Koonung Heights Uniting Church
Service of Worship at Home
Easter 5 – 3 May, 2026 – 10am or whenever possible
You may like to light a candle during your time of worship.
Feel free to text the Peace to other members of the congregation.
During the service we will share Communion so you might like to have the elements ready.
Introit: Bless the Lord – (TiS 706)
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life.
Candle Lighting:
In lighting this candle we remember that Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
and that in the journey of life, we never travel alone.
May we let our light shine so that others may know Christ’s love.
Acknowledgement of Country:
This is God’s land and God’s Spirit dwells here.
I acknowledge the Wurundjeri WoiWurrung
People of the Kulin nations,
traditional custodians of this land under God.
I pay my respects to elders past and present,
and to all future leaders and generations.
Call to Worship:
God of all places,
those we inhabit and those we never see,
those we know well and those that are a mystery,
as Jesus called his followers to the Way,
walk with us.
As we journey together,
receive our reluctance to give our full attention,
and our hesitancy to get involved.
Receive our hopes and our worship.
We Sing: Gather us in – (TiS 474)
Here in this place new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away,
see, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, are lives are a mystery;
we are the old, who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart so meet and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take of the wine and the water,
here will we take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt of the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven light years away,
but here in this space, the new light is shining,
now is the kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in, and hold us forever; gather us in, and make us your own,
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Prayer of Praise and Confession:
God of all things good,
we give thanks for the many blessings and promises you offer.
You offer us a place to belong, a place of belonging in you,
a place to call home, founded beyond time and place,
beyond the decay and destruction of the world.
You have shown us the way the truth, and the life.
You encourage us: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.’
Yet we struggle with troubles.
Our world is troubled and we are troubled.
Even in our faith we are often troubled.
Forgive us when we fail to see and remember, to hear and to believe
that you are our cornerstone, our rock, our life.
Forgive us when our actions fail to show your love to others.
Help us lay our troubles down, even if for just a moment,
so that we might find our footing again in you,
the place we call home.
In the name of Christ,
the One who shows us the way to the Father, we pray,
Amen.
Words of Assurance:
When we are worried or get things wrong,
when we feel nervous, unsure or afraid,
we are reminded of Jesus words:
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled … believe!’
In this is good news.
Thanks be to God.
Time for All:
In our service today one of the readings we will hear contains the well-known verse ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ We understand these words to mean different things, and will unpack some of that a little later, but I think we could all agree that Jesus is the One who has showed us how to live. Throughout his life Jesus taught his followers to be kind and to care for people. He talked to his followers about helping those who were sick and showing forgiveness to the people who hurt them. This example of how to live is what Jesus taught his disciples … this is the way we should live too.
As we go through life, God puts people in our path who are also a good example of how we should live. People who follow the example of Jesus and show Jesus’ love to us through their kindness, generosity and compassion. These people are often the ones who impact us in our faith journey, and I think most of us could remember the names of those who have impacted us this way. It is not something we forget. I have encountered many of these people in my life and in this community, and for that, I know that I have been blessed.
We Sing: Put all your trust in God – (TiS 555)
Put all your trust in God, in duty’s path go on;
walk in God’s strength with faith and hope so shall your work be done.
Commit your ways to him your work into his hands,
and rest on his unchanging word, who heaven and earth commands.
Though years on years roll on, God’s covenant shall endure;
though clouds and darkness hide his path the promised grace is sure.
Give to the winds your fears; hope and be undismayed:
God hears your sighs and counts your tears; God shall lift up your head.
Through waves and clouds and storms God’s power will clear your way:
await the time; so shall this night soon end in joyous day.
Leave to God’s sovereign sway to choose and to command;
so shall you wondering own his way how wise, how strong his hand.
Bible Reading: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
– Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies
1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me;
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Bible Reading: John 14:1-14
– Jesus the Way to the Father
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves.
12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Reflection:
Today we have heard a passage from John’s gospel. It is a passage that would be familiar to many of us. We often hear it read at funerals when we focus on the words of comfort it provides, with reassurance of room for all, of being with God and of the peace of Christ which passes human understanding. Yet the passage also contains one of the sayings of Jesus which can sometimes be taken out of context: ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. While it’s not always good to focus on individual verses, today I’d like to invite us to spend a little time doing just that, reflecting on this often heard verse, what Jesus might have meant by it, and how we sometimes hear it.
The passage from the gospel of John forms part of what is known as the ‘great discourse’: Jesus is explaining to his disciples what the future will hold, and how things will be different when he is no longer with them. This is part of Jesus’ care for the disciples, as he talks with them shortly before the events of Easter take place. He reminds them that even though he won’t be with them, they know the way to where he is going. The Greek word for ‘know’ used in this passage, is not simply about knowledge, or what we know in our heads, but is more correctly translated as ‘knowledge through experience’. (The same word can also be used to describe an intimate relationship.) Jesus is reminding the disciples that they have knowledge of the way through their relationship with him and witnessing first-hand his way of living.
‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’ Jesus explains to the disciples that it really is that simple. He goes on to say that the Father and I are one, therefore the way the disciples have seen Jesus living is an outliving of the life of God, and the way we are all called to live. Sacrificial love, serving others, welcoming all, these things that the disciples have witnessed and been a part of all the time they have been with Jesus, are just how it is in the inclusive kin-dom of God. It is how it should be in the here and now.
The trouble with this verse is that we do not always hear it this way. When spoken from the lips of some, these words take on a different meaning, become an exclusionary cause for keeping people out of the kin-dom and the realm of God’s love. I believe that this is taking Jesus’ message completely out of context.
Let’s remember for a moment that Jesus is speaking to a small and frightened group of his followers, people who have left everything to follow him. Maybe they are saying things like, ‘They are expelling us from the temple and the synagogues. They are turning our families against us. They are locking some of us up, and we are afraid some of us could even get killed. They reckon that the only way we are going to be safe is to stick to the old ways, stop rocking the boat, and do as they say. They say that no one comes to God without doing things their way. We want to know God, and we want to live. Which way are we supposed to go now? What is the right way for us?” If that is what Jesus is responding to, then ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life,’ are words of reassurance. Jesus is indicating: live as I have lived and you will be living as God does.
We also need to be aware of how we hear the second half of Jesus’ statement, ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.’ We often hear this as answering the question of what sort of beliefs someone needs to be saved. But what if the question from the disciples was more along the lines of ‘they are telling us to live one way and you are calling us to live another, but who decides where we stand before God?’ Jesus’ answer is a reminder to live like him. In the quest to find life in God, Jesus is saying: if you see me, you see God. The way ahead is the practice of loving one another! It is what I have shown in my life with you. This is the way.
Jesus words are addressed those who are already following him. The road is proving difficult and they are under lots of pressure – social, political, religious and legal pressure – to conform to the expectations of those around them, and stop pushing against the flow. It is hard to follow Jesus on a road that can include complete rejection, hatred, hostility and even death. For us it might not be as dramatic but we can still face apathy, derision, and being written off as weird or out of date, because of our faith. In the times when it is hard to go on, we might hear Jesus’ words as an encouragement to go on, to keeping walking in his way.
Even when it seems like the way of power and money and celebrity are winning, we are to hold our nerve and continue following the way of Jesus. Even when propaganda seems to be winning the day, and people find lies more comfortable that reality, we need to hold on to the truth of Jesus. Even when it looks like death and destruction are going to win: when conflicts occur, people are displaced and the very earth cries out for justice, we are to focus on Jesus, the One who brings life. For no matter what life throws at us, no matter what the world does to us, we can never be separated from God’s love.
Jesus shows a simple way to step into union with God. Jesus asks us to give ourselves with humble and trusting hearts in compassion love and service. In this way, together we can build up community, be peacemakers and reconcilers, while enjoying a deepening relationship with God.
Amen.
We Sing: Christ, you are the Saviour – (Tune TiS 531)
Christ, you are the Saviour, the Way to the Father,
the Truth we depend on, the Life that we need.
We trust you, believing! We listen, receiving
the joy of the gospel by which we are freed.
Yet, Lord, you remind us: through mercy you find us,
by grace you forgive us. The way home is yours!
We dare not judge others, our sisters and brothers
whom you choose to welcome through love’s open doors.
With outcast and sinner you sat down to dinner;
you healed the Samaritans, the Gentiles, too.
The poor knew your caring — the rich, your declaring
that God welcomes everyone, not just a few.
A conquering nation brought harsh occupation.
A soldier came asking; you offered a hand.
A thief saw your power in his final hour;
you welcomed him home to God’s heavenly land.
O Lord, all around us, your mercies astound us
as others discover the Way you reveal.
A man whispers, “Help me!” A woman cries, “Mercy!”
a doubter discovers your welcome is real.
O Way to the Father, your mercy is broader
than we as your people have often proclaimed.
May we welcome others as sisters and brothers,
and treasure the life that we share in your name.
Prayer for Others (written by Bryan Long):
In our time of prayer this morning I invite you to bring your own prayers for the world, our community, and for each other – so I’m going to allow time between each short prayer for your own individual silent prayers and contemplation.
Let us pray:
Creator God, our hearts are awake to you. In the words of our corporate prayers, and in the silence of our individual prayers, we long to hear the intimations of your love. In the suffering of the world, and the struggles of our own lives we seek the grace of your healing.
God of love, your broken world cries out from the depths, a world dominated by the darkness of war, terror, pain and suffering. We think of the conflict in so many places in your world, and we share the pain and anguish of those who have had to flee from their homes, countries and livelihoods. (time of silence)
We pray for justice for our indigenous peoples, that their stories may be heard and that we, as a nation, will attend to their pleas to care for welcome and creation. (time of silence)
We pray for guidance in your wondrous gifts of technology, social media and artificial intelligence, that we will use them to foster truth, prioritize love, respect, and responsibility for the betterment of humanity. (time of silence)
We pray for the powerbrokers, the movers and shakers of this world – our politicians, multinational corporations, and technology magnates. May they use their power to protect the weak and the exploited, and bring equity and justice for all. (time of silence)
We pray for our planet under stress as we continue to ignore the signs of climate change, and fail to hear the cries of your creation. Teach us to cherish and protect your world and to live in harmony with all living things. (time of silence)
We pray for our schools as they care for our kids and educate them for the future, for those who struggle in the education system, that we will find ways to nurture and care for them. We pray for our teachers and their leadership. (time of silence)
We pray for this congregation – our brothers and sisters in Christ, for those who are ill, those who grieve, those who are anxious about the future, those struggling with their faith – for Heather, our Church Council and leaders, for all your people in this place. (time of silence)
Ever present God, you are with us in these times of need. Bring hope, bring healing. Stir our compassion and imagination, as we in turn seek our best loving response. We pray with Jesus.
Amen.
Communion:
The Peace:
The peace of the Lord be with you and also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
We give you all thanks and praise, O God,
for we have tasted your goodness, and our lives are secure in your hands.
You created the world and all that dwells within it,
and the mountains and hills witness to your justice.
In Jesus the Christ, your promise has been fulfilled.
He came among us as the way, the truth and the life,
and in him we have seen you.
He was rejected and crucified, committing his spirit into your hands,
but you raised him to new life and seated him at your right hand.
Now he is preparing a place for us and drawing us to you.
Therefore, we our hearts lifted high, we offer you our thanks and praise
singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of love and light,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
On the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, as he shared a meal with his friends,
Jesus took bread; gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his followers, saying:
“Share this bread among you; this is my body which will be broken for justice.
Do this to remember me.”
When supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Share this wine among you; this is my blood which will be shed for liberation.
Do this to remember me.”
Invocation:
Creating, Redeeming, Sustaining God,
as we celebrate this meal together,
may your Spirit come upon those gathered here.
Spirit of compassion, bless us and this bread and wine.
May this meal be food and drink for our journey
renewing, sustaining and making us whole.
When we eat and drink may we experience again
the presence of the risen Jesus in our midst.
Amen.
Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed 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.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Distribution:
The bread we take is a sharing in the body of Christ.
The wine we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
The bread of life – the cup of hope.
May this meal nourish and refresh you, strengthen and renew you,
and may it remind you that you are loved.
Amen.
Prayer:
God of love, we give you thanks for satisfying us with this meal.
Send us from here to reveal your love in the world.
Inspire us to use our words to point others to the Word.
Inspire in us the resolve and the courage, the compassion and passion
to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you.
Amen.
We Sing: Now let us from this table rise – (TiS 530)
Now let us from this table rise renewed in body mind and soul;
with Christ we die and live again his selfless love has made us whole.
With minds alert upheld by grace, to spread the Word in speech and deed,
we follow in the steps of Christ at one with all in hope and need.
To fill each human house with love, it is the sacrament of care;
the work that Christ began to do we humbly pledge ourselves to share.
Then give us grace, Companion God to choose again the pilgrim way,
and help us to accept with joy the challenge of tomorrow’s day.
Blessing and Sending:
Jesus shows us the Way and we follow.
So Go!
Bless all you meet with the astonishing love of God,
for the Way the Truth and the Life
are there for us all.
May the blessing of God, Source, Son and Spirit,
be upon you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
Thanks to all those who have assisted in preparation for this liturgy with encouragement, prayers and conversation. I have also utilised the following resources: Fig Tree Worship, Spill the Beans (Issue 34), Billabong Worship Resources and laughingbird.net.
Christ, you are the Saviour – words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.