WELCOME AND NOTICES

CALL TO WORSHIP
Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!
We, too, would take our place in the long line
of those who have celebrated the resurrection
through the centuries, and, who by their living,
have embodied its reality.
It is in the lives of those who have experienced
the power of the resurrected Christ,
setting them free to love and serve in his name,
that resurrection is made real in each new generation.
Let us live out the resurrection power!

HYMN: Christ is Alive
Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout in this Eastertide!
Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate
in a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering
is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,
here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,
and we sing alleluia,
we sing alleluia
to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity
to the music of God, God who has set us free!
You are the pulse of the new creation’s energy;
with a great alleluia,
a great alleluia
we praise the power that made the stone roll away.
© Shirley Murray (AA)

OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER – SUNG
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS

READINGS: Psalm 16 Catherine Fitchett
John 20: 19-31 Deborah Fitchett

HYMN: You Tell Me That the Lord Is Risen (Tune: Ellacombe)
You tell me that the Lord Is risen,
that you have seen his face.
Then tell me why you crouch in fear
and hide within this place.
You say that he spoke words of peace
and stood just as before.
But ‘til I touch his very flesh
I will not trust your joy.

You claim a resurrection here,
that God has broken death.
No easy words like these will soothe
the pain that tears my breath.
How well I do recall his face,
compassion, strength in fear.
How deep my grief that he should die.
Spare me your words of cheer.

“Now peace be with you. Come, my friend,
my wounded body see.
Let the rich courage of your doubt
bring you to fresh belief.
Fear not to wonder at the Word,
to search the depths of grace.
Reach out and touch, here is my hand.
Receive the gift of faith.”

“How blest are they, how fortunate
who know without the sight.
But Thomas, you are favoured too,
for searching yields its light.”
So may each pilgrim in the Way,
each road to Christ be blest,
‘til lips declare, “My Lord and God!”,
Christ’s body one at last. (Rob Johns, © Sheila Johns)
SERMON: The Gift of Thomas – Living between faith and doubt.

THE OFFERING:
God, we bring you our hope this Easter season,
that compassion will be encouraged, doubts faced,
people encouraged and supported, and the transforming work of Jesus continued. We ask that you will bless these hope-filled gifts of money and food, and deepen the spirit of our giving, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

HYMN: Jesus Christ is Alive and Lives in Me (Tune: Margaret 206)
Jesus Christ is alive and lives in me
as I touch the Christ within;
as I open my life to the pow’r of God’s love
I obey the risen Christ.
God’s love is the life within me. The hope that empowers today.

Jesus Christ is alive and lives in me
as I care for God’s good earth;
for the love of the soil and the life it sustains
draws me close to God in Christ.
God’s love is the life within me. The hope that empowers today.

Jesus Christ is alive and lives in me
as I fight oppression’s power;
as I work with the poor in the strength of God’s love
I exalt the risen Christ.
God’s love is the life within me. The hope that empowers today.

Jesus Christ is alive and lives in me
as I seek God’s living Word;
for the Scriptures of old and events of today
all reveal the Risen Word.
God’s love is the life within me. The hope that empowers today.

Jesus Christ is alive and lives in me
as I worship God with joy;
in the breaking of bread and the song of God’s love
I am one with the Christ the Life.
God’s love is the life within me. The hope that empowers today.
© Bill Wallace (STC)
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

HYMN: Christ Has Risen (Tune Blaenwern WOV165ii)
Christ has risen while earth slumbered,
Christ has risen where hope died,
as he said and as he promised,
as we doubted and denied.
Let the moon embrace the blessing;
let the sun sustain the cheer;
let the world confirm the rumour,
Christ is risen, God is here!

Christ has risen for the people
whom he loved and died to save;
Christ has risen for the women
bringing flowers to grace his grave.
Christ has risen for disciples
huddled in an upstairs room.
He whose word inspired creation
is not silenced by the tomb.

Christ has risen, and for ever
lives to challenge, and to change
all whose lives are messed or mangled,
all who find religion strange.
Christ is risen. Christ is present,
making us what he has been –
evidence of transformation
in which God is known and seen.
© WGRG, The Iona Community (CH4)

THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today. Please stay for morning tea after the service.

A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING has been called for Sunday 4th May following Morning Worship. A further update about the buildings and costings will be distributed prior to the meeting.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session TOMORROW 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 30th April Autumn in the Gardens: Meet 9.30am by the bridge (to the old kiosk) at the carpark entrance from Armagh St for a walk around part of North Hagley Park. Coffee venue TBC. June 332 8874.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the lounge at Beckenham Methodist. $3. New faces always welcome. Beverley 332 7786.

MEN’S GROUP: Thursday 8th May at Merchiston. Commences with a shared finger food tea at 6pm, followed by a speaker “Adventures on the High Seas”. All Welcome. Tony 332 0554.

Sue has the Court Theatre tickets and will hand them out on Sundays 4 & 11 May. If you will not be at either of those services, please phone Sue 960 7657 after 4th May and make arrangements to pick them up.

THE PARISH OFFICE HOURS are Wednesday & Thursday 9am-12noon & Friday 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz, or pop in to 7 Wilsons Rd.

NEW READERS’ ROSTER out today – please check to see if there’s a copy for you.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEBSITE: www.stmartins.org.nz
THERE IS NO HUB REPORT THIS WEEK.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 28th Joan; Thu 1st Margaret.