Welcome to

Victoria Methodist Church

24 November 2013

38 StFALL Wa wa wa Emimimo,

CANTOR Emioloye.ALL Wa wa wa Alagbara,CANTOR Alagbarameta.

ALL Wao, wao, wao.CANTOR Emimimo.

ALL Come, O Holy Spirit, come,CANTOR Holy Spirit come.ALL Come, almighty Spirit,

come,CANTOR almighty Spirit, come.

ALL Come, come, come.CANTOR O Spirit, come.

Anonymoustranslated by I-to Loh

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 38Words:

Opening Responses

Leader: Creator of the cosmos,

of eternity and time:

ALL: be with us in this time.

Leader: Saviour of the world,

healer of the nations:

ALL: be with us in this place.

Leader: Breath of all that lives,

of people near and far:

ALL: stir within our lives.

Leader: Maker-Spirit-Son,

God of here and now:

ALL: be present in our worship,

that we may find new ways

to be present in your world.

705 StF1 It is God who holds the nations in

the hollow of his hand;it is God whose light is shining in the

darkness of the land;it is God who builds the City on the

Rock and not on sand:may the living God be praised!

2 It is God whose purpose summons us to use the present hour;

who recalls us to our senses when a nation's life turns sour;

in the discipline of freedom we shall know God's saving power:may the living God be praised!

3 When a thankful nation, looking back, has cause to celebrate

those who win our admiration by their service to the state;

when self-giving is a measure of the greatness of the great:

may the living God be praised!

4 God reminds us every sunrise that the world is ours on lease:

for the sake of life tomorrow may our love for it increase;

may all races live together, share its riches, be at peace:

may the living God be praised!Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000)

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 705Words: © 1977, Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ <www.stainer.co.uk>

Prayer

Reading: Luke 4 v 16 - 21

701 StF1 Heaven shall not wait

for the poor to lose their patience,the scorned to smile, the despised to

find a friend:Jesus is Lord;

he has championed the unwanted;in him injustice confronts its timely end.

2 Heaven shall not waitfor the rich to share their fortunes,

the proud to fall, the élite to tend the least:

Jesus is Lord;he has shown the master's privilege —

to kneel and wash servants' feet before they feast.

3 Heaven shall not waitfor the dawn of great ideas,

thoughts of compassion divorced from cries of pain:

Jesus is Lord;he has married word and action;his cross and company make his

purpose plain.

4 Heaven shall not waitfor triumphant Hallelujahs,

when earth has passed and we reach another shore:

Jesus is Lordin our present imperfection;

his power and love are for now, and then for evermore.

John L. Bell (b. 1949) and Graham Maule (b. 1958)

God asks, “Who will go for me? Who will extend my reach?

And who, when few will listen, will prophecy and preach?

And who, when few bid welcome, will offer all they know?

And who, when few dare follow, will walk the road I show?

717 StF1 We do not hope to ease our minds

by simple answers, shifted blame,while Christ is homeless, hungry,

poor,and we are rich who bear his name.

As long as justice is a dreamand human dignity denied,

we stand with Christ; disturb us stilltill every need is satisfied.

2 We cannot ask to live at peacein comfort and security

while Christ is tried in Pilate’s halland drags his cross to Calvary.As long as hatred stifles truth

and freedom is betrayed by fear,we stand with Christ; give us no

peacetill his peace reigns in triumph here.

3 We will not pray to be preservedfrom any depth of agony

while Christ’s despairing cry rings out:

God, why have you abandoned me?As long as we have hope to shareof life renewed beyond the pain,

we stand with Christ all through the night

till Easter morning dawns again.Marnie Barrell (b. 1952)

The last line of each verse is repeated.Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 717

Words: © Marnie Barrell

Reading: Amos 5 v 18 – 24

Reflection

Introduction to Prayer Stations

779 StFHoly, holy, holy.

With joy my heart adores you!My heart cries out to worship you:

holy are you, Lord!

38 StFALL Wa wa wa Emimimo,

CANTOR Emioloye.ALL Wa wa wa Alagbara,CANTOR Alagbarameta.

ALL Wao, wao, wao.CANTOR Emimimo.

ALL Come, O Holy Spirit, come,CANTOR Holy Spirit come.ALL Come, almighty Spirit,

come,CANTOR almighty Spirit, come.

ALL Come, come, come.CANTOR O Spirit, come.

Anonymoustranslated by I-to Loh

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 38Words:

Reading from Lamentations

693 StF1 Beauty for brokenness,

hope for despair,Lord, in your suffering world

this is our prayer.Bread for the children,

justice, joy, peace,sunrise to sunset,

your kingdom increase!

2 Shelter for fragile lives,cures for their ills,work for all people,

trade for their skills;land for the dispossessed,

rights for the weak,voices to plead the causeof those who can't speak.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,

give us compassion we pray:melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain;come, change our love

from a spark to a flame.

3 Refuge from cruel wars,havens from fear,

cities for sanctuary,freedoms to share.

Peace to the killing-fields,scorched earth to green,Christ for the bitterness,

his cross for the pain.

4 Rest for the ravaged earth,oceans and streams

plundered and poisoned —our future, our dreams.Lord, end our madness,

carelessness, greed;make us content with

the things that we need.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,

give us compassion we pray:melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain;come, change our love

from a spark to a flame.

5 Lighten our darkness,breathe on this flame

until your justice burnsbrightly again;

until the nationslearn of your ways,seek your salvation

and bring you their praise.

God of the poor,friend of the weak,

give us compassion we pray:melt our cold hearts,let tears fall like rain;come, change our love

from a spark to a flame. Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)

Responses for Prayers of Intercession

Leader: God of the poor

ALL: Come, change our love

from a spark to a flame.

Silence

712 StF 1 Put peace into each other's hands

and like a treasure hold it,protect it like a candle-flame,

with tenderness enfold it.

2 Put peace into each other's handswith loving expectation;

be gentle in your words and ways,in touch with God's creation.

3 Put peace into each other's handslike bread we break for sharing;look people warmly in the eye:

our life is meant for caring.

5 Put Christ into each other's hands,he is love's deepest measure;

in love make peace, give peace a chance,

and share it like a treasure.Fred Kaan (1929–2009)

Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 712Words: © 1989, Stainer & Bell Ltd, 23 Gruneisen Road, London N3 1DZ <www.stainer.co.uk>

Responsive Version of Lord’s Prayer

 

Our Father in heaven,

            remind us that you are parent to all your children, whoever they are or wherever they come from, Hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom come,

            establishing peace and justice, hope and life for all peoples,Your will be done on earth

as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread 

            disturb us into an awareness of the needs of others.

Forgive us our sin,

      our pride and also our prejudice,As we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

            especially keep our hearts and minds open to see the good in others;

Deliver us from evil,

For the kingdom - just and true,

            the power - gentle and fair,

            and the glory -  shot through with the colours of love,

           are yours, for ever and ever. Amen

713 StF1 Show me how to stand for justice:

how to work for what is right,how to challenge false assumptions,

how to walk within the light.May I learn to share more freely

in a world so full of greed,showing your immense compassion

by the life I choose to lead.

2 Teach my heart to treasure mercy,whether given or received —

for my need has not diminishedsince the day I first believed:

let me seek no satisfactionboasting of what I have done,

but rejoice that I am pardonedand accepted in your Son.

3 Gladly I embrace a lifestylemodelled on your living word,

in humility submittingto the truth which I have heard.

Make me conscious of your presenceevery day in all I do:

by your Spirit's gracious promptingmay I learn to walk with you.

Martin Leckebusch (b. 1962)Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 713

Words: © 1999, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 3BW Used by permission.

Blessing:

May the blessing of the God who swells the grain go with us.

May the blessing of the Son who breaks the bread go with us.

And may the blessing of the Spirit who quickens new life within us inspire us to share bread both globally and locally till all may eat their fill and have enough.

And the people said: AMEN