Welcome to Worship from the Bald Hills Uniting Church: –

Call to Worship: –

(from Psalm 111: 1, 2a, 3, 4b, and 7 to 10) 

With all my heart I will praise the Lord.

How great are the things the Lord does.

His acts are full of majesty and splendour,

And His righteousness endures forever.

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

The works of His hands are faithful and just.

All His commands are dependable,

They are founded on goodness and truth.

God redeemed the people He loves,

He set us free and made an everlasting Covenant with us.

Holy is the Lord,

We come before God with the utmost awe and reverence.

The way to become wise is to honour the Lord,

He gives understanding to all who seek to live by His Word.

His praise endures forever,

Praise the Lord.

Comment on Psalm 111

 This is a hymn of praise of God which writers suggest was sung at one of the Jewish Festivals, most possibly at Passover because of the reference to God redeeming His people.  It stresses that God deserves praise because of His great works on Earth, His holy nature and character, and His rule in Nature and History.  As we gather together today, we too consider the works and the nature of God, and we too respond with our grateful adoration and worship.

  (from Artur Weiser in The Psalms p698 and Leslie McCaw and Alec Motyer in Psalms in New Bible Commentary p522) 

Prayer of Praise

(from Uniting in Worship Vol 1 p570 – 572) 

  God the Father, God over us, we adore you.  You are the depth of all there is.  You are the ground of our being.  We can never grasp you, yet you grasp us.  The Universe speaks of you and your incomparable majesty and wisdom.

  God the Son, God beside us, we adore you.  You are the perfection of Humanity.  You have shown us what Human life should be like.  In you we see divine love and human greatness combined.  Through you we experience God’s grace and mercy.

  God the Spirit, God around us, we adore you.  You are the power within us.  You give us abundant life and make us the people we are meant to be.  You give us the divine gift to forgive and to forget the wrongs that are done to us.

  Eternal God, we remember your goodness to us and to those who have gone before us, and we live with the confidence that you will reveal your goodness to those who will come after us.  You are not our captive, God, nor are you a god of our own making.  You are not bound by us nor controlled by us.  You are ahead of us, leading us, guiding us and calling us.  You are the Lord God, all-wise and all-compassionate.  We lift up our hearts and worship you, one God and Lord, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Hymn

“It’s no longer I that liveth”  Scripture in Song Volume 1  number 8      (based on Galatians 2: 20) 

[there is a short introduction]

“He is Lord”  Scripture in Song Volume 1  number 49                       (based on Philippians 2: 10 & 11) 

[there is a short introduction]

Prayer of Confession 

(from Ephesians 4: 17 to 5: 17) 

Merciful God, we come humbly before you, acknowledging that we have been foolish and careless in our thoughts and actions.

Merciful God, we confess to things we should not have done, and confess of being neglectful of things we should have done.

We confess to using language that is not fitting for people who seek to follow you, of using language that is intended to hurt others and not to help them.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to becoming angry at small hurts and unfairness, causing us to be unloving in our reactions to others.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to a desire for things that have no worth or lasting goodness or benefit for us.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to a stubbornness of holding on to prejudices and an unwillingness to face new truths that challenge our long-held attitudes.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to lying and misleading others so as to hide our guilt or responsibility.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to a laxity in praying for the needs of others.

Forgive our sins.

We confess to habits and a seeking of comfort to leads us away from fellowship with you and obedience to your will for our lives.

Forgive our sins.

Merciful God, lead us out of the darkness of impure and unlovely thoughts and actions.

Holy God, lead us into a life that is controlled by your love for us and that is inspired by your Spirit of truth and grace.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Ephesians 5: 2) 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “Jesus Christ loved us and gave His life for us”.  Having confessed our sins before God we hold onto this promise that, through the redeeming work of God achieved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins have been forgiven and we have been reconciled to God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination  (from Holy Communion Two in Uniting Church Worship Services p21) 

O Lord, our God, you have given your Word to us that it may be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.  Grant us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, so that we may be obedient to your Will and live always for your glory, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Bible Readings

1 Kings 1:

  32  Then King David sent for Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah.  When they came in,  33  he said to them, “Take my court officials with you; have my son Solomon ride my own mule, and escort him down to Gihon Spring,  34  where Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him as King of Israel.  Then blow the trumpet and shout, “Long live King Solomon!”  35  Follow him back here when he comes to sit on my throne.  He will succeed me as King, because he is the one I have chosen to be the ruler of Israel and Judah.” 

  36  “It shall be done,” answered Benaiah, “and may the Lord your God confirm it.  37  As the Lord has been with Your Majesty, may He also be with Solomon and make his reign even more prosperous than yours.”

  38  So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards put Solomon on King David’s mule and escorted him to Gihon Spring.  39  Zadok took the container of olive oil which he had brought from the Tent of the Lord’s presence, and anointed Solomon.  They blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted, “Long live King Solomon!”  40  Then they all followed him back, shouting for joy and playing flutes, making enough noise to shake the ground.

1 Kings 2:

  10  David died and was buried in David’s City.  11  He had been King of Israel for forty years, ruling seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.  12  Solomon succeeded his father David as King, and his royal power was firmly established.

1 Kings 3:

  4  On one occasion King Solomon went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices because that was where the most famous alter was.  He had offered hundreds of burnt offerings there in the past.  5  That night the Lord appeared to him in a dream and asked him, “What would you like me to give you?”

  6  Solomon answered, “You always showed great love for my father David, your servant, and he was good, loyal, and honest in his relationship with you.  And you have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place.  7  O Lord God,  you have let me succeed my father as King, even though I am very young and don’t know how to rule.  8  Here I am among the people you have chosen to be your own, a people who are so many that they cannot be counted.  9  So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference good and evil.  Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?”  10  The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

Ephesians 5:

  15  Be most carful then how you conduct yourselves, like wise, sensible people not like ignorant people.  16  Use the present opportunity to the full, for these are evil days.  17  So do not be fools, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.

  18  Do not get drunk, which will only ruin you; instead, let the Holy Spirit fill you.  19  Speak to one another with the words of psalms, hymns and sacred songs; sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts.  20  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, give thanks every day to God the Father for everything.

[Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version, New English Bible]

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

John 6:

  51  Jesus said to them, “If anyone eats this bread, the living bread that came down from Heaven, they will live forever.  The bread that I will give them is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.”

  52  This started a fierce dispute among them.  “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” they asked.

  53  Jesus said to them, “I am telling you the truth, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you can have no life in you.  54  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them to life on the Last Day.  55  For my flesh is the real food, my blood the real drink.  56  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me continually, and I in them.

  57  The living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me shall live because of me.  58  This, then, is the bread that came down from Heaven.  It is not like the bread that your ancestors ate; they are dead.  Whoever eats this bread shall live forever.”  59  Jesus said this as he taught in the synagogue in Capernaum.

[Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version, New English Bible]

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Passing the Peace

Whether we gather in person in our Church building or whether we gather in spirit in our homes, we remain one body, one people of God, one in fellowship and one in worship.  With that in mind, let us uplift our hands and greet those both here and those who cannot be here: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

For the Young at Heart

Screen 1

a temporary dental crown

  We are all familiar with the purpose of a temporary dental crown?  It is intended to provide you with a temporary ‘replacement tooth’ until your permanent crown is made and fixed to your tooth.  There are two important things that a dentist will encourage you to remember so as to ensure the longevity of your temporary crowns.  Firstly, be careful with eating Minties, because chewing such a sticky lolly will most likely dislodge the crown.  Secondly, be careful how you floss your teeth, because if the cord gets underneath the crown and you move the cord up and down the side of your tooth to get rid of any food caught between your teeth, you will also most likely dislodge the crown.

  Now, I take great care not to eat Minties anymore.  Perhaps it’s the thought of all that sugar lying around your teeth for half a day before you get to clean your teeth that has put me off eating them.  However, I was not careful enough when flossing my teeth.  Hence, I have this unique and inspiring souvenir.  Fortunately, I was able to see the dentist the next day and they had my permanent crown waiting for me.

Screen 2

“Be most carful then how you conduct yourselves, like wise, sensible people not like ignorant people.  Use the present opportunity to the full, for these are evil days.”  Ephesians 5: 15 and 16

  The Apostle Paul had just such a “be careful” message for the Church that was located in the city of Ephesus, located in present-day south-west Turkey:

“Be most carful them how you conduct yourselves, like wise, sensible people not like ignorant people. Use the present opportunity to the full, for these are evil days.”  (Ephesian 5: 15 and 16) 

Authorised Version      Today’s English Version    Greek word  expanded meaning of the word

(See then that you) walk  (how you) conduct (yourself)  peripateo         to walk in life, to live, to conduct

circumspectly                     Be most careful (then)              akribos             exactly, diligently, perfectly, carefully

(not as) fools                       (not like) ignorant people        asophos           not wise, unwise, a fool, ignorant

(but as) wise                        (like) wise, sensible people      sophos             wise, sensible

Redeeming                           to the full                                   exagoradzo     [make the most of every opportunity

(the) time                             use the present opportunity   kairos               [since none can be recalled if missed

(because the) days             (for these are) days                   hemera            a time period or age

(are) evil                                evil                                               ponayros         diseased, grievous, hurtful, evil

  In the Greek words that Paul chose to use, he is stating his message clearly and forcefully.

  The joyful praise of Christian meetings is in direct contrast to the noisy, drunken revellings seen in Ephesian inns.  The contrast is seen in what it is that stimulates the person.  For the Christian, it is the Holy Spirit, transforming a life and enriching the soul.  For the non-Christian, it is a life of excess of alcoholic drink and of unreserved indecent behaviour that is ruinous to body and mind and wasteful of a life that is gifted to us by God.

  When the Holy Spirit fills a heart, the mind overflows with praise of God.  We will walk the Christian life as we sing and talk of Christ.

  (Henrietta Mears in What the Bible is all about p502 & 503, Henry Halley in Halley’s Bible Handbook p509) 

  Paul warns the Ephesian Christians of the danger of a life of complicity with the ever present evil in the World.  The Christian has the responsibility to seek wisdom from god as a guide to how they are to life their life, and not to be led into participating in the folly of their pagan environment.  But wisdom is not so much an intellectual achievement but an attitude of life that involves gaining an understanding of God, of an intentional avoidance of all that displeases Him, and of an intentional obedience to the will of God.

  (Ralph Martin in Ephesians in New Bible Commentary p1119 & 1120) 

  This is an ongoing way of life, because we must seek for the Holy Spirit to shine a light into every dark corner of our life so that we can become aware of all that is wrong in our lives, of all that we should be ashamed, so that we can be led to confess it all to God and receive His healing and wholeness in our lives.

  (Lesley Charlton in his study notes for 19 July 1989 in International Bible Reading Association Notes on bible Readings 1989) 

  There is also an outward focus for the Christian, for there is the parallel work of bearing witness to the grace and mercy of God, not only in our words and actions but also in our proclamation of the Gospel message, in the hope that others are led from ‘darkness’ into the ‘light’, led from a life destined for judgement to a life restored to fellowship with God.  And it is here that an urgency is evident, since we do not know ‘the hour or the day” when God’s judgement will come.

  (Francis Foulkes in Ephesians p150) 

Screen 3

“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, give thanks every day to God the Father for everything.”  Ephesians 5: 20

  Salvation is God’s free gift unreservedly offered to us.  Our response is to live in gratitude to God, daily giving thanks for everything that He has provided, seeking to get rid of our old way of life, and remoulding our life in the image of God and aligned with God’s will.  Such an attitude correctly acknowledges that God is Lord of our lives, but also that God rules the events that take place in our lives.  It is in such a way that we would be living as wise people not like the unwise.

  (from Ephesians in The Lion Handbook to the Bible p606 and Craig Keener in Ephesians in The IVP Bible Background Commentary to the New Testament p551) 

Hymn

“Behold the Saviour of Mankind”  MBH193  Wesley’s Hymn number 22

[sung to the tune Capel – there is no introduction]

Verse 1 of 4

Behold the Saviour of Mankind,

Nailed to the shameful tree.

How vast the love that him inclined

To bleed and die for thee.

Verse 2 of 4

Hark, how he groans, while Nature shakes

And Earth’s strong pillars bend;

The Temple’s veil in sunder breaks,

The solid marbles rend.

Verse 3 of 4

‘Tis done, the precious ransom’s paid;

‘Receive my soul.’ He cries.

See where he bows his sacred head,

He bows his head and dies.

Verse 4 of 4

But soon he’ll break Death’s envious chain,

And in full glory shine,

O Lamb of God, was ever pain,

Was ever love like Thine?

Samuel Wesley

Sermon

Screen 1

“Solomon succeeded his father David as King”  1 Kings 2: 12

  We read in today’s passages from 1 Kings that Solomon succeeded his father, David, as King of God’s people, the people of Israel.

  We read that Solomon was David’s choice to be his successor.  (1 Kings 1: 30 to 34)

  We read that Solomon was placed on David’s mule, an act that symbolised Solomon’s claim to the throne.  (1 Kings 1: 33 & 38)

  We read that Nathan, the Prophet of God, had set apart Solomon as King by anointing him with olive oil, in the exact manner that the Prophet Samuel had anointed David as King many decades previously.  (1 Kings 1: 39)

  We read that Zadok the priest and Benaiah, who commanded the royal bodyguard, were present and acknowledged Solomon as David’s successor as King, thereby demonstrating that Solomon had the support of the religious leaders and of the military leaders of Israel to be the future King of Israel.  (1 Kings 1: 38 to 40)

  But Solomon wasn’t David’s eldest son, nor was he David’s eldest surviving son.  If the Law of inheritance stipulated that the eldest surviving son assumed the role of leadership of the family on the death of the father, why should this pattern not also apply to the King’s successor?

Screen 2

Adonijah proclaims himself as David’s successor.  (1 Kings 1: 5 to 11 & 24)

  It was upon this principle that David’s eldest surviving son, Adonijah, proclaimed himself as King David’s successor.  (1 Kings 1: 5 to 11 & 24)

  We read that Adonijah had “ambitions to be King”.  (1 Kings 1: 6)

  We read that Adonijah manoeuvred to obtain support for his cause from the priest Abiathar and from Joab, the Commander of the Army, in an attempt to force his succession to the throne upon David, upon the Royal Court and upon the people of Israel.  (1 Kings 1: 7)

  But Adonijah ultimately failed in his attempt for He did not seek God’s guidance nor blessing to be the King of God’s people. 

Screen 3

“The Lord loved the boy, Solomon.”  2 Samuel 12: 24b & 25

The Lord promised to bless Solomon as King.  1 Kings 3: 5 to 14

  We read in 2 Samuel 12: 24 and 25 that God loved Solomon from a very young age.  There must have been something about the nature of Solomon with which God was pleased.  We read in today’s passage from 1 Kings 3: 5 to 14, that God was pleased with Solomon for his priority to be blessed with God’s wisdom so that he could lead his people “with justice and to know the difference between good and evil”.  (1 Kings 3: 9) 

  So, we can determine that Solomon succeeded to the throne because he had God’s support.  Adonijah did not succeed to the throne because he did not have God’s support.  In fact, we can understand that Adonijah sought to become King irrespective of whether or not he had God’s blessing to do so, or, at worst, in spite of not having God’s blessing to do so.  Adonijah acted as if he could force his will upon God.  Adonijah acted as if the force of his ambitions and the results of his manoeuvring behind the scenes could determine the history of God’s people and override God’s plans for His people, the people of Israel.

Screen 4

“How great are the things the Lord does.”  Psalm 111: 2

  We read in our Call to Worship of the great things that God does, and, just as importantly, we read of the greatness of God:

His acts are full of majesty and splendour.  (Psalm 111: 3)

God has shown His power to His people.  (Psalm 111: 6)

The works of His hands are faithful and just.  Psalm 111: 7)

God redeemed the people He loves.  (Psalm 111: 9)

  Artur Weiser writes that “the worshipper of God, those who see all things with the eye of faith, sees the splendour and glory of God manifested in His works, and discerns that God’s righteousness and salvation are the divine meaning and the governing principle of every event.”  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p699) 

  Leslie McCaw and Alec Motyer, in their summing up of Psalm 11, write that “God is revealed in His grace, His Law and His holiness.  Our response, consequently, is awe, obedience and praise.”  (Leslie McCaw and Alec Motyer in Psalms in New Bible Commentary p522 & 523) 

  These verses from Psalm 111, read in the light of these writers’ comments, reveal to us two straightforward aspects of God:

God has all power,

God has all control.

Screen 5

“The Lord is the everlasting God; He created all the World.  He never grows tired or weary.  No-one understands His thoughts.  He strengthens those who are weak and tired.”  Isaiah 40: 28 & 29

  The Prophet Isaiah sums up these aspects of God is these verses from Isaiah 40: 28 and 29:

“The Lord is the everlasting God; He created all the World.  He never grows tired or weary.  No-one understands His thoughts.  He strengthens those who are weak and tired.”

  On that basis, surely one must come to the conclusion that it is futile to conclude that we have the ability to override God’s will, or to consider that we have the power to alter what is only in the realm of God to determine.  And, surely, it is just as futile to claim that we can just disregard God’s will for us whenever and however it suits us.

  But this was the attitude of Adonijah.  And this is the same attitude that is prevalent in the World today.  There are many in the World today who are hungry, but not hungry for food.

  They are hungry for power and control and influence;

to promulgate a political or religious or cultural or social ideology, or

to gain material wealth and comfort, or

to seek pleasure and a comfortable lifestyle.

  And in doing so, they are only too willing:

to use and abuse people for their own ends, and

to use and abuse the World’s resources to achieve their ends.

  In consequence:

there is a disregard for our responsibility as stewards of God’ Creation,

there is a disregard of our responsibility to abide by God’s moral standards,

there is a disregard of our responsibility to recognise the worth and dignity of others, and

there is a disregard of our need to submit to God’s will.

  This is the foolishness about which Paul writes, the way of the unwise, the ignorant, the fool,  (Ephesians 5: 15 & 17)  :

that you do not answer to any ‘higher power’,

that you can choose for yourself what moral code you live by or not live by,

that no-one determines your destiny but yourself,

that there is nothing after death.

  And this leads to the greatest demonstration of Human folly:

that because you define your own god. Or that there is no God, there is no such thing as ‘sin’, and therefore

we can disregard God’s offer of forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with him.

Screen 6

“God redeemed the people He loves, He set us free and made an everlasting Covenant with us.”  Psalm 111: 9

  The writer of Psalm 111, in writing about the greatness of God and the great things that God has done, makes the significant mention of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

“God redeemed the people He loves, He set us free and made an everlasting Covenant with us.”  (Psalm 111: 9) 

  This was such a dramatic demonstration by God of his love for the people whom He loved, of His capacity to exert His power and authority over the greatest of the Worldly powers of the time, and of His determination to ensure that His will is done, that is, the sustaining of the Israelites on their journeying and of the provision of their own Homeland.

  We read in Luke’s gospel that Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, “was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s message:

  Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel!  He has come to redeem His people and to set them free.”  (Luke 1: 68) 

  Here, Zechariah is quoting these words from Psalm 111: 9.  Zechariah is reminding his listeners of the greatness of God in His redeeming the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  But Zechariah continues, proclaiming that God hasn’t finished His task of redeeming His people, for there is more to God’s will that God intends to fulfill.

Screen 7

“He has provided for us a mighty Saviour, a descendant of His servant David.”  Luke 2: 69

  Zechariah continues in his message saying,

“He has provided for us a mighty Saviour, a descendant of His servant David.”  (Luke 2: 69) 

  It is here that Zechariah is alluding to the baby that Mary was carrying, but not by name.  Mary had previously visited Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth and had stayed for three months.  Mary was the cousin of Elizabeth.  Upon Mary’s arrival, Elizabeth was led by the Holy Spirit to understand that Mary’s baby was ”the Lord’s Saviour” of whom Zechariah later spoke.  (Luke 1: 42 to 45)  One can only imagine the conversations between these three people during the three months of Mary’s visit, concerning what the future held; not just for the three of them, but also for their children yet to be born, and for the people of Israel.

  In his teaching to those gathered in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus uses the imagery of the manna that God provided for the people of Israel in their Exodus journeying.  He, correctly, argues that, though the people ate the manna that daily sustained them, their Human mortality meant that many died in the wilderness.  (John 6: 58a) 

  In contrast, Jesus said, those that “eat the bread” that he offers “will live forever”.  (John 6: 58b)  Jesus is seeking to explain that, through him, through his death and resurrection:

  God will truly reveal His greatness to the world, that

  God will truly demonstrate His power and authority over the very thing that reveals to Humanity the extent of their weakness, that is, the power of sin and death in their lives, and that

  God will truly express His love for each person, for all of Humanity, by offering to each and every person the free gift of forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with Him.

Screen 8

“sing hymns and psalms to the Lord with praise in your hearts”  Ephesians 5: 19

  Paul explains that it is the experiencing this “good news” that should lead the Christian to live a life of praise and thanksgiving to God, for that is the life of the wise.  Be careful of the unwise, Paul warns, of those who intentionally seek to remain ignorant of God’s love, of God’s call to them, and of God’s will for their lives.  Let us be careful to heed Paul’s warning.

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction: disregard the words – only the one verse is needed]

[alternatively, if you have the facility on your computer to play such music, double-click on the Mp3 file below and then select ‘open’ – there is a very small introduction]

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

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

Almighty God, we pray for the transformation of our society, that our faithfulness to you will help us be a sign to our society that you are with us and active in our midst.

We pray for renewal of our minds and hearts that we may take to heart the word you speak to us and strive to put it into practice in our lives more fully.

We pray for a fuller understanding of our destiny, that your gift of new life in the resurrection will sustain us through all the losses and misfortunes of life.

We pray for all who hunger after justice and righteousness, that they may be sustained by your Word and the fellowship of others as they await the fulfillment of your promises.

We pray for the conversion of those who exercise political, economic, social and military influence and authority, that you will change the hearts of all who misuse their power or oppress others and bring them to a new appreciation of the dignity of each person.

We pray for all who are suffering, that you will guide the homeless to safe shelter, and bring healing to the sick.  Give strength and hope to those facing addictions.  Free them from their dependence and draw them to yourself to receive your healing power.

We pray for all who are grieving, that their faith will bring them to a new awareness of your presence and faithfulness to them.

We pray for all who have lost homes, jobs, or property to wildfires and floods, that you will give them strength, renew their spirits, and open up opportunities and resources for them.

We pray for healing in our communities, that you will heal the wounds from violence in our cities and homes, bring an end to domestic violence, and lead hearts to new ways to settle disputes.

We pray for all leaders in government, that they will use their power and influence to address the needs of the voiceless and powerless in society.  Reveal to them the errors that have brought wrong decisions and have caused suffering.  Like Solomon, give to them the wisdom that they need to make right and just judgements.

We pray for all healthcare workers, that you will renew their strength, keep them safe from the virus, and help them to be signs of hope to all who are ill.

We pray for an end to drought, that you will send rain to all the areas that are suffering from lack of water and give courage to all who are protecting livestock or crops.

We pray for the Church, that your people will walk in the way of truth and peace so that they can bear witness to the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation from you which will hope to a World living in such dark days.

We pray that you will teach our Society to define our quality of life not in profits and losses but in showing an appreciation of the need to take care of the Earth and its water and air for the ongoing health of all living things.

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 p74, and Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year B by David Hostetter p167 & 168)

We pray for Blue Care staff, chaplains and volunteers working in residential aged care facilities, community care centres and retirement living facilities throughout Queensland, that you will guide and support them as they provide care and support to residents and clients.

We pray for those planning for Scripture Union camps that are taking place during the upcoming School holidays, that you will encourage and inspire them as they make their preparations.

We pray for those providing Religious Instruction at Bald Hills State School, that you will encourage them as they lead their weekly classes, and that they will feel supported by the class teachers.  May the Holy Spirit work in the hearts and minds of the children in these classes, that they will come to an understanding of the truths of the Gospel and respond to the message of your love and grace for them.

We pray for the chaplain at Bald Hills state School, Kylie Conomos, that you will continue to guide her and support her as she provides care for the students, teachers and parents of the school.

We pray for those whom we have not been able to worship with us recently. We ask that they may feel your close presence with them each day, that they will experience your support and encouragement as they journey through life in this time of uncertainty and change.

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

Hymn

“Bread of the World in mercy broken”  TiS512  AHB437

[sung to the tune Spiritus Vitae – there is no introduction]

[only the first two verses of this YouTube recording are needed]

Verse 1 of 2

Bread of the World, in mercy broken

Wine of the soul in mercy shed;

By whom the words of life were spoken

And in whose death our sins are dead.

Verse 2 of 2

Look on the heart by sorrow broken

Look on the tears by sinners shed;

And be Thy feast to us the token

That by Thy grace our souls are fed.

Reginald Heber

Sacrament of Communion  

(following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to 222) 

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.’”

  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 wine, 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 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.

Hymn

“Trusting Jesus, that is all”  Alexander’s Hymns No. 3  number 44

[there is a short introduction]

Ira Sankey

Benediction    

May our lives bear witness to God’s mercy and grace.  May our thoughts and words reflect God’s love for all people.  May all that we do be directed to the good of those with whom we live and move each day.  And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us”  Scripture in Song Volume 2 number 111 / 316

[there is an introduction]

[you can choose for yourself how many times you repeat the verse]

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

That we should be called the children of God,

That we should be called a child of God.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us.

That we should be called the children of God,

That we should be called a child of God.

Patricia van Tine