Online Service for Sunday 29 March 2020
Click here if you want to download the service sheet, or just follow from this page.
The Raising of Lazarus, William Blake
Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent, which we call Passion Sunday because we are entering into Passiontide as we near Holy Week. In church, this is the week when we put purple veils on the crosses and statues so that we ‘fast’ from all images until Easter Day. If you have a cross or religious picture in the house, you could cover it with a cloth for Passiontide.
To participate in our service today, you will again need a Bible, a candle, and a bowl of water with either a pastry brush or a sprig of rosemary/other leafy twig in it for the ‘asperges’. If that’s not practical, don’t worry. If there is more than one of you, you can share out leading, and the readings; but it is perfectly possible to participate just on your own.
Opening Hymn
Light the candle to begin with, and remember that Jesus, the light of the world, is with you, and with us all. We join in with our opening song, the Lent Prose, sung by Jonathan.
The chorus is:
All Hear us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
For we have sinned against thee.
Lent Prose
Welcome
We make the sign of the cross, saying together,
Leader: + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen
Leader The Lord is here.
All His Spirit is with us.
We take a moment to think about coming into the presence of God and joining with others, either virtually or in our own homes, on this Passion Sunday.
Confessing our sins
As we enter God’s presence, we remember that we have not always lived our lives as we might have done. We have done wrong and hurt others. Let’s seek God’s forgiveness. We pray together:
All
Lord God, we have sinned against you;
we have done evil in your sight.
We are sorry and repent.
Have mercy on us according to your love.
Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.
Renew a right spirit within us and restore us to the joy of your salvation, x
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
As it is Lent, we have the asperges – a sprinkling with water which reminds us of the cleansing of baptism. You might like to sprinkle yourself, and those with you, with the water in your bowl using the brush/twig. Please listen to Jonathan singing while you do this.
Asperges
Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:
Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Have mercy on me, O God, after thy great goodness.
According to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
God’s forgiveness is pronounced, we cross ourselves + and say: Amen.
Please pray the Collect – the prayer for the day
Leader
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings
It’s nice to do the readings out loud, even if you are on your own.
Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 47.1-14.
If you can, stand to read the Gospel. Beware, it's a long one, so you might want to share it out if there is more than one of you.
Gospel of the Day: John 11.1-45
Talks
Today we have two talks! Janice Price, our ordinand, has prepared a homily for adults, and Mary-Jane Taylor, formerly Head of St Matthew's Primary School has prepared a talk for the children. You can listen to one or other, or both - up to you!
Janice Price
Mary Jane Taylor
Creed
Let’s remind ourselves of the beliefs of the Christian faith
All
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn
Let’s sing a hymn together! Click on this link for the music and join in with Mthr Helen
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word,
rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity
interpreted by love!
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
The Prayers
Let’s take a moment to reflect. Look at the picture at the top of this service sheet. It is
‘The Raising of Lazarus’ by William Blake.
Notice how, although Jesus’ friends Mary and Martha are distressed, Jesus is calm and in control as he raises Lazarus from the darkness of the grave into the light of his presence. You might like to imagine Jesus raising you from the darkness of any fear and anxiety you are experiencing, into the light of his consoling love.
If you are with others, you may wish to share what that means for you, or any other reflections on the painting. If not, just offer it to the Lord, asking for peace of mind.
Then please click on this link to listen to Jennifer leading the intercessions from her home.
As we finish our prayers, let us say together:
Almighty God, our Shield and our Defender,
guide and protect us at this time.
We pray for our loved ones, our neighbours,
our key workers, and our country in this time of health emergency.
Deliver us from harm, and may your love and care ever grow in our community.
Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Song
Here’s a song that most people know the tune to (if you don’t, just Google it!). Did you know that ‘Kum ba yah’ means ‘Come by here’, so as we sing it, we are inviting God to be present with us and all those in need. Add more verses if you like... 'Someone's caring, Someone's helping, Someone's fearful' - whatever is meaningful for you.
1. Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah, (3)
O Lord, kum ba yah.
2. Someone’s crying, Lord…
3. Someone’s singing, Lord…
4. Someone’s praying, Lord…
Praying for God’s blessing
All
May God give to us and all those we love
his comfort and his peace,
his light and his joy,
in this world and the next;
and may the blessing of God Almighty,
+the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among us and remain with us all
now and forever. Amen.
No closing voluntary today, as it is Passtiontide.
We normally have refreshments after the service, so why not make a cup of tea or coffee, and ring someone you know from church for a chat?