For May 1, 2016 -- 6th Sunday of Easter, Paul's Hymn to Love.

OPENING PRAYER (uses lines from VU #603 In Loving Partnership)
In loving partnership we come, seeking O God, your will to do.
As we gather for worship we open our hearts and souls and minds. Loving community we seek; your hope and strength within us move.
As we gather at the table of faith, we pray that you will fill and strengthen us.
God of love, as we pray and listen and sing and ponder,
remind us of the power of love, help us keep love at the center of our faith, of our work, of our life
In loving partnership, O God, help us your future to proclaim.
When our worship ends, lead us out to share your love with friend and neighbour, stranger and enemy. We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us about the power of love. Amen.

WORDS ABOUT LOVE
(with thanks to the Beatles, and the Gospel of John, and Huey Lewis and the News, and Jacques Brel)
All you need is love! ...Love is all you need.
God grant us the ability to love deeply, to love with our whole being.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you...
We strive to follow the words and example of Jesus, loving neighbours and enemies.
Tougher than diamonds and stronger than steel...that's the power of love
May love be our strength, keeping us solid and soft all at once.
If we only have love..then death has no shadow
Held in the arms of your love, gracious God, we face life and death and life beyond death with hope and confidence.
If we only have love...Then with nothing at all but the little we are We'll have conquered all time All space, the sun, and the stars.
The greatest gift the Holy Spirit gives us is indeed love. God help us to remember to keep this love at the core of our life, of our actions, of our very being. For in love we meet you and know you, and are known.
Amen.

COMMISSIONING:
As people of love
we have sung, we have broken bread, we have prayed, we have listened, we have worshipped.
As people of love,
we go from this place back out into the world where love is so sorely needed.
As people of love,
we pledge to share the love we meet in God with the world around us.
As people of love,
we know and trust that the God who is made known in love walks with us and shines through us each minute of each day. Amen.