WELCOME to St. Michael’s Marananga

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. OPENING Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. (Eph 5:8 NRSV)

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit C: Amen.

HOW SHALL I CALL YOU (AT43)

poet of sunset and painter of sky; Father Almighty How shall I call you? Maker of heaven, poet of sunset and painter of sky; Father Almighty who’s running to find us, giving His Son who must suffer and die: 1 of 8

let’s sing it again and again. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, let’s sing it again and again. for ever and ever. Amen. 2 of 8

and teacher and friend; How shall I call you? Saviour and shepherd, lover of children and teacher and friend; Healer of blind man and healer and leper You are beginning and middle and end: 3 of 8

let’s sing it again and again. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, let’s sing it again and again. for ever and ever. Amen. 4 of 8

How shall I call you? Spirit of comfort, cloud in the daytime and fire in the night; Guide as we wander, Protector in danger, Listener and Helper and giver of sight: 5 of 8

let’s sing it again and again. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, let’s sing it again and again. for ever and ever. Amen. 6 of 8

How shall I call you? Master and servant, Lord of the seasons and Lord of the years; Faithful and constant in loving and mercy, giver of laughter and taker of tears: 7 of 8

let’s sing it again and again. Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, let’s sing it again and again. for ever and ever. Amen. 8 of 8

PRAYER OF CONFESSION P: Jesus, servant King and Light of the world, you penetrate the darkness of the world with your love and your life, enabling us to comprehend ways in which we can see You, the world and our neighbours as you see them. 

C: We confess, however, that there are times when we choose to reject the gift of  your insight, preferring to ‘close our eyes’ to your Word of grace and truth, and go without your light of life.

P: When selfishness blinds us to the needs of others;   C: Jesus, Light of the world, forgive us. P: When our insensitivity blinds us to the hurt we cause others; C: Jesus, Light of the world, forgive us. P: When our prejudices blind us to the equal dignity and worth of others; C: Jesus, Light of the world, forgive us.

P: When our pride blinds us to our own faults; C: Jesus, Light of the world, forgive us.  P: When the lure of materialism blinds us to the poverty of others; C: Jesus, Light of the world, forgive us.

P: Jesus, Light of the world, help us to walk in your light so that goodness, righteousness, and truth are made visible as we reflect your love and your mercy in and through all we say and do.  C: Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS P: Hear the good news!  “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ” (Ephesians 5: 8) In Jesus, Light of the world, you are restored; you are healed; you are forgiven C: Thanks be to God!

We pray a Lenten Prayer P: The Lord be with you C: And also with you. P: Let us pray.  

P: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving your life to redeem us, yourself for our example, your word for our rule, your love for our guide, your body on the cross for our sin. Enter our hearts and live with us forever, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen

Let us greet one another with the peace of the Lord!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. I shall not want.

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul He leads me beside still waters.     He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

You prepare a table before me     in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;     my cup overflows. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forevermore. Amen.

Old Testament Reading 1 Samuel 16:1-13 C: Thanks be to God Samuel anoints David as king of Israel (after the reading) L: This is the word of the Lord C: Thanks be to God

The Second Reading Ephesians 5:8-14 C: Thanks be to God Live as children of the light (after the reading) L: This is the word of the Lord C: Thanks be to God

C: Praise be to you, O Christ The Gospel Reading John 9:1-41 Jesus opens the eyes of a man born blind (after the gospel) P: This is the gospel of the Lord C: Praise be to you, O Christ

The Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Children’s Talk

IN CHRIST ALONE

In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light my strength my song This Cornerstone this solid Ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love what depths of peace When fears are stilled when strivings cease My Comforter my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save Till on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand. Keith Getty | Stuart Townend © 2001 Thankyou Music CCLI Licence # 225140

During this next song, your offering for the work of the Lord will be received

Blessed assurance Jesus is mine O what a foretaste of glory divine Heir of salvation purchase of God Born of His Spirit washed in His blood This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long

Perfect submission perfect delight Visions of rapture now burst on my sight Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy whispers of love This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long

Perfect submission all is at rest I in my Saviour am happy and blest Watching and waiting looking above Filled with His goodness lost in His love This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long This is my story this is my song Praising my Saviour all the day long

for sending your Son as our Saviour. Help us to trust in him OFFERING PRAYER Thank you, loving God, for sending your Son as our Saviour. Help us to trust in him and follow wherever you lead us, serving you and our fellow human beings with all that we have. C: Amen.

CELEBRATION OF BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Prayer of the Church Prayer response: Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.

SILENT REFLECTION As our hearts are prepared for Holy Communion

Holy Communion P: The Lord be with you C: And also with you. P: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy Communion It is indeed right and good, Lord God, holy Father, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He has taken on himself our sin, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. And so, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we adore and praise your glorious name:

Holy Communion C: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Lord’s Prayer 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. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Holy Communion Words of Institution

Holy Communion Every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Come, everything is ready!

The Distribution Holy Communion is for believers in Jesus who desire to receive God’s forgiveness and believe that Christ is present in this celebration as they eat the bread and drink the wine. If this is what you believe, then you are welcome to partake in Holy Communion, whether you are a member of this congregation or not.

Prayer after Holy Communion P: Merciful God, we thank you for sending your Son to suffer and give his life for us and to make us your people. Teach us, who have received his body and blood in this holy meal, to forget ourselves and rely only on Christ our Saviour. For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

CLOSING WORDS P: Christ himself suffered for us and left us an example, C: so that we would follow in his steps. P: He committed no sin, C: and no-one ever heard a lie come from his lips.

P: When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; C: when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous judge. P: Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, C: so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

P: It is by his wounds C: that we have been healed. P: We were like sheep that had lost their way, C: but now we have been brought back to follow the shepherd and keeper of our souls.

The Lord bless you and keep you, The Blessing The Lord bless you and keep you, The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord look upon you with favour, And give you peace Amen

GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH (LHS 347 )

Guide me O Thou great Jehovah Pilgrim through this barren land I am weak but Thou art mighty Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand Bread of heaven Bread of heaven Feed me now and ever more Feed me now and ever more

Open Thou the crystal fountain Whence the healing stream doth flow Let the fiery cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through Strong Deliverer strong Deliverer Be Thou still my strength and shield Be Thou still my strength and shield

When I tread the verge of Jordan Bid my anxious fears subside Death of death and hell's destruction Land me safe on Canaan's side Songs of praises songs of praises I will ever give to Thee I will ever give to Thee

You may stand for silent prayer as the Bell is rung…

ANNOUNCEMENTS