Welcome to our virtual service!
We’re really glad you can join us for this service. Everything you need for the service is on this webpage. Simply press the red play button on each of the videos as you come to them. You might like to print out the service sheet below and if you have children under the age of 14 with you – there are activities for them which you can also download below.
Today’s service sheet can be downloaded here
Today’s resources for E Kids can be found here
The thinking behind the song choices is explained in italics
WELCOME
Watch the video of Ed’s welcome.
SONG
In our first song we encourage one another to praise the Lord for all he has done for us.
To God be the glory,
great things He has done.
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
who yielded His life an atonement for sin
and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice.
Come to the Father through Jesus the Son
Give Him the glory; great things He has done.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
to every believer the promise of God.
The vilest offender who truly believes,
that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord….
Great things He has taught us,
great things He has done,
and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son.
But purer and higher and greater will be
our wonder, our worship when Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord….
BITESIZE 1
In our first bitesize we hear from one of our members whose work plans have had to change due to lockdown.
BITESIZE 2
In this bitesize we catch up on news from Andrew and Bethanie Walker, our ‘Crosslinks’ Mission Partners based in Mendoza, Argentina.
PRAYERS led by Alex and Becci Bitsios-Esposito
Psalm 146
Psalm 146 encourages us to praise God. Read it out loud now!
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.
SONG
In response to the psalm, let’s sing our praise to the Lord!
In the next video Helen Hawley introduces the children’s material for today, Bea reads the bible passage which Rich then speaks on.
BIBLE TALK by Rich Adam
Ephesians 5:1 – 5:21
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
In our closing two songs we tell God that we want to be the children of light that he has made us.
SONGS
Hear the call of the kingdom
lift your eyes to the King.
Let his song rise within you
as a fragrant offering,
of how God, rich in mercy,
came in Christ to redeem
all who trust in his unfailing grace.
Hear the call of the kingdom
to be children of light,
with the mercy of heaven,
the humility of Christ.
Walking justly before Him,
loving all that is right,
that the life of Christ
may shine through us.
King of heaven, we will answer the call;
we will follow, bringing hope to the world,
filled with passion,
filled with power to proclaim
salvation in Jesus’ name.
Hear the call of the kingdom
to reach out to the lost,
with the Father’s compassion
in the wonder of the cross,
bringing peace and forgiveness,
and a hope yet to come;
let the nations put their trust in Him.
King of heaven, we will answer the call…..
You have called us out of darkest night
Into Your glorious light
That we may sing the wonders of
The risen Christ
May our every breath retell the grace
That broke into our strife
With boundless love and deepest joy
With endless life
May the peoples praise You
Let the nations be glad
All Your blessing comes that we may praise
May praise the Name of Jesus
All the earth is Yours and all within
Each harvest is Your own
And from Your hand we give to You
To make Christ known
May the seeds of mercy grow in us
For those who have not heard
May songs of praise build lives of grace
To spread Your Word
May the peoples praise…
This our holy privilege to declare
Your praises and Your name
To every nation, tribe and tongue,
Your church proclaims
May the peoples praise…
Holy, holy is the Lord Almighty
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Holy, holy is the Lord Almighty
All creation praise Your glorious Name
May the peoples praise…
OUTRO
Ed closes our service in prayer
Some material in this service is © Used by permission CCL Licence # 1102690. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.