The Lord in risen! Alleluia!
Song
‘Come, now is the time to worship’, performed by Maranatha Praise Band. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doOVqKQo3lo&t=16s
Prayer
Let us pray. Loving God, we thank you for the love that you have poured out upon us through Christ Jesus. We come before you, O God, as his servants. We come before you as a resurrection community, as an Easter people, and we ask for your holy and transforming presence to be among us. Â
Bless us in this worship, that we may become what you would have us be and that we might bring honour and praise to you in all we do and say. Dwell among us, we pray, that we may love one another as we were meant to love. We ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from the Gospel of John 14:1-14. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath.
John 14:1-14
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus said to him,
“Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group. If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Oedf79Rbds
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen of the Saltbush Community. Jesus’ words are a caring and compassionate response to the disciples fears of the future. He is reassuring them they are loved even if he is not with them
What do you feel when the words of Jesus are said to you personally? In what ways are people of faith living the way, truth and life of Jesus today?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God. You may prefer to do this while listening to the ‘Optional reflective music’ below.
Optional reflective music
The reflective music is, ‘You are mine’, by David Haas. If you have problems connecting, also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgm9lkTNQmc
Prayers for Others
Let us pray,
Gracious God, may we look at each other with your eyes of love and understanding, gently affirming the gifts of each person and open to receive new ideas (pause).
We pray that we will see people as your beloved children, and listen to your guidance on how best to be in relationship for the enhancing of all lives (pause).
May we discern your ways in the communities in which we find ourselves, and seek to walk alongside those who do your will for the sake of justice and compassion (pause).
Invite us into the sacred spaces of your creation that we may know how to restore, nurture, and protect all you have called ‘good’ (pause).
In this time of silence, we bring you the prayers of hearts. (pause)
Hear our prayers, loving God, in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Blessing
Go out into the world, to love and serve the Lord. Bless us and the people we meet along the way. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Song
The closing song is, ‘King of love’, courtesy of Emu Youth. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs8sjuS0YzA
Postlude
A contemporary version of ‘Rock of ages’, by EQUIP Women. If you have trouble connecting go directly to Youtube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHEUO5vFzkU
Resources
The sermon and ‘Prayers for others’ are based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/easter-5-way-truth-life-and-love-john-141-14/