The Prodigal Son

(The words for hymns and bible reading follows the Call to Worship)

Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
MP 1072: In Christ alone
All Age time
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
JP 139: Jesus love is very wonderful
Reading Luke 15 : 1-3,11b-32
CH4 404: Lord of the dance
Prayer
Video: Everything is possible
Reflection
MP 396: Just as I am
Prayer for others
MP 109: Amazing Grace
Benediction

Call to Worship
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

MP 1072 : In Christ alone

JP 139 : Jesus love is very wonderful

Luke 15 : 1 – 3, 11b – 32 NIV UK

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’
Then Jesus told them this parable:
‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So he divided his property between them.
‘Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
‘When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”
So he got up and went to his father.
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms round him and kissed him.
‘The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
‘Meanwhile, the elder son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
“Your brother has come,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
‘The elder brother became angry and refused to go in.
So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
‘“My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”’

CH4 404 : Lord of the dance

1 I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth –
at Bethlehem
I had my birth.
Chorus: Dance then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
and I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I’ll lead you all in the Dance, said he.

2 I danced for the scribes
and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance
and they wouldn’t follow me.
I danced for the fishermen,
for James and John –
they came with me
and the Dance went on.

3 I danced on the Sabbath
and I cured the lame,
the holy people
said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped
and they hung me on high,
and they left me there
on a Cross to die,

4 I danced on a Friday
when the sky turned black –
it’s hard to dance,
with the devil on your back.
They buried my body
and they thought I’d gone –
but I am the Dance
and I still go on.

5 They cut me down
and I leapt up high –
I am the life
that’ll never, never die.
I’ll live in you
if you’ll live in me,
I am the Lord
of the Dance, said he.

MP 396 : Just as I am

1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that Thy blood was shed for me,
and that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!

2 Just as I am, and waiting not,
to rid my soul of one dark blot,,
to Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come!

3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
flighting within, and feats without,
O Lamb of God, I come!

4 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
slight riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!

5 Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!

6 Just as I am, Thy love unknown
hath broken every barrier down;
now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!

MP 109 : Amazing Grace

1 Amazing grace – how sweet the sound –
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see,.

2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come:
tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4 When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than when we first began