Songs of Praise Service – For the Thirteenth Sunday of Trinity from St. John’s
Welcome to our Service of Songs of Praise for Trinity Sunday
Each of the Hymns and Reading have been chosen by members of the St. John’s Congregation’s.
Hymn – There is a Green Hill Far Away
1, There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where our dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.
- We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.
- He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.
- There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven and let us in.
- O dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do. (by Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818 – 1895)
Comment – It is a very moving hymn
The Greeting
Grace, mercy and peace from Cod our Father and trie Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: And, also with you
The Peace
We are the body of Christ.
In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And, also with you.
Prayer of Preparation
All: Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
All: Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Hymn – I the Lord of Sea and Sky
Comment – Loved the words ever since I heard is sung and that was at St John’s
Comment – I first heard this among complete strangers and it means a lot to me
Hymn – Take My Life and Let It Be
- Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
- Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
- Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
- Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
- Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
- Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee. (by Frances R. Havergal – 1838 to 1870)
Reading – A poem about a song thrush
Hymn – A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord!
Comment – Just lovely words and music
- A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Saviour to me,
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
- He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of his love,
And covers me there with his hand.
- A wonderful Saviour is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away,
He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
- With numberless blessings each moment he crowns,
And filled with a fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, O glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!
- When clothed in his brightness, transported I rise
To meet him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, his wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high. (Fanny Crosby – 1890)
Hymn – Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep
- Loving Shepherd of your sheep,
all your lambs in safety keep;
nothing can your power withstand,
none can pluck them from your hand. - May they praise you ev’ry day,
gladly all your will obey,
like your blessed ones above,
happy in your precious love. - Loving Shepherd, ever near,
teach your lambs your voice to hear;
suffer not their steps to stray
from the straight and narrow way. - Where you lead them may they go,
walking in your steps below;
then, before your Father’s throne,
Saviour, claim them for your own. (by Jane Elizabeth Leeson – 1807 to 1882)
Reading – A poem focusing on St John the Evangelist about sheep
Hymn – On a Hill Far Away Stood an Old Rugged Cross (Mission praise 536)
1 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown.
4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he’ll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it someday for a crown. (By George Bennard – 1873 to 1953)
Reading – A poem about a stair case to Heaven
Hymn – Such Love, Pure as the Whitest Snow
Comment – There is such great sorrow in the world.
Reading – This poem was about a smile plus this quip “Life is shorts, so smile”
The Lord’s Prayer
All: Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.
Amen.
After the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer wat taken from prayer jar and read
Hymn – Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
The Grace
All – The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
And the love of God,
And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
Be with us all evermore.
Amen
Dismissal
Go in joy and peace to love and serve the Lord
All – In the name of Christ
Amen.
© 702211