Today’s service continues our series entitled Hope in despair and is a study of Lamentations. This week we look at Lamentations 4 and the service is called “A faded glory”.
The service is designed to be used in conjunction with the order of service emailed earlier but which is also available to download here: 23. HOPE IN DESPAIR (4) A Faded Glory – Lamentations 4 (09.08.2020)
The service is also available to join in with on YouTube.
Order of service 9th August 2020
Song of preparation
GREAT IS THE LORD AND MOST WORTHY OF PRAISE
Call to worship
Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth (Ps. 48:1-2).
Opening prayer
Almighty God, infinite and eternal in wisdom, power and love; we praise you for all that you are, and for all that you do for the world. You have shown us your truth and your love in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Help us by your Spirit to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession
I confess to God Almighty and in the presence of all God’s people that I have sinned in thought, word and deed, and I pray God Almighty to have mercy on me.
May Almighty God have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins and give you time to amend your life.
Amen.
We confess to God Almighty and in the presence of all God’s people that we have sinned in thought, word and deed, and we pray God Almighty to have mercy on us.
May Almighty God have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins and give you time to amend your life.
Amen.
Opening song
GOD IS LOVE: LET HEAVEN ADORE HIM
Reading: Lamentations 4: 1 – 6
Alas! Gold has lost its luster; pure gold loses value. Jewels are scattered on every street corner. 2 The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in gold—Alas! —but now they are treated like broken clay pots, made by a potter. 3 Even the jackals nurse their young at their breast but my people are cruel, like ostriches in the wilderness. 4 The infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel. 5 Those who once feasted on delicacies are now starving to death in the streets. Those who grew up wearing expensive clothes are now dying amid garbage. 6 The punishment of my people exceeds that of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Reflection
HOPE IN DESPAIR (4) A Faded Glory
Song
Prayers
Lord our God, we pray this morning for all those weeping; for those who’ve lost loved ones, for those who’ve lost employment or health, for those who’ve lost their way in life, for those who’ve lost dignity and respect.
Lord our God, we pray for those whose faith assumptions have been destroyed by the circumstances of life. We pray that in their distress they may turn to you.
Lord our God, we pray for those who have lost their faith completely. Help them to realise that you are still present, that you are still a loving God who cares.
Lord our God, we pray for the church during this time, that despite our disconnectedness we may know ourselves to be part of your community of faith and loved by our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Lord our God, we pray for our Church leaders, that their decisions and actions may draw us closer to you rather than further away.
Lord our God, we pray for ourselves, that we may learn to lament over our community, our nation and our world, to weep in such times and know that our tears are received by you.
All these things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s prayer
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
Holy Communion
During Supper Jesus poured water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to wipe them with a towel. He said: “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.”
By that baptism into his death we were buried with Christ and lay dead, so that as Christ was raised from death we might walk in new life.
Jesus said: “How I have longed to eat this Passover with you before my death, for I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast.
As they were eating, he said: “Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were sorrowful and began to ask, “Is it I?”
For I do not do what I want, but do the very thing I hate. Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup and said, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.”
Ours is not a high priest unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way yet without sin. Therefore let us boldly approach the throne of God.
He said: “You are those who have stood by me in my trials. I now give you the kingship which my Father gave me, and you shall eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.”
Blessed be the coming kingdom of our Father David. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Closing song
Closing prayer and blessing
God of a love stronger than death, you have given us new birth into a living hope through the gift of your Son.
God with us, like a mother you have fed us with yourself and strengthened us for the journey ahead.
God of truth and power, you take our weakness and our sin and refashion us by your grace.
Gracious God, may the love which bids us welcome at this table gather all your children into one, in your eternal presence, whole and free at last. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and all whom you love, now and always. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.