Live Stream
Order of Service
MORNING WORSHIP
ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
SUNDAY 11th APRIL 2021, 11.00am, 2nd SUNDAY OF EASTER
Introduction & Lighting of Candles
Call to Worship
Hymn 425 The Saviour died, but rose again (St Andrew)
Prayers of Approach
Children’s Talk
New Testament Readings: Acts 4:32-35 & I John 1:1-2:2
Anthem: Mine eyes for beauty pine, Howells
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31
Hymn 430 Christ has risen while earth slumbers (Transformation)
Sermon
Musical Interlude
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Intimations
Hymn 416 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing (Truro CH4 214)
Benediction
Organ Postlude: Praeludium, chaconne and fugue in C Major, Buxtehude
Hymn 425 The Saviour died, but rose again (St Andrew)
The Saviour died but rose again
triumphant from the grave;
and pleads our cause at God’s right hand,
omnipotent to save.
Who then can e’er divide us more
from Jesus and his love,
or break the sacred chain that binds
the earth to heaven above?
Let troubles rise, and terrors frown,
and days of darkness fall;
through him all dangers we’ll defy,
and more than conquer all.
Nor death nor life, nor earth nor hell,
nor time’s destroying sway,
can e’er efface us from his heart,
or make his love decay.
Each future period that will bless,
as it has blessed the past;
he loved us from the first of time,
he loves us to the last.
Hymn 430 Christ has risen while earth slumbers (Transformation)
Christ has risen while earth slumbers,
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
can’t be silenced by the tomb.
Christ is risen and forever
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.
Hymn 416 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing (Truro CH4 214)
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.
New Testament Reading I: Acts 4:32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. 33With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
New Testament Reading II: I John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ 28Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
REFLECTION & POINTS FOR PRAYER
Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group
St. Columba’s, Pont Street, & St. Andrew’s, Newcastle.
Sunday 11th April 2021, the 2nd Sunday after Easter
Introduction
In this time between the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ we are exhorted by St. Paul to be grateful for “things beyond our seeing, prepared by God for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2.) and he prays that our “inward eyes may be enlightened, so that you may know how vast are the resources of his power, open to us who have faith”. (Ephesians 1).
Collect
Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe
and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith
and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Scripture
“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came among them and said “Peace be with you”. After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” (John 20. vv19-20)
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
have mercy on our unbelief, our uncertainties, our anxieties. We cannot order our lives to protect us and those we care for from all harm. We pray that you will guide and protect us so that we can bear affliction and challenges. Help us to keep before us the example of Jesus, who trusted in you to give him courage at the time of trial, in the sure and certain hope of eternal glory. May we live our life on earth with this promise – a living flame of hope and trust – before us always. Amen.
A Truer Beauty (Prayer of George MacLeod, founder of the Iona Community)
O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
who, at the last, through wood and nails,
purchased our whole salvation,
wield well your tools in the workshop of your world,
so that we, who come rough-hewn to your bench,
may here be fashioned to a truer beauty of your hand.
A meditation for the week:
As the women who followed Jesus are part of the story of the crucifixion and resurrection, let us think of some of occupations of women which help our world, our countries, and our families. The women of the New Testament brought spices and ointments to embalm the body of Jesus. During the pandemic we have had especial cause to be thankful for doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, carers, ambulance crews, police. Keeping the world moving were bus and train drivers; taxi drivers and neighbours who shopped for others. Keeping us fed those women who work in essential shops, delivery drivers and cyclists, the many who work in food banks and cook and help in shelters like Glassdoor and ReStart; and lead charities like Borderline and Play for Progress. The arts, especially music, have been magically recreated online, so we are thankful for women who play musical instruments, sing, or compose. Here at St. Columba’s we are grateful for all those who serve the church – administrators, elders and members of the congregation who provide hospitality and group activities. So, like the family and followers of Jesus, may we all make service part of our lives and live in harmony with one another, appreciating each person’s individual contribution to the whole.
Closing prayer
Guide us, Lord, in all our doings with your gracious favour, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued and ended in you, we may glorify your holy name, and by your mercy attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen