Joint Service for Christian Unity DCT 2021
17th Jan 2021 -18:30pm On The Churches Together in Dorchester Facebook & Youtube page
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbqXas0tjc4H1Qs2NUEQBkw
https://www.facebook.com/ChurchesTogetherinDorchester/
Abiding in Christ
Welcome - Mark Topp
Worship Song - Amazing Grace
Leader Mark Topp and 2 readers DFC /Ben, Jackie - (Congregation section to appear on screen)
Invitation to prayer
Leader Mark Topp
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always!
Congregation
And also with you.
Reader 1 Ben DFC
Brothers and sisters in Christ, this year the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, chosen by the sisters of the Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland, is: “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”.
Reader 2 Jackie
It is the great desire of God, expressed by Jesus, that we might come to him and abide in him. He waits for us tirelessly, hoping that, united to him in love, we will bear fruit that will bring life to all, Faced with our differences, we risk withdrawing into ourselves and seeing only that which separates us. But let us listen to how Christ calls us to abide in his love, and so bear much fruit.
Reader 1 Ben
In the three moments of prayer that follow, we remember the call of Christ, we turn to his love, to him who is the centre of our life. For the path of unity begins in our intimate relationship with God. Abiding in God’s love strengthens the desire to seek unity and reconciliation with others. God opens us up to those who are different from us. This is an important fruit, a gift of healing for the divisions within us, between us, and in the world.
Leader - Mark Topp
In peace let us pray to the Lord:
Lord, you are the vinedresser who cares for us with love. You call on us to see the beauty of each branch united to the vine,
the beauty of each person.
And yet, too often the differences in others make us afraid. We withdraw into ourselves.
Our trust in you is forsaken.
Enmity develops between us.
Come and direct our hearts toward you once again. Grant us to live from your forgiveness so that we may be together and praise your name.
Litany of Praise
Congregation section to appear on screen
Congregation
You who call us to be praise in the midst of the earth: glory to you!
Reader 1 Ben
We sing your praise in the midst of the world and among all peoples,
Reader 2 Jackie
We sing your praise in the midst of creation and among all creatures.
Congregation
You who call us to be praise in the midst of the earth: glory to you!
Reader 1 Ben
We sing your praise among suffering and tears,
Reader 2 Jackie
We sing your praise among promises and achievements.
Congregation
You who call us to be praise in the midst of the earth: glory to you!
Reader 1 Ben
We sing your praise in the places of conflict and misunderstanding;
Reader 2 Jackie
We sing your praise in the places of encounter and reconciliation.
Congregation
You who call us to be praise in the midst of the earth: glory to you!
Reader 1 Ben
We sing your praise in the midst of rifts and divisions,
Reader 2 Jackie
We sing your praise in the midst of life and death, the birth of a new heaven and a new earth.
Congregation
You who call us to be praise in the midst of the earth: glory to you!
First Vigil Abiding in Christ - The Unity of the Whole Person
Bible Reading - Psalm 103 reference
Reading needed John 15: 1-17 by (Val Potter)
Followed by a 1 min silence
Reader Cora Yarrien - and Congregation section to appear on screen.
Intercessions
Reader Cora
God of love, through Christ you said to us: “You did not choose me but I chose you.” You seek us, you invite us to receive your friendship and abide in it. Teach us to respond more deeply to this invitation, and grow in a life that is ever more complete.
Congregation
The joy of our heart is in God.
Reader - Cora
God of life, you call us to be praise in the midst of the world and to welcome one another as a gift of your grace. May your loving gaze, which rests upon each person, open us to receive each other just as we are.
Congregation
The joy of our heart is in God.
Reader - Cora
God you who gather, you knit us together as one vine in your Son Jesus. May your loving Spirit abide in us at local church and community meetings and ecumenical gatherings. Grant that together we celebrate you with joy.
Congregation
The joy of our heart is in God.
Reader - Cora
God of the one vineyard, you call us to abide in your love in all we do and say. Touched by your goodness, grant us to be a reflection of that love in our homes and workplaces. May we bridge rivalries and overcome tensions.
Congregation
The joy of our heart is in God.
Time of Silence
Reader - Cora
Very often we think of prayer as something we do, an activity of our own. In this short time we are invited to an interior silence, and to turn aside from all the noise and concerns of our lives and thoughts. In this silence the action belongs to God. We are simply called to abide and rest in God’s love.
Silence (approx 5mins)
Worship Song - Light of the World
Second Vigil Abiding in Christ - The Visible unity of Christians
Reference Psalm 85
Bible reading 1 Cor 1:10-13a (John Yarrien)
Short Silence
Intercessions
Congregation part to appear on screen
Reader - Keith
Holy Spirit, you create and re-create the Church in all places. Come and whisper in our hearts the prayer which Jesus addressed to his Father on the eve of his passion: “that they may all be one... so that the world may believe.”
Congregation
Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Reader - Keith
Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, light the fire of your love in us so that suspicions, contempt and misunderstanding cease in the Church. May the walls that separate us fall.
Congregation
Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Reader - Keith
Holy Spirit, Consoler of all, open our hearts to forgiveness and reconciliation and bring us back from our wanderings.
Congregation
Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Reader - Keith
Lord Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, give us poverty of spirit so that we may welcome the unexpectedness of your grace.
Congregation
Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Reader - Keith
Holy Spirit, you never abandon the men, women and children who are persecuted for their fidelity to the gospel. Give them strength and courage, and support those who help them.
Congregation
Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy)
Reader - Keith
The Lord calls us to be united among ourselves. He gives us his peace and invites us to share it. Let us exchange a sign of his peace with our neighbours.
Worship song - Living Hope
Third Vigil Abiding in Christ - The unity off all peoples with all creation
Psalm 96 reference
Bible reading Rev 7:9-12 (Roger/DCC)
Intercessions
Congregation part will appear on screen.
This section will be shown on a background of a candle.
Intercessions
Reader - DCC
God of life, you have created every human being in your image and likeness. We sing your praise for the gift of our many cultures, expressions of faith, traditions and ethnicities. Grant us the courage always to stand against injustice and hatred based on race, class, gender, religion, and fear of those not like ourselves.
Congregation
God of peace, God of love, in you is our hope!
Reader - DCC
Merciful God, you have shown us in Christ that we are one in you. Teach us to use this gift in the world so that believers of all faiths in every country may be able to listen to each other and live in peace.
Congregation
God of peace, God of love, in you is our hope!
Reader - DCC
O Jesus, you came into the world and shared fully in our humanity. You know the hardships of life for people who suffer in so many different ways. May the Spirit of compassion move us to share our time, life and goods with all those in need.
Congregation
God of peace, God of love, in you is our hope!
Reader - DCC
Holy Spirit, you hear the fury of your wounded creation and the cries of those already suffering from climate change. Guide us toward new behaviours. May we learn to live in harmony as part of your creation.
Congregation
God of peace, God of love, in you is our hope!
Reader - DCC
Jesus calls us to abide in him, as branches of the true vine. He calls us to bear the fruit of God’s healing and reconciling love. He calls us to draw closer to God and to one another as we offer this love to the world.
Reader - DCC
At the centre of the world is God, in whom all our desires and longings find their meeting place.
Reader - DCC
As we move closer to God, so we draw closer to one another. And the closer we come to one another . . .
...the closer we come to God
Short silence 1 min
The Lord’s Prayer - To appear on Screen. _ Mark Topp to read
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
Short address from Pastor Mark
The Blessing
Mark
Be one, so that the world may believe! Abide in God’s love, go into the world and bear the fruits of this love.
Congregation
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and all peace in faith, so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Final Worship Song - Waymaker
Closing Prayer - (James East DBC)