Order of Service – Sunday 15 May 2022

A new commandment

(words for songs and bible readings follow the call to worship)

Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
MP 673: There is a redeemer
Dedication of Offering
All age address
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
MP 1: A new commandment
Reading Acts 11: 1 – 18
             John 13 : 31 – 35
Prayer
MP 147: Fill your hearts with joy
Reflection
MP 133 : Father I place into your hands
Prayer for Others
CH4 519 /MP449: Love Divine all loves excelling
Blessing 

Call to Worship
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
Let us all praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
Praise the Lord.

MP 673: There is a redeemer

1 There is a Redeemer,
Jesus, God’s own son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Chorus Thank You, o my Father,
for giving us your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit
till the work on earth is done.
2 Jesus, my Redeemer,
name above all names,
precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
O for sinner slain;
Chorus
3 When I stand in glory
I will see His face,
and there I’ll serve my King for ever
in that holy place.
Chorus

MP 1: A new commandment

A new commandment I give unto you,
that you love one another as I have loved you,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this shall all men know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another.
By this shall all men know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another.

Acts 11:1-18 New International Version – UK

The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.  So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.’
Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
‘I replied, “Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”
‘The voice spoke from heaven a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
‘Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.  He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, “Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.”
‘As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?’
When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’

John 13: 31b – 35

Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
‘My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come.
‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ Simon Peter asked him, ‘Lord, where are you going?’

MP 147: Fill your hearts with joy

1 Fill your heart with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine.

2 Praise the Lord, His people, praise Him!
wounded souls His comfort know;
those who fear Him find His mercies,
peace from pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.

3 Praise the Lord for times and seasons,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valley thick with grain.

4 Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love His laws, declare His judgements,
walk in all His words and ways;
He the Lord and we His children –
praise the Lord, all people, Praise!

MP 133 : Father I place into your hands

1 Father, I place into Your hands
the things that I can’t do.
Father, I place into Your hands
the times that I’ve been through.
Father, I place into Your hands
the way that I should go,
for I know I always can trust You.
2 Father, I place into Your hands
my friends and family.
Father, I place into Your hands
the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into Your hands
the person I would be,
for I know I always can trust You.
3 Father, we love to seek Your face,
we love to hear Your voice.
Father, we love to sing Your praise.
and in Your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with You,
and in Your presence rest,
for we know we always can trust You.
4 Father, I want to be with You
and do the things You do.
Father, I want to speak the words
That You are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones
that You will draw to You,
for I know that I am one with You.

CH4 519 /MP449: Love Divine all loves excelling

1 Love divine, all love excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down:
fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
all Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with Thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in Thee inherit,
let us find Thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning,
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
see our hearts at liberty.

3 Come almighty to deliver,
let us all Thy grace receive;
suddenly return , and never,
never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always4 blessing,
serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
glory in Thy perfect love.

4 Finish then Thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see Thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in Thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place
till we cast our crowns before Thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.