Easter Day
Easter 2B
Easter 3B
Easter 4B
Easter 5B
Easter 6B
Easter 7B
Pentecost
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Easter 6B LECTIONARY GENERATED LITURGY Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17. Recommended text - NRSV Hymns are from the Australian Hymn Book (AHB) or Together in Song (TIS) unless otherwise indicated Worship Leader- normal type. Congregational responses - bold type. Permission is granted to churches to use this material in services of worship This liturgy remains the property of Moira B. Laidlaw. Additional resources for Easter 6B: A Symphony of Australian Birds, Produced and marketed by Simtrak Studios, Mortdale, NSW (Available at ABC shops); Selected Poems, Roland Robinson, Angus& Robertson Publishers, North Ryde, NSW; AS ONE VOICE, Willow Connection P/L, Dee Why, NSW, 1992. Play the tape "Symphony of Australian Birds" as background to the words of the Call to Worship or read the poem "Sermon of the Birds" by Alec Vesper of the Gullibul Tribe (printed in Roland Robinson's "Selected Poems") with the tape playing in the background and follow with the Call to Worship. CALL TO WORSHIP O sing to the Lord a new song, make a joyful song Sing praises to the Lord with instruments and the sound of melody With trumpets and didgeridoo make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. From the Great Australian Bight to the Gulf of Carpentaria. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it Let the world and those who live in it with praise unite - brown and golden, black and white. Let the Murray and Barcoo, Darling and Diamantina, clap their hands, and eucalypt and banksia-blossomed hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord Who judges the world with righteousness and people with fairness. TIS 56/AHB 196: “O sing a new song to the Lord” (based on Psalm 98) TIS 268/AHB 224 (also based on Psalm 98) “Joy to the world” Joy is a theme throughout the readings today so no reason to confine this hymn only to the Christmas season) If singing AHB 224 invite people to replace “let men our songs employ v.2 with “let us our songs employ”. TIS 105/AHB 13: “Let all the world in every corner sing...” TIS 166/AHB 102: “Sing a new song, sing a new song...” TIS 135: ‘”All things bright and beautiful” PRAYER OF APPROACH We, who so often take the wonders of creation for granted, welcome the opportunity to make a joyful noise before you, O God. We come here this morning to worship and to praise you, glad that we live in this country filled with such diverse and beautiful examples of your creation. Yet, joyful noises are not easy for everyone to make, as we come from differing situations and lifestyles. Some are burdened down with the stresses of daily living and all that involves; some wearied from tasks of serving others; some worried over the state of the world and where that is all leading. Speak to us all, O God, in the stillness of this time and remind us of Jesus’ willingness to take our burdens upon himself and to learn from him - to experience his gentleness and steadfast love for all. Jesus also offers us his joy so that our joy might be complete. Confident in these promises, we offer this time of worship to you, O God, praying that it may reflect our praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of creation and for all that Jesus has done for us. This we pray in his name. Amen A WORD WITH THE CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE If you live in a grapevine growing district - invite a grower along to tell what is needed to make the vines grow so that they produce the best and most fruit. If this is not possible, take a bunch of grapes along as a visual aid and speak about the conditions necessary to grow good grapes: good soil; correct pruning; the right climate - too much rain close to harvest can damage the grapes. Point out how a grape can go mouldy by being too long in the fruit bowl and can then spread the mould to the grape next to it... It shouldn’t be too difficult to make the comparison to our lives as followers of Jesus. The community of faith provides the good soil and - hopefully - the right climate for young Christians to learn about bearing fruit. Enlarge on the idea of being so excited over following Jesus that it is not possible to stay quiet about it. Use examples of local people who are working perhaps far away from home sharing their faith in some way. When we are excited about sharing our faith with others there is less chance of our becoming ‘mouldy’ or being corrupted by evil people or ideas. Jesus wants us to bear the best ‘fruit’ possible - especially the same love that he has for us - a love that wants the very best for ourselves and other people. TIS 236/AHB 178: “Jesus’ hands were kind hands” or if this was not sung last week: AS ONE VOICE 130 “They’ll know we are Christians by our love TIS 629/AHB 558: “ When I needed a neighbour, were you there...?” FIRST LESSON: Acts 10:44-48 INTRODUCTION TO PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Based on Acts 10 NRSV The story of Cornelius and Peter is one we could listen to over and over again as barriers which had divided Jew and Gentile were wonderfully broken down by God. And the conclusion is even more dramatic, when all who were there in Cornelius’ house were astounded when the Holy Spirit fell on those who heard Peter’s testimony about Jesus - Lord of all. Even the ones regarded by the believers as ‘outsiders’ experienced a mighty infilling of the Spirit. PRAYER OF CONFESSION Let us pray: We give thanks that you, merciful God, overcame Peter’s prejudice and used him to proclaim the gospel with vigour and authority, but we confess that there are times when we feel safer clinging to our prejudices rather than opening ourselves up to the possibility of you, O God, creating any dramatic change in our or other people’s lives. So, forgive us if we dismiss the story of Peter and Cornelius as something that happened a long time ago but wouldn’t happen today and dispel any reluctance on our part to testify to the love and power of Jesus - especially to those whom we might describe as ‘outsiders’. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, Peter found himself proclaiming the gospel in unexpected places and surprising situations, strengthen us also with your Spirit to be willing and confident disciples of Jesus Christ, following where he leads - loving as he loved, and living as he lived. Amen WORDS OF ASSURANCE Jesus tells us that as we dwell in his love so his joy will be forever in us and he tells us we have already been cleansed by the word that he has spoken to us. Surely this does make our joy complete. So, hear and believe the good news that through Jesus who dwells in us, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God Alleluia! Amen! TIS 147/AHB 85 “To God be the glory” EPISTLE: 1 John 5: 1-6. GOSPEL: John 15: 9-17 SERMON TIS 699/ AHB571: “A new commandment” AHB 571 can be made more inclusive by replacing ‘men’ with ‘others’. TIS 641/AHB 401: “This is my will, my one command” TIS 685: “Lord, I come to you...” (The power of your love) SUGGESTIONS FOR PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION As suggested in the epistle, the proof of our love for Jesus is that we obey the commandments of Jesus. And Jesus asks that we love one another as he has loved us. What do these words mean in your local context? Who might be the ‘outsiders’ you are asked - commanded? to love...? We can have courage to respond because Jesus tells us that he has chosen us to go and bear fruit. Give thanks that Jesus has chosen us, to go and bear fruit in his name. Pray for grace and power to share his love - by healing the wounds of those who are hurting; by consoling the brokenhearted, by comforting the sad and reaching out and being hospitable to those who are lonely. Pray for those who are striving to bear fruit in difficult situations - among people throughout the world who are refugees - men, women and children who long for a place to call home; in the areas of the world where tensions run high between Christians and Muslims...here in Australia where barriers still exist between racial groups. Pray that the vision of reconciliation between indigenous and white Australians might truly become reality - and that in the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and Christian Unity which begins next Friday - we may all be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the process. Pray that we might love one another, as Jesus so freely loved us. Reprinted from UC Information - No 13 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity This year the WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY is being extended to become TEN DAYS of PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION AND CHRISTIAN UNITY. Dates: Friday, 26th May (Sorry Day) to Sunday, 4th June (Pentecost). The original texts for the resources came from Ireland. Our Christian sisters and brothers in Ireland wanted to share the insight that new relationships between divided communities often begin in small gatherings of two or three. It was out of that experience that they chose the verse, Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Matthew 18:20), as the theme. For resources online see: http://www.ncca.org.au/departments/faith_and_unity/weekofprayer Resources can also be ordered from Queensland Churches Together, ph: (07) 3369 6792 or email qctadmin@tpg.com.au A flyer and order form is also available there. Why not organize an ecumenical gathering around the Ten Days of Prayer for Reconciliation and Christian Unity? Heather den Houting, SRA & International Mission Consultant OFFERING & OFFERTORY PRAYER We pray your blessing, O God, on these gifts - may they be used to bear fruit as the gospel is proclaimed far and near. We pray your blessing on us, that our lives may be authentic signs of Jesus’ love and visible expressions of his joy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen TIS 461/AHB 395 “God, your glory we have seen in your Son” TIS 552/AHB 457 “Come, my way, my truth, my life” TIS 665: “Jesus Christ is waiting” BENEDICTION: Go, knowing that you are blessed as a child of God loved as a friend of Jesus, and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit . THREEFOLD AMEN Prepare for Pentecost by inviting people to wear something red on that day. If you have people in the congregation from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, invite them to read Acts 2 verses 1-4 in their native tongue. These verses are read at the same time in as many languages as possible. Whoever is leading worship reads the verses at the same time in Koine Greek (There’s a challenge!) One person will continue to verse 21 in English. Also plan to do things differently within worship on Pentecost. Print out the words of the Fruit of the Spirit - Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - in banner size. On Pentecost hand out pieces of paper in different flame colours - some red, some yellow, some orange, with one of the fruits of the Spirit printed on them – one for each person - so that your congregation will be divided up into groups - as evenly divided as possible. Have the banners - love, joy , peace etc placed around the walls of the church and at a particular point in the service, people will be invited to move to sit near the fruit as indicated on their paper. Group members will be invited to discuss how they could use the received ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in new ways as they live out their faith. |