Welcome to Worship After Jesus had risen from the dead, He appeared to His disciples, and said, “Peace be with you”. Bible Reading – Luke 24:36-48 Jesus Appears to the Disciples ‘ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things’. Do you remember, previously, Jesus had spoken with His disciples and explained what was going to happen, but they didn’t fully understand? It was a lot for them to take in at the time. In all probability we would have been the same. He was talking of going back to His Father God. In John 14:27 He leaves them with these words, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’. After His resurrection, He again uses these words, ‘Peace be with you’. Let’s take a look at Song 504:Song 504 ‘Lead us, heavenly Father lead us…’ Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us O’er the world’s tempestuous sea; Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, For we have no help but Thee; Yet possessing every blessing If our God our Father be. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us; All our weakness Thou dost know; Thou didst tread this earth before us, Thou didst feel its keenest woe; Lone and dreary, faint and weary, Through the desert Thou didst go. Spirit of our God, descending, Fill our hearts with heavenly joy, Love with every passion blending, Pleasure that can never cloy; Thus provided, pardoned, guided, Nothing can our peace destroy. James Edmeston The last two lines of this Song say so much, ‘Thus provided, pardoned, guided, Nothing can our peace destroy’, when we have Jesus in our life, and trust in Him (I believe the Queen has during this time of grief, and it is an example of that unwavering trust that she has in the Lord). I share some words of Helen Steiner Rice on this verse, John 14:27: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’. After His resurrection, He again uses these words, ‘Peace be with you’. Peace is not something you fight for With bombs and missiles that kill, Peace is attained in the silence That comes when the heart stands still. For hearts that are restless and warlike With longings that never cease, Can never contribute ideas That bring the world nearer to peace. . . For as dew never falls on a morning That follows a dark stormy night, The peace and the grace of our Father Fall not on a soul that's in flight.. So if we seek peace for all people There is but one place to begin, And the armament race will not win it For the fortress of peace is within. Helen Steiner Rice Prayer: God of heaven and earth, I beseech You to create a longing for peace within the hearts of each one of us. If peace is to come, it must originate in each person's heart and in each home. Amen Sit quietly and meditate on the two verses, 3 & 4 of Song 67. (Make it your personal prayer. Change the words ‘our’ to ‘my’, ‘us’ to me) This is the day of peace: Thy peace our spirits fill; Bid Thou the blasts of discord cease, The waves of strife be still. This is the day of prayer: Let earth to heaven draw near; Lift up our hearts to seek Thee there, Come down to meet us here. John Ellerton Song 795 ‘What a friend we have in Jesus…’ What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we o