prepared by Ros Hancock – 3rd May 2026

Call to Worship:

As we prepare ourselves for worship Lord, we remember that you are with us wherever we are.

We are always in your presence; in you we live and move and have our being.

You hold us in the palm of your hand and you lead us into your glory.

Singing the faith 690 – The Church’s one foundation by Samuel John Stone (1832–1900)

1     The Church’s one foundation        is Jesus Christ her Lord;        she is his new creation        by water and the word;        from heaven he came and sought her        to be his holy bride;        with his own blood he bought her,        and for her life he died.	2     Called out from every nation,        yet one through all the earth,        her charter of salvation        one Lord, one faith, one birth;        one holy name she blesses,        and shares one holy food,        as to one hope she presses        with every grace endued.
3     In toil and tribulation,        and tumult of her war,        she waits the consummation        of peace for evermore;        till with the vision glorious        her longing eyes are blest,        at last the Church victorious        shall be the Church at rest.	4     Yet she on earth has union        with God the Three in One,        and mystic, sweet communion        with those whose rest is won.        O happy ones and holy!        Lord, give us grace that we,        with them, the meek and lowly,        in heaven your face shall see.

Prayers:

Lord of my life, Lord of every life, I give you thanks for this world, the beauty that is all around me, the people with whom I share my life.                                                                                                Let my soul sing out in awe and wonder, Let me give thanks.                                                            Lord of all life, I know, though, that sometimes I forget the wonder of your world.                               I don’t respect and protect the beauty that surrounds me, everyday.                                                     I can be unthinking and uncaring towards the people with whom I share this world.                               I am sorry for the harsh words, the unsaid words, the times when my actions have caused pain.     I ask for your forgiveness.                                                                                                                Breathe new life into me, this day, I pray.                                                                                              As you breathe that new life into me, show me how to breathe deeply, giving thanks and appreciating all I have. Amen.

The Lord’s prayer……..

Reading: John 14:1-14

““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Singing the Faith 531

1     What a friend we have in Jesus,        all our sins and griefs to bear!        What a privilege to carry        everything to God in prayer!        O what peace we often forfeit,        O what needless pain we bear,        all because we do not carry        everything to God in prayer!    3     Are we weak and heavy-laden,        cumbered with a load of care?        Precious Saviour, still our refuge —        take it to the Lord in prayer!        Do your friends despise, forsake you?        Take it to the Lord in prayer;

in his arms he’ll take and shield you,           you will find a solace there.   2        Have we trials and temptations,           is there trouble anywhere?           We should never be discouraged:           take it to the Lord in prayer.           Can we find a friend so faithful           who will all our sorrows share?           Jesus knows our every weakness:           take it to the Lord in prayer.   Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1819–1886)

^#Reflection:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus speaks these words at a moment of deep uncertainty. The disciples can sense that

something is ending: the future feels unclear, fear is close to the surface.

And into that space, Jesus does not offer a detailed plan or easy answers. He offers

presence and trust.

“Trust in God; trust also in me.”

Then come the familiar words: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places…”

These verses have often been interpreted as a promise about heaven, and it seems likely

this is what they are about, but they also speak to something more immediate. They speak

of belonging, of spaciousness, of a God whose presence is wide enough to hold all of who

we are.

Jesus is not describing a narrow path that only a few can find. He is revealing a

relationship: a way of being rooted in love.

When Thomas asks, “How can we know the way?” Jesus responds:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

For many, this has sounded exclusive. But perhaps Jesus is not drawing boundaries so

much as offering direction. The “way” is not a set of doctrines; it is a way of living – shaped

by love, justice, compassion, and truth. Jesus is a direction of travel: it is more important

which way you are facing, than how far you have come.

To follow “the way” of Jesus is to walk the path he walks: welcoming the outsider,

challenging injustice, embodying grace. Then Jesus says something astonishing:

“The one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater

works than these.”

This is not about power or prestige; it is about participation. Jesus invites his followers not

just to admire his life, but to continue it, to become vessels of healing, reconciliation, and

hope in the world.

For those of us navigating faith today, this passage offers both comfort and challenge:

– Comfort, because we are reminded that we are not alone, there is space for us in

God’s presence.

– Challenge, because we are called not just to believe, but to live in a way that

reflects that love.

So today, reflect on this:

– What does it mean for you to trust, especially in uncertain times?

– How might you follow “the way” of Jesus in your relationships, your work, your

community?

– Where are you being invited to take part in the “greater works” of compassion and

justice?

Jesus does not give us a map. He gives us himself: a way to walk, a truth to embody, a life

to share. May you walk that way with courage, trust the truth that sets you free, and live

the kind of life that brings hope to the world.

Amen

^#This reflection is based on material from The Vine.

Prayers of intercession:

Spend some time thinking about the problems in the world – asking God to enter into the hearts of those who can make a difference in the wars, conflicts, justice and intolerance in the world and in our own country……….

Think about those in your own life who need our prayers as they experience poverty, poor health, loss, sadness or pain, asking God to heal them and give them the abundant life that he offers……

Put yourself into his arms of love and rest in his presence allowing yourself the time to appreciate his love…………

In the name of Jesus, who loves us all more than we can even imagine. Amen

Singing the Faith 94:

1 To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life in atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in: Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son; and give him the glory — great things he has done!	2  O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,        to every believer the promise of God!        And every offender who truly believes,        that moment from Jesus a pardon receives:      3  Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,        and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;        but purer, and higher, and greater will be        our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see: Frances Jane van Alstyne,  (1820–1915)

Blessing

Lord of life, Giver of hope, Bringer of light, Healer of rifts,

I see you with me on the journey this day, this week, and beyond.  Amen.