Welcome
Call to worship 1 John 4: 7 – 12
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
Opening prayer – Steve
Hymn How deep the fathers love for us
Sword drill
Hymn – Cynthia
Reading Ephesians 3: 14 – 21
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Gwen
Thought – “Look, taste, feel love!”
Hymn Here is love as vast as the ocean Collection taken during the hymn by Jonathan & Darrel
Prayers of thanks – Darrel
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. – Naomi
Hymn King of Kings
Lord’s Supper
We are going to share the Lord’s Supper together in a moment. This simple meal reminds us of the meal that Jesus shared with His friends the night before He was betrayed and hung on a cross. We share this meal because Jesus told us to do so when we gather together.
Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth to help them understand the Lord’s Supper. Here’s what Paul said in 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.”
We will use Paul’s message to guide us as we take the Lord’s Supper together. But before we begin, we should think about who should share in this meal. You shouldn’t celebrate the Lord’s Supper just because you feel you have to or to fit in with everyone else. You should celebrate it if you love the Lord and want to love Him more – you don’t have to be perfect to take part.
So, let us celebrate the Lord’s Supper together this morning.
In verse 24, Jesus takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” As you take the bread, remember that Jesus gave His body to be broken on the cross for you because He loves you. Think about how much Jesus loves you and find strength and hope to serve God today and every day.
In verse 25, Jesus takes the cup, gives thanks, and offers it to His disciples, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” When Jesus spoke of “His blood poured out for the new covenant,” He was saying His death on the cross would establish a new, grace-filled relationship with God. This new covenant is based on forgiveness, faith, and inner transformation, rather than on external rituals or sacrifices. Through His blood, we are given direct access to God, a renewed heart, and the promise of eternal life.
Before you come forward to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, take a moment to thank God for all that Jesus has done for you because He loves you.
When you are ready, come forward to get the bread and the wine and return to your seat. As you take the bread and wine, remember what they mean and give thanks for Jesus and His love for you.
People come forward to receive the bread and wine Hazel & Alison to distribute the elements.
Lord’s prayer – Jonathan
Share the peace
Hymn Drenched in love
Blessing
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 – Hazel