1.1 | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and also with you. |
1.2 | Grace, mercy and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, be with you and also with you. Cf. 1 Timothy 1:2 |
1.3 | (In the Easter season) Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! |
1.4 | (Friends in Christ) We have come together to meet with God, to express our fellowship in the Lord Jesus, and to take our part in the building of his church. We will praise and thank him for his goodness towards us, hear from his holy word, and pray for the world, and for ourselves. (Especially today . . .) |
1.5 | We have come together in the name of Christ, to offer our praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive God's holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may give ourselves to the service of God. (Especially today . . .) Common Worship |
1.6 | We meet in the presence of God, who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain, and heals our wounds. |
1.7 | Since we believe that Jesus our Saviour has ascended into heaven, and opened the way into God's presence for us. let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith; let us hold fast to the hope we profess; and let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds. Cf. Hebrews 10:19-25 |