October 15, 2018
1. Welcome & Hymn 1. Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the cloud of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away; giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day
3. Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
2. All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays; stars and angels sing around thee, centre of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee.
2. David Short: The Harvest Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.�
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3. Gospel Proclamation: Prayers for Evangelism Prayer of Thanks •
Thank God for the introduction to Christianity group that’s running during Women @10 and the women who are hearing the gospel for the first time
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We give thanks to God for some participants of Divorce Care who are encountering Jesus like never before
Prayers of Petition •
Prayers for friends, family, co-workers, neighbours to come to faith in Jesus Christ
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That we would have the compassion of Christ and praying for the unchurched would become a priority for us.
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That the Lord of the harvest would send our labourers into his harvest.
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That our missional engagement with our neighbors, friends and co-works will have the compassion of our Lord
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Jesus, we believe that you look on the City of Vancouver with compassion. We pray for revival in our city and that we will see thousands come to you.
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Pray that all our events for First Noel would make Jesus’ beauty and saving love known to our city and that First Noel would play a part in bringing those who are lost and far off closer to knowing and accepting God’s gracious gift of new life!
Collects from the Book of Common Prayer O GOD, who has made of one blood all nations of people to dwell on the face of the earth, and did send your blessed Son Jesus Christ to preach peace to those that are far off and to those that are close: Grant that all peoples of the world may feel after you and find you; and hasten, O Lord, the fulfilment of your promise to pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; through the same your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Or ALMIGHTY God, who by your Son Jesus Christ commanded the Apostles that they should go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature: Grant to us whom you have called into your Church, a ready will to obey thy Word; and fill us with a hearty desire to make your way known upon earth, your saving health among all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Or BLESSED Saviour, who looked with compassion upon the multitudes: Raise up, we ask you, faithful people to seek and find your sheep dispersed and lost, that they may be saved for ever; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
4. Prayers for St. John’s Ministries Prayers of Thanks •
Thank you God for the Youth Leaders at St. John’s
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Thanks for the many new leaders who have signed up to help teach Sunday school this year
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Thank you for the great number of people attending Little Years (grandparents, moms, nannies and their children)
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Thanks that there were no injuries from the Cyclone that hit Helping Point facilities in India
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Thanks for the flourishing partnership that the Tuesday Men have with Lighthouse Ministries through Paul Ratsoy
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Thanks for Learner’s Exchange and the growth Christ in those who are attending. Pray for the many who listen to the talks on line from outside St. John’s that this ministry will strengthen their faith in Jesus.
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Thanks for the two new catechists Janet Greenman and Ada Baylis who are being trained
Prayers of Petition •
Protect, sustain and give Godly wisdom to our Youth Leaders as they disciple our youth
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Pray that our youth would grow in their desire to follow Jesus with their whole lives
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Pray for the Junior Youth Retreat that students would encounter God and grow in their relationship with him and with their small groups!
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Help our Aritzo interns to grow in their understanding of Scripture, their ability to teach and communicate it to others, and their love for Jesus.
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Strength, wisdom and joy for the new Sunday School teaching teams as they work with their students this year
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That all the children at St. John’s will grow in the knowledge that they are deeply loved by God
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For wisdom and guidance for the catechists as they develop a new catechism curriculum for use in the new year
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For Helping Point India as they recover from the effects of a cyclone that hit their area. Also for the mission team from St. John’s that is leaving to visit Helping Point on Saturday.
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For the Farhad family from Afghanistan, who St. John’s is sponsoring, as they wait in New Delhi India for final permission to come to Canada.
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Prayers for wisdom as we as a church think through how to Welcome newcomers into the deeper life of our community.
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That the divorce care participants will know the consolation and reconciliation of Christ.
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That our partnership with The Anglican Diocese of the Upper Shire will encourage and challenge us to show forth God’s praise with our lips and lives
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That our baptisms, weddings and funerals will engage friends with the gospel of the Kingdom of God through grace and truth
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That God would use our discipleship ministries to help us know him and enjoy him more as we grow in Christ
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For our International ministry and for the leaders Manya Egerton, Mindy Chen, Lloyd and Sandy Harmel, Nancy Li, and Sandra Leskewich.
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For the small group of new Christians at Women@10 led by Bronwyn Short who are reading the Bible and learning the Gospel together.
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For new leaders for our community groups.
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Collects from the Book of Common Prayer MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all who know thee not as thou art revealed in the Gospel of thy Son. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy fold, that they may be made one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. Or O GOD, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that thou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. Or BLESSED Saviour, who didst hang upon the cross stretching out thy loving arms: Grant that all mankind may look unto thee and be saved; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
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1. And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour’s blood? Died he for me, who caused His pain for me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
3. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
2. ’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies; who can explore this strange design? In vain the first-born seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds inquire no more.
music: Thomas Campbell words: Charles Wesley
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