Jesus appears to his disciples

(words for hymns and bible reading can be found below the order of service)

Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
MP 1000 King of kings, majesty
Dedication
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Reading John 20 : 19 – 29
CH4 432 How often we like Thomas
Moderators Prayer on the death of Prince Philip
Reflection
Video – The power of the cross
Prayer for others
MP 988 How deep the Father’s love
Blessing

Call to Worship 

We who are empty
come to be filled with your love
We who are weak
come to be filled with your strength
We who are hungry
come to be filled with your bread
We who are searching
come to be filled with your word
We who are cautious
come to be filled with your daring
We who are open
come to be filled with your Spirit

MP 1000: King of kings, majesty

1 Kings of kings, majesty,
God of heaven living in me,
strong deliverer, beginning and end,
all within me falls at Your throne.

Chorus
Your majesty, I can but bow.
I lay my all before You now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve
I live to serve Your majesty.

2 Earth and heaven worship You,
love eternal, faithful and true,
who bought the nations, ransomed souls,
brought this sinner near to Your throne;
Chorus

Bible Reading – John 20 : 19 – 29

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
‘Peace be with you!’
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again, Jesus said,
‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’
And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’

Jesus appears to Thomas
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’
But he said to them,
‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
‘Peace be with you!’
Then he said to Thomas,
‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’
Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’
Then Jesus told him,
‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

CH4 432 How often we like Thomas

1 How often we, like Thomas,
need proof before we trust.
Lord Jesus, friend of doubters,
come, speak your truth to us.
We long to feel your presence,
and gain new faith from you,
to find, without your seeing,
the blessing Thomas knew.

2 You always stand among us,
no doors can lock you out.
Your presence reassures us
though we still live with doubt.
As present-day disciples,
whose lives by sin are flawed,
we want to come believing,
and cry: ‘My Lord, My God!’

MP 988 How deep the Father’s love

1 How deep the Father’s love for us,
how vast beynond all measure,
that He should give His only Son
to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain in searing loss –
the Father turns His face away,
as wounds which mar the chosen one
bring many sons to glory.

2 Behold the man upon a cross,
my sin upon His shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
His dying breath has broughtme life –
I know that it is finished.

3 I will not boast in anything,
no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer,
but this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.