Welcome
Birthday – Andrew and Darrell
Call to worship Ezekiel 34: 11 – 16
“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
Opening prayer – Sharon
Hymn Here is love as vast as the ocean
Sermon in the sack – Patricia
Hymn Cynthia
Reading Luke 15:1-10
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Anne
Thought – “Are you secretly a Pharisee?”
Hymn Way maker collection taken by Cynthia and Robert
Prayers of thanks – Robert
1 Corinthians 11: 23 – 27
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” – Gwen
Hymn O praise the name
Lord’s Supper
We are about to share the Lord’s Supper. This simple meal reminds us of the night Jesus ate with His disciples before He was betrayed and went to the cross. We do this because Jesus told us to remember Him in this way whenever we gather.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26:
“The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
This meal is for those who love the Lord and want to love Him more. You don’t have to be perfect – come with a thankful heart.
As you take the bread, remember Jesus gave His body for you on the cross because He loves you. Find strength and hope in that love.
As you take the cup, remember His blood was poured out to bring forgiveness and a new covenant – a grace-filled relationship with God, based on faith and inner transformation, not rituals. Through Him we have direct access to God and the promise of eternal life.
Before you come forward, take a moment to thank God for all Jesus has done for you.
When you’re ready, please come, take the bread and wine from Andrew and Claire return to your seat, giving thanks for Jesus and His love.
Lord’s prayer – Steve
Share the peace
Hymn Who you say I am
Hymn My lighthouse
Blessing
“May the Lord bless you
and keep you;
may the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
may the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
Grace – Jonathan