Church of the Good Shepherd 8 April 2014

 1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see. Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

 2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has pow’r to save us. Make us your living voice. Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

 Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others, shared until all are fed.  Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

 4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone.  Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

 5. Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come.  Refrain Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in your church gathered today.

 Gentle...yet powerful. Lowly...yet almighty. Shepherd...yet King. In your gentleness, guide us  In your power, strengthen us.  In your lowliness, strip from us our selfish pride which only destroys us. In your greatness, lift us up that we might aspire to greater things. As a shepherd, call us to be your servants. As a King, call us to be your royal priesthood. O God, who is our shepherd and our King; O Christ, who was crucified and is now risen from the dead; O Spirit, who comforts and empowers; O great One in Three, Holy Trinity, this hour,  set us free to worship. Amen.

 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

 1 When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there?  When I needed a neighbour were you there?  [Refrain:]  And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter,  were you there?

 2 I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?  I was hungry and thirsty, were you there? [Refrain]  3 I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?  I was cold, I was naked, were you there? [Refrain]

 4 When I needed a shelter were you there, were you there?  When I needed a shelter were you there? [Refrain]  5 When I needed a healer were you there, were you there?  When I needed a healer were you there? [Refrain]

 6 Wherever you travel I'll be there, I'll be there,  Wherever you travel I'll be there.  And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter,  I'll be there.

 Lord Jesus, when you multiplied the loaves and fishes, you provided more than food for the body, you offered us the gift of yourself, the gift which satisfies every hunger and quenches every thirst! Your disciples were filled with fear and doubt, but you poured out your love and compassion on the migrant crowd, welcoming them as brothers and sisters.

 Lord Jesus, today you call us to welcome the members of God's family who come to our land to escape oppression, poverty, persecution, violence, and war. Like your disciples, we too are filled with fear and doubt and even suspicion. We build barriers in our hearts and in our minds.

 Lord Jesus, help us by your grace,  To banish fear from our hearts, that we may embrace each of your children as our own brother and sister;  To welcome migrants and refugees with joy and generosity, while responding to their many needs;  To realize that you call all people to your holy mountain to learn the ways of peace and justice;  To share of our abundance as you spread a banquet before us;  To give witness to your love for all people, as we celebrate the many gifts they bring.

 We praise you and give you thanks for the family you have called together from so many people. We see in this human family a reflection of the divine unity of the one Most Holy Trinity in whom we make our prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

 OUR Father, who art in heaven,  Hallowed be thy Name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done upon the 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 the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever, Amen.

 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore  Please sign the petition at:  your-support/