Gathering Music

AfriSCaD Choir

“You raise me up”

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

Loin de toi
Mon Coeur est sans repos
Et je comprends, Que je ne suis rien sans toi
Mon seul desir, est demeurer la ou tu es
Car je sais.., que la, se trouve ta paix.

Tu me releves, et je gravis les montagnes
Tu me releves, et je marche sur les eaux
Je me sens fort, lorsque je suis dans tes bras
Tu m’enmenes au-dela de mes peines.

Call to Worship

Monica Mafarachisi

Most gracious and holy God we celebrate you in this place.We thank you for the beauty of creation and the diversity of the human family.

Enrich our lives with ever widening circles of fellowship ,and show us your presence in those who differ from us.

Break down the walls that separate us

Inspire us to love another as you have loved us ,and forge the bonds that cultivate beloved community

Let us remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves, those who are marginalized and oppressed. Let us reach out with hearts full of compassion and extend a hand of friendship and support to those in need.

In this time of worship, let our voices rise in harmony as we offer praise and thanksgiving to the One who created us all. Let our prayers be a testament to our faith and our commitment to living lives of love and service.

Empower us to speak boldly for justice and truth, and to love as you love :Showing no partiality

Work through our struggles as well as our gifts to accomplish Your will.

Opening Words – African Proverbs

Lerato Pitso

Prayer

Doreen Mhlandhla

Gracious and loving God,
As we gather in this sacred space, we come before you with hearts full of gratitude. We thank you for the opportunity to come together as a community, bound by our shared faith.
We recognize the diversity of backgrounds and experiences represented in this room, and we celebrate the richness of our cultural heritage.
We bring our unique perspectives and voices to this gathering. We ask for your wisdom and guidance as we navigate the challenges and opportunities before us. Help us to be faithful stewards of the knowledge and insights we gain here, and empower us to be agents of transformation in our communities and beyond. We are reminded of Your boundless mercy, Your covenant with humanity, and the holiness of life, grant us the wisdom to steward the earth with care and compassion, nurturing the seeds of peace and harmony.
Grant us, O God, the courage to speak truth to power, the compassion to extend grace to the marginalized, and the humility to learn from those whose stories differ from our own. May our time together in worship and study deepen our understanding of your will for our lives and strengthen our commitment to living out your Kingdom values.
Bless this chapel service, we pray, and may it be a time of renewal and inspiration for all who participate. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we offer this prayer. Amen.

Scripture Reading – Genesis 2:9-17 and John 19:16-20

Genesis 2:9-17 – in Swahili

Gad Maiga

Mwanzo 2:9-17 (Gen 2:9-17)
9 Bwana Mungu akachipusha katika ardhi kila mti unaotamanika kwa macho na kufaa kwa kuliwa; na mti wa uzima katikati ya bustani, na mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya.
10 Ukatoka mto katika Edeni wa kuitilia bustani maji, na kutokea hapo ukagawanyika kuwa vichwa vinne.
11 Jina la wa kwanza ni Pishoni; ndio unaozunguka nchi yote ya Havila, ambako kuna dhahabu;
12 na dhahabu ya nchi ile ni njema; huko kuna bedola, na vito shoham.
13 Na jina la mto wa pili ni Gihoni; ndio unaozunguka nchi yote ya Kushi.
14 Na jina la mto wa tatu ni Hidekeli; ndio unaopita mbele ya Ashuru. Na mto wa nne ni Frati.
15 Bwana Mungu akamtwaa huyo mtu, akamweka katika bustani ya Edeni, ailime na kuitunza.
16 Bwana Mungu akamwagiza huyo mtu, akisema, Matunda ya kila mti wa bustani waweza kula,
17 walakini matunda ya mti wa ujuzi wa mema na mabaya usile, kwa maana siku utakapokula matunda ya mti huo utakufa hakika.

Genesis 2:9-17 – in Shona

Nyasha Jeche

Genesisi 2:9-17 BDSC‬‬

[9] Uye Jehovha Mwari akaita mhando dzose dzemiti kuti dzimere kubva muvhu, miti yaifadza meso uye yakanga yakanaka pakudya. Pakati pebindu pakanga pano muti woupenyu nomuti wokuziva zvakanaka nezvakaipa.[10] Rwizi rwaidiridza bindu rwaiyerera ruchibva muEdheni; kubva imomo rwakaparadzana rukava hova ina. [11] Zita rerwokutanga ndiPishoni; runopoterera nomunyika yose yeHavhira, imomo mune goridhe. [12] (Goridhe romunyika iyoyo rakanaka; uyewo dheriamu nebwe reonikisi zvirimo.) [13] Zita rorwizi rwechipiri ndiGihoni; runopoterera nomunyika yose yeEtiopia. [14] Zita rorwizi rwechitatu ndiTigirisi; runoyerera ruchitevedza rutivi rwamabvazuva eAshuri. Uye rwizi rwechina ndiYufuratesi.[15] Jehovha Mwari akatora munhu akamuisa mubindu reEdheni kuti aririme nokurichengeta. [16] Uye Jehovha Mwari akarayira munhu achiti, “Wakasununguka kuti udye zvinobva pamuti upi zvawo uri mubindu; [17] asi haufaniri kudya zvinobva pamuti wokuziva zvakanaka nezvakaipa, nokuti pauchaudya uchafa zvirokwazvo.”

John 19:16-20 – in Hausa

Dobyo Amos

16 Sa’an nan ya bāshe shi gare su su gicciye shi.

17 Sai suka tafi da Yesu. Ya kuwa fita, shi kansa yake ɗauke da gicciyensa, har zuwa wurin da ake kira Wurin Ƙoƙon Kai, da Yahudanci kuwa, Golgota.
18 Nan suka gicciye shi, da kuma waɗansu mutum biyu tare da shi, ɗaya ta kowane gefe, Yesu kuwa a tsakiya.
19 Bilatus kuma ya rubuta wata sanarwa, ya kafa ta a kan gicciyen. Abin da aka rubuta ke nan, “Yesu Banazare Sarkin Yahudawa.”
20 Yahudawa da yawa kuwa sun karanta wannan sanarwa, domin wurin da aka gicciye Yesu kusa da birni ne. An kuwa rubuta ta da Yahudanci, da Romanci, da kuma Helenanci.

John 19:16-20 – in English

Lumiere Kapend

16Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; 17and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

19Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

Music

AfriSCaD Choir

“You are Alpha and Omega”

You are Alpha and Omega
We worship You our Lord
You are worthy to be praised

We give You all the glory
We worship You our Lord
You are worthy to be praised

My soul says yes, says yes, says yes
My soul says yes, says yes to your will

We give You all the glory
We worship You our Lord
You are worthy to be praised

We give you glory Lord
As we honor you
You are wonderful
You are The messiah

Sermon

“The Tree of Life!”

Rev. Evenly Kent-Clark

Musical Response

AfriSCaD Choir

“I know who I am”

We are a chosen generation
Called forth to show His Excellence
All I require for life
God has given me
And I know who I am (2x)

I know who God says I am
What He says I am
Where He says I’m at
I know who I am (2x)

I’m walking in power
I’m working miracles
I live a life of favor
‘Cause I know who I am (2x)

Leader: Everybody shout ooh

All: Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
I know who I am (4x)

I am holy
I am righteous oh oh
I am so rich
I am beautiful oh

I’m walking in power
I’m working miracles
I live a life of favor
Cause I know who I am (2x)

Take a look at me I’m a wonder
It doesn’t matter what you see now
Can you see His Glory?
Cause I know who I am (2x)

Leader: Everybody shout ooh

All: Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
I know who I am (4x)

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Rev.Kenneth Ngwa
Rev. Evenly Kent-Clark, and Pastor Domingos Fernando

(adapted from Michelle L. Torigian)

God is with you!
And God is with you.
Open wide your hearts.
We open them to the Spirit of God.
May God’s love nurture your wandering spirits each day.
May God’s light sustain your souls each night.

This is a season of wilderness-
This is the time for us to reach inwards to find the self that God sees.
This is the chance for us to gaze outwards, caring for the Christ in our midst.
The Lenten roads are long
Yet full of gifts.
The Lenten paths often seem chilly
Yet they are warm with the winds of the Spirit.
Christ is our companion on the journey.

And as we seek after God, we crave the bread of life.
On our desert roads, we thirst for the fruit of the vine, the cup of blessings.

Through Jesus the Christ’s story, we remember the night before his arrest,
Jesus took in his hands bread from the table.
He broke it and blessed it.
“Eat in remembrance of me,” he said.

And after supper,
As the night grew long,
Jesus took a cup, and filled it with the fruit of the vine.
As he blessed it, he spoke aloud to them:
“Take and drink and always remember me.”

May the Spirit who traveled with Christ in the wilderness
And fills us with the hope of God
Transform these elements.
May the Spirit speak to us in this Lenten season
Becoming our strength on this journey
And filling our lives with love.
Amen.

The table is set. Come, let us share in this holy meal.

Blessing

Rev. Evenly Kent-Clark

Sending Song

AfriSCaD Choir

“Wahamba nathi [You walked with us]”

Wahamba nathi, oh wahamba nathi
(You walked with us, oh you walked with us)
Oh wahamba nathi, siyabonga
(Oh you walked with us, we thank you) (2x)

Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga ngonyama yezulu
(We thank you Jesus, we thank you Lion of heaven)
Siyabonga Jesu, Siyabonga
(we thank you Jesus, we thank you) (2x)