WELCOME AND NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP:
The Easter resurrection is a sign
that the love of God is stronger than death,
that Christ’s power is never diminished.
The Easter resurrection is a sign
that our hope in him can take us to the end of life
and in a mysterious way beyond.
Come, let us praise the risen Christ.
HYMN: Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing (Tune: Truro WOV 33)
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
but saving, healing, here and now,
and touching every place and time.
In every insult, rift, and war,
where colour, scorn or wealth divide,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, where even hope has died.
Women and men, in age and youth,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring
good news to this and every age,
till earth and sky and ocean ring
with joy, with justice, love, and praise. © Hope Publishing (CH 4)
OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER – SUNG
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS
READINGS: Acts 4: 32-35 Gwendoline Cleland
Psalm 133 Gwendoline Cleland
John 20: 19-31 Martin Cleland
HYMN: As We Walked Home at Close of Day (Tune: Angelus WOV 169)
As we walked home at close of day,
a stranger joined us on our way.
He heard us speak of one who’d gone,
and when we stopped, he carried on.
“Why wander further without light?
Please stay with us this troubled night.
We’ve shared the truth of how we feel
and now would like to share a meal.”
We sat to eat our simple spread,
then watched the stranger take the bread;
and, as he said the blessing prayer,
we knew that someone else was there.
No stranger he; it was our eyes
which failed to see, in stranger’s guise,
the Lord who, risen from the dead,
met us when ready to be fed. © WGRG Iona Community (VU)
SERMON: Easter, an open-ended future
A TIME OF QUIET
THE OFFERING:
God, here is the work of our hands and minds.
Here is the love of our hearts.
Here is our desire to make a better world.
Bless this offering of money, of food, of ourselves,
that our gifts might join the gifts of all your Church,
to help show your love in action in your world. Amen.
HYMN: Christ Has Risen (Tune: Blaenwern WOV 165ii)
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)
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: We Are An Easter People
We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
the yeast is rising in our hearts,
our wine has vintage taste.
Christ is risen,
Christ is risen,
risen in our lives.
We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
our tears are freed to flow and heal
our shattered hopes and hearts
We are an Easter people,
ours is an Easter faith,
our fears have died, we rise to dream,
to love, to dance, to live. © Bill Wallace (AA)
THE BLESSING
Beckenham-St Martins Guess Who is Coming to Lunch Event
Sunday 3 May 12.30pm
Hope you will join us for this opportunity to get to know each other better.
Guests pay $5 to the Host to cover expenses. Hosts are asked to provide a simple lunch and can indicate how many Guests they would like.
Feel free to put your name on both the Host and the Guest list if you are happy to be either. Lists will be in the Lounge.
Guests will be handed an envelope with directions to their Host’s home at the morning service on 3 May.
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
Congregational Meeting NEXT 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. You must be present to vote. 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 and accompanying information are available at the front of the church. Place in a sealed envelope and put in the box or deliver to Anna at the Office. Nominations close 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.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 15th April: Meet 9.30am Opawa Mall carpark, Hawford Rd. Coffee at Opawa Bakery & Cafe. Leader: Fay.
BOARD OF MANAGERS meeting Wednesday 15th April 7.30pm.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.
ANZAC Day Service: An invitation has been extended by the Vicar and Churchwardens of the Anglican Parish of Opawa-St Martins to join them at St Anne’s Anglican Church, 7 Wilsons Rd, on Saturday 25th April at 10am. Morning tea will follow the service. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Please ensure Anna has any notices by 9am Thursday each week.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 13th John E; Thu 16th Mavis.