Sunday Worship – April 26th by Rev Gayle Taylor

Sitting in different chairs, joining in at different times throughout the day, God’s people still gather for worship on this, the Lord’s day. Welcome, to Sunday worship.

Call to Worship to say aloud

Holy One

as your Son spoke with the travellers on the road

speak with us,

receive our uncertainty and our misgivings,

receive our recognition and worship.

In the breaking of bread around your table, help us know your welcoming Spirit this day.

HYMN For Everyone Born  a Place at the Table

All-Age Prayer

One step at a time.

One foot in front of the other.

That is what we should be doing.

Life is an adventure with you, God,

taking us along paths,

along roads,

on motorways

and dual carriageways.

Guide us, Lord Jesus,

in our walk with you.

Remind us that you are always with us.

Every step of the way.

Amen.

Reading – Luke 24:13-35 to read in your own bible at home.

Dramatised version:

Reflection:

Sunday School activity:

Walking Tour – all age

You will need: appropriate clothing for a walk, pens, paper.

Go on a short walk around your area. For families, let the children walk with whoever they want to, it may be in two’s, three’s, on their own and encourage them to chat and think as they walk the route. When you get back to base ask the older children to write down some of the things that they heard from other people on the walk and what they have also seen en route. For the younger children they can tell you verbally.

Check with the other children who had spoken if the right information was passed on. If you are walking as an adult on your own, write down all the things you have seen so that you can replay the walk in your mind later. Say a thank you prayer for new things you noticed that led to wonder and learning.

The people in our bible story today who were walking were so caught up in what had happened on Good Friday that they failed to notice who was with them. It is easy to miss things right in front of our eyes when all our energy is taken up with one subject.

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

God of the road,

as we journey our daily paths

how wonderful it is to know

that you are there with us.

Each bump and twist we take

with your loving presence

there beside us each step of the way.

Jesus of the road,

as we journey our daily paths,

how wonderful it is to know

that you are with us.

You guide us and show us the way,

teaching us and reminding us

of the right route to take,

the right path to walk.

Holy Spirit of the road,

as we journey our daily paths

how wonderful to know

that you are there with us.

You inspire our thoughts,

you inspire our words,

you inspire our lives,

you light that path ahead of us.

For all the times we have failed

to acknowledge your presence, O God,

and have chosen our own paths,

forgotten our fellow travellers,

ignored your promptings,

we are sorry.

Sorry that we have lost our way

from not listening to you or

following Christ’s example.

Forgive us, O God,

forgive us and set us

on the right path once again,

ready to recognise you in our midst,

ready to recognise your way

is the right way.

Free us to step out again

on the road of life,

ready to be loved and to love.

Amen.

HYMN Brother, Sister let me serve you

Twinning Sunday

The 26th of April is the date designated as “Twinning Sunday” in the Church of Scotland where Presbyteries remember and pray for the Presbytery or Diocese they are twinned with in another part of the world. Lothian Presbytery is twinned with the Diocese of Eastern Himilaya, North India. Here is a map of the area where the church is working at this time to share faith and hope in the midst of the same coronavirus suffering and lockdown.

See the source image

We pray today for the work of the ministry teams and churches in our twinned area as they support and serve their communities.

Prayer for Others and Ourselves

Lord God,

each of us walks our own Emmaus Road.

Some seem to have an easy route,

for others it is a bumpy, twisty, uneven road.

And so for them we pray this day.

For those who are ill and

see no end in sight for their pain,

we pray for healing

and for a sense that you are there with them.

For those who face financial difficulties

and see no end to their problems

we pray for solutions

and for a sense that you are there with them.

For those who struggle to put food on the table

and see no end date to their empty cupboards

we pray for fairness

and a sense that you are there with them.

For those who are caring for loved ones

and see no end to their fatigue

we pray for rest

and a sense that you are there with them.

For those who struggle

with the daily juggle of responsibilities

and see no end to their plate spinning life,

we pray for moments of stillness

and a sense that you are there with them.

For those in the world wide church, especially in Eastern Himilaya,

facing the same challenges and others specific to their context,

we pray for strength and courage.

Lord, so many people,

so many challenges,

it is often difficult for us to know where to begin.

Help us to take each situation as it comes,

to know what the priorities are,

to work out the ways in which we can help.

Help us to stick to your path of righteousness,

justice and peace,

in all we say and do.

Lord, hear our prayers.

Amen.

HYMN – We will Walk with God

We will walk with God my brothers, we will walk with God.

We will walk with God my sisters, we will walk with God.

We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come,

We will go rejoicing, til the kingdom has come.

Sending

Their ears were blocked,

their minds were dull,

and then they knew!

As we have worshipped

so we too go out into the world,

our hearts burning,

ready to share the Good News:

Jesus is risen! Amen.