The Last Sacrificial Lamb - Sermon - Originally Preached Pott Row Methodist Church 19th January 2020

Originally Preached Pott Row 19th January 2019

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

All Hymns in most hymnals, and on Spotify, see link for Hymn which is only available on Youtube

Amended Versions of Prayers Used Below the Order of Service

Order of Service

Call to worship: Psalm 40:4-5

Hymn Come, Let us join our Cheerful Songs

Prayer of Adoration

Prayer of Confession

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Lord’s Prayer

Hymn Come Sinners to the Gospel feast

1st Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Offering

2nd Reading: John 1:29-42

Hymn Called by Christ to be disciples

Sermon

Hymn Jesus calls us, O’er the tumult

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn All Praise to our redeeming Lord

Liturgical Text – Lamb of God – a version is available here

 

Prayers for use with this service:

Prayer of Adoration

God of all lands, we bring before You our worship this day, in the season of Epiphany when the wider world first glimpsed the wonders of the God of Abraham. We praise You As the God who made all creation, from the shoots of spring that appear from the ground, to the stars in the Sky. We praise You as the Christ, who was beheld in the world by men, knowing that here was more than a man. We praise You as the Holy Spirit, alive in us to burn at our hearts. This day We declare that You are our God, beloved in all ages, and after time itself. Amen

Prayer of Confession

Forgiving Lord, we bring before You the burden of our sins. We know that even with all the chances we have had to do what is good and right, we have instead done what is bad and wrong. We call into mind our sins, knowing that some we did and felt the wrongfulness of at once, and others we at first called right. We say, Lord God, we are sorry for the things we have done wrong. We come before You and ask Your Forgiveness for all we have done wrong with the things You made for us. You look upon us and say “Your Sins, are forgiven.” Not because we are worthy of such, but because Your Love is sufficient to forgive us all our sins. We are thus cleansed of all the dirt and degradation of sin, and we go forth, bright and clean, because of all You have done for us. Thanks be unto You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our Father, we thank You for all the gifts You have given us. As we enjoy this time of Epiphany, we live with the joys of the year to come, its seasons, festivals, news and happinesses. We behold the many comforts and wonders of our age, where we are freed from so many of the worries of our forebears. We praise You as the one who does so much for us in our ordinary lives, strengthening us in our everyday duties and cares, and aiding us at the greatest times of trial in our lives. We thank You that we may learn of You anew each day, and shall yet behold You, enthroned in Splendour in the heavenly Kingdom. Thank You God. Amen

Lord’s Prayer

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 that trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom,

The Power and the Glory

Forever and ever, Amen

Prayers of Intercession

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

The Wider World

Lord God we pray for the world. We pray for all those who go without, be it of food, water, shelter, or anything else necessary for life. We pray for all places stricken with the pandemic, and especially pray that the vaccines may be widely and readily distributed. We pray for Hong Kong, Lord, frustrate the wickednesses that Beijing would visit upon them. We pray for the nations of the world, and their peoples, for prosperity spreading amongst them, and peace between them.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

The Church Abroad

Lord we pray for our Christian Brethren in lands abroad. We pray for all those who are in lands where the Church is all that people have, Lord may they know better times than those they have now. We pray for those Churches in lands where they are oppressed, Lord we know that times of persecution have never yet defeated Your Church, and we pray that this may continue with You holding them safe in Your Love. Lord we ask that the Church may grow in every nation, and that Your spirit may be plainly seen at work by all mankind.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

The Church at Home

Lord God, we pray for the Church at Home, which has known freedom throughout many ages. We ask that You encourage us to be effective witnesses to You. We ask that You help us in our devotions, that we might be more outwardly seen to have the inward Grace so necessary in life. We ask That You encourage the congregations of these isles, to grow in every town and village the numbers of the saved, putting aside inward feuding and mischiefs, so that our time in the spotlight when it comes be only full of witnessing to Christ and all that He has done for us.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

The Nation

Lord God, we pray for our nation. We pray for Our Queen and Royal Family, and our Government in this time of Pandemic. Lord, Guide those in power to the right decisions, and ensure public servants do their duty well.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

Those Who Ail

Lord we ask Your help for those who are ailing and unwell, especially remembering all those whose sufferings are formed by or worsened in the pandemic. We ask that You help them in their struggles and help those who are to heal to heal, and those for whom that is not possible, that they may endure and know peace. We bring before You those whose illness is known unto us… We pray too for all those tasked with the aid of those who are ill, in the doctor’s surgeries, hospitals, and those who go unto people in their homes, Lord help them to do their duties, and may their services ever improve and strengthen.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

Those Who Mourn

Risen Lord, we bring before You those who mourn. For Lord, we know that those who have passed from this life are greeted as Your children in the heavenly realms, and we know that this is the comfort open to all. We pray Lord that those who mourn may know the certainty of faith sufficient to assure them that death is not the end, and we shall see again those who have gone before us.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

Those who yet do not know Christ

God our Father, we pray for all those who have yet to come to the Gospel. We know there are so many, not in far and distant lands but in the community around us. Lord may they know sufficient curiosity to ask and find those who can give them true and honest answers. May we be able to speak of You freely forever, whether it be unto the young, the adult or the aged, and May we have the opportunity to do so, and the sight to see when it is laid before us. We ask that we may be a help to those around us, in every way that You need us to be.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

Ourselves and our faith

God our Father, we pray for ourselves, for we are not always as certain as we should be, Lord, give us strengthened Confidence in You. We ask too that when we are in need, we remember to turn to You and to hear Your words to us, that always are freely given to our comfort and aid. We ask that when we are busy and worried, You will remind us that even then, we can depend on You. We pray that we may see You at work in our lives, and the lives of those dear to us. Lord, make us ever more and more happy that we are Your People.

Lord, in Your Mercy

Hear our Prayer

 Gracious God, we have prayed and we know that You have heard our prayers. May we this coming week be mindful of You, and see You at work in the world. Amen.