St. Mark’s
Sunday Worship – 7th April 2024
The Gospel
This Sunday the theme is: The Gospel
Our 8am worship uses Easter liturgy and our 9.30am is an all-age worship followed by refreshments.
Readings
First Reading (8am): 1 John 1:1-21
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life — this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-end
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
All-age Worship
Bible Reading: John 20.19-end
SLIDE 1
It was the first day of the week. That evening Jesus’ followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jews. Then Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. His followers were very happy when they saw the Lord.
Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, I now send you.” After he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven. If you don’t forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
SLIDE 2
Thomas (called Didymus) was not with the followers when Jesus came. Thomas was 1 of the 12. The other followers told Thomas, “We saw the Lord.”
But Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail marks in his hands. And I will not believe until I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.”
SLIDE 3
A week later the followers were in the house again. Thomas was with them.
SLIDE 4
The doors were locked, but Jesus came in and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you!”
SLIDE 5
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
SLIDE 6
Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
SLIDE 7
Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you see me. Those who believe without seeing me will be truly happy.”
Jesus did many other miracles before his followers that are not written in this book.
This is the gospel of the Lord. Praise to you O Christ.
Prayers
Dear God
SLIDE 1
Thank you for giving us this special day
To worship, dance, sing and pray.
Thank you for the stories shared
And thank you for your love and care
SLIDE 2
Thank you for sun, shade, and sunbeams
Rain, rainbow, oceans and streams
Thank you for earth sea and sky
Thank you for colourful flowers and mountains high
SLIDE 3
Bless the animals both large and small
And those that swim, fly, walk and crawl
They like us, need food and home
And we like them need to rest and roam
SLIDE 4
Please comfort the people who are sad and grieve
Bring them happiness, peace and help us believe
That you God, love us each and every one
And that you saved us, through Jesus Christ your son.
SLIDE 5
Thank you, God for family and friends
Thank you for love and peace that transcends
All of our troubles, and all of our fears,
That clears our guilt and dries our tears
SLIDE 6
We love you Lord Jesus,
We trust you too
We thank you Lord Jesus
We honour you.
Amen
Songs
Here I am to Worship (BT)
Even when it hurts (solo by Demara Maybury)
How Great is our God (BT)
We bow down and confess AND Such Love (communion – keys),
There is a Redeemer (organ)
Let there be peace (organ)