Gathering song or call to worshipO Lord we are always in your presence(StF 33)

HymnGod with us: Creator, Father (StF 8)(or God, whose almighty word (StF 106))

Prayer of adorationO God our Creator,You are our Source, our Spring, our beginning: life more vast than the ocean; brimming with generosity and joy; overflowing with wise and steadfast love. We adore you.

O Jesus, Lord and Saviour,You are the voice calling us to follow: pointing to a broad horizon; showing us how to live with compassion; teaching us to learn and grow.We adore you.

O Spirit of adventure,You are the strength to embark with the tide: leaving the safe and the familiar; drawn by a current we cannot control; taking us where we had not thought to go.We adore you.

Eternal God, Creator, Saviour, Spirit:You carry us forward into the future, guiding us further out and further in, giving us companions to share the journey,filling our lives with faith and our hearts with hope.We adore you.

Reading Hebrews 11:1-10

Prayer of confession/HymnLoving God, you call us, like Abraham and Sarah, to travel with you from the known and the familiar toward an unknown country; a place that you will show us; a future we cannot yet see.

But we prefer not to hear. We refuse to embark.Loving Father, forgive us. Grant us the courage to venture out beyond the harbour wall.

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us… (sung)

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead usO'er the world's tempestuous sea;Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,For we have no help but thee;Yet possessing every blessingIf our God our Father be.

Loving Jesus, you call us to trust ourselves, one another and you; to respond creatively to challenges as they arise; to live generously within our communities and work for justice in the world.But we are distracted by difficulties. We are ruled by our fears. Loving Jesus, travel with us. Teach us your way of faith.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us… (sung)

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us,All our weakness thou dost know;Thou didst tread this earth before us,Thou didst feel its keenest woe;Tempted, taunted, yet undaunted,Through the desert thou didst go.

Loving Spirit, you call us. Like the wind you rise amongst us with mysterious power: whispering encouragement, shouting with joy; You offer us insight and stir us to change.But we do not like what we see. We want to know where you are going.Loving Spirit, enlarge our vision. Inspire us to trust and praise.

Spirit of our God, descending… (sung)

Spirit of our God, descending,Fill our hearts with heavenly joy;Love with every passion blending,Pleasure that can never cloy;Thus provided, pardoned, guided,Nothing can our peace destroy.

Judds

is it possible to include a photo of Maggie Patchett here? Tom Quenet would have one.'

HymnLord, you have come to the seashore (StF 558)

GospelMark 16:1-7

Reflection/s or music (or a brief address on the theme)

Prayers of intercession Q. What goes into the boat? What goes with us?A. Our prayers for ourselves and others; others’ prayers for us.

God of grace, We pray peace for those who are starting a journey, or facing change.

We pray peace for those who must meet a challenge,those forced to move against their will.We pray peace for those who are going into danger, and those who wait for them to come home.

We pray peace for those who live in exile; for the dying and those who grieve.God of grace,We pray for all who are setting out or moving on.Hold them in your peace.

The song The peace of the earth be with you (StF 774) is sung/repeated while the names and prayers are placed into the boat.

Peace be the stillness of gathered waters, calm under a blue heaven.Peace be the Word of God, spoken in storm.Peace be the island that is moulded by waves, endures tempests, receives wanderers.Peace be the light that greets each day and softens each day’s alarm.

God of grace, as we embark on a new adventure or face an unpredictable future, we trust we are held in your love. As those we love set out into the unknown or struggle to surmount waves of difficulty we trust they are held in your love. As we work together for the common good and care for the world you have given us, we trust that all creation is held in your love.

The Lord’s Prayer. Our Father…

Dedication of the Easter OfferingEternal God, you inspired the Celtic saints to set out in search of the place of their resurrection, where they could live to your glory and witness to your love. May our gifts be a means of encouraging people today to venture out in mission; enabling them to learn, equipping them to serve and empowering them to live for you, wherever the journey takes them.

ThanksgivingLoving Creator, we thank you that at the start of any fresh endeavour, you give us a vision of what can be done and courage to launch into the deep.

Loving Saviour, we thank you for travelling with us through difficulty and delight. We venture into mystery, but you know the way.

Loving Spirit, we thank you for the gifts which resource us on our journey into faith, hope and love: abundant life, a guiding word, inspiring teachers, supportive friends.

Loving Creator, Saviour, Spirit, we thank you that, day by day, you invite us, you send us, you accompany us, you receive us wherever we go. May we be faithful and flexible disciples, willing to risk our comfort for the sake of compassion and to endure for the sake of justice.

HymnI, the Lord of sea and sky (StF 663)

Blessing

May God who is with us in the deep, disturbing current and the overwhelming wave, hold us when life is out of our control and give us peace.

May God, who is with us in the broad horizon and the unfamiliar aspect of a larger world, lead us to a spacious place and give us peace.

May God, who is with us in every strange experience, every meeting with extraordinary people, receive us with lavish hospitality and give us peace.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.

Exit, singing Sent by the Lord am I (StF 239)

Prayers © Julie M. Hulme 2012

Your local Easter Offering Service is prepared by Methodist Women in Britain on behalf of the World Mission Fund.

This act of worship enables the Methodist Church in Britain and Ireland to give to the work of the 65 Partner Churches overseas.