Welcome to
all here today. All of us in this church are here because we are on a
continuing search, a search for God. We are looking for a meaning in our lives,
an answer to the question; what is my life about?
We are here
in the spirit of fellowship, walking alongside each other in our unique search
for God. Each of us will have a different answer and a different relationship
with God.
But as a
community - a fellowship - we have a common interaction with each other and
with God that is special. None of us is an island, we all need assistance from
other people. And, in our spiritual church, we need our fellowship community.
CANDLE-LIGHTING
CEREMONY
As we begin
to look deeper into the question of the meaning in our lives, let us light our
fellowship candle from this large candle. This great Easter candle burning here
before our altar symbolises Jesus Christ.
We bless
this candle at Eastertime, and it symbolizes for us the life and energy of
Jesus Christ our Savour. His Light burns for all to see, and enlightens our
candle.
We are
enlightened by Christ, and share with others the goodness and encouragement we
have received from Him, much as we share the Light of this candle. (During this
ceremony, light a candle. If you are worshipping with your family or
congregation, other members of your community may light their candles from your
candle, and then pass the light on from candle to candle until the entire
church stands with the lit candles.) If there is danger of fire, then use flameless
battery-operated candles. If this is not possible, why then, let the love in
your heart shine like a candle before God.
OPENING
PRAYER
Lord Jesus
Christ, we bow our heads before you in supplication and praise. You, the Son of
God, have great powers of Being. Look kindly on us here today, as we gather to
praise and worship you. We give thanks for your goodness and support to us in
our lives.
I now
invite you all to blow out your candles and be seated.
MESSAGE
The theme
today is John 17:18
"As
You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
Jesus'
message to us in these heartfelt words of His is that the core of the meaning
in our life is to be as He was; a messenger to others of the goodness and
promises of God. Because God sent Jesus out into the world, Jesus will now send
us out into the world.
God keeps
us secure in our faith through His power, and sets us apart in our faith
through His Word. Jesus thus sends us out to share our faith with the world. We
are thus, to be missionaries of His Word.
To be a
missionary is to share what God has done for you and the word of the Bible. In
order to know the right time to share, you have to be sensitive to the
promptings of the Holy Spirit. There are different ways of sharing the message
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and is our Saviour. These ways include
sharing the message of Jesus with your family, your friends and colleagues.
Your approach can be casual. You talk about familiar interests, but gradually
move to the message of Jesus.
Another
approach is to share the Gospel, showing people who ask about God what God says
about Himself. Tell others of Romans 10:9, "If you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him
from the dead, you will be saved."
As
missionary you can give your testimonial to others. You can open it up like
this; I had a personal spiritual experience. Would you like to hear about it?
If they say yes, then just describe how you came to know Jesus. You briefly
talk about the circumstances of your life and how you came to know Jesus.
In my own
life I have experienced that witnessing to Jesus can happen in so many ways.
Years ago I illustrated a book my mother wrote on the sacraments and faith in
Jesus Christ. I drew pictures, one of them of a girl receiving communion and
seeing Jesus behind the host. After publication, I read a newspaper critic's
review. She perceived my artwork as exceptionally poor. I sighed, and moved on.
What to do? I knew I was not a great artist, but my heart certainly belonged to
the Lord.
Ten years
later, when I had long forgotten about the book, a young lady traced my
whereabouts and appeared at my work one day. She wished to tell me she had come
across a copy of the book at a second hand book sale. She purchased it, took it
home, and read and reread the book during the night. The book spoke deeply to
her. In the early hours of the morning as she stared at the picture of the girl
seeing Jesus behind the host at communion, faith in Jesus Christ was born in
her. She became a Christian and was baptised.
She met a
young man and over time he had become a Christian after attending church with
her. They were both about to be married shortly in the church, and were
intending any family God would gift them with to know about Jesus Christ as
Savior. She wanted to thank my mother and myself for the gift of faith which
had come to her from God through the book.
I was
stunned. What a critic had experienced as poor art unsuitable for the book had
been part of the inspiration Jesus had used to gift the precious gift of faith
to another. Truly I realised that God's ways are not our ways. Jesus used my
weakness as an artist to let His great Light shine through. I had found the
meaning of my life; to bring others to Christ, as others have brought me to
Him. Ponder after our shared Eucharist how Christ is sending you out into the
world. How is He calling you to share His message?
OFFERTORY
During this
offertory time, please tithe a gift which you can afford. Perhaps you will give
the gift of your time to help another. Maybe you can listen to someone in need
of support. Perhaps you wish to tithe a gift of service, or give a gift of
funds to someone in need. Please remember that orphanages are desperately in need of
assistance. Please be generous to those in need, according to your
ability.
If you are
unemployed, retired, sick or with little funds, please gift of your prayer for this
world which is so desperately in need of holy servants of God.
CONCLUDING
PRAYER
As you go
out from our place of worship to the challenges and work of your daily life,
let Jesus' strength and our commitment as a community strengthen you. As you
extend the meaning of your life as missionary of Christ to your family, friends
and colleagues, I pray that the strength and love of Jesus Christ and His
angels bear you up in all your decision making and difficult times.
BENEDICTION
May the
blessing of Almighty God be with all of us as we go out to share the love and
message we have received today to others. May you all be strengthened and
enriched by the grace of God given to you.
Amen.
Rev Catherine Nicolette Whittle
