Celebrating 150 years of worship services taking place on the Bald Hills property.

Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(from Psalm 100: 4 and 5) 

  The Psalmist writes:

“Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving; go into its courts with gladness.

Give thanks to God and praise Him.

For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever,

And His faithfulness to all generations.”

  What reason does the Psalmist give for a person entering the Temple grounds?  To express their thanksgiving to God, to worship and to praise Him.

  Why was this such a vital part of a person’s life?  Because God had committed Himself to being in a close and personal relationship with His people, because this close and personal relationship was an expression of His love for His people, a love that was unfailing throughout all of Time, a love that encompasses all aspects of existence, a love that encompasses all people.  (NIV Study Bible p827, 897 & 899) 

  For 150 years people have been entering the gates to this property with thanksgiving and gladness, to offer their worship of God and our praise to God for the same reasons, because of His steadfast love and faithfulness towards them.  God’s nature does not change.  God’s commitment to those who worship and honour Him does not change. 

  We, too, gather today for the same purpose, with gladness in our hearts, to offer our worship of God and of praise to God, and to express our thankfulness for his love and grace. 

  Upon that understanding, let us come together as the people of God in this place, and greet each other saying:

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of Thanksgiving  

(adapted from UCA Assembly Liturgy Resources for a Congregation)  

Gracious and Almighty God, we give you thanks for the men and women who first established this Church in this place;

and for all those who have continued to worship and serve here, those who lived out their faith in loving words and deeds and prayers.

We give you thanks for all the hopes, fears, joys and sorrows that have been brought into this house of prayer;

and for the times of renewal and profound decisions that have been made here.

We give you thanks for those who gladly expressed their faith through the playing of music and the singing in choirs;

and for those who used their gifts and talents in the caring for finances and administration.

We give you thanks for those who led Sunday School classes, Ray’s, OK’s, KUCA, BHUGS, P1, youth groups, fellowship groups, Bible studies, and prayer groups;

and for all who grew in their knowledge of you through their involvement in the life of this Church.

We give you thanks for those who worked lovingly in the kitchen;

and all who cared for the buildings and property.

We give you thanks for the people whose faith has been nurtured here;

for those who have stayed in the Bald Hills areas and for those who have moved away and have continued your work and witness elsewhere.

Loving God, Creator, Sustainer, Forgiver and Inspirer, on this day of remembrance, thanksgiving and hope;

we praise you for all that has passed and trust you for all that is to come.

May your work and witness continue to be strengthened here with our assurance of the presence of the risen Christ,

to heal our hurts, dampen our frustrations, and lead us on as we move forward into the future.  To your glory and honour we pray, Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn: ‘To God be the glory’”  TiS147  AHB85  MHB313

Francis Jane van Alstyne

Prayer of Confession 

(in part from Psalm 19: 12 to 14) 

Merciful Lord, you search our hearts and minds and find us wanting.  How often have we wandered from the path you have laid out, and have followed our cravings and desires?

Forgive us God for the pain and disappointment that we cause you.

We spend our time admiring others for their beauty or intelligence.  We spend our time acquiring material objects in the vain hope that they will satisfy us and give us comfort.

Forgive us God for putting others and things before you.

We feel that we can do better in managing our lives.  We stop listening to your voice because we are satisfied with our way of life.

Forgive us God for trying to earn our own salvation.

We avoid the poor and the hungry.  We avert our eyes when we see others in need because we don’t want to get involved or to share what we have.

Forgive us God for the neglect we show to others.

We are quick to become angry with those who hurt us or take away our time and energy.

Forgive us God for failing to show the limitless love that you lavish upon us.

No-one can see their own errors.

Deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults.

Keep me safe from wilful sins.

Don’t let them rule over me.

May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you.

This is my plea O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Philippians 3: 9) 

Paul reminds us that our righteousness is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God.  We have confessed our sins before God and have professed our faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.  The Good News therefore is this; in Jesus Christ we are accepted, we are loved, we are forgiven, and our lives cleansed in the sight of God.

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

Hebrews 12:

1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  2  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

(New International Version)

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

John 1:

The Word Became Flesh

1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was with God in the beginning.  3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  4  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  5  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

6  There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.  7  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.  8  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.  9  The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

10  He was in the World, and though the World was made through him, the World did not recognise him.  11  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  12  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  13  children born not of natural descent, nor of Human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

(New International Version)

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Some words by the Moderator Rev Andrew Gunton

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn: ‘And can it be that I should gain’  (TiS209  AHB138  MHB371)

Charles Wesley

Sermon

“Be a finisher”

Rev Pierre van Blommestein

We apologise that the transcript of the sermon is not available.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn: ‘Your hand, O God, has guided’  (TiS456  AHB389)

Edward Plumptre

Rededication by the Congregation 

(from UCA Assembly Liturgy for Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the UCA : order of worship) 

Let us remain standing and rededicate ourselves anew as members of Christ’s Church.

The Church is one body, made up of many members.

Each of us adds something beautiful and unique to this community of faith.

Though we are frail Humans, God dwells on Earth and makes Himself known in sacred spaces and sacred moments.

God is with us, today, here in this place.

We promise to love as God’s people,

and to sing, pray, listen, hear the words of Scripture,

and to share these things with each other so we may energise and deepen our faith.

We dedicate ourselves this day to serving each other.

We look forward to more years of service and worship together.

We dedicate ourselves anew to being Christ’s people in the World.

Where there has been conflict among us, we pray for the softening of hearts and for reconciliation between us.

We pray for healing, peace and co-operation among us.

We covenant anew today,

to share the ministry of Jesus with each other,

and with the larger community around us,

so that all who meet us may know, by our example and our words,

of his unconditional love and healing grace.

Filled by the grace and love of Jesus Christ,

we rededicate ourselves afresh to God’s service,

 with God’s help and to His eternal glory.

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 

(adapted from UCA Assembly Liturgy Resources for a Congregation)  

Loving God, Lord of all times and all places, we bring before you these prayers for the World and for your Church.  We pray for those who groan under the weight of suffering.

May your love be made real to them in your comfort for them and your relief from their burdens.

We pray for those whose lives are made difficult by the actions of others – by the tragedy of modern warfare, by the unfettered greed of big business, by the laws of uncaring Governments, by the prejudice of those twisted by hatred of race, culture or religion.

May your love be made real to them in their experience of your loving care and protection.

We pray for those whose lives are made difficult by events or processes beyond their control – those who do not have enough to eat, those who do not have enough resources to live in comfort, those who have experienced natural disaster.

May your love be made real to them in your provision for their needs.

We pray for those whose lives are difficult because of the ways of the modern world – those who are lonely in a world teeming with Humanity, those who are lost in a world where satellites can tell us exactly where we are, for those who are tempted by the glitter and the glitz, for those who must have the latest of everything.

May your love be made real to them in the understanding that it is in you that we find fulfillment and purpose.

We pray for those whose futures are uncertain – those facing an ongoing struggle with illness, those dealing with constant pain, those who have lost someone important from their lives, those who have life changing decisions to make.

May your love be made real to them in the provision of guidance and wisdom so as to be positive about their lives and to move forward.

We pray for your Church in the World.  Where there is hunger may she bring food, where there is war may she bring peace, where there is hatred may she bring love, where there is hopelessness may she bring faith.

May your love be visible and real in this World through us.

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross so that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace.

Enliven us by your Spirit so that we might reach forth our hands in love, and bring those who do not know you to the knowledge of your love for them.  To your glory we pray.

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.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the hymn:’Standing on the promises’  (Alexander’s Hymns No. 3  number 160)

Benediction    

“The best translation of God’s Word

That we will ever read

Is found in servants of the Lord

Who live that Word by deed.”

  (Dennis De Haan in Our Daily Bread 2 January 2007) 

Let us go into the World to be the hands and feet and voices that God can use for His purposes and to accomplish His will on Earth.  And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or join in singing the Benediction Song

“I am His, and He is mine.”  (Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 number 193)

Wade Robinson

Acknowledgements and Thanks for today’s Worship Service

Rev Pierre van Blommestein for accepting our invitation to be our guest preacher.

The Church Council of the Bribie Island Uniting Church for releasing Rev Pierre van Blommestein for the day.

Rev Andrew Gunton for his words of encouragement to the Bald Hills Congregation.

Nola Griffiths for accepting our invitation to play the music for today’s Service.

Ian Kerr for accompanying Nola with playing his guitar.

Neale Hall and Glen Mulcahy from the Chermside Kedron Community Church for setting up the audio-visual link in the hall.

The Church Council of the Chermside Kedron Community Church for the loan of the audio-visual equipment.

Members of the Bald Hills Congregation for their time and effort in the planning and preparation for our 150^th Anniversary Service.