34B - Easter 4B — 36B - Easter 6B
See also my post from 2012, 2018, 2021, 2024
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 22:25-31)
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the LORD shall praise him.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD God;
For dominion belongs to the LORD, embracing all the nations.
All who sleep in the earth bow down;
future generations will serve the LORD.
God’s mighty saving acts will be proclaimed
from generation to generation;
our children’s children will be told what the LORD has done
A CREATIVE MOMENT – John 15:1-8
(a) Create a vine from twisted brown crepe paper, or other as appropriate, an fix it to an appropriate and prominent wall space, or communion rail, if you have one in your church. Provide every worshipper with a “hand-sized” vine leaf, cut from green paper or light card, as they arrive for worship. After the reading of the Gospel have everyone write on their card their “fruit” i.e. one particular skill/gift/attribute which they offer in ministry/discipleship.
As part of the offertory, worshippers come to the vine and attach their “leaf”.
(b) Alternatively From a central, or focal, point distribute brown, green and purple crepe paper streamers throughout the congregation so that everyone is able to take hold of a streamer. The “vine and the branches” may be symbolised in this way. There are a variety of ways of dealing with the streamers afterwards – but your imaginations will best meet the needs of your situation.
(c) Then again, 1 John 4:7-21, offers the opportunity for a “return offering”. Heart shapes (approx 7 cm across by 6cm deep), bearing the words “We love because God first loved us” (v.19), could be cut from coloured light card. Attach a piece of “fridge magnet” (approx. 1.5 cm square) to the back of each heart. Distribute to the congregation as a “return offering” as appropriate in the latter part of worship.
Also, click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print) originally published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne, Australia.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Vinegrower God,
through the raising of your Son to new life,
you broke the power of death.
Do not forsake those who call on your name;
do not be far from those we have named today,
those we name in our hearts
and those whose groanings are known only to you.
Loving God of all generations,
hear the cries of our world;
in Jesus’ name…
(The Prayers of the People continue)
Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate
Or metrical psalms? Try Dale A. Schoening’s Sing the Psalms
| HYMN SUGGESTIONS FOR EASTER 5 – YEAR B |
|
| For the beauty of the earth | TIS 137 |
| Have faith in God my heart | TIS 619 |
| I’m not ashamed to own my Lord | TIS 562 |
| Like the murmur of the doves song | TIS 419 |
| Thanks to God whose word was spoken | TIS 431 |
| The love of Christ has gathered us as one | TIS 434 |
| This is the day the Lord has made | TIS 368 |
| We know that Christ is raised and dies no more | TIS 489 |
| We praise you, Lord, for Jesus Christ | TIS 486 |
| Acts 8:26-40 |
|
| Baptised into your name most holy | TIS 481 |
| In Christ there is no east or west | TIS 459 |
| O love, how deep, how broad, how high | TIS 194 |
| Wash, O God, our sons and daughters | TIS 493 |
| We know that Christ is raised | TIS 489 |
| Psalm 22:25-31 |
|
| All who see me deride me | TIS 9 |
| Christ the Lord is risen today | TIS 370 |
| From heaven you came, helpless babe | TIS 256 |
| In the presence of your people | TIS 727 |
| 1 John 4:7-21 |
|
| All the sleepy should have a place to sleep | TIS 697 |
| Christ is the world’s light, he and none | TIS 246 |
| Christ, from whom all blessings flow | TIS 440 |
| Come as you are, that’s how I want you | TIS 693 |
| Father welcomes all his children | TIS 491 |
| For the beauty of the earth | TIS 137 |
| God beyond glory | TIS 678 |
| Help us accept each other | TIS 648 |
| In great thanksgiving, O love divine | TIS 632 |
| King of glory, king of peace | TIS 201 |
| Let earth and heaven combine | TIS 305 |
| Lord, I come to you | TIS 685 |
| Lord, you have been our dwelling place | TIS 144 |
| Love divine, all loves excelling | TIS 217 |
| Make me a channel of your peace | TIS 607 |
| My song is love unknown | TIS 341 |
| Now is eternal life | TIS 385 |
| O love of God, how strong, how true | TIS 139 |
| O the deep, deep love of Jesus | TIS 232 |
| Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer | TIS 627 |
| Pull back the veil on the dawn of creation | TIS 326 |
| Robe yourself, my soul, with gladness | TIS 503 |
| Salvation now to us has come | TIS 195 |
| The love of Christ has gathered us as one | TIS 434 |
| This is a day of new beginnings | TIS 653 |
| To Christ, the Prince of peace | TIS 335 |
| Where there is charity and love | TIS 434 |
| Your love, O God, has called us here | TIS 664 |
| John 15:1-8 |
|
| Christ is alive, with joy we sing: | TIS 393 |
| Fairest Lord Jesus | TIS 203 |
| I bind unto myself today | TIS 478 |
| Jesus lives! your terrors now | TIS 372 |
| Joyful, joyful we adore you | TIS 152 |
| Like the murmur of the dove’s song | TIS 419 |
| Lord, you are the light of life to me | TIS 261 |
| O stay with us, Lord Jesus | TIS 551 |
| Sent forth by God’s blessing | TIS 531 |
| What shall we offer our good Lord | TIS 439 |
| While morning still is breaking | TIS 104 |