Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing VU 169

Good Christians all, rejoice and sing. Now is the triumph of our King Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! Now is the triumph of our King! To all the world glad news we bring: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

The Lord of life is risen today The Lord of life is risen today! Bring flowers of song, bedeck the way; let every tongue rejoice and say: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Praise we in songs of victory that love, that life which cannot die, and sing with hearts uplifted high: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!

Your name we bless, O risen Lord, and sing today with one accord the life laid down, the life restored: Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

We gather here as the human ones of creation We gather here as the human ones of creation. We name ourselves threads in the web of life. We give thanks for connection, that we are all part of one another and that we are part of the Sacred.   So let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.

Let us again listen to the silence of this sacred space Let us again listen to the silence of this sacred space. A space made ready for us by willing hands.

May we give thanks for all the silences in our lives: May we give thanks for all the silences in our lives: the silence of sunrise, the silence of midst on the lake, the silence at the end of a story, the silence between notes of music, the silence between us here…

Creation sings amazing songs;. This is a place where God belongs Creation sings amazing songs; This is a place where God belongs In movement, colour to behold In past and future yet untold.

Source of all life's vitality. Enlivens love consistently; Source of all life's vitality Enlivens love consistently; We see God's presence in each face, In kindly deeds and acts of grace.

Deep in our soul with vision clear. We see God's presence re-appear Deep in our soul with vision clear We see God's presence re-appear Each time a human babe is born, Each time we rise to greet the dawn.

Wonderful visions constantly. Express great beauty as we see Wonderful visions constantly Express great beauty as we see God's presence in humanity, So vivid once in Galilee.  

Surprise us O most glorious God. All: Surprise us with your message of hope, When the world seems a hostile place. One: Surprise us O most caring God. All: Surprise us with your sustaining presence, When we do not know where to turn.

One: Surprise us O most challenging God One: Surprise us O most challenging God. All: Surprise us with your way of justice and truth, When the easy way beckons. One: Surprise us O most revealing God. All: Surprise us with the face of Jesus Christ In the most unexpected of people. Amen

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.

He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?” They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”He said, “What has happened?”

They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel.

And it is now the third day since it happened And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”

Then he said to them, “So thick-headed. So slow-hearted Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”.

Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them.

Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. The disciples told their story of what happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus at the breaking of bread.

They were still talking about this when Jesus himself stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But Jesus said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts?

Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. ‘Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.' And as Jesus said this he showed them his hands and feet.

Their joy was so great that they could not believe it, and they stood dumbfounded; so Jesus said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' And they offered Jesus a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.

Stay with Us through the Night VU 182

Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the pain Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the pain. Stay with us, blessed stranger till the morning breaks again.

Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the grief Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the grief. Stay with us, blessed stranger till the morning brings relief.

Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the dread Stay with us through the night. Stay with us through the dread. Stay with us, blessed stranger till the morning breaks new bread.

Now let the heavens be joyful, let earth its song begin, the round world keep high triumph, and all that is therein; let all things seen and unseen their notes of gladness blend, for Christ indeed is risen, our Joy that has no end.

We give you gifts from our hearts, loving God. Use them according We give you gifts from our hearts, loving God. Use them according to your will. Amen.

He Leadeth Me VU 657

He leadeth me: O Blessed thought. O words with heavenly comfort fraugh He leadeth me: O Blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraugh! Whate’er I do, where’er I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me. He leadeth me. By his own hand he leadeth me He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By his own hand he leadeth me! His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me!

Sometimes ‘mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, by waters calm, o’er troubled sea, still ‘tis his hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me. He leadeth me. By his own hand he leadeth me He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By his own hand he leadeth me! His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me!

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine, content, whatever lot I see, since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.

He leadeth me. He leadeth me. By his own hand he leadeth me He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By his own hand he leadeth me! His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me!

And when my task on earth is done, when by thy grace the victory’s won, even death’s cold wave I will not flee, since God through Jordan leadeth me.

He leadeth me. He leadeth me. By his own hand he leadeth me He leadeth me! He leadeth me! By his own hand he leadeth me! His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me!

The God we worship is never confined to this holy place The God we worship is never confined to this holy place. So go and travel with the God who is found in ordinary and surprising places. May we perform simple acts of love and prayer, and real works of reform and renewal.

In the love of God, may you be warmed and welcomed In the love of God, may you be warmed and welcomed. In the joy of Jesus, may we be strengthened and made whole. In the breath of the Spirit, may we be challenged and blessed.  May it be so. May it be so with us.