Although each service at Church is slightly different, the pattern which they follow is usually very much the same. The order of service below was one that was used on Sunday 16th January 2000. This was the second in a four-week block dealing with the Lord's Prayer. The theme for this particular Sunday service was "Give us today our daily bread".

Order of service

Welcome

Notices

Call to worship
Jesus said; "It was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven; it is my father who gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread that God gives comes down from heaven and gives life to the world"

Hymn
'Guide me O thou great Jehovah'

Opening Prayer
Eternal God
Whose son Jesus Christ is the true and living bread
Give us that bread which nourishes our lives daily and which is only yours to give
That we may be strengthened to do your work
And to share the promise of living bread with others

Lord's prayer
(said in French by one person)

The Lord's prayer (millennium version)
(Said by everyone)
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
And forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Help us when we are tempted
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen.

Hymn
The Caribbean Lord's prayer (verses 1, 2 and 6 only)

Children leave for Sunday School

Bible reading
Matthew 20:1-16

Hymn
'Jesus the Lord said "I am the bread"'

Sermon

Hymn
'Broken for you, broken for me'

Prayers

Offering
(The place in the service where the members of the congregation offer gifts of money towards the life and work of the Church. It is also symbolic of the offering of ourselves to God in the service of all that we do.)

Hymn
'Seek ye first the kingdom of God'

Closing prayers
Give us bread O Lord.
We do not know what tomorrow will bring;
We do not know what resources we will need
We do not know what challenges we will face.
Give us bread for tomorrow's needs.
Give us bread but not so that we are complacent
Give us bread so that we pray for bread again tomorrow
Give us enough so that we do not forget our need of you.
Give us enough so that we are nourished to do your work

Blessing
(The blessing is given by the minister or local preacher to send the congregation out into the world.)

Christingles – decorated oranges – used in the Christingle service which takes place just before Christmas

For more information about Methodism locally, or Gantshill Methodist Church, contact:

Rev'd Keith R Underhill
Telephone: (020) 8550 2460
e-mail: lizandkeith@tinyworld.co.uk