Opening Hymn – Christ is Alive!
1 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
His cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
His love in death shall never die.
2 Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
he comes to claim the here and now,
and conquer every place and time.
3 Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Saviour, with the Father reigns.
4 In every insult, rift and war,
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
he suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, though ever crucified.
5 Christ is alive! His Spirit burns
through this and every future age,
till all creation lives and learns
his joy, his justice, love and praise.
Collect:
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads’ who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings:
The First Lesson: Acts 2:42-47
The Gradual: Psalm 23
The Second Lesson: 1 Peter 2:10-25
The Gospel: John 10:1-10
Offering Hymn – I Come with Joy to Meet my Lord
1 I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me.
2 I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread.
3 As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.
4 And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
His presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known;
we see and praise him here.
5 Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world,
we’ll live and speak his praise.
Closing Hymn – Savior, like a Shepherd lead us
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us;
Much we need thy tender care.
In thy pleasant pastures feed us;
For our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
2 Early let us seek thy favor,
Early let us learn they will;
Do thou, Lord, our only Savior,
With thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us: love us still.
