35C - Easter 5C — 37C - Ascension Day
See also my posts from 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022
PSALM 67 (A Version for Today)
Be gracious to us, O God, and bless us;
let your creative radiance light our way
and warm our inmost being.
As your ways are made known in the earth,
as all the nations learn of your saving works,
let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
Let them shout with joy,
for you judge the nations with fairness,
and guide the peoples of the earth.
Let the people praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has made an offering of its produce:
you continue to bless us, O God, our God.
May God bless us –
and be held in holy awe to all the ends of the earth.
PSALM 67 (Another Version for Today)
Be gracious to us, O God, and bless us;
make your face shine upon us.
Knowing your ways in the earth,
your saving works among all the nations,
let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
Let them shout with joy,
for you judge the nations with justice,
and guide the peoples of the earth.
Let the people praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has presented its produce;
you continue to bless us, O God, our God.
May God bless us –
and be held in holy awe to all the ends of the earth.
OFFERING
Gracious God,
we bring our gifts:
our lives and symbols of our living,
an offering of thanksgiving
for your creativity and generosity;
for your love shown to us in the risen One;
for your sustaining and surprising Spirit.
Bless these gifts to the glory of your name
and let all that we do give you praise. Amen.
For use in worship, with acknowledgement. © Jeff Shrowder 2000, 2013.
A CREATIVE MOMENT – Revelation 21:10,22-22:5
As for last week, a large jug of water together with bright white/gold flowers and a swathe of white/gold cloth draped from these symbols onto the floor. The swathe of blue cloth from several weeks ago could be re-used to symbolise the river of the water of life. A small fruit tree in a tub or pot could be placed alongside the blue cloth on the floor.
A “return offering” of a green leaf could be distributed to each member of the congregation just before the Prayers of the People, which might be themed around fruitfulness and healing
Click here for some ideas for worship in Lent and Easter gleaned from the pages of “On the Move” (now out of print), 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 borrows lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
Loving God,
healer and bringer of wholeness,
rejoice with those who rejoice and give thanks today
and strengthen the weak and the lonely.
Pour out your Spirit
on all who are weighed down with grief,
and those whose troubles are known only to you;
that all may know your peace …
(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 6C |
|
| Be thou my vision | TIS 547 |
| Blessed Jesus, at your word | TIS 437 |
| God of mercy, God of grace | TIS 452 |
| Our God, be gracious unto us | TIS 37 |
| Acts 16:9-15 |
|
| Christ be my leader by day and by night | TIS 624 |
| O God of every nation | TIS 621 |
| The call of God resounding | TIS 460 |
| You servants of God, your master proclaim | TIS 215 |
| Psalm 67 |
|
| God of mercy, God of grace | TIS 452 |
| Holy God we praise your name | TIS 127 |
| O God of every nation | TIS 621 |
| Our God, be gracious unto us | TIS 37 |
| Praise God from whom all blessings flow | TIS 768 |
| You holy angels bright | TIS 108 |
| Revelation 21:10,22 to 22:5 |
|
| Christ is risen! shout hosanna | TIS 394 |
| I am alone yet not alone | TIS 605 |
| I want to walk as a child of the light | TIS 643 |
| My God, accept my heart this day | TIS 485 |
| O God of every nation | TIS 621 |
| The God of Abraham praise | TIS 125 |
| The heavens shall declare | TIS 746 |
| Wake, awake, for the night is flying | TIS 266 |
| John 14:23-29 |
|
| Come gracious Spirit, heavenly dove | TIS 402 |
| Come, my way, my truth, my life | TIS 552 |
| Come, thou everlasting Spirit | TIS 509 |
| God gives us a future | TIS 687 |
| Holy Spirit, come confirm us | TIS 413 |
| Lord Jesus Christ, lover of all | TIS 737 |
| Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy | TIS 613 |
| O breath of life, come sweeping through us | TIS 409 |
| O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God | TIS 401 |
| Peace with the Father, peace with Christ the Son | TIS 466 |
| She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters | TIS 418 |
| Spirit of truth, essential God | TIS 426 |
| The Son of God proclaim | TIS 528 |
| You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord | TIS 48 |
| Your words to me are life and health | TIS 430 |