Sermon preached at Highgate Methodist Church 18th April 2021

Hymns in Most Hymnals, and may be found in the spotify playlist

3rd Sunday of Easter

Prayers used below the Order of Service for those wishing to share in the whole service

Hymns as we prepare for worship:

At the Name of Jesus

Jesus the name High Over All

Call to Worship: Psalm 4

Prayer of Adoration

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Prayer of Confession

Lord’s Prayer

Solo: O Love that wilt not let me go

1st Reading: Acts 3: 12-19

2nd Reading: Luke 24: 36b-48

Sermon

Prayers of Intercession

The Grace

Hymns for closing:

Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning

Thine be the Glory

 

Prayers used for the service:

Prayer of Adoration

Risen Lord, we declare our praises this most Glorious Day unto You, praising You our God, who rose again to triumph over death. We praise You as the One Who put all the world into motion and is not bound by anything of this world. We praise You as the Blessed Trinity, all of which was needed to make the world form into its being, and Aid us all so very much. We praise You, mindful of Your Greatness and Majesty, that is beyond our comprehension. This Day we especially praise You as the Son, Triumphant, ever reigning, raised up from the Grave, for You are Greater than anything of this world. Thus we praise You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Gracious God, we give thanks for all Your Loving gifts to us, from the gifts of the morning, springtime and friendship that put smiles on our faces, to the most glorious gift of the resurrection which You brought to pass for us, that we might have the hope and example of the life eternal, knowing that death is not the end. We Give thanks for all Your gifts to us, for those we can easily call to mind and those we take for granted so much that we forget they too are Your gifts. So we pray, and say, Lord God, Thank You. Amen

Prayer of Confession

Forgiving Father, who as the Son endured so much for our sakes, we make our confession of our sins. We have committed sins against others, and against You. We admit all the bad things we have done, and confess them. We say, Lord God, we are sorry for all the wrongful things we have done, in word, deed and thought. We are mindful of Your Love for us, and remember that when we are sorry, You lift us up once more and say, Your Sins are forgiven. We are cleansed of our sins, and set right once more, and we ask You to strengthen us, so that we might be more able to resist sin. We thank You Lord for Your forgiveness, and all the things You will do for us in the days to come. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Hallowed be thy Name

Thy Kingdom Come

Thy Will be Done

On Earth As It Is in Heaven

Give us this day, Our daily bread

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from Evil

For thine is the Kingdom,

The Power and the Glory

Forever and Ever

Amen

 

Prayers of Intercession

We bring our prayers of Intercession before God to ask his help in the world, as in the traditional way there is a response, after the words “Risen Lord Hear us” the response is, “Risen Lord, Graciously Hear us”

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Those in Want

O Lord we bring before You those who are in want of material things, be it of food, of water, of shelter or anything else that is necessary to life. Lord, we know that their stories are many and varied, as are their needs. So we ask that where we can help their relief from want, we shall know how to do so, and shall set to it with a will. Where we cannot help them with our hands, we pray for the hands and hearts of others to be moved to help with all possible speed. We pray for all who are afraid in this difficult time, asking for their comfort, and the relief of the many strains upon their nerves. We pray too for all those who are in peril and far from being vaccinated, Lord speak to them that they may keep themselves as safe as possible.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Those in Sickness

We pray for those who are ill. We pray for those whose sickness is but seasonal or of short duration. We pray for those whose ailments are long lasting or slow to heal. God grant them healing if it be possible, and comfort in all cases. We pray too for all those who work in healthcare and social care to the aid of others, give them strength and keep them from tiredness and error. We pray too for those who labour to find new cures and treatments, please God, bless their hands and their efforts, that they may know much success and never want for ideas. We pray especially for the roll out of the vaccines, Lord, help the supplies to flow in abundance and for competence to guide the distribution throughout the world.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Those in mourning and despair

We bring before You those who mourn, Lord, we ask that they may know the comforts of Your Gospel and its truth, that they may be shielded from despair, sure in the knowledge of Heaven and of places prepared for Christian folk the world over there, praying for those who lose those they care for in this time of pandemic, however they may have been taken from us by.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Those who labour unto God

We pray Lord God for all those who work for the Church. We pray for our own Churches and Circuits, tending the flame of the Spirit amongst us in different ways in these times. We pray for the Church throughout Britain, that it may grow and prosper as never before, for we see again and again in history how the Church can revive, and we ask for such again. We ask that the Church may flourish in every corner of the world, and be safe from those who would work for the Evil One amongst the sheep. We pray for those who lack the knowledge of You our God, whether they be in total ignorance, know but little of the Gospel, or if they know all but certainty in their faith. We ask God that we may be a help to those we can, to know You, as Father Son and Holy Spirit. For those we cannot reach, we pray for all who are abroad in the world and able to help spread the news of You, that their tongues might speak freely and that ears may be open to them.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Those who labour unto the World

We pray for those who endeavour to keep this world going. We pray for governments and administrations, especially remembering our own in these difficult times, may those able to make decisions be guided to make the right ones, and may those who must labour to make things happen see the works of their hands prosper. Please God, bring better times to the world. May the desire to be a Godly people light the hearts of all, so that evil shall be stopped. We pray too for the Royal Family, Lord, guard and guide them just as You do us, and May they all know and faithfully serve you. We pray for our Queen and Royal Family in their time of Grief, asking that You give them the same spiritual comforts given unto us all.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Our close kin and neighbours

We pray for those folk who are around about us, for one another, our neighbours, varied in their needs and wants, that those who are in need may be helped, and that they may know always that they may come to come us for aid, no matter their need. We especially remember to You…(here name any you have an especial prayer for)

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Ourselves

We pray for our own needs Lord, for we are so often weak and weary. We ask that You help us all in our difficulties, whatever they may be. We ask to be strong for ourselves and others, that we may know much help and relief and be strong and sure in the faith. We ask that those things we long for may be known to us as fulfilments of Your promises.

Risen Lord Hear us

Risen Lord Graciously Hear us

Assurance of prayers being heeded

Lord we pray, knowing that when we pray, You hear us, and our prayers shall not want for answer. Thanks be unto You, Father Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

The Grace

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Love of God, And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, Be With Us All, Ever More, Amen