Worship Archive – April 26th 2026

Sunday Service from Hillside Circuit for April 26th 2026:

Lectionary Theme: A community of faith in Christ

Occasion: 4th Sunday of Easter

Lectionary readings:
Psalm 23
Acts 2: 42-47
1 Peter 2: 19-25
John 10: 1-10

[Click or tap on a Bible reference above to jump down the page to the Bible reading to read it for yourself (and/or to listen to it) and then click or tap on Back to top to come back here.]

Songs:

Here are the songs for Sunday morning service. Click or tap on a song to open it in YouTube.

The Lord’s my Shepherd.
This is the day.
Beloved and blessed.
Hide me now.
In heavenly love abiding.
In Christ there is no east or west.
O God our Father.
Now unto him.

Prayers:

You can listen and join in with prayers from the English Methodist Service Book. They can be found at the Prayers for worship webpage.

Children’s Address:

[No Children’s Address was received this week.]

Sermon:

Audio message for Hillside Circuit April 26th 2026 with Rev Margaret James.

Bible readings:

Psalm 23

1 You, LORD, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.
2 You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water,
3 and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,
and you lead me along the right paths.
4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.

5 You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.
You honour me as your guest,
and you fill my cup until it overflows.
6 Your kindness and love will always be with me
each day of my life,
and I will live forever in your house, LORD.

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Acts 2

42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.

43 Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. 44 All the LORD’S followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. 45 They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. 46 Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, 47 while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.

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1 Peter 2

19 God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him. 20 You don’t gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. 21 After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you.

22 Christ did not sin or ever tell a lie.
23 Although he was abused, he never tried to get even.
And when he suffered, he made no threats.
Instead, he had faith in God, who judges fairly.
24 Christ carried the burden of our sins.
He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning
and start living right.
By his cuts and bruises you are healed.
25 You had wandered away like sheep. Now you have returned
to the one who is your shepherd and protector.

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John 10

1 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. 2-3 But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.
4 When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. 5 The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.
6 Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

7 Jesus said:
I tell you for certain that I am the gate for the sheep. 8 Everyone who came before me was a thief or a robber, and the sheep did not listen to any of them. 9 I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.
10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.

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[Did you miss last week’s Sunday Services? They can now be found at Worship Archive – April 19th 2026.]