There will be no collection taken during this service. There is a donation box at the back of the church for anyone who would like to give a donation.

Some "house keeping" information  -

• If anyone would like the music for our hymns today, please put up your hand up and we will bring it to you;
   
• Toilets are between the church and the hall;

At the Name of Jesus.

1.   At the name of Jesus   Every knee shall bow   Every tongue confess Him   King of glory now :   'Tis the Father's pleasure   We should call Him Lord,   Who from the beginning   Was the mighty Word. 2.   At His voice creation   Sprang at once to sight,   All the angel faces,   All the hosts of light,   Thrones and dominations,   Stars upon their way,   All the heavenly orders,   In their great array. 3.   Humbled for a season,   To receive a name   From the lips of sinners   Unto whom He came,   Faithfully He bore it   Spotless to the last,   Brought it back victorious,   When from death He passed. 4.   Name Him, brothers, name Him,   With love as strong as death,   But with awe and wonder   And with bated breath :   He is God the Saviour,   He is Christ the Lord,   Ever to be worshipped,   Trusted, and adored. 5.   In your hearts enthrone Him;   There let Him subdue   All that is not holy,   All that is not true :   Crown Him as your Captain   In temptation's hour;   Let His will enfold you   In its light and power. 6.   Brothers, this Lord Jesus   Shall return again,   With His Father's glory,   With His angel train;   For all wreaths of empire   Meet upon His brow,   And our hearts confess Him   King of glory now.

On reaching the front, place the bells etc. on the altar and line up on the bottom step on the altar side of the rail;
wait until all are in position;
then, in unison : )

Zacchaeus should move almost sideways, with his back to the wall; X faces the back of the church and obstructs him as they move.
At each "step", Zacchaeus pushes forward a little, and X responds by moving back. X is belligerent, Zacchaeus is apologetic. )

Householder hides behind altar. )

Open Our eyes, Lord,

which we shall sing twice.

Crowd look shocked, surprised etc. They form a semicircle facing the congregation. )

Jesse lined up seven of his eight sons in front of Samuel and they all looked so good. Tall, strong and handsome and God said to Samuel, "Choose none of these, don't look at how tall and handsome they are for I, the Lord God, do not judge as people judge. People look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart."

And Samuel had to send them out to get the youngest son from the fields - that was David, whom he anointed as the next King of Israel.

He sure was a great King too.

The Zacchaeus song.

1.   Zacchaeus was a taxman,   But wasn't satisfied;   He wanted to be better   But however hard he tried   He couldn't find a way for       ( spell ) Z A C C H A E U S -           ( shout ) Zacchaeus ! 2.   Zacchaeus heard of Jesus   Off'ring something new.   How could Zacchaeus meet Him ?   What should Zacchaeus do ?   Might this be a way for       ( spell ) Z A C C H A E U S -           ( shout ) Zacchaeus ! 3.   Jesus now is coming !   How can Zacchaeus see ?   In the crowd he's much too short -   But here's a handy tree !   This'll be the way for       ( spell ) Z A C C H A E U S -           ( shout ) Zacchaeus ! 4.   Jesus noticed Zacchaeus   Up there in the tree;   Said, "I'll come to visit you",   And, later, "Follow Me" -   Jesus was the way for       ( spell ) Z A C C H A E U S -           ( shout ) Zacchaeus ! 5.   If you are unhappy,   And think that you're astray,   Jesus is still coming,   He is still the way,   Just the way He was for       ( spell ) Z A C C H A E U S -           ( shout ) Zacchaeus !

( Crowd return to their seats. )

Thank You, Lord God, for Your love for each one of us.

God forgave my sin.

Omitted for copyright reasons; further details.

Joy is the flag flown high.

( Cast pick up bells etc. and wave them during this hymn. )

( Cast return to their seats. Helpers give out crayons and colouring-in to the children. )

Please sit for the reading, which is the speech given by Peter to the people gathered at the house of Cornelius, the Roman soldier.

( after the reading ) This is the Word of the Lord.

Dear God, I confess that I am a sinner and am sorry for all the wrong things that I have done.

I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the cross for my sins. Please forgive me, and I invite You, Jesus, to come into my heart and life as Lord and Saviour. I commit and trust my life to You.

Please help me to be what You want me to be and help me to do what You want me to do.

Thank You for dying for my sins, for Your free pardon, for Your gift of eternal life, and for hearing and answering my prayer.

Amen.

Thank You, Lord God, for all those who have made or renewed their commitment to You today. May each one of us here today encourage and help one another to live our lives to Your glory. Amen.

We pray that our homes may be places where Jesus's love shines forth, where honesty and goodness are displayed; help us all to live in harmony with one another and with You, Lord God. Amen.

We remember all who are sick or in trouble or distress at this time. We lift them up to You for Your comfort, Your healing and Your strength. Amen

We pray for all places where there is trouble, war or strife, praying that You would bring peace and reconciliation to all hurting peoples. Forgive us for the times when we cause trouble.

Amen.

Together we sing the Lord's Prayer :

Whosoever will may come.

Blessing.