A Poem for Easter – (Adapted from R.Preston Price)
HYMN: Thine Be the Glory (WOV 303)
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes, where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory, thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
© World Student Christian Federation (WOV)
OPENING PRAYER
WELCOME AND NOTICES
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
READINGS: Acts 10: 34 – 43 Sonya Hodder
Mark 16: 1-8 David Hodder
HYMN: Was it the Shaking Ground (Tune: Fulda WOV 137)
Was it the shaking ground that moved
the stone, that freed the resting Word,
that called the Christ to life again:
God’s Spirit, breathing, moved and stirred?
Whatever cause, we may not know,
but Mary heard a calming voice,
that turned her life around again,
that gave her reason to rejoice.
The world still spinning, recollects
that God survived all human scorn;
that lives were changed for ever more
in meeting love alive, re-born.
This is the Voice that turns us round,
that calmly offers grace to cope;
that gives us strength to live again,
that gives us cause to sing our hope. © Andrew Pratt
REFLECTION: What Mark has to say
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH:
We believe in God, who made the sun and the sky,
the stars and the sea; who calls us to live responsibly.
We believe in Jesus Christ, who became human
who healed the sick who talked to children
who made friends with sinners.
He burned brightly and offended many.
His journey was one of life and death and resurrection.
His light continues to shine in darkness.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who inspires the scriptures and whose breath we breathe.
We believe that God calls us to be a community,
committed to one another, offering a welcome to everyone:
old and young, rich and poor, strong and weak.
We believe that God calls us to be peacemakers:
workers for justice, brothers and sisters
a light for the world. Amen.
THE OFFERING:
We give thanks for our life and the courage we are given to live it.
May our gratitude for life be expressed in our generosity.
May our faith be expressed through love in action.
May our belief in the future find full expression
in our daily attitude to life, in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION TO COMMUNION & THE PEACE
HYMN: I Come With Joy a Child of God (Tune: Kilmarnock WOV 186)
I come with joy, a child of God,
forgiven, loved, and free,
the life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
That love that made us, makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.
The Spirit of the risen Christ,
unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship better known,
alive among us here.
Together met, together bound,
by all that God has done,
we’ll go with joy, to give the world
the love that makes us one. © Stainer & Bell (CH 4)
THE THANKSGIVING
…. Here in this sacred space, we are lifted into
the awesome mystery of life.
Here in this sacred space we give words
to our inner sense of gratitude and hope.
We pause in gratitude for all that has been given;
in hope for all that yet will be.
And so we take these gifts of bread and wine,
such ordinary things of life,
to lift us into the mystery of God’s
acceptance and grace…
THE COMMUNION: The bread and wine will be served by intinction
as you gather in one large circle around the worship space.
If you need to be served in your seat we will come to you.
HYMN: Christ is Alive and the Universe Must Celebrate
Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,
and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!
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)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
THE SESSION calls a Congregational Meeting for Sunday 19th April after Morning Worship to receive the nominations of Barry Moore and Hilary Moore for election as Elders.
The second business of the meeting is in regard to the election of four members to the Ministry Settlement Board. Bruce Hudson, Session Clerk.
The congregation is invited to make written nominations for the election of four congregational members to the Ministry Settlement Board. Nomination forms are available, along with accompanying information, at the front of the church. These need to be placed in a sealed envelope and put in the box or dropped off to Anna at the Office. If you wish to receive the nomination form and information by email, please contact Anna after 8th April. Nominations need to be in by Wednesday 15th April.
ALPINE PRESBYTERY meets Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May. On Friday evening the 50th anniversary of the Ordination of women to ministry will be celebrated, along with 60 years of women ordained as Elders. Women Elders are warmly invited to attend. More information later.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 8th April: Meet at 9.30am. Contact Judith 332 1577 for this week’s destination.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wed & Thurs 9am-12noon; Fri 9-11am. Pop in and visit at 7 Wilsons Rd. Phone 332 6192. Email: stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.stmartins.org.nz. Notices MUST be sent in by 9am Thursday.
FOOT CLINIC: Next Session Monday 4th May 1-4pm. Lyndsey 388 1264.
FIX-IT JOBS: Now is the time to tidy things up around your property before winter. Leaking taps? Draughts that need blocking? Smoke alarm batteries that need checking or replacing? We have people who can help with these tasks. Contact the Office for more details.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Tue 7th Rosemary; Thu 9th Samantha-Rose