Liturgy for 16th April
QUEENSFERRY PARISH CHURCH
MIDWEEK SERVICES - APRIL
We are now in the Easter season and our themes over the next week or two will be about appearances of Jesus after the resurrection. This material is for Thursday 16th April.
Week 3 – The Emmaus Road
Leader:
Come with us, Lord, along the Emmaus Road of everyday.
Increase our understanding as we walk the way with you.
Fill our hearts with love that we may serve others better; and, when the evening comes, stay with us and be known to us in deepening communion with you.
Amen.
Opening Responses
You take us seriously
YOU LISTEN TO OUR QUESTIONS
You walk alongside us
YOU SHARE OUR JOURNEYS
You surprise us and bless us
YOU FILL US WITH WONDER
You call us together
YOU CALL US TO LIFE
Open our eyes to see you amongst us
BURN IN OUR HEARTS AND FILL US WITH JOY
Open our minds to the truth of your story
DANCE WITH US THE CEILIDH OF LIFE
Read: Isaiah 25 verses 6 – 9 (this is the Old Testament lesson for Easter evening. It has a particular relevance for us at this time.)
Hymn or song: any of the Easter hymns would be suitable here.
Read: Psalm 116
Prayer
O God of life, you are the one who comes to us out of the mystery; who walks with us, unrecognized, as the stranger on our road; who speaks to our bewilderment and grief, our need for company and compassion.
We are disappointed and worn down.
Lord, you walked with your disciples along the Emmaus Road, leading them from grief to exuberant hope:
LEAD US, YOUR TRAVELLING PEOPLE, IN THE PATHS THAT LEAD TO LIFE.
Living Jesus, whose presence on our daily road we fail to see in the grief that surrounds us, warm our hearts with fresh confidence in your word so that, in making room for the stranger beside us, we find your hospitality awaiting us, and the reassurance of your presence to inspire us to tread the road again and share the good news of your resurrection life.
We are disappointed and worn down.
LORD, WALK WITH US.
We doubt what we believe.
LORD TEACH US.
We need a sign.
LORD, BREAK THE BREAD.
We seek your kingdom.
LORD, FILL OUR HEARTS WITH FIRE.
And now hear us as we pray further in the words Jesus taught his disciples saying:
OUR FATHER
Read: Luke 24 verses 13 - 35
Reflection
Reflect for 5 – 7 minutes on the Emmaus Road story. You could think about how the two travellers must have been feeling; or about why they did not recognise Jesus; or you could think about the question of interpretation of scripture. Many people think scripture is clear and needs no interpretation or explanation but here we have Jesus explaining the scriptures to the two travellers; or you could reflect on where you are on your own Emmaus Road. These are only suggestions – lots of other ideas may come to mind.
This part of the service might involve music or a short drama; it might involve the use of “props” or something else visual; it might involve silence.
Here are the words of a hymn by Leith Fisher on which you might wish to reflect. I have omitted the last verse as it is an invitation to communion.
Stranger striding through the evening gloom.
Risen from out the darkness of the tomb.
Now for some despairing friends finding some space and room.
Come now, come share our way.
Listener with us as we walk our way.
Come to shed light on all our dark dismay.
Stop here, sit down and with us stay.
Come now, come share our bread.
In his hands the common bread he takes.
Then the loaf familiar lifts and breaks.
Darkened minds explode with new found light.
Friend and Lord is here and dear to sight.
Prayer
This is a time for prayers for the world, for the communities in which we live; for the Church and those who minister here in any capacity; for those who are sick at this time, whether with coronavirus or other illnesses; for all health workers and carers; for those whose income is uncertain; for those known to us to be in particular need of our prayers; for ourselves.
CLOSING RESPONSES
Day by day
As we have been loved
WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER
Wherever we travel
As we have been loved
WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER
All the way home
As we have loved each other
WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER
Our old life has ended
GOD IS MAKING US NEW.
This material has been adapted from “Fire and Bread” by Ruth Burgess, a Wild Goose publication and “Let Justice Roll Down”, a Christian Aid anthology.