Worship Order of the Lord’s Supper

Call to Worship: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free
from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2: 24
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins
of the whole world.” 1 John 2: 2
Introit by the Junior Choir of Kothanur CSI Church
Hymn: 34 – O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

2. My gracious Master and my God,

assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.

3. Jesus! the name that charms our fears,

that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.

4. He breaks the power of cancelled sin,

he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

5. To God all glory, praise, and love

be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.

Pastor: O God, light of the hearts that see you, life of the souls that love you,
strength of the thoughts that seek you: to turn from you is to fall, to turn to you is
to rise, to abide in you is to stand fast forever. Although we are unworthy to
approach you, or to ask anything at all of you, grant us your grace and blessing for
the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord
God, heavenly King, almighty God, we worship you, we give you thanks, we
praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Lord God, Lamb
of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated
at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy
One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with
the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen
OUR LORD’S SUMMARY OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS:
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and
you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the great and first
commandment. And the second one is: You should love your neighbour as
yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two
commandments depend all the law and the prophets. Mark 12 and Matthew 22
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
CONFESSION
Then the presbyter says:
Brothers and sisters, we have come together to hear God’s most holy Word, and to
receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. Let us therefore kneel and examine
ourselves in silence, seeking God’s grace that we may draw near to him with
repentance and faith.
You who truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and peace
with your neighbour, and intend to live a new life, following the commandments of
God and walking from now on in his holy ways, make your humble confession to
the compassionate God, that you may be reconciled anew to him through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Silence
For taking advantage of people’s weakness or powerlessness, for taking people for
granted, for directly or indirectly hurting or ridiculing people when God’s Word
says that we have to encourage, build up, equip and bear one another’s burdens;
God have mercy and forgive us our sins.
For our unwillingness to be reformed, so that we can be transformed as a people, as
a church and as a community, when God’s Word says Let each one of you look not
only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others following the example
of our Lord Jesus who emptied himself even unto death on the cross;
God have mercy and forgive us our sins.
For our lack of honesty and integrity in the life and work of the Church and in our
society, for our sham and show, for our hypocrisy and double standards, for our
lack of priority and perspective, for being preoccupied with life in fragments and at
the periphery, when God’s Word exhorts us to be occupied with more important
matters like justice, mercy and faithfulness;
God have mercy and forgive us our sins. Amen
Then the Presbyter says:
Hear the gracious Word of God to all who truly turn to him through Jesus Christ:
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like
crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1: 18
I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their
God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to
each other, “Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them to
the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin
no more. Jeremiah 31:33-34

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with
wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40: 31
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. I John 2:1-2

Presbyter: The Saviour of the world, the refuge of the repentant, forgives and
strengthens all who truly seek his grace. He accepts you as his sons and daughters,
and sets you free from the bondage of your past. For Christ died and rose to new
life that we might all share his wholeness and abundant life. As God’s own people,
be merciful in action, kind in heart, humble in mind. Be always ready to forgive as
freely as God has forgiven you. And, above everything else, be loving, and never
forget to be thankful for what Christ has done for you. Amen, thanks be to God.
THE PEACE
Then the presbyter says:
Having been forgiven and made whole through our Peace-maker let us live
together in peace. God’s peace challenges us and guides us towards the acts of
justice, peace and integration of the whole creation.
Let us say Shalom to one another and give each other a sign of reconciliation and
peace.
The peace of the Lord be with you:
And also with you.

THE COLLECT OF THE DAY

3rd Sunday before Easter
4th Sunday in Lent
The Liberating Christ
All: Liberator God, who always sees our misery and hears our cry, set us free
from the yoke of slavery and infirmities. So that, neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from Your love. Through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever more. Amen.

Special Number by the Junior Choir of Kothanur CSI Church

Children leave for Sunday School

THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD

1st Reading: Old Testament: Exod. 3: 1-13
2nd Reading: Epistle: Gal 5: 1-12
Hymn: 510 – Out of my bondage, sorrow and night
 1 Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of my sickness into thy health,
Out of my want and into thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into thyself,
Jesus, I come to thee.

2. Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of thy cross,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of earth's sorrows into thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to thee.
3. Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of my self to dwell in thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to thee.

4. Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of thy home,
Jesus, I come to thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of thy sheltering fold,
Ever thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to thee.

3rd Reading: Gospel: Luke 13: 10- 17

Sermon
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten
of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were
made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power
of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and became
truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered
death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the
Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in glory to judge the
living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from
the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and
glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
Litany 3
In your comforting presence, we remember the poor and the homeless, the widows
and the exploited women, the undernourished children and the victims of war,
terrorism and unjust socio-economic systems. Where the mind is without fear,
where the head is held high, into that haven of freedom O Lord, let our world
awake:
Lord hear our prayer; let our cry come to you.
In your comforting presence, we remember those who cannot and may not read
and write, those who are denied the power of knowledge and skill, those who are
rendered voiceless through exploitation and oppression for being ignorant, those
whose questioning faculty has been taken away and the ones who are tormented
and mentally ill. Where knowledge is free, where the clear stream of reason has not
lost its way into the dreary desert sands of dead habit, into that haven of freedom,
O Lord, let our world awake:
Lord hear our prayer; let our cry come to you.
In your comforting presence, we remember the victims of discrimination because
of colour, race, class, caste, nationality, religion and traditions. Help our leaders
and all those who serve in the Government especially the President of our
Republic, the Prime Minister, the Governor of our State, the Chief Minister to do
everything they can to build a society of equality and justice. Where the world has
not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls, into that haven of
freedom. Help the church leaders to seek justice and to do justice and also work for
peace and reconciliation O Lord let our world awake:
Lord hear our prayer; let our cry come to you. Amen.
Eternal God, our Parent, we commit our struggles and sufferings into your Son’s
wounded hands, our hopes and aspirations into his praying hands, our poor, hungry
and exploited people into his just and caring hands, our living and departed into his
hands that hold the key to the future. Blessed be the Lord. Amen.
Announcements
Information Regarding Voter’s ID Registration (Registration on Sunday the
26th March 2023 after the worship service)
Offertory
Offertory Prayer: O God, you have given us a new and living way to offer
ourselves to you. Though unworthy we come to you, as we are, by that way, your
Son Jesus of Nazareth; and in his name we ask you to accept and use us and these
gifts however it best pleases you. All that is created is yours and everything that we
can offer already belongs to you. We also remember those who are sick especially
……….and pray that you may stretch forth your healing hand and heal them. We
pray for those who celebrate their birthdays, wedding anniversaries and special
days of their life. Accompany them in their life journey O lord and bless them. In
Jesus’ name. Amen
The Presbyter then gives the First Benediction:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
All stand, and the Presbyter says:
How very good and pleasant it is when people of God live together in unity! Ps
133:1
We who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. I Cor. 10:17
Now I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make
melody to the Lord. Ps. 27:6
Communion Hymn: 531 – According to Thy gracious Word
1. According to thy gracious word,
in meek humility,
this will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember thee.

2. Thy body, broken for my sake,

my bread from heav'n shall be;
thy testamental cup I take,
and thus remember thee.

3. Gethsemane can I forget?

Or there thy conflict see,
thine agony and bloody sweat,
and not remember thee?

4. When to the cross I turn mine eyes,

and rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my sacrifice,
I must remember thee.

5. Remember thee, and all thy pains,

and all thy love to me:
when thou shalt in thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.

Prayer for Christ’s presence (All seated)

Be present, be present, O Jesus you good High Priest, as you were in the midst
of your disciples, and make yourself known to us in the breaking of the bread,
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world
without end. Amen
Minister: The Lord be with you
Cong: And with thy spirit
Minister: Lift up your hearts
Cong: We lift them up unto the Lord
Minister: Let us give thanks unto our Lord God
Cong: It is meet and right so to do
Truly it is right and good to glorify you at all times and in all places, by offering
you our thanksgiving O Lord holy Parent You spoke and the light shattered
darkness, order arose from confusion. You breathed into the dust of the earth and
we were formed in your image. Through your Son, our Lord Jesus you came to us
while we wandered. He met us as a refugee, a threatened child. He called us by
name to leave what is comfortable to be his disciples, friends and partners. With
his outstretched arms on the cross, and through his death he bore our sins and
through his resurrection we are saved. And through your Holy Spirit you brood
over chaos that we create, mothering us and shaping a new creation. You enlighten
everyone coming into the world. You inspired the prophets and the apostles to find
the right word at the right time. You liberate, equip and commission your people
for the continuance of your mission to make everything new. Therefore, with
angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we proclaim and sing
your glory:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of
your glory, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night, in which he was betrayed, took bread and
when he had given thanks to you, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
The same way after supper, he took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave
it to them saying: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever
you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Lord we commemorate your death on the cross, we celebrate your
resurrection and we await your coming.
Eternal God, let your Holy Spirit move in power over us and over these earthly
gifts of bread and wine, that they may be the communion of the Body and Blood of
Christ, and that we may become one in him. May his coming in glory find us ever
watchful in prayer, strong in truth and love, and faithful in the breaking of the
bread. Then, at last, all peoples will be free, all divisions healed, and with your
whole creation, we will sing your praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through
Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour
are yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever. Amen
As our Saviour Christ has taught us, so we pray :
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come; your will be
done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive
us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power and
the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Let us say together the prayer of humble access
All : We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in
our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not
worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs from under your table. But you
are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore,
gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink
his blood, that our sinful bodies and souls may be made clean by his most
precious body and blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in
us. Amen
THE SHARING:
When we break the bread, do we not share in the body of Christ?
We seek to share your life, gracious God.
When we lift the cup, do we not share in the life-blood of Christ?
We seek to share your life, gracious God.
All sing together:
O Lamb of God, O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, Have
mercy, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, Have
mercy, have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, O Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world, Grant
us
Thy peace, grant us Thy peace.
Sharing in the Holy Communion
Hymns during the sharing of Communion
Hymn 1: Just as I am – 526
1. Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2. Just as I am, and waiting not

to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3. Just as I am, though tossed about

with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Hymn 2: He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater – 93

1. He giveth more grace when our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Hymn 3: He Touched me – 579

1. Shackled by a heavy burden

'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh, He touched me

And oh, the joy that floods my soul
Something happened, and now I know
He touched me, and made me whole

2. Since I've met this blessed Savior

Since He's cleansed and made me whole
Oh, I will never cease to praise Him (to praise Him)
I'll shout it while eternity rolls

Having now by faith received the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, let
us give thanks:
All: Merciful God of all creation, holy Parent of all people through our Lord
Jesus Christ who united all things in his fullness, we join your whole creation
in exultant praise of your bountiful goodness. You have now touched us with
new life and filled us with new hope that your reign will come, that the hungry
will be fed, that the oppressed will be set free from evil, that your reconciling
work will be done, that love and faithfulness meet together, that justice and
peace will kiss each other and the whole creation filled with your glory. Amen
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power,
and might, be unto our God, for ever and ever. Amen

The Benediction:
Go out into the world in peace; have courage; hold onto what is good; return no
one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak, and help the
suffering; honour all people; love and serve the Lord rejoicing in the power of the
Holy Spirit, and may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
Recessional Hymn: 496 – At the Cross
1. I'm not ashamed to own my Lord,
or to defend his cause,
maintain the honor of his Word,
the glory of his cross.

At the Cross! At the Cross!

Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away;
It was there, by faith, I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

2. Jesus, my God! I know his name,

his name is all my trust;
nor will he put my soul to shame,
nor let my hope be lost.

3. Firm as his throne his promise stands,

and he can well secure
what I've committed to his hands
'til the decisive hour.

4. Then will he own my worthless name

before his Father's face,
and in the new Jerusalem
appoint my soul a place.