Worship

Worshipping Together during Holy Week

Three short (10-15 mins) Worship Services for you to use… as you see fit

The following worship material, is offered for home use on  Maundy Thursday (9^th April), Good Friday (10^th April) and Easter Day (12^th April).  There’s also a reflection for Holy Saturday (11^th April) included.

If you are able to worship at the stated time, you will know that many others in the church are worshipping together with you. Note that if you are with others in your home you may want to decide ‘who does what’ before you start.

You will also need to have ready in advance, for each of you, the following;      a small branch with leaves, a small cross you have made, and an egg, egg cup and a pan of boiling water, and/or  a HOLLOW Chocolate Easter Egg.  It is suggested that a candle is lit at the start of each time of worship and for Maundy Thursday you will need one small roll or slice of bread on a plate, If you are able to access the internet, video links to the music are shown in blue.   

 God bless you as we worship together
                                                                                                April 2020

MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP TOGETHER-  7.00pm on Thurs. 9^th  April

(the time when we would have been having a meal together at the end of Lent)

An act of worship that could link to your normal evening meal in some way

Light a candle, spend a short time in silence and then the following words are said:

 We worship together, as we say together:
On this day, Jesus, you sat down at supper with your disciples
and then you took bread, broke it and gave it to us.

 (The bread is lifted up, broken in two and placed back on the plate)

‘This is my body,’ you said,
‘I give my life that you may live.
Do this to remember me.’

The hymn – ‘Break thou the bread of life’  can be sung unaccompanied, or said, or sung to the video as we look at the broken bread and remember the feeding of the 5,000. 

Break thou the Bread of Life link

   1      Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
           as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.
           Within the sacred page I seek thee, Lord;
           my spirit pants for thee, O living Word!

   2      Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
           As thou didst bless the bread, by Galilee;
           Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall,
           and I shall find my peace, my all in all.

   3      Thou art the bread of life O Lord to me.
          Thy holy Word the truth that saveth me.   
           Give me to eat and live with thee above.
          Teach me to love thy truth for thou art love.

v. 1 Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841–1913) vv. 2 & 3 Alexander Groves (1842–1909)

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 153 CC:L 5934/919592
 

BIBLE READING -  John 16: 12-13, 16-17a  (GNB)    Read the following out loud 

Jesus said, "I have much more to tell you, but now it would be too much for you to bear.  When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come”…. "In a little while you will not see me anymore, and then a little while later you will see me."  Some of his disciples asked among themselves, "What does this mean?

May this bread be for us the body of Christ,
the very presence of Jesus alive in us

THE SHARING OF BREAD

Each person (in turn) takes a piece of bread and says out loud:
The Body of Christ given for me

            ( then keep silence for at least 20 seconds)

The hymn – ‘Lord Jesus Christ ’  can be sung unaccompanied, or said, or sung to the video

Lord Jesus Christ Link

Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us,
you are one with us, Mary's Son;
cleansing our souls from all their sin, pouring your love and goodness in;
Jesus, our love for you we sing, living Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us,
born as one of us, Mary's Son;
led out to die on Calvary, risen from death to set us free;
living Lord Jesus, help us see, you are Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, I would come to you,
live my life for you, Son of God.
All your commands I know are true; your many gifts will make me new;
into my life your power breaks through, living Lord.     (repeat last line)

Patrick Appleford (b. 1925)

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 594
Words and Music: © Josef Weinberger Ltd CCL 5934/ 919592

We say a final adapted communion prayer together:

Loving God,
you have strengthened us today, with Christ the Living Bread.
for the journey that lies ahead.
Now keep our bodies, hearts and minds safe and well -
in the knowledge and love of God.
Amen.  

GOOD FRIDAY WORSHIP TOGETHER -  3pm on Friday 10^th April
(the time that Jesus died )

Light a candle, spend a short time in silence and then the following words are said:

 We worship together, as we say together:
On this day, after six long hours nailed to a cross, you died.

             (keep silence for at least 20 seconds)

 Out of love you gave your life.
You died that we might live and have life in all its fullness
We kneel before you now in awe and wonder
and offer our thanks and praise. Amen 

The hymn – ‘When I survey the wondrous crosscan be sung unaccompanied, or said, or sung to the video as we place the cross(es) that we have made in front of us.

When I survey the wondrous cross link

   1      When I survey the wondrous cross,
           on which the Prince of Glory died,
           my richest gain I count but loss,
           and pour contempt on all my pride.

   2      Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
           save in the death of Christ my God;
           all the vain things that charm me most,
           I sacrifice them to his blood.

   3      See from his head, his hands, his feet,
           sorrow and love flow mingled down;
           did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
           or thorns compose so rich a crown?

   4      Were the whole realm of nature mine,
           that were an offering far too small;
           love so amazing, so divine,
           demands my soul, my life, my all.

 Isaac Watts (1674–1748     Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 287 CCL 5934/919592 .

BIBLE READING -  Luke 23: 44-46 (adapt GNB)    read the following out loud

It was about twelve o'clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o'clock; and then curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out in a loud voice
"Father! In your hands I place my spirit!"
 He said this and died.

The hymn – ‘ There is a green hill far away’ can be sung unaccompanied, or said, or sung to the video as we pick up and hold the cross(es) that we have made

   There is a green hill far away link

          SOLOISTS: 1 - There is a green hill far away, without a city wall,
                                     where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all.

   2      ALL: We may not know, we cannot tell, what pains he had to bear,
           but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there.

   3      He died that we might be forgiven. He died to make us good,
           that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood.

   4      There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin;
           he only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in.

   5      O dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too,
           and trust in his redeeming blood, and try his works to do.

Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895)

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 284 CCL 5934 .

 We remember those who have died from the Corona Virus
       (pause for 20 seconds)
We lift them before you with love and thanksgiving for their life

We remember those in intensive care
      (pause for 20 seconds)
We lift them before you with love and concern for their wellbeing

We remember those who are putting themselves in danger to care for others   
      (pause for 20 seconds)
We lift them before you with love and gratitude for their service

The song – ‘ The wonder of the cross’ by Vicky Beeching can be said, or listened to on video  The Wonder of the Cross link

O precious sight, my Saviour stands dying for me with outstretched hands
O precious sight, I love to gaze                      
Remembering salvation's day x2

Though my eyes linger on this scene - may passing time and years not steal
The power with which it impacts me            
The freshness of its mystery x2

     May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.
     May I see it like the first time, standing as a sinner lost.
     Undone by mercy and left speechless - watching wide eyed at the cost.
     May I never lose the wonder, the wonder of the cross.

Behold the God-man crucified - the perfect sinless sacrifice
As blood ran down those nails and wood             
History was split in two x2

Behold the empty wooden tree - His body gone, alive and free
We sing with everlasting joy, for sin and death have been destroyed,
yes sin and death have been destroyed.

     May I never lose the wonder…. 
                      (instrumental)
     May I never lose the wonder…. 
 
We place our cross(es) in the window and stand there facing the world
 as we listen ( if possible) to a sung version of the Gaelic blessing ‘ Deep peace’ on video            Gaelic Blessing Deep Peace

And/ or we then say the words of the Gaelic blessing to each other
and to the world outside 

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
    of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ.  
Amen.