratitude
Lift our hands and hearts renewed
And raise our voice in worship of the One
Leader:
We gather together today to remember a number of events in our Church.
Since we met together last term we have had the Easter Season where we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus, ANZAC day where we remember all our sisters and brothers who served in World Wars so that we would experience freedom and the month of May where we remember Mary the Mother of Jesus.
As we pray together let us remember the four Police officers killed in the line of duty, those who have died from COVID-19 and those suffering from the COVID-19 Virus.
(Pause)
Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God, behold our sorrowful condition: comfort your people and open our hearts to hope, so that we might feel your Godly presence in our midst. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
A reading from the Gospel according to John
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, this is your son.” Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home. Gospel of the Lord
ALL: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!
Pause for a moment of Reflection
RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL
(R.) Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
1. Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore! (R.
2. From the rising of the sun to its setting
praised be the name of the Lord!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory. (R.)
All:
Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
3. Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth? (R.)
All:
Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
4. From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raised the poor
to set him in the company of princes
yes, with the princes of his people. (R.)
All:
Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1klADSMN1wE07BNHnSja-z9_4OayKep7F
In the still, grey, silent dawning,
two mourning women cry
A brilliant light shakes their gloom,
with a message of new life
In the faintest light of morning,
they run from the empty tomb
In a rush of joy they find him,
and his Peace brings hope anew
I am with you in the morning,
with you in the light
With you in the silence,
until the end of time
Be with me in the morning,
walk with me in the light
Together in the silence,
until the end of time
At first they fail to see him
as he shares their journey home
He listens to their story
and shares with them his own
It is then they truly see him,
in the Word that he has shared
In the meal they take together,
in the breaking of the bread
I am with you in the morning,
with you in the light
With you in the silence,
until the end of time
Be with me in the morning,
walk with me in the light
Together in the silence,
until the end of time
Some of them are fishing
Sun rising over the lake
He calls them from the water’s edge
and one calls out his name
Once more they recognise him,
in the sharing of the meal
He asks one, “Do you love me?
If you do, then follow me!”
I am with you in the morning,
with you in the light
With you in the silence,
until the end of time
Be with me in the morning,
walk with me in the light
Together in the silence,
until the end of time
And his friends they gather round him,
just like they did before
He smiles as he sees their faces,
no need to doubt any more
“I have one last thing to ask
you remember all we’ve done
Go to people everywhere
and in my name make us one”
I am with you in the morning,
with you in the light
With you in the silence,
until the end of time
Be with me in the morning,
walk with me in the light
Together in the silence,
until the end of time
Prayer of the Faithful
Leader: We come with confidence and trust, as we place our needs before God.
Child 1: ____
1. We pray for the Church, its leaders and people. (PAUSE) May we be Easter people for one another and a sign of New Life for our world. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Parent 1: _____
2. We thank you for all those who have dedicated their lives to serving our community, for health workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, and especially those who labour In laboratories seeking a vaccine for the Coronavirus. (PAUSE)
Give them wisdom, skill and patience in their work, and by your grace, give them success in their endeavours. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Parent 2: _____
3. We pray for all airmen, sailors and soldiers who served and bravely lost their lives in battle during times of conflict, especially members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. (PAUSE) May they rest in the peace of Christ and rise in glory on the last day. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Child 2: ____
4. We pray for those who have died, we remember particularly the four Police Officers who died in the line of duty. (PAUSE) May they share the joy of your Resurrection.
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Child 3: _____
5. We pray for ourselves and our own needs. (PAUSE) Make us joyful and thankful in all things. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader:
God who listens, hear the prayers your children pray with open and trusting hearts. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord.
All: Amen.
Our Father:
Play the Ode
Recitation of ‘The Ode’
All: "They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Lest we Forget!
The Last Post
Closing prayer:
Gracious God, we give thanks anew for your providence and presence.
We prayerfully seek your grace, amidst COVID-19 here and overseas. We pray for those in need of healing.
We pray for your peace with those who are anxious or grieving. We pray you will continue to strengthen and sustain
all those who are serving in response.
We pray for your Holy Spirit’s discernment amidst the many choices and decisions facing our national, community and medical leaders.
We pray, we each might see quickly, what more we can do to help those who are vulnerable. This prayer for our nation in the family of nations, with all that is on our hearts, we gather now and pray
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader: We conclude our prayer by making the sign of the cross: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Final Song: We Stand (Drew Lane)