Holy Communion – Live streamed – Sunday, 4 August 2024
Preacher: Revd George Mwaura
Led by: Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga
Gathering music
Welcome
God sees our hearts and loves us more than we will ever know.
Let us come to him trusting in his mercy and his care.
[Silence]
Welcome to the house of God
We have come from all the corners of the earth.
Welcome to the hospitality of God
We come as we are; we bring, our life, our stories, our journey.
Welcome brothers and sisters
We are the rainbow people of God
Welcome chosen people
May God our companion bind us in his love.
Amen.
Hymn: All over the world
All over the world
the Spirit is moving,
all over the world
as the prophets said it would be;
all over the world
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
All over his church
God’s Spirit is moving,
all over his church
as the prophets said it would be;
all over his church
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
Right here in this place
the Spirit is moving,
right here in this place
as the prophets said it would be;
right here in this place
there’s a mighty revelation
of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea.
Roy Turner (1984)
CCL31580
Confession
Lord, we like to live in denial of our sins and shortcomings;
we paper over the cracks of our misdemeanours,
refusing to accept what we are and what we have done.
But you confront us and hold a mirror to our souls;
our self-image cracks beneath the truth of your gaze.
Forgive us, we pray;
help us to examine ourselves and know our hearts, as you do.
[Silence]
Today, O God, we consider how much you forgave David;
how great were his sins, and he the king!
Yet still you saw the goodness in him,
the potential to be what you wanted him to be;
when he truly repented, you forgave him.
Thank you, Lord God, for the assurance that you will do likewise for us.
Confront us when we have become complacent;
show us the wrongness of our ways,
so that we may repent and return
and rejoice in your generous forgiveness.
Amen.
Prayer Of The Week
Loving God, as we look to the coming week and reflect
what it means for Jesus to be our bread of life,
we seek your forgiveness, when we use people
and value them only for what they can give us,
not for who they really are.
Help us to see you, Lord,
not only as our Saviour but as our role model,
that we might be generous in our giving
and obedient in your service.
We ask this in Jesus mighty name
Amen
Bible Readings
Psalm 51: 1-12
Read by Brian Halstead
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
© NIV
Hymn: Seek ye first the kingdom of God
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added unto you;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you,
seek and ye shall find.;
knock and itshall be opened unto you;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
We shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word
that proceeds from the mouth of God;
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
allelu, alleluia.
Karen Lafferty (1948–2013)
CCL31580
John 6: 24-35
Read by Veronica Fernandes
24 Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Jesus the bread of life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’
26 Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’
28 Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’
29 Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’
30 So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’
32 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’
34 ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’
35 Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
© NIV
Meditation
By Rev George Mwaura
[Silence]
Affirmation Of Faith
We believe in the Creator
The maker of all things
We believe in the Son
The redeemer of our broken world
We believe in the Spirit
The sacred wind that binds all things together in the family of God
Creator Father, beloved Son and living Spirit.
Amen.
Prayers and Intercessions
Led by Joy Enenche
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’
Then were they glad when they saw the Lord.
The Peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you
Let us offer one another a sign of peace
Hymn: Jesus the Lord says ‘I am the bread’
Jesus, the Lord said: ‘I am the Bread,
The Bread of Life for mankind am I.
The Bread of Life for mankind am I,
The Bread of Life for mankind am I’.
Jesus, the Lord said: ‘I am the Bread,
The Bread of Life for mankind am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: I am the way,
The true and living way am I.
The true and living way am I.
The true and living way am I.
Jesus the Lord said: I am the way,
The true and living way am I.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Light,
The one true Light of the world am I.
The one true Light of the world am I,
The one true Light of the world am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Light,
The one true Light of the world am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Shepherd,
The one Good Shepherd of the sheep am I.
The one Good Shepherd of the sheep am I,
The one Good Shepherd of the sheep am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Shepherd,
The one Good Shepherd of the sheep am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Life,
The Resurrection and the Life am I.
The Resurrection and the Life am I,
The Resurrection and the Life am I’.
Jesus the Lord said: ‘I am the Life,
The Resurrection and the Life am I’.
Dermott Monathan (1906-57)
CCL31580
The Thanksgiving
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world.
In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise.
We join with them in heaven’s song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh
whose brokenness and suffering makes love real,
who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying,
Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup saying,
Drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you.
Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.
This is the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup,
we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth.
We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish.
We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.
Send your Spirit on us now,
that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you
and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
Be yours forever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.
The Communion
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
Amen.
Invitation
Come to this table, not because you must but because you may,
not because you are strong, but because you are weak.
Come, not because any goodness of your own gives you a right to come,
but because you need mercy and help.
Come, because you love the Lord a little and would like to love him more.
Come, because he loved you and gave himself for you.
Come and meet the risen Christ, for we are his Body.
Post Communion Prayer
Eternal Father, we thank you for nourishing us with these heavenly gifts:
may our communion strengthen us in faith, build us up in hope, and make us grow in love;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Notices & Offering
Wednesday Bible Study: St John’s Gospel: Week 8
The Upper Room and Gethsemane (John 13: 1 – 17:26)
Theme: “A New Commandment and Jesus’ Intimate Prayers”
Focus: Jesus’ Last Supper teachings, His high priestly prayer, and the arrest in Gethsemane
Key Verses: John 13:1, 13:34, 14:6, 17:3, 17:24
Study questions:
What is the significance of foot-washing?
How does Jesus describe the coming Holy Spirit?
What does Jesus pray for in His high priestly prayer?
Final Prayer
Holy Lord, you are just and true.
We receive your forgiveness and carry it with us this week.
Give us courage to confront those in power
who have forgotten to act with your love and care.
Inspire us to speak in a way that will
help them to hear your voice and live according to your love.
Amen.
Hymn: Give me joy in my heart
1 Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
give me joy in my heart, I pray;
give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
keep me praising till the break of day:
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King of kings!
Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,
sing hosanna to the King!
2 Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
give me peace in my heart, I pray;
give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
keep me loving till the break of day: [Refrain]
3 Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
give me love in my heart, I pray;
give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
keep me serving till the break of day: [Refrain]
Blessing
God be in your head, and in your understanding;
God be in your eyes, and in your looking;
God be in your mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in your heart, and in your thinking;
God be at your end, and at your departing.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you today and always.
Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ.
Amen