SONG
The opening song is, ‘Sing out, earth and skies’, written by Marty Huygen. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTYOglt9ab0
Call to worship
Come all who have hope for liberation, for peace, for freedom, for God’s kingdom.
Jesus declares, “See, I am making all things new.”
You may like to light a candle at this time.
God’s truth has been revealed in the risen Jesus Christ, the light of the world. May the light shine for the hope of the world.
Acknowledgment of country
As we begin, it is appropriate to recognise that this great land has been home to our first nations peoples for many thousands of years. Therefore, let us also acknowledge those Aboriginal peoples who are the first habitants of the regions in which we dwell and honour them for their care of the land.
Prayer
We come from our villages, our homes, our families and the communities we find ourselves in. We come as people of the land, the town, the city, the office, the home, the business, the paddock, the road or the classroom. And we all come as the people of God.
Let us pray.
Lord, open our ears, our hearts, our eyes and our minds to expect you, to see your way, to know your goodness in our lives and the communities in which we live.
Come to us, once more, in our gathering and worship today, we pray. We give thanks for those moments when we noticed you in the days past and your nearness to us. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from John 5:1-9. The words of the reading are included below and there is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment underneath.
John 5:1-9
After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids–blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.”
Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group with some extra verses added in (John 5:1-18). If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkLr4Zy28u4
Message
The message is brought to you by Mark Faulkner from the Saltbush Community. In today’s Gospel reading we meet a man who has lost hope in life. Let us explore this remarkable account from the life of Jesus as we explore life and faith together.
I wonder where we see our hope… and God in it? What will you take away with you today after thinking about this passage?
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
‘Beauty for brokenness’, written by Graham Kendrick. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kVHKuldZyw
Prayers for Others
Let us pray,
Eternal God, where there is hope, you are there. Where there is compassion and the desire for wholeness, you are there. And where there is the struggle for peace, you are there.
You are there where the hungry are fed, and the poor empowered. You are there where there is delight in the trees of the land, or the depths of the seas. Wherever love is announced, you are there.
In that knowledge, and in our simple faith, we bring our prayers for your creation and for the people of this world.
O Christ we open ourselves in prayer for: your creation … Silence
For others we have heard about throughout our world …Silence
For other people we know and are close to …Silence
For our church and our wider community …Silence
For ourselves … Silence
Amen.
Blessing
Hosannah in the highest heaven. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Let us leave and walk the way of Christ throughout our week ahead. Bless us and the people we meet along the way Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Song
‘Deeper Joy’, by Uniting Creative’. If you have problems connecting, go directly to Vimeo at:
https://vimeo.com/659598047
Postlude
The postlude is ‘You will be found’, from the musical, ‘Dear Evan Hansen. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo1W4L_SPzw&list=RDSywBQjjgBnQ&index=5
Fun Activities
Messy Family Fun Psalm 23
There are many fun activities at HomeFaith based on the theme of the ‘Good Shepherd’ at:
https://homefaith.net/resources/messy-family-fun-psalm-23-2022/
Easter colouring in
Just copy/paste or download the image and then print it out!
Resources
The ‘Prayers for others’ and ‘Blessing’ 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-6-hope-in-life-john-5-1-9/
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