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“The Lord is great and worthy of our praise.”  Psalm 48: 1a

  With these few words, the writer of psalm 48 reminds us of two things.

Firstly, that the God of the Bible is no myth nor folklore nor only a cultural tradition, but the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them, and, that God has ultimate control over Time and Space and History.  No Nation nor any national leader has ever, nor can ever, exercise such authority and power as God, nor can be compared to the greatness of God.

Secondly, that our response to God is one of worship and praise, not out of fear or dread of God, but because God the Creator seeks to be in a close relationship with us, His creation.  God seeks to opulently and permanently demonstrate His love for each individual, though we deserve no such attention nor affection.

  It is the God of the Bible whom we gather together here today to offer our worship, the one who made us, the one who demonstrates His love for us.

Prayer of Praise

 (from Amish Prayers by Beverley Lewis p41, 117 and 121) 

Almighty God, we express our great praise and deep gratitude for your glorious kindness and favour towards us.  We offer our humble thanks for your undeserved mercy, acknowledging that our restored relationship with you has come through the death and resurrection of your son, Jesus Christ.

Eternal God, you are the one who best understands our faults and Human weaknesses.  Without your blessing and support, we are nothing, incapable of living a life in obedience to your will and purpose and enjoying a life in the midst of your Creation.

Faithful God, give us the wisdom and understanding so that we can recognise what is true and just, right and pure.  May we love you above all things, with our whole heart, with all strength and ability, and with the breath of our souls.  To your glory we pray.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing 2 Songs:

“Freely, Freely”  (from Scripture in Song  volume 1  number 41)

Carol Owens

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me’ (from Scripture in Song volume 1 number 46)

John Peterson and Alfred Smith

Prayer of Confession 

(from A year of Prayer by John MacArthur, Week 4 p31 to 33) 

Lord of glory, you are a righteous God,

You hold each of us justly responsible for our sins.

We cannot condemn the sins of others without condemning ourselves,

For we are not free from sin.

We deserve your judgement,

Yet you withhold that judgement from us.

You are rich in kindness and tolerance,

Patiently seeking to lead us to repentance.

We confess that we have been led astray from your pathway,

We confess to a stubborn heart, refusing to yield to your will.

We confess that what has been done we cannot undo,

Our good character and good works count for nothing towards our salvation.

We cannot contribute any merit towards removing the taint of our sins,

We are flawed by our mortal imperfections and mixed motives.

In Christ alone do we trust for our salvation,

We humbly seek your forgiveness and cleansing of our souls.

God, be merciful to us,

To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Ezekiel 11: 19 and 14: 5) 

God told the Prophet Ezekiel that His hope for the People of Israel was that they would “turn back” from their sinful ways and that He would “win back their loyalty and obedience”.    In the same way God seeks to “win back” our loyalty and our obedience.  We have confessed our sins before God.  Let us rest on the assurance that God is ready to hear our prayers and is willing to forgive us and to restore us to a right relationship with Him.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

(from Uniting in Worship Book 1 number 13 & 14 p599) 

  Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to be guided by your Word and the Holy Spirit, that in your light we may perceive your mercy and grace, that in your truth we may find freedom, and that in your will we may discover peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 48:

1  Great is the LORD, He is to be highly praised, in the City of our God, on His holy mountain.

9  Within your Temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.

10  You are praised by people everywhere, and your fame extends over all the Earth; you  rule with justice.

13b  Tell the next generation:

14  “This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide for all time to come.”

Judges 2:

11  Then the people of Israel sinned against the Lord and began to serve the Baals.  12  They stopped worshipping the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the God who had brought them out of Egypt, and they began to worship other gods, the gods of the peoples around them.  They bowed down to them and made the Lord angry.  13  They stopped worshipping the Lord and served the Baals and the Astartes.  14  And so the Lord became furious with Israel and let raiders attack and rob them.  He let the enemies all around overpower them, and the Israelites could no longer protect themselves.  15  Every time they would go into battle, the Lord was against them, just as He had said He would be.  They were in great distress.

16  Then the Lord gave the Israelites leaders who saved them from raiders.  17  But the Israelites paid no attention to their leaders.  Israel was unfaithful to the Lord and worshipped other gods.  Their fathers had obeyed the Lord’s commands, but this new generation soon stopped doing so.  18  Whenever the Lord gave Israel a leader, the Lord would help him and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived.  The Lord would have mercy on them because they groaned under their suffering and oppression.  19  But when the leader died, the people would return to their old ways and behave even worse than the previous generation.  They would stubbornly continue their evil ways.

Ezekiel 14:

1  Some of the leaders of the Israelites came to consult me about the Lord’s will.  2  Then the Lord spoke to me.  “Mortal man,” He said, “these men have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them to sin.  Do they think I will give them an answer?  Now speak to them and tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them: Every Israelite who has given his heart to idols and lets them lead them into sin and who then comes to consult a Prophet, will get an answer from me – the answer that their many idols deserved!  5  All those idols have turned the Israelites away from me, but by my answer I hope to win back their loyalty.  6  Now, then, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: ‘Turn back and leave your disgusting idols.’”

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Mark 6

1  Jesus left that place and went back to his hometown, Nazareth, followed by his Disciples.  2  On the Sabbath he began to teach in the Synagogue.  Many people were there, and, when they heard him, they were all amazed.  “Where did he get all this?” they asked.  “What wisdom is this that has been given him?  How does he perform miracles?  33  Isn’t he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon?  Aren’t his sisters living here?”  And, so, they rejected him.

4  Jesus said to them, “A prophet is respected everywhere except in his own hometown and by his relatives and his family.”

5  He was not able to perform any miracles there, except that he placed his hands on a few sick people and healed them.  6  He was greatly surprised, because the people did not have faith.

[Today’s English Version]

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Hymn ‘This, this is the God we adore’

Verse 1 of 2

This, this is the God we adore,

Our faithful unchangeable friend,

Whose love is as great as His power,

And neither knows measure nor end.

Verse 2 of 2

‘Tis Jesus, the first and the last,

Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;

We’ll praise him for all that is past,

And trust him for all that’s to come.

Joseph Hart

Sermon

If I were to suggest to you that our journey with God in this life and in the Age to come can be compared to travelling on a train, what picture immediately comes to mind?

peak hour train travel

  Those who have experienced, first-hand, travelling on a crowded Queensland Rail commuter train during the daily peak-hour period, may have trouble with such imagery, given that one of the enduring memories of such travel is sitting beside or underneath someone’s smelly arm-pit. 

  But the author of Psalm 48 gives us reason for accepting this imagery of train travel.  They write of God that “He will be our guide for all time to come.”  (Psalm 48: 14b)  The Hebrew word translated as “guide” is nawdar  (Strong’s OT5090)  , from a primary root meaning to “drive forth”, or “to lead”, or “to carry away”; and isn’t this what a train driver does?

  On our recent holiday overseas, Kerry and I had the opportunity to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer.  It prides itself that it has been “delighting guests since 1990”, and boasts that it is “the only way to see the Canadian Rockies”.

Inside a Gold Leaf carriage on the Rocky Mountaineer – Monday 6th May 3:07pm

somewhere between Vancouver and Kamloops, following the Fraser River

  If you intend travelling on the Rocky mountaineer, opt to pay the extra fee and travel “Gold Leaf”. Here is a photograph of a Gold Leaf carriage.  Notice the comfortable seats, the 180^o views, the glass windows to keep out the rain (and presumably the snow as well).  But wait, there’s more.  The Gold Leaf fare includes a newspaper that describes the journey and the route that it will take, three course meals for breakfast and lunch, and dinner if the rain is running late, snacks throughout the day between meals, unlimited non-alcoholic drinks throughout the journey, and a running commentary on the sites and scenery along the way.  It is a far cry from travelling on Queensland Rail commuter trains.

  So, when I suggest that you consider that our journey with God in this life and in the Age to come can be compared to travelling on a train, broaden your imagining to consider that such a journey would be in Gold Leaf on God’s “Rocky Mountaineer”.

  But, if travelling by Gold Leaf is so good, what is to stop someone from sneaking onto the carriage without paying the required fee?

a Gold Leaf badge

  When you arrive at the Station, you are issued with a Boarding Pass which lists the days of your travel, the number of your Rail Car and your Seat number.  And, you are also issued with a Gold Leaf badge to wear.  It is explained that by wearing this badge you are guaranteed entry onto the Gold Leaf Carriage for the period of your travel.

  So, continuing with the imagery that our journey with God in this life and in the Age to come can be compared to travelling on a train, what guarantees our entry onto God’s Gold Leaf carriage?  What sort of Gold Leaf badge is God looking for us wearing?

  The History of the people of Israel is one of continually turning away from the worship of the God who had delivered them from bondage to slavery in Egypt and who had delivered them safely to the Land of Canaan that He had promised to them, and turning to the worship of the idols that were worshipped by the peoples of the surrounding nations.

  The author of the Book of Judges, writing of events that took place in approximately 1220BC, barely a generation after Joshua had led them into Canaan, says that “the people of Israel stopped worshipping the Lord and began to worship the gods of the peoples around them, the Baal and the Astarte”  (Judges 2: 12)  , who were the gods of the Canaanites, the Phoenicians, the Ugarites, the Moabites, and the Amorites. 

  The Prophet Ezekiel, writing in approximately 580BC, immediately after the people of Judah had been taken into exile in Babylon, talks of idols that have turned the people of Judah away from the worship of God.  (Ezekiel 14: 2, 5)  What had made the worshipping of idols so attractive to the God’s people, so enticing, so irresistible? 

  We need to look at what God had given to them.

  Firstly, God had given them security of a land to call their own.  We read in Joshua 21: 12:

“So the Lord gave to Israel all the land that He had promised their ancestors He would give them.”

  Secondly, God had given them productive land.  We read in Joshua 4: 6 that the land of Canaan was a “rich and fertile land”.

  Thirdly, God promised a bright future for every family among the people of Israel.  In Joshua chapters 14 to 21 we read how, on God’s instructions, Joshua divided the land among the Tribes of Israel, and how each family of each Tribe was allocated land within the Tribe’s area, that it would hold in perpetuity, ensuring that each family had sufficient land on which to grow crops and raise livestock.

  Fourthly, God had given them peace.  We read in Joshua 14: 15:

“There was peace in the land.”

And we read in Joshua 21: 44:

“The Lord gave them peace throughout the land, .. not one of their enemies had been able to stand against them, .. that Lord gave the Israelites the victory over all their enemies.”

  In spite of all of this, why would the people of Israel be willing to give up worshipping the God who had done so much for them, and substitute in its place the worship of the worthless gods of the peoples whom they had defeated in battle, gods that their God had clearly demonstrated were false gods and powerless gods?

  Was it because of God’s harsh laws and His cruel demands?  No, for God’s Laws were just and God’s demands were based on what was right and compassionate.

  Was it because they had cruel leaders?  No, for there was no King of a united kingdom at this stage.  Each Tribe and family had their own leaders, whose sole concern was the welfare of the Tribe or family.

  Was there a vagueness about the God of their ancestors, such that they sought clarification from a study of other gods?  No, for they had the writings of Moses, and they had the memories of the generation of people whom Joshua had led across the River Jordan and who had followed Joshua as he led them in their efforts to win the land for themselves.  There was no cause for any misunderstanding or a lack of understanding about the God who had led them and their ancestors so far for so long.

  I believe that it was based on the fear of ‘missing out on something’, on a sense that there could be more to gain from an understanding of the gods worshipped by others, on the possibility that there were things that the God of their ancestors was denying them.  Wasn’t this the error of Eve in her being enticed to think “how wonderful it would be to become wise”?  (Genesis 3: 6) 

  So, instead of living a life of gratitude to God, of living a life of service to God, of relying on God’s promise that He had provided all that they would ever need or desire, they thought how wonderful it would be to “become wise” about these other gods.

  But in their eagerness to seek after these other gods, in their zeal to find out what they may have been missing, the people of Israel lost their love of God, they had “given their hearts to idols” and were “letting idols lead them into sin”, as Ezekiel states.  (Ezekiel 14: 3)  There was a weakening in the Covenant-bond which bound them to God and to each other.  (Frederick Bruce in Judges in New Bible Commentary p258, The Lion Handbook of the Bible p219) 

  Both the writer of the book of Judges and the Prophet Ezekiel described how the Israelites developed stubborn hearts towards God, a stubbornness towards God’s attempts to show where they had erred and a stubbornness towards God’s call to “turn back” to a right worship of the God of their ancestors, the great “I am”.  (Judges 2: 19, Ezekiel 11: 19, 14: 6) 

  Mark writes of such “stubbornness’ in the hearts of the inhabitants of the village of Nazareth, the home village of Jesus. 

  Elsewhere in Mark’s Gospel we read that people flocked to listen to the teachings of Jesus  (Mark 4: 1, 6: 33)  , and that wherever Jesus taught, people remarked how Jesus taught with “God-given authority”  (Mark 1: 22, 11: 18)  .  But not so in Nazareth, for those who listened to Jesus as he was teaching asked themselves:

“Where did he get all this?  What wisdom is this that has been given him?”  (Mark 6: 2) 

  Elsewhere in Mark’s Gospel we read of the amazement of people upon seeing Jesus miraculously healing people.  ( Mark 2: 12, 5: 42)  But not so in Nazareth, for those who looked on as Jesus healed a “few sick people” asked themselves:

“How does he perform miracles?”  (Mark 6: 2) 

  They could not deny the truth of what Jesus was teaching nor could they deny the truth that Jesus had healed people.  They were seeking an understanding as to what was the source of the authority by which Jesus taught and healed.  Was it by Human authority or was it granted to Jesus by God?  In Mark 11: 28 we find “the chief priests, the teachers of the Law and the elders” asking Jesus the very same question.

  The inhabitants of Nazareth had seen Jesus grow up in their town, they knew his father and mother, they knew his brothers and sisters, they knew that he had previously worked as a carpenter in their town.  They could not accept that someone with whom they were so familiar could possibly have God given authority to teach them anything nor to heal in the name of God.  Such an explanation was a stumbling block to their placing faith in what Jesus preached.  And, so, we read:

“Jesus was greatly surprised (or marvelled or was amazed or was taken aback) because the people did not have faith.”  (Mark 6: 6a) 

  The inhabitants of Nazareth were not prepared to accept any new revelation from God that Jesus was bringing to them.  They were satisfied with ‘what they knew’ and with their preconceived judgements of who people were and of how God would reveal Himself to them.  They, too, had hearts that were stubborn to God’s challenge to submit to His Will.  Jesus, in turn, would not make a display of his powers in order to convince sceptics.  (The Lion Handbook of the Bible p505)  Neither would he heal where there was no “morally directed faith”, for that “would be to act like the pagan magicians”.  (Craig Keener in Mark in The IVP Bible Background Commentary of the New Testament p149) 

  Jesus could do no real work among them that would bring “conversion of their soul and freedom of their heart” among them.  (John Reilly in Praying Mark p69) 

  The writer of Psalm 48 states,

“This God is our God for ever and ever”  (Psalm 48: 14a)  

  King David wrote in Psalm 25,

“in you I trust, O my God, guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long”  (Psalm 25: 2a & 5 – NIV) 

  This highlights the attitude for which God is seeking from us.

The desire to look only to God.

The desire to listen only to God.

The desire to learn only from God.

The desire to be led only by God.

The desire to lean only upon God.

The desire to love only God, wholly and unconditionally.

  In last week’s readings we read of the woman who had suffered severe bleeding for 12 years.  In reaching out to Jesus for healing, the woman had, consciously, acknowledged the divinity of Jesus.  Where once she had worshipped God only according to the Jewish rites and rituals, now her understanding of God had been broadened, and she worshiped God anew in the person of His Son, Jesus. 

  By her actions and words, she publicly acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God.  She publicly professed her faith that Jesus, as the Son of God, would bring healing and wholeness to her.  It is on this basis that Jesus calls her “my daughter” and blesses her with the peace of God.  (Mark 5: 34)  It is on the same basis that God blesses us and calls us His daughters and sons.

  Matthew records this promise made by Jesus,

“If anyone declares publicly that they belong to me, I will do the same for them before my Father in Heaven.”  (Matthew 10: 32 & 33) 

  The “Gold Leaf” badge for which God is seeking to find us wearing is a heart open to Him, our professed faith in Him as our God, and our professed faith in His saving grace brought about through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Let us wear this badge faithfully every day for the rest of our days, in this life and in the Age to come.

I will leave you with this verse from a hymn composed by William Cushing:

“Under his wings I am safely abiding;

though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

still I can trust him – I know he will keep me;

he has redeemed me and I am his child.”

from Our Daily Bread 13 May 2008

Amen.

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[This YouTube clip is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed.]

For the life that you have given,

For the love in Christ made known,

With these fruits of time and labour,

With these gifts that are your own:

Here we offer, Lord, our praises;

Heart and mind and strength we bring;

Give us grace to love and serve you,

Living what we pray and sing.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Prayers for Others

  Lord Jesus Christ, you have created all people in your image, and by your grace in Jesus Christ, drawn people of every Nation and language back into your Kingdom.

  We confess that we are often painfully separated by race, culture, power, and prestige.

  By your death and resurrection you reconciled the World to God and broke down the barriers of race and culture that divide people and nations.

  Make us agents of reconciliation in the life of your Church and your World. 

  Bless all those in government and positions of authority at national, state and local levels and help them to govern wisely and justly,

  showing respect to all people, no matter what their ethnic or racial background, so that people may be restrained from wrongdoing and encouraged to live good lives.

Thank you, Lord, for all the gifts you have entrusted to us, including the land on which we live.

  Help us to remember that all we are and have comes from you and is to be used to serve you in the World.

ALWAYS WAS, ALWAYS WILL BE. – Reconciliation Action Plan (lca.org.au)

We pray for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, that all will recognize the Creator Spirit in their culture,

  and that they and those of other cultures will work together to allow all Australians to live fully, grow strong and be proud of their heritage.

We pray for all young people, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities,

  that the Holy Spirit will walk with them and touch their lives as they make their contribution to God, the Church and Society.

We pray for all who seek to promote peace in the World,

  that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will foster a spirit of forgiveness and harmony in our communities.

Heavenly Father: thank you for Jesus’ ministry by which he casts out sin and brings healing and holiness.

  Strengthen our faith so that we do not reject him, especially when we are made aware of our own sin.

Thank you for the Christian companions you provide for our journey, through whom you bring judgment and grace to us.

  Help us to be worthwhile companions to others, loving and true.  Build up the fellowship in this Congregation so we may be well equipped for service and mission in the World.

Help us and the whole Church to understand the sins of our age, to speak where silence needs breaking,

  to comfort where terror threatens, and to support where courage falters, all with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We pray for our nation’s leaders – her representatives, the parliaments, the prime minister and cabinet, and departments, the opposition and the whole system of government.

  Help them to understand the complexities of life and bring them to govern in a way which pleases you, promotes the well-being of all, and which allows the extension of the Gospel.

Service Order (lca.org.au)

  Thank you for the steps that have been and continue to be taken on the journey towards reconciliation between the races and cultures that exist side-by-side in our Land, and for the grace that so many people have shown to others, and the willingness to forgive.

  Guide national and community leaders to speak the truth in love, to seek justice with mercy and to care for those who continue to experience devastating disadvantage.

  We lament with our aboriginal sisters and brothers the enormous loss of languages and the loss of identity, culture and ancient wisdom that disappears with them.

  Strengthen indigenous church leaders to shepherd your flock faithfully, and strengthen all indigenous people to be salt and light in their communities and in the whole Nation.

Give indigenous and non-indigenous believers the courage to demonstrate the new community you are inviting us to create in your name,

  a new community out of people from every Nation, tribe, language and people, through Wisdom and your Spirit of peace.

Prayer for Indigenous Australians | St Kilda Uniting Church

Almighty God, we pray for us, your Church, that we may risk entering into a deeper relationship with Jesus which will transform us and the way we live.

We pray that wherever your Word is preached that it may be heard with understanding and received in faith.

We pray for courage, that you will empower us to reveal the truth of your love for each person in our everyday circumstances and be witnesses to your presence in our relationships and interactions.

We pray for the gift of Wisdom, that your Word may enter our hearts, bring us to a new awareness of virtues, and guide us in living as your Children.

We pray for greater trust, that you will free us from our past mistakes, strengthen us as we recognize our weaknesses, and open us to your power working within us.  We pray for transformation of our hearts, that we may recognize our greatest weakness, surrender it to you, and allow you to work within us for your glory.

We pray for healing, that your Holy Spirit will comfort us when we are misunderstood, renew us when we have been unjustly criticized, and inspire us to show your love each day.

We pray for freedom from all attachments so that we may respond wholeheartedly to your will for us and seek first your reign in our lives.

We pray for all who are alienated from their families or communities, that you will open new opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation.

We pray for an acceptance of others, that you will help us to be open to the stranger and their gifts as they enter our lives, so that we may be nurtured and enriched by them.  Teach us to learn from oner another and to give support where it is needed.

We pray for all who are struggling, that you will free those bound by addictions, give support to those facing their weaknesses, and guide them in starting again.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will bring healing to the sick, relief to those experiencing drought, renewal to those who have experienced abuse or crime, and new opportunities for those seeking employment.

We pray for greater stewardship, that you will guide us in caring for your Creation and preserving its resources for future generations.

We pray for all leaders of Governments, that you will give them the wisdom to fulfill their responsibilities, hearts sensitive to the needs of those whom they serve, and freedom to pursue the common good.

We pray for peace, that you will turn hearts from greed and violence, and help all to recognize the dignity of each person.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.  https://liturgy.slu.edu/ 

(also from Leading Intercessions by Raymond Chapman p70)

Almighty God, we pray for the people of Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda

We are thankful for how the churches in Sudan and in South Sudan, as well as Ecumenical Network Sudan, have consistently pursued peace processes, healing and reconciliation in these war-ravaged countries, for those who work to bring justice for the victims of genocide and war crimes, including the International Criminal Court, for the many who carry out humanitarian work in these countries and who settle those who are displaced, and for the economic progress and peacebuilding that has occurred in Uganda, and for effective measures to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS.

We pray for a cessation of ethnic animosities and violence, and increased understanding between ethnic and religious groups, for an end to the rape and practices of genital mutilation of girls and women, for governments to respect the will and best interests of their people and the human rights of all, and for natural resources to be preserved and the land saved from further desertification.

Prayer for South Sudan

Our Heavenly Father,
We come into your presence with thanksgiving and gratitude for your grace, mercy and love in South Sudan.
We know things are not going so well in the country, but we believe that You will do the changes in Your own time.
We trust that South Sudan belongs to you, and therefore we surrender all things into your hand in faith.
For in Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

(© 2014 Beatrice M. Mamuzi)

Prayer for peace

Bless, O Lord, those who hear your word and believe it.
We pray for the people who are in remote areas,
and live in fear of the world of spirits,
that they will know your power as Saviour of the world.
Bring peace to our land
and all parts of the world that are disturbed,
so that the gospel of salvation may be preached to all humankind.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

(Episcopal Church of Sudan. PEW #123.)

Prayer for God’s presence

Visit us, we are despairing.
Our faith is wavering, O Lord, come visit us.
The hardness of the world weighs heavily on us.
Sin keeps us away from your path.
We are forsaken, forsaken, forsaken.

(Sudan. Prières pour le monde 2004, © Fédération protestante de France, Paris, France. English transl. Terry MacArthur © 2005 WCC.)

  Almighty God, we pray for the national Hansen’s Disease programme in Brazil, where leprosy is known as Hansen’s Disease.  May this programme succeed in bringing an end to transmission.  We pray for MORHAN (Movimento de Reintegração das Pessoas Atingidas pela Hanseníase), the organisation of persons affected by Hansen’s Disease in Brazil.  May you guide their leaders and open doors to success.

  Heavenly Father, we pray for organisations of persons affected by leprosy in countries across the world, but particularly in the leprosy priority countries, where the burden of leprosy is so high.  May the leaders of these organisations find wisdom and strength to speak truth to power and to continue to grow their operations.

  Of the 11 priority countries where The Leprosy Mission does not have a presence, seven are in the Africa region.  Several face the challenge of being Fragile States, tackling poor infrastructure due to many years of conflict and political instability.  We pray for the effectiveness of national programmes in these African countries and the WHO and ILEP staff that support them.

  We pray for teams that are working to defeat leprosy across South America.  May they work well together and find strong regional collaborations.  We pray for leprosy transmission to decline on that continent.

  We pray for the World Health Organization’s Global Leprosy Programme and the team at WHO South–East Asia that oversees it.  We pray this team will receive the resources they need to do their work and they will receive the cooperation they need from governments across the World.

  The Leprosy Mission used to support activities in South Sudan, but was forced to stop due to insecurity.  We pray for peace in South Sudan, Sudan and many other leprosy[1]affected countries where conflict hampers the efforts of the national leprosy programme.  For many years, The Leprosy Mission supported the Community Health and Education Programme (CHEP) in Tanzania. We pray for the Diocese of Dodoma as they continue with their work to defeat leprosy in Tanzania

Leprosy primarily affects countries in Asia, Africa, and South America.  The Leprosy Mission is working in a number of the countries in Asia and Africa where leprosy is most commonly found (see p.84 for a map of where we work).  We pray for those countries where leprosy remains a serious issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists 23 countries that it has designated ‘priority countries’ for leprosy. The Leprosy Mission is present in 12 of those countries, while our ILEP partners work to defeat leprosy in the remaining 11.  Those 11 countries are Angola, Brazil, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Micronesia, The Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania.  Of these countries, Brazil has the most cases, accounting for the second largest number in the world (roughly 27,000 cases per year, according to pre-pandemic data).  We pray for these countries, the people affected by leprosy who are fighting for their rights, and for our partners who are working to end leprosy.

The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Guide%202024.pdf

Prayers of the Congregation

We pray for those who undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the coming weeks.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she addresses the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the Bald Hills State School.

We pray for those who we have not seen for some time and who are unable to attend worship regularly.  Please guide and comfort them in their particular circumstances.  May they be aware of your care for them as they meet what each new day brings.

  Merciful God, you sent your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to walk among us.  He heard the cries of the people and shared with them the Good News of the Kingdom.  Hear our prayers this day and answer them so that your greatness may be known by all.  This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘Come, sinners, to the Gospel feast’

(This YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune.)

Verse 1 of 6

Come, sinners, to the Gospel feast,

Let every soul be Jesu’s guest;

You need not one be left behind,

For God has bidden Humankind.

Verse 2 of 6

Sent by my Lord, on you I call,

The invitation is to all,

Come, all the World, come, sinner thou!

All things in Christ are ready now.

Verse 3 of 6

Come, all you souls by sin oppressed,

You restless wanderers after rest,

You poor, and maimed, and lame, and blind,

In Christ a hearty welcome find.

Verse 4 of 6

His love is mighty to compel,

His conquering love consent to feel,

Yield to his love’s resistless power,

And fight against your God no more.

Verse 5 of 6

Come, and partake the Gospel feast,

Be saved from sin, in Jesus rest,

O taste the goodness of your God,

And eat his flesh and drink his blood.

Verse 6 of 6

This is the time; no more delay!

This is the Lord’s accepted day;

Come in, this moment, at his call,

And live for him who died for all.

Charles Wesley

Sacrament of Communion 

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222) 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own.  We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend.  So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

  “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’”  (1 Corinthians 11: 23 to 26) 

  And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space.  We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet.  You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven.  We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations.  Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice.  In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross.  You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace.  By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith.  With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and the cup, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.  Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever.  Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the World,

Grant us peace.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘I need Thee every hour’  (from Alexander’s Hymns No.3 Number 71  MHB475)

Annie B Hawks and Robert Lowry

Benediction    

Nothing between my soul and the Saviour,

naught of this World’s delusive dream:

I have renounced all sinful pleasure.

Jesus is mine!  There’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure:

habits of life, though harmless they seem,

must not my heart from him ever sever.

He is my all!  There’s nothing between.

(verses 1 & 2 of “Nothing between” by Charles Tindley)

  May this be our honest and earnest claim as we live out our lives day by day.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

You are invited to isten to, or join in singing the Benediction Song

Benediction Song

“O Lord of every shining constellation”  TiS157

[This hymn is being sung to the tune O Perfect Love.] 

[This YouTube has piano music only – there is no introduction.]

Verse 1 of 3

O Lord of every shining constellation

That wheels in splendour through the midnight sky,

Grant us your spirit’s true illumination

To read the secrets of your work on high.

Verse 2 of 3

You, Lord, have stamped your image on your creatures

And, though they marred that image, love them still;

Uplift our eyes to Christ, that in his features

We may discern the beauty of your Will.

Verse 3 of 3

Great Lord of Nature, shaping and renewing,

Who made us more than Nature’s heirs to be,

Help us to tread, with grace our souls enduring,

The road of life and immortality.

Albert Bayly