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Sing praises to the Lord, you faithful; We will give thanks to God's holy name. Weeping may linger for the night But joy comes with the morning. God has turned our mourning into dancing! Let us praise and not be silent! Hymn 127 – O worship the King (vv 1,2,3,6) Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of the Risen Christ, we come before you this day giving thanks for all the wonder in your creation: for the tiny perfection revealed in a baby’s fingers grasping ours, in each daffodil unzipping its jacket to greet the spring, and each rock face worn by wind and water, bearing its rugged beauty with your praise. These details lift our hearts to praise you. So let the details of the story the Risen Christ lift our hearts this day, that we may greet a new week as an occasion to discover him in our midst, making all things new with the springtime of your Spirit. Receive our heartfelt worship, O God. When we're slow to ask for Your advice and to look for Your guidance; when we think we know best and forge ahead regardless, because we are sure we know Your mind, please forgive us. Remind us in firm but gentle ways of how close and active You always are – You who are the ever-living, Lord of all creation. So set the Spirit free to move among us here and now to inspire us ever to work for your justice and your peace. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 9: 1-6 John 21: 1 -19 Hymn 532 Lord, you have come to the seashore (1,2,4) Weekly Prayer Almighty God, your Son Jesus revealed himself again and again, convincing his disciples of his glorious resurrection. Help us to feel his risen presence, so that we too can lovingly feed his sheep, and care for the lambs of his flock here in the community of our Cheviot Churches. Amen Reflection You can almost smell the fish cooking. There is nothing like barbecue out in the open and listening to the sizzling of meat or fish or even peppers for the vegetarian option. Jesus shows that he is a dab hand at cooking in our Gospel reading today and has breakfast on when the disciples come ashore. But there is a lot more to this story. We have been looking at the disciples after the resurrection. Jesus has appeared at least twice to them, but we see that they are still traumatised by what has happened – by Jesus’ death and indeed their own part in it, for they didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory. And so they go back to the familiar, to their home area, to the lakeshore and back to the boats. ‘Let’s go fishing’, Peter says. Perhaps there was an element of running away and keeping their heads down, but also maybe it was a reminder of how things used to be. To remember the time when their faith was strong and vital, when the adventure had begun and the future seemed full of hope and possibilities – when life seemed abundant with potential, and indeed this story from John is so reminiscent of the call of the disciples. There is a touch of déjà vu. But sometimes we need to get away to a place where we can reflect on where we are in our spiritual journey, and that’s why people go on pilgrimages to Lindisfarne or the Holy Land or to places associated with the holy and where earth seems to come closer to heaven. Maybe the disciples returned hoping to rekindle their faith. And Peter said, Let’s go fishing. But Peter was the one who was caught! They were professionals, but somehow that night their skill and their luck deserted them. They didn’t catch a thing. To make it even worse, a chap appeared on the lakeshore and made suggestions. They were professionals, how dare he! But, hey, they had not a single bite, so what did they have to lose, and they followed his directions – and their nets were groaning with the weight of their catch. And it dawned on them who this solitary walker on the shore was. Jesus. And we have this wonderful picture of Peter jumping in the water to rush and greet him. Interestingly he puts on his clothes before jumping in the water, as if somehow ashamed to appear less than covered up before Jesus. Jesus invites them to eat. I think here, and in the passage which follows, Jesus is doing something special. He is reaffirming the disciples. By giving them a bumper catch after their own failure, he is re-instating them to service. But more so Peter, and after they have their breakfast on the beach, Jesus takes Peter aside and asks him three times to feed his sheep, and Peter’s triple confession by that charcoal fire, erases his threefold denial of Jesus. In doing this, Jesus offers Pater and us two things: He offers firstly a sense of belonging. We all need to belong, to feel part of something. That we are part of a larger group to have a sense of identity. One of the tragedies of modern living is perhaps the number of people who feel isolated, who don’t feel they belong – who even feel rejected. ‘I am afraid to tell you who I am, because if I tell you who I am, you may not like who I am – and it is all I have’ Yet the church should always be a place to welcome people as they are. Peter is acutely aware he has let down Jesus, but here but Jesus reinstates him and drawing him back into the community where he belongs. But Jesus is doing something else. He is giving Peter a sense of purpose. Feed my sheep. Jesus is giving Peter not only a sense of belonging, but giving him a job to do – feeding the sheep meant being a leader, looking out for others and looking after others. Again, all of us need a sense of purpose in our lives, a belief that what we do matters. A belief that we can contribute to society in some way. And certainly in the Church and in the community we can make vital contributions. Peter was given a sense of belonging and reinstated; he was given a sense of purpose and commissioned to be a leader. He took him beyond the fishing to a wider scenario. For us, we are accepted for whom we are, not as Super-Christians, but just who we are– by God’s grace, and invited to be part of the church community and we can each of us be used by God in God’s service, in small or big ways. Jesus can be on the lakeshore beckoning us, ready to welcome and ready to use us to bless the world around us and to give glory to God. Hymn 416 – Christ is alive Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Eternal and generous God, thank You for Your many gifts to us – not least the gift of Your Son who in turn gave His own life for the life of the world. Help us we pray to live as generously: ready to offer time, energy and all we have and are, for Your kingdom's sake. Take these gifts we pray, and let them symbolise the giving of ourselves afresh to You this day. Use them and use us, to spread and to share Your love, Influencing this world with hope, joy and peace. Lord Jesus Christ, We draw near to you in prayer this day, trusting that your love does change lives and your resurrection brings renewal and redemption into the world God loves. We lay before you the concerns on our hearts today, We lay before you the concerns we share from the news headlines and the many world situations where hope and change are desperately needed. In your great mercy, Hear our prayers. We lay before you, Lord, those who are in hospital or care and all those who struggle with illness, pain or health burdens of any sort; and we remember those facing grief and loss, bearing burdens of sorrow and worry. In your great mercy, Hear our prayers. We lay before you, Lord, families under stress, relationships that are strained, friends and neighbours in need of reconciliation, and we pray for the healing of divisions in our country. In your great mercy, Hear our prayers. We lay before you, Lord, the earth itself, struggling in so many places to maintain its fruitfulness, and we pray for all the vulnerable creatures and communities who are finding it harder and harder to live on land, sea or sky. In your great mercy, Hear our prayers. Amen Hymn 533 – Will you come and follow me Benediction Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you, now and always. Amen.
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In life, in death, and in life beyond death, The Risen Christ is Lord. In success and discouragement, in fear and in hope, The Risen Christ is Lord. In Church and community, in our hearts and our homes, The Risen Christ is Lord, and so we gather to worship in his name. Hymn 410 – Jesus Christ is risen today Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we rejoice in this new day you have made. We praise you for all the beauty that surrounds us as spring takes hold with lambs and calves in the field and flowers blooming all around. We praise you for your Son Jesus, and the power of new life promised in his resurrection. We praise you for your Spirit at work in human history, to restore and redeem our hope with that power of new life. God of steadfast love, we worship you and claim your gift of new life, even in the face of any doubt or danger within the world you love. O God of might and mercy, In his resurrection, Jesus promised to be with us everywhere and always. Yet we confess we are sometimes uncertain about your promises. We doubt the promise of resurrection for our own lives. Upheaval and anxiety eat away at our peace. Forgive us when we struggle to trust your goodness and your steadfast love for us. Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free from sin and sorrow. In Jesus Christ, God offers us the gift of peace. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your hearts this day. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 5: 27-32 John 20: 19-31 Hymn 432 – How often we like Thomas Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, as Jesus appeared in the locked room to show his disciples the beginning of a new world, draw us closer to you. Like Thomas, may we examine the wounded hands and feet of Jesus in order to know and understand the depth of his love for us. Thank you that as believers we have life in His name. Amen Reflection Life is sometimes unfair, and I am sure we all agree to that. I always think that on the Sunday after Easter. It is sometimes called Low Sunday, coming a week after the celebrations of Easter Day, and on this Sunday, we traditionally remember the disciple, Thomas. Thomas really gets a raw deal – he is called Doubting Thomas, and the name sticks. It seems so unfair. All the disciples had deserted Jesus at the time of his greatest need; Peter had even gone so far as denying that he knew him. They had all let him down – but somehow only Thomas is branded with this unfortunate title – the Doubter. Scene One was the evening of Easter Day. Mary had been with the news that she had met the risen Jesus. You might have expected a scene of jubilation – but far from it. The disciples were huddled behind locked doors, and they were terrified. Terrified that they would be linked by association with Jesus and arrested. Terrified to brave the streets. Also they were lost, leaderless, still grieving. And the news of Jesus’ resurrection – they obviously didn’t know what to make of it. Didn’t quite believe it. It was into this scene of fear and doubt that Jesus somehow appeared. Gatecrashed the party! He showed his wounds. He spoke words of peace and breathed words of forgiveness. But Thomas wasn’t there. Maybe he had drawn the short straw and had been sent out to buy some food. Maybe he needed a break from the doleful company. But he wasn’t there. He had missed all the excitement. There is nothing worse – when everybody else shares an experience, but you miss out. He dismissed their talk as hysterical, and said he would only believe if he could see the wounds in Jesus’s hands where the nails had been driven in, put his hand in the spear wound in his side. Scene Two. The disciples are again together, but this time Thomas is with them. Jesus appears and stands among them. The Risen Lord shows his wounds to Thomas, and that is important. They hadn’t disappeared. He still bore the wounds. And he says blessed are those who believe without seeing. Thomas responds with one of the greatest affirmations of faith in the Gospels – My Lord and my God. It is unfair, as I say, for Thomas shows healthy questioning, but also faith. He is patron saint to all who test and explore our human existence and indeed legend has it he took the Gospel message to India, where there is a strong church which sees its roots in Thomas. Scene Three is really immediately afterwards, and for this we go to the Acts reading. For these tired, defeated, terrified people are completely transformed. Where they had been behind locked doors, now they are out in the open. Where they had run away and instinctively denied knowing Jesus, now they are openly testifying in his name. Where they had feared, now they were fearless – and they were fearless because they believed. It was a complete transformation. The disciples to me are proof of the resurrection, that such an inarticulate and fearful group could suddenly turn the world upside down. There is a Scene Four too, and that is now. The characters in scene 4 are you and me and Christians everywhere. Christians in Ukraine rising above the pain and destruction to be a resurrection people and bear faith. Christians in Egypt where a priest was killed only a week or so ago, but the Church still seeks to be an agent of healing and reconciliation. Jesus still stands among us, and he calls us to be an Easter people in our scarred and wounded world and love it, and keep loving it and seek to bring Christ’s peace. Hymn 415 – This joyful Eastertide Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession We thank you, God, for the many ways you provide for our needs: for air and water, for food and shelter, for work to do and rest to sustain us. We pray for your creation, too often at risk because of the choices we’ve made. Help us care for the earth and all its creatures. Show us how to cherish the gifts you have given and protect them for future generations. We thank you, God, for family: the families we were born into, the families we married into, and other families who welcomed us into their midst We pray for those who have lost family members and relationships, and for any who know pain within the family circle. God, we also thank you for friendship: for friends who have supported us through months of pandemic restriction sand for those who bring us joy and wise counsel. Help us extend the gift of friendship to those who are experiencing isolation, loneliness or grief. We thank you, God, for the peace and freedom we enjoy in UK, but pray for those who know neither freedom nor peace: those living under oppressive regimes or in conflict zones, and those who have fled their homelands, in search of safety. Ukraine; Palestine. Give us courage to stand up for people who cannot stand up for themselves, so that they too will know peace and freedom. We thank you, God, for your Church, for our congregation and its leaders, and for all who volunteer time, talent and energy to the work we undertake in Jesus’ name. By your Spirit, guide us and inspire us with new insight into mission and ministry. We pray for other churches in our community and in our presbytery, and the sense of mission that guides each one into service. Amen Hymn 413 – The day of Resurrection Benediction  The Lord is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia Notices:
Jesus was dead, laid in a tomb. But the stone is rolled away. Hallelujah Morning has broken, the tomb now empty. Hallelujah! Christ is risen! A new day has come, life not undone Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Come and worship, the Lord is here! Hymn 404 – I danced in the morning Prayers of Adoration and Confession Risen Lord, we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. We are the Easter people come to worship, released from tombs of pain and doubt and fear and death into the freedom of this new day, and its promise of hope fulfilled. We are the Easter people, Emerging into the brightness of faith, Blinking, questioning, wondering, hoping. Come to us, into the garden of our lives, and touch all that is barren, and wasted and dried with Your healing hand. Forgive our half-lived lives, our broken promises, and our failed kindness. Call to us by our name, that we might turn from all that limits and burdens us, and lift us up into forgiveness and freedom. Open the gateways of our hearts and minds, and call us out into Your world to be embraced by Your unfailing and renewing mercy. Today, in silence, prayer and song, may we encounter Jesus and His grace. For we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 10:34–43 John 20:1–18 Hymn SGP 3 – Alleluia, alleluia Weekly Prayer Faithful God, we think of your church today celebrating the Resurrection all over the world. Language, race and nationalities may be different but our worship and our joy on the Day Of Resurrection make us one in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to capture the excitement of those who first saw The Lord on that glorious resurrection day. Amen Reflection To every human tyrant and dictator, to every warmonger and oppressor, today is a fearful day. To every extremist or bigot, today is a fearful day. For today we celebrate the triumph of love over hate, the triumph of life over death; the triumph of good over evil. For today the power of fear and despair is defeated; the power of death is vanquished. And today we can dare to hope, for Jesus who was killed on the cross is risen. Jesus who was laid in the tomb is alive. We are an Easter people, filled with hope. And yet when Mary went to the tomb that first Easter morning, her eyes were blinded by tears. She was distraught, in grief. Confused by all that had happened. It was all made worse by the sight of the stone which covered the tomb had been rolled away, and the tomb empty. Someone had stolen the body. She even accused a stranger, whom she assumed tended the garden. Tears had maybe blinded her eyes. But they hadn’t blocked her ears. And it was when he spoke her name, she knew it was her Lord. There is an intense, rapturous reunion as she turns to embrace him and responds with an answering cry, Rabboni, my teacher. Maybe the clock could be turned back; maybe it could be like it was before. Yet this isn’t the end of the story, like some final scene in a Hollywood movie where the two embrace. There’s further to go and yet another twist in the psychological drama. At the very moment of reunion, Christ rejects her touch. ‘Do not cling to me,’ he says to her. ‘Do not hold on to me.’ At the heart of resurrection is rupture and refusal, rather than reunion. There is no return to the way things were before for Mary – or indeed for us. Resurrection is not return, nor the restoration of an old state of affairs, but a total reorientation to a radically new reality. ‘Do not hold on to me … but go to my brothers and sisters …’ How traumatic was it for Mary to hear these words and act on them? Yet this is what Resurrection demanded of her – and of us. Christ commands us to go, to leave the safe garden and to risk the loss of all we have known. Yet, as Mary obeys the Lord’s command, she discovers the deeper miracle and truth of the resurrection which, until now, she could not know. She finds that Christ is there, wherever she goes, the living one present with her, within her, beside her and before her, not simply in the particular space and time of the garden encounter, but released in the world everywhere … Hymn 417 – Now the green blade riseth Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of Resurrecting Hope, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ, and what his gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. God of new beginnings, Break into your church with resurrecting power. Where congregations have drifted apart through these months of Pandemic, re-energize the connections and commitment needed for ministry. Bless the Church throughout the world this Easter Day, and especially where your people are persecuted. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new possibilities, Break into our relationships with resurrecting power. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture and sustain them. Where they are marked by memories of hurt or current misunderstanding, refresh them with forgiveness and reconciliation. Where they are neglected or taken for granted, open eyes to the great gift we offer each other. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new opportunity, Break into the governance of your world with resurrecting power. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for justice, understanding and the equitable sharing of resources. We continue to pray for the Ukraine and Russia and all caught up in the war, where Christian fights against Christian and where terrible acts have shocked us. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new life, Break into situations of illness, pain, grief and loss with resurrecting power. Where there is sickness of body, mind, or spirit, bring healing and hope. Where people mourn the loss of relationships or dreams, bring comfort and courage to go on. Where those who serve and care and maintain our common life are exhausted, bring rest and renewal. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of Easter Day, In silence we bring before you the prayers of our hearts. Silence Resurrect, renew and revive our spirits. Hear our prayer. Amen Hymn 419 – Thine be the glory Benediction God of new possibilities, new beginnings, new hope, Bless us now with your resurrection life! Jesus calling us each by name Bless us now with your resurrection life! Spirit equipping and energizing us, sending us out Bless us now with your resurrection life! And may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and with those whom you love, wherever they may be, now and always. Amen  Welcome, Cheviot churches! We worship together on this Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday.
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Through the hosannas and waving palms, Come walk the road with Christ Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We will walk with him Through the betrayal and the denial. Come walk the road with Christ Behold the lamb of God. We will walk with him Through the palms and the passion, the prayers and the pain, come and walk the road with him Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We will walk with him Hymn 367 – Hosanna, loud hosanna Prayers of Adoration and Confession Lord Jesus, you enter our lives humbly, Riding on a donkey, staying at our level, inviting our response. Circle our hearts, centre our minds, still our bodies. Be present to us now. Almighty God, whose love endures forever, who meets us where we are, who meets us as we are— our true selves: flawed and broken, sick and well, sad and joyous, doubtful and sure; but forever held in your steadfast love. As we begin this week of contemplation and reflection, guide our thoughts towards the life and teachings of our saviour Jesus. Show us the way forward and through the difficulties of this life and these troubling times; lead us towards the gates of your kingdom We confess it is easier for us to follow the crowd than follow Christ; we prefer to avoid conflict rather than stand up for your mercy and understanding. We allow strident voices in our times to drown out your wisdom and truth. Forgive us, O God. Fill us with the courage to take up our cross and follow Jesus, even when the cost to follow is high and reputations are at stake. Jesus says, ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. Jesus brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. We are a forgiven people. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 50: 4-9a Luke 19: 28-40 Blessing of Palm Crosses We thank you Lord for these palm crosses, A simple reminder of the love you showed for us. As we take them into our homes, May they remind us through this special week That you gave your life for us upon the cross. May they remind us of how deep and wide and high Is the love you have for us. As we take them into our homes, So may we take your love into our hearts And worship you as Saviour and King. And like the people on that first Palm Sunday, May we also cry ‘Hosanna, Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord’. Hymn MP 167 – Give me joy in my heart (1,3,4) Weekly Prayer Sovereign Lord, we thank you for loving our world so much that you freely gave your one and only Son to bring eternal life. Help us to welcome Him as we worship the one who brings much-needed peace on earth. "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of The Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Amen Reflection (with thanks to Michael Rummiger) He was minding his own business. But he ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time…. or so it seemed. He was from the town of Cyrene on the coast of Libya. Now, every Jew wanted to go to Jerusalem for Passover, at least once in their lifetime, and so Simon arrived in Jerusalem. If it was his first trip, he must have been filled with excitement, to be there right at the centre of things for the Passover feast. Jerusalem at Passover was always crowded, but this year, the crowd seemed more tense. People were angry and shouting ‘Crucify him’. Others looked sad. Maybe Simon saw a women, crying out ‘My son’ or a man saying ‘He healed me’. Simon from Cyrene was stuck in the middle of the crowd, the wrong place at the wrong time. For suddenly Simon felt a hand grabbing him – a Roman soldier. Simon may have wanted to go to the Temple to pray, but instead he is in the grip of a soldier – and you don’t mess with them. Then Simon sees another man, hardly recognisable because of all the blood. He was one of those to be executed, but too weak to carry his cross. Why had they beaten him? Why the crown of thorns? He was losing so much blood – would they even need to crucify him? But the soldier was saying something to him, which made no sense. ‘Carry his cross’. What? ‘Carry the cross’. Maybe Simon tried to object, but Roman soldiers expected obedience. So Simon picks up the cross. A cross he didn’t deserve; a cross that didn’t belong to him; a cross that made no sense. Then they started to walk, Simon and Jesus. Both of them suffering; both burdened. But they kept going, one step at a time. Did they say anything to each other? We don’t know, But perhaps Simon recognised that Jesus was no ordinary person and certainly no criminal. He didn’t deserve to die. On this Palm Sunday, we remember how Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem to acclaim, but it is also Passion Sunday and by his very action, Jesus was a threat to those in power. He had to die. In the account of the Passion, Simon of Cyrene is only mentioned briefly, though Mark mentioned the possibility that his two sons became Christians. Simon may have thought that he was stuck in the crowd, in the wrong place at the wrong time, but with hindsight, maybe he realised that he was in the right place at the right time. Because every human being can have a moment when a cross is handed to us. We don’t deserve it. It makes no sense. It confuses and frightens us. But one thing becomes clear. We are not walking alone. As Simon carried the cross, he was walking with Jesus. As we carry our crosses, we walk with Jesus, and in Him, that’s where we find our peace and strength. Jesus didn’t deserve to die. But it happened. Simon didn’t deserve to carry a muckle big cross. But it happened. We don’t deserve the cancer or the depression or the heart trouble. We don’t deserve to lose a job or lose a loved one or undergo a family crisis. The people of Ukraine don’t deserve their sufferings. But these crosses are handed to us. And you pick it up. And you put one foot in front of the other. And you slowly realize – we are not walking alone. The One who suffered is walking beside us. The One whose hands were nailed is waving us forward. The One whose heart was pierced with a sword is loving us. And the One who rose from the dead is promising that we will rise too. Simon was in the right place at the right time. How else could he have discovered that this undeserved cross was the tool God would use to reveal the closeness of Jesus? And how else could God teach Simon that the greatest gift we can give to one another is to help our brother and sister carry their crosses? Hymn 399 – My song is love unknown (1-4,7) Prayers of Dedication & Intercession God of justice, in a world that continues to tell the tired old story that might is right, we give you thanks that, in Jesus, you have shown a new and different way— that real strength is found in vulnerability and through self-giving acts of humble service. We pray for those in positions of power— for heads of state, and for those who serve in government at local and national level, that they govern wisely and well, and with integrity, putting the needs of constituents and country above their own desires. We pray for people who live under the heel of oppressive regimes, for countries where lawlessness has replaced the rule of law, for places where human wrongs are the order of the day, not human rights. We remember the ones forced to flee their homelands for daring to speak truth to power, or who are discriminated against because of their faith, gender, orientation, or the colour of their skin. Lord, may your kingdom come where justice is mixed with mercy. We continue to remember the terrible war in Ukraine and also the suffering in Yemen and Syria. God of compassion, we pray for the most vulnerable in our communities, those who have been bruised by life, those for whom hope has gone, who see only darkness and despair. We especially think of those worried about the cost of living. We think of joyous events and celebrations, of births and weddings, and especially today of long marriages, and we thank you for Caroline and Kenneth. We pray for those who are ill and those who tend to them. Give comfort to all who wait and watch, to those who are weary and overwhelmed, and to those who are walking the way of grief. Lord, may your kingdom come where compassion is a by-word, and no-one is left without care. In a moment of quiet prayer, we bring before you all who are on our minds and in our hearts at this time, and we pray for our own particular needs God, who makes all things new, we offer you these, our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen Hymn 370 - Ride on, ride on – the time is right The time is not yet, but the darkness is gathering. The time is not yet, but the main players are taking their positions. Dither not, but come back tomorrow and wait with the Son of God, for his friends are few in this world of hatred. The time is not yet, but our time is now: to be here and trust a love that will see this thing through. Go, but be back, for Jesus needs his friends. Benediction Go into Holy Week, walking in the footsteps of Christ and may the blessing of God, Creator, Guide and Inspirer, rest and remain with you, now and forevermore. Amen  Welcome, Cheviot churches! We worship together on this Fifth Sunday of Lent.
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On the fifth Sunday in Lent we gather. We come to remember and celebrate the good news of Jesus, who enjoyed time with friends, even with one who would betray him. We come to share in his company at communion. We come as we are, full of faults and failings, yet loved by God. Let us come close to God, as God comes close to us. Hymn 198 – Let us build a house (1,3,5) Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of time and space, we come before you today, in awe and wonder of your creation. As we look to the heavens, we see formed in plant and star, the glory of your majesty, made manifest in all we see. God of land and sea, we come before you today with thanksgiving, for a planet that provides all we need to sustain us in its provision for our needs, and its beauty for our wonder. God of storm and calm, we come before you as followers of your Son, Jesus Christ; who quelled the waves, who spoke with tenderness, who, in word and deed, showed us how to live in step with you. God of love and forgiveness, we come before you today, aware of who and what we are:- of the promise we show as your beloved children, and of our propensity to fail you in what we think, say and do. In a time of quiet, we offer to you our prayers of confession, and ask that you will forgive us and make us new. [Silence] In repentance and faith, receive the promise of grace and the assurance of pardon. Here are words you may trust, words that merit full acceptance: 'Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' To all who turn to him he says; 'Your sins are forgiven.' He also says follow me. Let us turn, then, from our past failings, assured that we are made new, and look forward in faith and in hope Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 43: 16-21 John 12: 1-8 Hymn 659 – Put peace into each other’s hands Weekly Prayer Eternal God, may your House once again be filled with fragrance as we celebrate the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ through the partaking of bread and wine. Help us to proclaim your praise as we go out into our community to share the good news of his kingdom. Amen Reflection I had 4 hours to kill at Heathrow airport and glanced at the aftershave. An assistant came over, recommending a new woody fragrance. Usually, they spray a little onto a piece of card for you to sniff but maybe he was new to the job, maybe he was being mischievous, but he proceeded to spray it very generously all over me. I was glad I did have 4 hours for it to fade a little. But I thought of the passage we read today, of the women anointing Jesus with a pint of perfume. That’s a lot! All four Gospels record this story, though they differ in the setting and Luke even has it earlier in Jesus’ ministry. John has it in the house of Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus. It is therefore a very intimate setting. Jesus is with friends and can relax. He would have been accompanied by the disciples too. Martha was busying away in the kitchen. It seemed a moment of calm, for Jesus was about to make his entry to Jerusalem and the storm clouds were gathering. Now, this story is told in the aftermath of Lazarus being raised from the dead; he had died, and Mary and Martha were distraught, and Jesus had brought him to life again, so it would be a celebration. But then something unexpected happened. Mary is often portrayed as being mild and devout, hanging on Jesus’ every word, but here she takes action and lavishly anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and then unties her hair and proceeds to dry Jesus’ feet. A woman’s hair was only for her husband to see, so this was quite outrageous. But in doing this, in anointing Jesus, it was as if she was preparing his body for death. There is here a foreshadowing of the crucifixion which would happen less than a week later. Judas makes the very valid point that the money could have been spent more wisely, but Jesus defends Mary and says she has done a beautiful thing. God is always doing the unexpected. People expected the Messiah to look like King David – instead they got a carpenter and itinerant preacher. They expected Jesus to throw out the Romans; instead, he was crucified by them. Even his followers expected the crucifixion to be the end; instead, it was a beginning. God was like that. In Isaiah we read how God was going to do a new thing. He was addressing the exiles in Babylon, who were living in the past, remembering past glories, dreaming of Zion. ‘How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land’? God was going to do a new thing, and they reshaped their theology and some did return to Zion and rebuilt the walls. We are all like the exiles – a lot of us remember how Sunday schools were busy and churches were fuller. We live on past glories. But God is ever doing new things now, as we face new challenges like climate change and refugees and a changing world. As we seek to be relevant in our communities. God is ever at work, and working through the unexpected. And what more unexpected than through such ordinary things as bread and wine. Jesus and his friends were enjoying an intimate evening in Bethany when Mary anointed Jesus. So, on the Thursday of Holy Week Jesus was again sharing a meal with his friends, and he took bread and broke it; took wine and shared it and asked his followers to do this to remember him. We meet in this intimate setting with our brothers and sisters in Christ around us, and we too share in a meal, as has happened down the centuries. We remember Christ’s body broken on the cross and his blood shed, that we might have life and life in all its fullness. May we be strengthened by it and may God continue to work through the unexpected to do many new things and indeed many beautiful things in and through us. Prayers of Dedication & Intercession We come before you in dedication, offering what we have as a token of our commitment to your mission and message, take them and use them in Jesus’ name we pray. God of all peoples and nations, Who created all things alive and breathing, United and whole, show us the way of peace that is your overwhelming presence. We hold before you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia, Every child and every adult. We long for the time When weapons of war are beaten into ploughshares When nations no longer lift up sword against nation. We cry out to you for peace; Protect those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones Be with those who are bereaved. Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression And fill leaders with the wisdom that leads to peace. Kindle again in us a love of our neighbour, And a passion for justice to prevail and a renewed recognition that we all play a part in peace. Creator of all hear our prayer And bring us peace. make us whole. Amen. (Christian Aid) Invitation to the Table The table is set for all; around it there are no divisions. Just as one loaf is made from many grains, - and as one cup is filled from the fruit of many grapes, so, we, though many, are made one in Christ, nourished by him to nourish the world. Jesus calls us to this table, and all are welcome here. Hymn 19 – Ye gates Communion Hymn 518 – Lift up your hearts Benediction |
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