Introit/call to worship: StF 581 Come, my table is a meeting place Come, my table is a meeting place, here I’m waiting ready for you, come and share, you are invited, come, beloved, I chose you.

Welcome

Hymn: StF 28 Jesus calls us here to meet him Jesus calls us here to meet him as, through word and song and prayer, we affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care.

Praise the God who keeps his promise; praise the Son who calls us friends; praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends.

Jesus calls us to confess him Word of life and Lord of all, sharer of our flesh and frailness, saving all who fail or fall. Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all might hear; tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here.

Jesus calls us to each other, vastly different though we are; creed and colour, class and gender neither limit nor debar. Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth; join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth. Words: John L Bell and Graham Maule

Prayer of adoration and thanksgiving Let us pray Prayer of adoration and thanksgiving Let us pray. Generous God, we gather here to meet you in this place. We worship you for your greatness, your power and your majesty. We praise you for your bountiful creation, your generous provision, your relentless love.

We give you thanks for your presence with us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We thank you for the invitation you extend to all of creation to share life together. Amen.

Snapshot 1: Longer tables in Britain

Psalm 146, StF 837 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul Psalm 146, StF 837 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign for ever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. (NRSV)

Snapshot 2: Longer tables in South Africa

Hymn: StF 409 Let us build a house where love can dwell Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat: a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space; as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they’ve known. Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face; let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word. Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace, let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place. Marty Haugen

Prayer of confession Lord Jesus Christ, Bread of Life, we come to you and confess that we have not always been generous with the gifts you have given us. We have often been selfish with our possessions Lord, forgive us and help us to be more generous

We have often ignored the needs of others Lord, forgive us and help us to be more generous We have often resented sharing our time Lord, forgive us and help us to be more generous

We have not loved others as you have loved us Lord, forgive us and help us to be more generous Lord, forgive us for failing to recognise you in our neighbour. Help us to love each other as you have loved us. In your name we pray. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer Let us pray the Lord’s Prayer together in our language or style of choice, saying: Our Father…

Snapshot 3: Longer tables in Bangladesh

Hymn: StF 672 Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master Hymn: StF 672 Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? Where can we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? We want to serve you, to answer your call. Where do you lead us and ask us to follow? What should we do in our service to all?

“Go to the hungry, to those who have nothing; go where the farmlands are empty and bare. I broke the bread for the people around me; out of my plenty, think what you can share.

“Go to the homeless, to those who have nowhere; go where my people sleep out in the rain. I had no comforts but what others gave me; offer them shelter, give ease to their pain.

“Go to the outcast, to those who have no-one; go where my sheep are rejected and lost. I dined with sinners and reached out to lepers; go and do likewise, and don’t count the cost.”

Where will we find you, Lord Jesus our Master Where will we find you, Lord Jesus our Master? We are your servants who answer your call. You go before us, and there we will follow, taking our cross in the service of all. Allan Charles Dickenson

Snapshot 4: Longer tables in Germany

Reading Isaiah 58:1-12

Snapshot 5: Longer tables in Ethiopia

Reading John 6:1-13

Reflection: Longer tables, lower fences

Prayers of intercession Gracious God, grant us the help of your Spirit as we bring our prayers of intercession. We pray for the Church throughout the world, that in faith and unity we may be constantly renewed by your Holy Spirit for mission and service, remembering especially our mission partners. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for the peoples of the world and the leaders of nations, that they may seek justice, freedom and peace for all. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those who strive to bring relief to people living in hunger and poverty, and to enable each person and community to fulfil their potential. Give empathy and compassion, insight and wisdom. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for those among whom we ourselves live and work We pray for those among whom we ourselves live and work. Help us to reach out to our neighbours, to listen sensitively to each other and to work together to build peaceful communities. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In you, Father, we are one family on earth and in heaven In you, Father, we are one family on earth and in heaven. Give grace to us, that we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Merciful God, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hymn: StF 699 God of justice God of justice, Saviour to all, came to rescue the weak and the poor; chose to serve and not be served. Jesus, you have called us. Freely we’ve received, now freely we will give.

We must go, live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken, we must go. Stepping forward, keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go.

To act justly every day, loving mercy in every way, walking humbly before you, God. You have shown us what you require. Freely we’ve received, now freely we will give.

We must go, live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken, we must go. Stepping forward, keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go. (Refrain sung twice)

Fill us up and send us out, fill us up and send us out, fill us up and send us out, Lord. Fill us up and send us out, fill us up and send us out, fill us up and send us out, Lord.

We must go, live to feed the hungry, stand beside the broken, we must go. Stepping forward, keep us from just singing, move us into action, we must go. Tim Hughes

We say together: God of generosity and hospitality, we ask you to bless this money and those who have given it. May the World Mission Fund and all our Partner Churches enable tables to be lengthened and fences lowered all over your world, and may we ourselves reach out with love and grace in our communities, as we give and receive, from each other and from you. Amen.

Response

Hymn: StF 689 Summoned by the God who made us Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity, gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity. Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being one in faith and love and praise.

Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light, male and female in God’s image male and female, God’s delight. Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being one in faith and love and praise.

Trust the goodness of creation; trust the Spirit strong within, dare to dream the vision promised sprung from seed of what has been. Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being one in faith and love and praise.

Bring the hopes of every nation; bring the art of every race Bring the hopes of every nation; bring the art of every race. Weave a song of peace and justice; let it sound through time and space. Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being one in faith and love and praise.

Draw together at one table all the human family; shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free. Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways, sing a new Church into being one in faith and love and praise. Delores Dufner

Blessing Let us go out into the world as God’s people, committed to lengthening tables and lowering fences, in the name of Christ. Amen.

Thank you for attending this Easter Offering dedication service © Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes 2018 Registered charity no. 1132208