First Snow
by Sarah Pye
Why does the
wood become
lighter as you
enter?
Used with permission
www.sarahsart.co.uk/
I am With You
Always
by Elizabeth Wang
Life can be a
tightrope –
underneath
are the
everlasting arms
Used with permission
© www.mccrimmons.com
Behold I Make All
Things New
by Yvonne Bell
A butterfly is fragile,
yet many make
long, risky journeys
in order for their
species to
survive and flourish
Used with permission
www.christianart-yvonnebell.co.uk
The Pilgrim’s Path, Lindisfarne
A path which is only safe at certain times...
Photo: Jill Baker
The Way of Life
A sculpture by
Jonathan Clarke
“... Life is far from
straightforward...”
Used with permission
www.elycathedral.org/
Climbing North Goat Fell on the Isle of Arran
Risk the rocky path or take the safer, skirting path?...
Photo: Jill Baker
Singing the Faith 27
Gathering song
Jesu, tawa pano;
Jesu, tawa pano;
Jesu, tawa pano;
tawa pano, mu zita renyu.
1/3
Jesus, we are here,
Jesus, we are here,
Jesus, we are here,
we are here for you.
Saviour, we are here,
Saviour, we are here,
Saviour, we are here,
we are here for you.
2/3
Master, we are here,
Master, we are here,
Master, we are here,
we are here for you.
Spirit, we are here,
Spirit, we are here,
Spirit, we are here,
we are here for you.
3/3
Words & music © Patrick Matsikenyiri, Zimbabwe
Call to worship
Leader: With Abraham and Sarah,
Isaac and Rebekah,
Jacob and Leah
and all who journey with you,
All:
We are here for you, Lord.
Leader: With Mary and Luke,
Joanna and Peter,
Lydia and Paul ,
and all who break new
ground to bring in the Kingdom,
All:
We are here for you, Lord.
Leader: With David Livingstone,
Gladys Aylward,
Thomas Coke,
and all who leave their
homeland to share the Gospel,
All:
We are here for you, Lord.
Leader: With the people sitting
around us in this church,
at this moment
and with all the
company of heaven,
All:
We are here for you, Lord!
Welcome and introduction
Singing the Faith 332
Hymn of praise
Lord, I lift your name on high,
Lord, I love to sing your praises;
I’m so glad you’re in my life,
I’m so glad you came to save us.
1 of 2
You came from heaven to earth
to show the way,
from the earth to the cross
my debt to pay,
from the cross to the grave,
from the grave to the sky:
Lord, I lift your name on high.
Rick Founds
2 of 2
Words and music © 1989 Maranatha Music. Administered by Song Solutions CopyCare, www.songsolutions.org
14, Horsted Square, Uckfield, East Susssex. TN22 1QG Used by permission
Prayer of adoration and confession
Sung response:
Singing the Faith 752
Glory to God,
glory to God,
glory in the highest!
Glory to God,
glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
Or spoken
response:
Glory to God in
the highest,
Alleluia!
Leader:
We glorify you, Creator God,
for a world of symmetry and pattern,
as well as exuberance and surprise;
for a creation entrusted to fallible human beings
to steward and to share;
for the ongoing transforming power of love,
grace and courage.
Sung response:
Singing the Faith 752
Glory to God,
glory to God,
glory in the highest!
Glory to God,
glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
Or spoken
response:
Glory to God in
the highest,
Alleluia!
Leader:
We glorify you, Jesus Christ,
for humbling yourself to be born in human flesh
as a baby in Bethlehem;
for daring to live a perfect life in a world of sin,
which led to your death on the cross;
for rising in dazzling triumph from death to life at
your Resurrection.
Sung response:
Singing the Faith 752
Glory to God,
glory to God,
glory in the highest!
Glory to God,
glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
Or spoken
response:
Glory to God in
the highest,
Alleluia!
Leader:
We glorify you, Holy Spirit,
for your brooding, watchful, caring presence in
all the world;
for your barrier-breaking energy at the heart of
all mission;
for your comforting strength when our courage
fails.
Sung response:
Singing the Faith 752
Glory to God,
glory to God,
glory in the highest!
Glory to God,
glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
Or spoken
response:
Glory to God in
the highest,
Alleluia!
Leader:
As we ponder your glory, we are aware of how
far short we fall;
for the times we abuse your creation or deny
your power to transform us, we say sorry;
for the times we hide our vulnerability under a
proud exterior, we say sorry;
Leader:
for the times we refuse your resources and let
apathy hold sway, we say sorry;
When we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thanks be to God.
Sung response:
Singing the Faith 752
Glory to God,
glory to God,
glory in the highest!
Glory to God,
glory to God,
alleluia, alleluia!
© Taizé Community Used by permission.
Or spoken
response:
Glory to God in
the highest,
Alleluia!
Setting the scene
Old Testament Reading:
Esther 4:9-17
Story 1:
Seeds of sacrifice
in Ghana
The Revd Joseph
Dunwell
statue outside
Cape Coast
Cathedral, Ghana
Photo: Jill Baker
Photo: Jill Baker
A traditional Ashanti welcome at MWTC, Ghana
Photo: Jill Baker
Students exhibit their work at MWTC, Ghana
Photo: Jill Baker
MWTC Kumasi, Ghana and Director Aretha Graham
Photo: Jill Baker
Hymn of challenge
Singing the Faith 687
One human family God has made,
and all for each to care.
One world, to be the home of all,
with all its wealth to share.
One Christ, to manifest on earth
love's ultimate design.
One Church to know the mystery
of broken bread and wine.
1/4
One race, one world - yet torn apart,
we spurn the way of love.
But still ahead, the Christ leads on
and calls his Church to move
from love of power to power of love,
to give the word to all to trust the love that conquered death,
outside the city wall.
2/4
And are we brave enough to join
with that great company the cost not less than all we have
and are or hope to be the bitter cup of human sin
to drink with him who died,
and take his love outside the wall
to all the crucified?
3/4
Claim him who claims us for his own,
to share his pain and grief,
to bear the scars that stamp us his the hallmark of belief.
As partners of the living Christ,
who risk the path he trod,
with wondering love we find we share
the timeless joy of God.
4/4
© Rosemary Wakelin (b. 1932) Used with permission
New Testament Reading:
Matthew 28:1-10
Story 2: The risk of going ahead
Mission Partner Julia Edwards
worked in climate change research in Fiji
Photo: Julia Edwards
Risks caused by rising sea levels in the Pacific
Photo: Julia Edwards
Song from the World Church
Singing the Faith 782
Original Xhosa:
Cantor: Thuma mina.
All:
Thuma mina, thuma mina,
thuma mina, Somandla.
1/3
Cantor: Send me, Lord.
All:
Send me, Jesus, send me, Jesus,
send me, Jesus, send me, Lord.
Cantor: Lead me, Lord.
All:
Lead me, Jesus, lead me, Jesus,
lead me, Jesus, lead me, Lord.
2/3
Cantor: Fill me Lord.
All:
Fill me, Jesus, fill me, Jesus,
fill me, Jesus, fill me, Lord.
Cantor: Thuma mina.
All:
Thuma mina, thuma mina,
thuma mina, Somandla.
3/3
South African traditional hymn adapted by Anders Nyberg (b. 1955)
© 1995 WGRG Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH Scotland www.wgrg.co.uk
Story 3: Risk-taking now
Many women and
children in
Bangladesh are
employed by the
garment industry
Photo: Steve Pearce ©TMCP
Bangladeshi women’s group
Photo: Steve Pearce © TMCP
Building community in Kurgan, Russia
Photo: Eurasia UMC
The Kantilena choir
is attracting young people in Kurgan
Photo: Eurasia UMC
Methodist Conference football match raising
awareness of street children in South America.
Eduardo Rodriguez and other victors!
Photo: Eduardo Rodriguez
Response:
Transformation
through risk
Butterfly cards may
be used for our
response and
brought to the
cross
Singing the Faith 662
Hymn of commissioning
Have you heard God's voice;
has your heart been stirred?
Are you still prepared to follow?
Have you made a choice to remain
and serve, though the way
be rough and narrow?
1/8
Will you walk the path
that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts
to you
the disciples of tomorrow?
2/8
Will you use your voice;
will you not sit down
when the multitudes are silent?
Will you make a choice
to stand your ground,
when the crowds are turning violent?
3/8
Will you walk the path
that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts
to you
the disciples of tomorrow?
4/8
In your city streets
will you be God’s heart?
Will you listen to the voiceless?
Will you stop and eat
and when friendships start,
will you share your faith
with the faithless?
5/8
Will you walk the path
that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts
to you
the disciples of tomorrow?
6/8
Will you watch the news with the
eyes of faith
and believe it could be different?
Will you share your views using
words of grace?
Will you leave a thoughtful
imprint?
7/8
Will you walk the path
that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts
to us
the disciples of tomorrow?
8/8
Used with permission © 2008 Jacqueline G. Jones www.spiritualsongs.co.uk
Prayers for others
After the bidding:
Risk-taking God, to all who follow you,
Please respond:
Give grace and courage.
The Lord’s Prayer
The offering and
dedication of Easter Offering envelopes
Prayer of dedication
A: Everything we have is a gift.
B: Everything we have comes
from you, Lord.
A: We have brought our gifts
of money.
B: We have offered our prayers.
Prayer of dedication
A: We have listened to your voice.
B: We have seen your footsteps
leading us on.
All: We dedicate all to be used in
your service, asking for grace
and courage to risk the path
you trod.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Singing the Faith 411
Closing hymn
May the God of hope
go with us every day,
filling all our lives
with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice
speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope
to every land and race.
1/4
Praying, let us work for peace;
singing, share our joy with all;
working for a world that's new,
faithful when we hear Christ's call.
2/4
God will be our Shepherd
as we go our way
and will not forsake us
when we go astray.
Even though the load of life
is hard to bear,
we must not forget that
God is always there.
3/4
Praying, let us work for peace;
singing, share our joy with all;
working for a world that's new,
faithful when we hear Christ's call.
4/4
V1 Spanish trad. Translated by Schutmaat; v2 Ann Mitchell
©CRC Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Blessing
Leader: let us bless one another as we say
together:
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face to shine upon
you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon
you and give you peace.
Amen.
Your local Easter Offering service is prepared by
Methodist Women in Britain
on behalf of the World Mission Fund.
Thank you for your
generosity to the World
Mission Fund which
enables the Methodist
Church in Britain and
Ireland to give to the
work of the 65 Partner
Churches overseas.