Welcome:  –

Welcome to everyone here today and to those at home. We have met to worship our Lord and in doing this we have come from a long line of worshipping folk.

Psalm 100 calls us to

 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his^]; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

Give thanks to him and praise his name

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Let us once again warm up our hearts and voices with a few choruses.

We invite you to sing: ‘Surely Goodness and Mercy’

We invite you to sing: ‘From the Rising of the Sun’

 We invite you to sing: ‘It is a good thing to give thanks’

Call to Worship: 

Let us worship God

The world belongs to God,

the earth and all its people.

Love and peace come together,

justice and peace join hands

How good and how lovely it is

To live together in unity

If the Lord’s disciples keep silent

The stones would shout aloud

Lord, open our lips

And our mouths shall proclaim your praise

We invite you to sing  ‘To God be the glory’

Greeting:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God

And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you

Prayers:

Prayer of Adoration:

Ever living God, you are infinite, yet compassionate

In you we live, and move, and have our being.

One with us in Jesus Christ,

You share our life and our death,

flowing through us as living water, you quench our thirst

In you we live, and move, and have our being.

Holy one, we adore you

Holy Wisdom, we adore you

Holy Spirit, we adore you

Accept our praise we bring today and forever. Amen

Prayer of Invocation

Come to us, O God of surprising grace

Break into the places in our lives

Which we think are not worthy of your entry

And show us the measure of your love for us

Break through into newness

In all our life together, O God

In the wonder of your transforming presence. Amen

Prayer of Confession:

We come to God,

Knowing that we have failed to obey the call of Jesus

To love God and love one another with our whole being

But we also come to God who reaches out to us

With healing and reconciliation

Let us pray together

God of all mercy, give us grace today to make a fresh start

We know we have not loved you with our whole heart

Nor have we loved our neighbour as ourselves.

As we hope to be forgiven

Teach us to forgive

And lead us forward in a new life

Where neither grudges nor resentment have a part

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Declaration of forgiveness

If we confess our sins,

God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins

And cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us

“Your sins are forgiven.”

Thanks be to God.

We invite you to sing: ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’

Prayer for illumination as we read from the Bible:

Holy One, Open our hearts and minds

by the power of your Holy Spirit

That as the scripture are read and proclaimed

we may hear your word with joy

Amen

Bible Readings:

Acts 3:3-10

One day Peter and John went to the Temple at three o’clock in the afternoon, the hour for prayer.

There at the Beautiful Gate, as it was called, was a man who had been lame all his life. Every day he was carried to the gate to beg for money from the people who were going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John going in, he begged them to give him something. 

They looked straight at him, and Peter said, “Look at us!” So he looked at them, expecting to get something from them. But Peter said to him, “I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I order you to get up and walk!” 

Then he took him by his right hand and helped him up. At once the man’s feet and ankles became strong;he jumped up, stood on his feet, and started walking around. Then he went into the Temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. 

The people there saw him walking and praising God, and when they recognized him as the beggar who had sat at the Beautiful Gate, they were all surprised and amazed at what had happened to him.

Philippians 1:1- 11

From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s people in Philippi who are in union with Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and helpers: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 I thank my God for you every time I think of you;and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now.                               

And so, I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus. You are always in my heart! And so, it is only right for me to feel as I do about you. For you have all shared with me in this privilege that God has given me, both now that I am in prison and also while I was free to defend the gospel and establish it firmly.                        

God is my witness that I tell the truth when I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of Christ Jesus himself.

 I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. 

Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.

Response to first readings:

Your word, O God, is a lamp to our feet

A light to our path

Luke 18:35-43

As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. 

  When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?”

 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

He cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

 The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Sir,” he answered, “I want to see again.”

  Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.”

  At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.

 Response to second reading:

May your word live in us

And bear much fruit to your glory

 Message

Today I am continuing with the idea that Joy and praise springs out of a new God given heart, a God forgiven heart and a God restored heart.

In the gospel reading we see the healing of the blind man and the absolute joy that arose from not only physical healing but the blind man, named as Bartimaeus in Marks gospel, but his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. It is ironic that a man without physical sight was able to see who Jesus was while others with their sight missed him entirely. Surely this man has received a God given heart by which he is able to discern with spiritual insight.

The result is unbridled joy and the unfettered willingness to follow Jesus. More is going on than what we see on the surface

Jesus resolutely had set out for Jerusalem – He has chosen the cross and nothing can deflect him from that purpose – Those Jesus meets along the way listen and want to understand more about the kingdom – other want to scrutinise his every move – some embrace the kingdom gladly – others reject him out of hand

Everyone who meets him is challenged by word, parable and deed to choose the kingdom and decide where their ultimate loyalty lies – as he journeys toward the cross, he challenges all who hear to embrace his teaching about the kingdom of God – today we are challenged to choose Jesus as our king and embrace his kingdom and receive this good news with joy.

As Peter and John went to pray (they met a lame man on the way). You know the song and the story.

Begging for money, he apprehended Peter and John. The response was not what he expected. Sorry, no money for your begging bowl but there is something much better. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – Get up and walk!”

Then he took him by his right hand and helped him up. At once the man’s feet and ankles became strong;he jumped up, stood on his feet, and started walking around. Then he went into the Temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. 

We read later that that incident set the cat among the pigeons with the authorities. More is going on than a healing story. It is God breaking into the hearts of man. It is God setting the stage for the greatest event of mankind, the dealing with the problem of sin and separation from God, once and for all, with Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection.

We are offered a new life freely available in Christ and a new heart to glorify God and enjoy him forever. An offer you can’t refuse.

Our reading from the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Philippians brings encouragement to a fledgling church. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. A church which began rather explosively as earth trembled and prison gates sprang open. A church which began with a business woman, a slave girl and a jailer plus other unnamed.

It is a letter of great affection and encouragement, from which we can take heart and receive encouragement also.

Many of us are familiar with the Alpha Course which was an initiative put together for non-churchgoers seeking to find out more about Christianity, and those who have recently come to faith. At the end of the Alpha course people often asked “What do I do now?”

Nicky Gumbel, the author of Alpha, encouraged them to study the letter to the Philippians. He had given a number of talks on that topic, and with encouragement of other put together a book entitled “A life worth Living”  and focusses our attention on that new “life worth living”. As we closely study the letter, we are shown what that new life could be like.

The chapters are entitled New Heart – New Purpose – New Attitude – New Responsibilities – New Friendships – New Confidence – New Ambitions – New Resources – New Generosity

Our Philippians reading today is the first chapter, “New Heart”

We find Paul’s new heart of confidence as he says ^“I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.  

This is the confidence we have if we are Christians. He will carry it on to completion.  We need to retain this heart of confidence. It is a gift to be treasured that will bring joy to our hearts.

Paul writes, “I have you in my heart” expressing his deep love for the people  of Philippi. He longs for them with the affection of Christ Jesus. “I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of Christ Jesus himself.”

This is the new heart of compassion

This is the glue that bonds us together. Not just the Clag paste knowledge of God, but a new superglued God given heart that brings compassion for the people of God. These are the people around us and the people God brings into our lives every day. 

 Paul also writes about his concern for growth and understanding.

This is the new heart of concern

that love for each other will grow

that true knowledge and perfect judgement will grow

that what is best can be chosen

that freedom from impurity will be a hallmark of life together.

that lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God

In our transformed lives joyful praise not just fills into every aspect of our lives    but overflows to others.

These are a few thoughts that come from Nicky Gumbel’s book. Perhaps we should go home and read the letter for ourselves asking God to reveal his purpose for us and our lives together as a congregation.

Let us be like the Jews from Berea and receive the message to us with great eagerness and examine the Scriptures every day. As a result, we will grow in faith and understanding.

To finish let us turn to the final words of Paul’s letter to the Philippians in Philippians 4:4-7

Pauls exhorts his readers, (that’s us included) to

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again:

Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds

in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

We invite you to sing ‘When we walk with the lord’   

Prayers of the people:

We have received a spirit of adoption

And the Spirit of God assures us

That we are God’s children        

In the Spirit. We lift our prayers to God

In this confidence, let us pray

God of creation and Sustainer of all of life within it, who offers us hope through the resurrected an ascended Jesus, and the gift of the Spirit as surety for life beyond what we know,

hear us.

We pray for our Ministry Agents and Chaplains who are ministering within our communities during these uncertain times.

We pray for UnitingCare and Blue Care as they minister to those who are reaching out for assistance

For those with disabilities and the elderly within their care. 

Grant them the necessary gifts and graces and the wisdom to use them.       

Lord, hear us          

Lord, hear our prayer

We pray for our Politicians, Health Workers and those on the front line who are daily stepping up

to care for the community
We pray for those in positions where difficult decisions have to be made –
Grant them an overflow of your compassion, with strength and peace.         

Lord, hear us,         

Lord, hear our prayer

We pray for those in our communities who are struggling – may we find genuine ways to encourage and uplift them

We pray for those in our communities who have lost or reduced their employment.

Grant them hope for a renewal of a productive life, and grant all of us the will to share each other’s burdens.

Lord, hear us,         

Lord hear our prayer

We pray for those folk dear to us who suffer in different ways, with ill health and debilitating afflictions of body and mind…   We name these aloud or within our minds…

Grant them your peace.              

Lord hear us,

Lord hear our prayer

in the name of the resurrected and ascended Christ. 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

Offering

Dedication of offering:

Gracious God, for all you have poured out upon us:
We give you thanks.For your Word that has inspired and fed your people; for those who had vision to record it, skill to translate it and presence to share it:  

We give you thanks.
For your love that has surrounded and enfolded us, that has given us joy, confirmed our faith, nurtured our love and given us enduring hope in the gift of the promise of eternal life:
We give you thanks.
To you be all praise and glory, for ever and ever.
  Amen.

We invite you to sing: ‘Something Beautiful’

Word of Mission:

May we go forth into the world in peace

And be of good courage

Help us to hold fast to what is good

Rendering no one evil for evil

Equip us to strengthen the faint hearted,

Support the weak, help the afflicted, honour all people,

Always Loving and serving the Lord,

Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Blessing:

May the Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord make His face to shine upon you,

And be gracious unto you

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you

And give you peace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God

And the communion of the Holy Spirit

Be with us all evermore.

Amen

We invite you to sing  ‘The steadfast love of the Lord’