Welcome:

Call to Worship : (from Psalm 4) –  

God is my defender,

When I am in trouble God helps me.

I praise God for He has shown me His marvellous love,

The Lord hears me when I call to Him.

How long will people ignore God and insult Him?

How long will they love what is worthless and go after what is false?

We should tremble with fear and awe of God,

We should stop our sinning and put our trust in God.

We find more joy in our hearts from the presence of God beside us,

Compared to the transient pleasures of accumulating material things.

In the evenings I will lie down in peace and sleep,

For God alone makes me live unafraid.

It is understood that David may have written this psalm when he fled from Jerusalem at the time of the rebellion instigated by his son, Absalom, as we read in 2 Samuel chapters 15 to 18.  It speaks of David’s assurance of God’s provision and protection for him, in spite of the distress and uncertainty arising from his current circumstances, an assurance such that, in the evenings, even while on the run and hiding in caves with those who remained loyal to him, he felt the peace of God upon himself and could rest and sleep unafraid of what the coming day would bring.  We do not face such a rebellion, where our very life is threatened by disloyal enemies.  But we may face our own distress and uncertainty, and, if so, we, too, can be assured of God’s peace and provision for us; the reason that we have gathered here today to offer Him our worship and praise.  (Leslie McCaw and Alec Motyer in Psalms in New Bible Commentary p453) 

Prayer of Praise  (from Psalm 16) 

Almighty God, your presence fills me with joy and gives me pleasure always.  You are my Lord, it is only to you that I offer my praise and worship.

I put my trust in you for the deliverance from my sin, because I cannot remove it by myself.  I put my trust in you for protection from the attacks from Satan and his demons, because it is only through Jesus Christ that the powers of darkness were defeated.  I put my trust in you for sustaining me every day, for all the good things I have come from you.  How wonderful are your gifts to me.

Almighty God, I acknowledge that my future is in your hands.  I praise you because you guide my thoughts and show me the path that leads to life. 

My conscience, which you gave to me on the day that I was born, warns me of the consequences of hasty decisions and of unwise acts.  The light of your presence reveals what is good, and true, and pure.  Your written Word displays your righteous thoughts and reveals to us the right way to live together in harmony and for the benefit of all.

Almighty God, I offer to you all that I am and all that I have.  I offer to you my adoration for who and what you are.  I offer to you my appreciation for the security of life here and for life to come.  I offer to you my heartfelt thanks for being there for me. 

Almighty God, my words cannot express all the gratitude in my heart towards you.  May my life be lived in accordance with your Will, may my thoughts and actions reflect your love and grace towards all people.  To your glory and honour we pray.  Amen.

Hymn

“Spirit of truth, essential God”  TiS426  AHB332

[sung to the tune Worsley – there is no introduction – stop this YouTube after the third verse]

Verse 1 of 3

Spirit of truth, essential God,

Who did your ancient saints inspire,

Shed in their hearts your love abroad

And touch their hallowed lips with fire,

To you that through all ages live

Our worship without end we give.

Verse 2 of 3

Still we believe, almighty Lord,

Whose presence fills both Earth and Heaven,

The meaning of the written Word

Is by your inspiration given;

You only do yourself explain,

The secret mind of God made plain.

Verse 3 of 3

Come then, divine interpreter,

The Scriptures to our hearts apply;

And, taught by you, we God revere

And in three persons magnify;

In each the triune God adore,

Who was, and is for evermore.

Charles Wesley

Prayer of Confession  (from Psalm 17 and 16: 4) 

Merciful God, you know me, you have judged my actions and my character,

You have examined me completely and have found me wanting.

You have found evil desires abiding within my heart,

Merciful God, forgive my sin.

You have heard me speak evil of others.

Merciful God, forgive my sin.

You have seen that I have not always obeyed you call to come and to follow.

Merciful God, forgive my sin.

You have seen that I often stray from your path in life.

Merciful God, forgive my sin.

You have seen that I often rush to the gods of this age and the gods of the world.

Merciful God, forgive my sin.

Merciful God, you are the one who remains faithful, you are the one who is merciful and kind in spite of our neglect and wilfulness.  Look upon us with your grace, for only in you is there hope for our lives and hope for our future.

Rid me of my sins.  Renew my life.  Refresh my soul.  Restore me to a right relationship with you.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

The Apostle John declared; “Christ appeared in order to take away our sins.  Having confessed our sins before God, and trusting in this promise, let us be assured that Christ has indeed, taken away our sins and cleansed us in God’s sight.

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, that we may be obedient to your Will and live always for your glory, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Acts 3:

11  As the man held on to Peter and John in Solomon’s Porch, as it was called, the people were amazed and ran to them.  12  When Peter saw the people, he said to them, “Fellow Israelites, why are you surprised at this, and why do you stare at us?  Do you think that it was by means of our own power or godliness that we made this man walk?  13  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has given divine glory to His servant Jesus.  But you handed him over to the Authorities, and you rejected him in Pilate’s presence, even after Pilate had decided to set him free.  14  He was holy and good, but you rejected him, and instead you asked Pilate to do you the favour of turning loose a murderer.  15  You killed the one who leads to life, but God raised him from death – and we are witnesses to this.  16  It was the power of his name that gave strength to this lame man.  What you see and know was done by faith in his name; it was faith in Jesus that has made him well, as you can all see.

17  And now, my sisters and brothers, I know that what you and your Leaders did to Jesus was due to your ignorance.  18  God announced long ago through all the Prophets that His Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way.  19  Repent, then, and turn to God, so that He will forgive your sins.”

1 John 3:

1  See how much the Father has loved us!  His love is so great that we are called God’s children, and so, in fact, we are.  This is why the World does not know us: it has not known God.  2  My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become.  But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.  3  Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps themself pure, just as Christ is pure.

4  Whoever sins is guilty of breaking God’s Law, because sin is a breaking of the Law.  5  You know that Christ appeared in order to take away sins, and that there is no sin in  him.  6  So everyone who lives in union with Christ does not continue to sin; but whoever continues to sin has never seen him or known him.

7  Let no one deceive you, my children!  Whoever does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.  8  Whoever continues to sin belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the very beginning.  The Son of God appeared for this very reason, to destroy what the Devil has done.

9  Whoever is a child of God does not continue to sin, for God’s very nature is in them; and because God is their Father, they cannot continue to sin.  10  Here is the clear difference between God’s children and the Devil’s children: anyone who does not do what is right or does not love their sister and brother is not God’s child.

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

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 24:

33  Cleopas and his companion got up at once and went back to Jerusalem, where they found the eleven Disciples gathered together with the others  34  and saying, “The Lord is risen indeed!  He has appeared to Simon!”  The two then explained to them what had happened on the road, and how they had recognised the Lord when he broke the bread.

36  While the two were telling them this, suddenly the Lord himself stood among them and said to the, “Peace be with you.”  37  They were terrified, thinking that they were  seeing a ghost.  38  But he said to them, “Why are you alarmed?  Why are these doubts coming up in your minds?  39  Look at my hands and my feet, and see that it is I myself.  Feel me, and you will know, for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.”

40  He said this and showed them his hands and his feet.  41  They still could not believe, they were so full of joy and wonder; so he asked them, “do you have anything here to eat?”  42  They gave him a piece of cooked fish,  43  which he took and ate in their presence.  44  Then he said to them, “These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true.”

[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 our Church building or whether we gather in spirit in our homes, we remain one body, one people of God, one in fellowship and 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

The interior of Montezuma’s Restaurant at Albany Creek

For dinner on my birthdays, I ask to go to eat at the Montezuma’s restaurant at Albany Creek.  I enjoy the décor with its Aztec theme, I enjoy the company of my family, and I enjoy the Mexican food.  Now, if you have not eaten at the Montezuma’s restaurant at Albany Creek you may not believe that there is an actual restaurant there called Montezuma’s.  My reply is that you can’t deny that there is a restaurant there, firstly, because I am giving you a first-hand account of eating there, secondly, because here is a photograph taken of the inside of the restaurant at Albany Creek, thirdly, because you can check on the Montezuma’s website, and, lastly, because you can drive there and have meal there.

  The Apostle John addresses a similar issue in today’s passage from his first Letter.  In 1 John 3: 1 he writes:

“See how much the Father has loved us!  His love is so great that we are called God’s children, and so, in fact, we are.  This is why the World does not know us: it has not known God.”

  We must note that the verse does not say, “the World has not known of God”, for quite clearly it is written as “the World has not known God”. 

Screen 2

‘the World has not known God’

It is not a matter of information about and knowledge of God,

but of a relationship with and an acceptance of the reality of God.

  The difference is quite significant.  To say that “the World has not known of God” speaks about the World not having information about God nor knowledge of God.  This is such an incomprehensible statement because information about God can be found in innumerable publications and websites.  You swear by the name of God in a Court of Law.  Unfortunately, it is quite common for people to just swear by the name of God as an everyday habit and custom.  But, to have knowledge of God does not imply that you accept the reality of God nor does it imply that you have a close personal relationship with God. 

  It was to this that John was referring.  Joyfully we speak to each other of God’s love for us, such that He accepts us as His children, accepting us in such a close relationship that we are, in reality, members of His own family.  But, as John highlights, it is futile to share this with “the World”, that is, with someone who is not in a close relationship with God and refuses to seek to be in a close relationship with God.  This is because such people, though perhaps knowing of God, do not know God, and are quite content not to know God.

  In their refusing to seek to know God, people are inevitably and unknowingly substituting something else in the place of God, whether it is a mystical god of their own making or that of someone else, or the god of material pleasures, or the god of physical pleasures, or the god of philosophy, or the god of science or the god of sport or themselves as their own god.

  The consequence of such a stance is obvious in the World around us; the brokenness in people’s lives, the brokenness between people, the brokenness between Nations of people, and, ultimately, the brokenness between people and God.

  We can attest to knowing God, we can validate the reality of God:

We can witness to God’s work in us and in the World.

We can witness to the reality of God that is visible in God’s Creation around us.

We can witness to the truthfulness and dependability of what we read of God in the Bible.

We can witness to the reality of God that can be theirs if they but reach out to God.

Screen 3

‘Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.’

1 John 3: 3

  John talks of “a hope in Christ” that is ours, a hope that sustains us through what we may meet every day, a hope that guides our thoughts and our actions, keeping ourselves “pure” as John refers to it.  It is this hope that proves that we are the ones who are living in the reality that the World refuses to look at or to acknowledge, the reality of God. 

Hymn

“Lord Christ, we praise your sacrifice”  TiS251

[sung to the tune St Petersburg – there is a small introduction]

Verse 1 of 4

Lord Christ, we praise your sacrifice,

Your life in love so freely given,

For those who took your life away

You prayed: that they might be forgiven;

And there, in helplessness arrayed,

God’s power was perfectly displayed.

Verse 2 of 4

Once helpless in your mother’s arms,

Dependent on her mercy then;

At last, by choice, in other hands

You were as helpless once again

And, at their mercy, crucified,

You claimed your victory and died.

Verse 3 of 4

Though helpless and rejected then,

You’re now as risen Lord acclaimed;

Forever by your sacrifice

Is god’s eternal love proclaimed:

The love which, dying, brings to birth

New life and hope for all on Earth.

Verse4 of 4

So, living Lord, prepare us now

Your willing helplessness to share:

To give ourselves in sacrifice

To overcome the World’s despair;

In love to give our lives away

And claim your victory today.

Alan Gaunt

Sermon

Screen 1

How do you determine the gender of an ant?

You drop it in a container of water.

If it sinks – girl ant.

If it floats – ………….

  Luke records for us that on the Sunday evening following the events of Good Friday,

“Suddenly the Lord himself stood among them and … they were terrified, thinking that they were seeing a ghost, … they could not believe, they were so full of joy and wonder.”

  (Luke 24: 36, 37, 41) 

  The believers were gathered together in what some deduce was the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, for Acts 12: 12 informs us that that was where they were in the habit of gathering.  Suddenly, Jesus appears in their midst.  They were in a quandary.  They were confused.  What were they to do?  How were they to respond?  How were they to determine that this was actually Jesus, in the flesh, and not a ghost or an apparition, not a figment of their imagination or someone playing a trick on them?

  The need for us to make a such determination about Jesus arises when we consider the crucifixion of Jesus.

Screen 2

  We are all familiar with jigsaw puzzles.  Brendan and Nat and the girls gave me one for Christmas.  I am now in the process of sorting out the pieces into their various shades of blue and gray so that I can start putting it together.  When we put the last piece of a jigsaw in its place, what is it that we proclaim triumphantly to all who will listen?

“It is finished!”

Screen 3

the losing team

  But consider the sports team that struggles all year when playing against the other teams in the competition and, upon losing their final game, finds that they have not made it to the finals as they had hoped so much at the beginning of the year.  What is it that they say in despondency and defeat about their hopes to succeed in their sport?

“It is finished.”

Screen 4

“Jesus drank the vinegar and said, “It is finished!”.  Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19: 30

  Jesus said these same words upon the cross, at the exact moment of his death, as John records for us.  Did Jesus speak these words as words of triumph or as words of defeat?

  Today’s readings provide four facts that provide us with the means to reach a determination.

Screen 5

“suddenly the Lord himself stood among them”  Luke 24: 36

  Each of the Gospel writers as well as the Apostle Paul proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the reality of his physical appearance after his death and burial.  Josephus, the 1^st century Jewish historian, was willing to write of Jesus in his book, The Antiquities of the Jews, that “he appeared alive again the third day”  (The Antiquities of the Jews Book 18 chapter 3 paragraph 3)  .

  Alan Richardson comments that “the New Testament writers are concerned to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus, not to explain it.  It is a mystery beyond Human comprehension, and the Apostles are its witnesses, not its psychologists.  It has come to them as a fact, not as a philosophical explanation.”  (Alan Richardson in Resurrection in A Theological Word book of the Bible p194) 

  Luke records Jesus suddenly appearing among the followers of Jesus.  Their stunned reaction necessitated that he prove to them that he was alive.  This he did, firstly, by showing them the wounds on his hands and his feet resulting from his crucifixion.  “Feel me, and you will know (that I am alive),” Jesus pleaded with them, ”for a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I have.”  (Luke 24: 39)  Secondly, he ate a piece of cooked fish as he sat with them, as if to say, “See me eat, and you will know that I am alive, for a ghost doesn’t eat, as you can see I have.”

  Why is the resurrection of Jesus of such critical importance?  Paul and other New Testament writers understand the connection between the resurrection of Jesus and our redemption from sin, the connection between the resurrection and the atoning work of Jesus, which was not achieved merely through his crucifixion and death.  The resurrection is the sign, assured to us by God, that He has “the ultimate victory over sin, death and the Devil”.  (Alan Richardson in Resurrection in A Theological Word book of the Bible p195)  Triumph not defeat.

Screen 6

“then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”

  Luke writes that after proving to his Disciples and to those who had followed him to Jerusalem from Galilee, to all who were gathered there in the room, that he was alive, he then “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures”, “everything that was written about (him) in the Law of Moses, the writings of the Prophets, and the Psalms”  (Luke 24: 44 & 45)  He explained to them how his ministry, his death and his resurrection fulfilled all that was written the Messiah in the Old Testament, how they “had come true” as Luke writes  (Luke 24: 45) 

  As the New Testament writers later explained to the early Christians, the ministry of Jesus, his crucifixion, his death, and his resurrection, were all part of God’s “predetermined divine plan for our salvation”, as had been foretold by Old Testament writers.  The resurrection of the Messiah had been predicted in Scripture, as Peter declared to the crowd that had gathered on the Day of Pentecost  (Act2: 25 -36)  ,”it was no mere afterthought (by God) or an attempt to make the best of a bad job: it was a part of God’s eternal purpose.  (Alan Richardson in Resurrection in A Theological Word book of the Bible p194)  Triumph not defeat.

“he jumped up, stood on his feet, and started walking around”  Acts 3: 8

  Luke records for us an incident in the Temple in Jerusalem, involving Peter and John.  They had gone there at 3 o’clock in the afternoon, “the hour of prayer” as Luke notes  (Acts 3: 1)  .

  There they met a man “who had been lame all his life”, who was begging for money from those who passed by as they went into the Temple.  (Acts 3: 2 & 3)  As Peter and John passed by he asked for money, at which time Peter makes his memorable reply:

“Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”  (Acts 3: 6 – Authorised Version) 

  And the man “jumped up, stood on his feet, and started walking around”  (Acts 3: 8)  , and, in doing so, created quite a commotion among those who were nearby and had heard and seen what had taken place.  In today’s passage, we read that Peter, upon seeing the people gathering around them, took the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel with them.

  But first we must note a significant change concerning Peter and John, and by inference ,to the rest of the Apostles.  Where once they had been the silent companions of Jesus, where once they had fled from the Garden of Gethsemane upon the arrest of Jesus  (Mark 14: 50)  , where once they remained behind locked doors, “because they were afraid of the Jewish Authorities”  (John 20: 19)  , they were now boldly declaring the good news of the resurrection of Jesus before a crowd of people, while in the presence of Temple authorities and leaders.  They had become enlivened by their call to be witnesses to the offer of forgiveness of sins from God.

  An important aspect of the incident is that the lame man who had been healed was a witness to the truth of Peter’s words.  Frederick Bruce writes that “it was by the power of the name of Jesus that he had been cured, and his cure was a patent Messianic ‘sign’, for those listening to Peter as he spoke would have remembered how the Prophet Isaiah had prophesied of the time of the coming of god’s Messiah, “the lame will leap and dance”  (Isaiah 35: 6)  (Frederick Bruce in Acts in New Bible Commentary p976) 

  We need also note the clarity of Peter’s speech:

“God announced long ago through all the Prophets that His Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way.  Repent, then, and turn to God, so that He will forgive your sins.”  (Acts 3: 18 & 19)  His message to those listening was that the guilt of those who had engineered the crucifixion and death of Jesus was clear to all people, “but it was overruled by God for the achievement of His saving purpose.  God raised Jesus from the dead as the Deliverer of God’s People and, in doing so, exalted Jesus and installed him as Lord and Christ.”  (Frederick Bruce in Acts in New Bible Commentary p975 &977)  Alan Richardson writes that “the resurrection is the sign in History of the ultimate consummation of God’s purpose beyond History, the final triumph of God about which Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15: 20 – 28.  (Alan Richardson in Resurrection in A Theological Word book of the Bible p195) 

The first Christians

(Readers Digest Great People of the Bible and How They Lived p382 & 383) 

  The Apostle John, in his letter, is our witness to the continuation of the 1^st century Church beyond the confines of Jerusalem.  William Frend, in writing of this period, stated that “the Church had been evolving its own organisation and liturgy suited to its own needs.  In the first generation after the crucifixion the Christians had seen themselves as the bearers of a unique message of Jesus of the lineage of David, who was the Messiah, who had wrought mighty works, had given a new and authoritative teaching and Law, had died and risen again, victorious over the evil powers of the Universe.”  (William Frend in The Early Church p37) 

  John, in the light of heresies that had since arisen and that threatened the beliefs and witness of the early group of Christians, saw a need to remind them of that to which he was an eye-witness and to relay to them the teaching that he had heard from Jesus himself.  Charles Dodd paraphrases what he thinks is John purpose in writing this letter:

“I am writing about that which is the theme of all Christian preaching and teaching – the Gospel, God’s life-giving Word to Humanity.  ..  we can speak of it with an assurance based upon direct testimony to historical facts.”  ( Charles Dodd in The Johannine Epistles pxxii) 

  John sought to reveal the falsity of any teaching that differed from that presented by the Apostles, since it was the Apostles who could attest to the “historical facts”.  And upon that basis, John then seeks to guide the readers of his letters to ‘right living’.  “Whoever is a child of God does not continue to sin, for God’s very nature is in them”  (I John 3: 9)  .

  Leon Morris, in writing about John’s Letters, notes that a recurring them was “the incompatibility of the World and Christianity”  (Leon Morris in 1 John in New Bible Commentary p1264).  John was highlighting that the difference in the lifestyle and attitudes of the members of early Church compared to that prevalent in the Society in which the lived, was a witness to them living a lifestyle in tune with the Will and purpose of God.  As such they were witnesses to the resurrecting and renewing work of God work in them, God’s triumph.

  Alan Richardson observes that Jesus only appeared after his resurrection to believers, and he will not be seen again until his return.  His victory over sin and death “is to be discerned only by faith”.  (Alan Richardson in Resurrection in A Theological Word book of the Bible p195)  Hence the significance of the words of Jesus to Thomas, “Happy are they who never saw me and yet have found faith.”  (John 20: 29) 

  We, by our faith, are today’s witnesses, not to God’s defeat at the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross, but to the triumph of God at the resurrection of Jesus three days later.

  Alan Catchpoole writes that “Christ’s perfect righteousness, his atoning death, and his triumph over the grave form the only basis for salvation that Humankind has ever known or will know.”  (Alan Catchpoole in The Wisdom that Founded the Earth p208)  May this understanding sustain our faith each day.  May we live as people who “know God” and who rejoice in the triumph of God.  Amen.

Hymn

“God of freedom, God of justice”  TiS657

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

Verse 1 of 3

God of freedom, God of justice,

God whose love is strong as death,

God who saw the dark of prison,

God who knew the price of faith:

Touch our World of sad oppression

With your Spirit’s healing breath.

Verse 2 of 3

Rid the Earth of torture’s terror,

God whose hands were nailed to wood;

Hear the cries of pain and protest

God who shed the tears and blood;

Move in us the power of pity,

Restless for the common good.

Verse 3 of 3

Make in us a captive conscience

Quick to hear, to act, to plead;

Make us truly sisters, brothers

Of whatever race or creed:

Teach us to be fully Human,

Open to each other’s need.

Shirley Murray

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774

[to be sung to the tune ‘Austria’ – there is no introduction]

[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

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

Loving God, we pray for the Church, that the Spirit will open our minds to understand the Scriptures and empower us to share the message of your love and forgiveness with all whom we encounter.

We pray for the grace of forgiveness, that we will be open to your free and generous forgiveness, and strive to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

We pray for the gift of faith, that we will depend more fully on you in every aspect of our lives and grow in our confidence that you who will never abandon us.

We pray for all who are broken and wounded in mind and soul, that they may find healing and wholeness in Christ and that you will help them to regain purpose and fulfillment in life.

We pray for all who feel bound and constricted by their past, that you will heal and free them so that they may live life fully.

We pray for the members of our levels of government, that you will guide their deliberations and help them find ways to act upon the critical issues confronting our nation.

We pray for healing of the wounds of racism and prejudice: that you will help us to recognize the dignity of each person and work to heal the wounds and divisions that exist.

We pray for refugees and immigrants, that you will lead them to find communities for support and opportunities to use their talents for the good of others.

We pray for a spirit of stewardship, that we may make wise use of the resources of the earth and protect the soil, air, and water for future generations.

We pray for an end to the pandemic, that your healing love will restore the sick to health, make the vaccines effective, and curtail the spread of the virus.

We pray for an end to the development and proliferation of weapons that can destroy Humanity, that you will free Nations from fear and inspire them to promote education and development opportunities for their people.

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

We pray for Kylie Conomos, that she will be renewed in energy and enthusiasm so as to face the tasks and challenges of the coming school term.  May she receive the support needed from the school so that she can identify areas of need in which she can play a role.

We give you praise for those who have dedicated their time and talents to the leading of Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School.  May they find a blessing in interacting with the children and the challenge in finding the means of introducing the good news of the Gospel into their lives.

We pray for the ongoing life of our Congregation.  Please guide those in the Presbytery Office in the choosing of a replacement Minister of the Word for us.  Please inspire us as we seek to be a witness to your love and grace in our corner of theworld.

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

Hymn

“Thine for ever! God of love”  MHB569

[sung to the tune Monkland – there is an introduction – note that there are two more verses that are recorded in MHB569]

Verse 1 of 7

Thine forever!  God of love,

Hear us from Thy throne above;

Thine forever may we be,

Here and in Eternity.

Verse 2 of 7

Thine forever!  Lord of life,

Shield us through our Earthly strife;

Thou, the Life, the Truth, the Way,

Guide us to the realms of day.

Verse 3 of 7

Thine forever!  O how blessed

They who find in Thee their rest!

Saviour, Guardian, Heavenly Friend,

O defend us to the end!

Verse 4 of 7

Thine forever!  Shepherd keep

These Thy frail and trembling sheep;

Safe alone beneath Thy care,

Let us all Thy goodness share.

Verse 5 of 7

Thine forever in that day

When the World shall pass away;

When the trumpet note shall sound,

And the Nations underground

Verse 6 of 7

Shall the awful summons hear

Which proclaims the Judgement near.

Thine forever, ‘neath Thy wings,

Hide and save us, King of Kings.

Verse 7 of 7

Thine forever!  Thou our Guide,

All our wants by Thee supplied,

All our sins by Thee forgiven,

Lead us, Lord, from Earth to Heaven.

Mary Maude

Benediction  (from Psalm 16: 11) 

It is the risen Christ who sustains us and upholds us.  We believe in the blessed outcome of God’s grace and mercy towards Humanity, it is not some fairy tale or myth, it is not self-delusion or some out-of-date religiosity.  It is because of the love of God that we can now have close communion and fellowship with Him.  Let us then follow the path that leads to life and rejoice in the closeness of His presence as we move through each day.

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

Benediction Song

“May the grace of Christ our Saviour”  TiS777

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

Verse 1 of 2

May the grace of Christ our Saviour,

And the Father’s boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit’s favour,

Rest upon us from above.

Verse 2 of 2

Thus may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord,

And possess in sweet communion

Joys which Earth cannot afford.

John Newton

FOUR THINGS TO NOTE:

The new mobile phone number for the Church is:

0424 772 340

Moreton Rivers Presbytery minister, Rev Mark Cornford, has asked me to extend my period of providing supply at Bald Hills until 31/05/2021.  This means that there will ne no definite news of a replacement for Rev Louis until June at the earliest.

In last week’s service I issued some challenges as to how we are working together to ensure that there is “unity and harmony” within our fellowship at Bald Hills.  Perhaps this is an opportune time to reflect on this matter, to seek people’s responses and to incorporate a time in worship in the near future when we prayerfully consider these, and to make commitments where necessary.  Could you please think on this and approach me with your thoughts and suggestions.

Next Sunday, being Anzac Day, I am considering the For the Young at Heart segment of the service to be a time to remember and reflect on those of us or of our family who have served at some time in the armed forces.  This need only take the form of a short paragraph containing details of the dates and place/s of the service as well as anything else that people are willing to share.  We can incorporate a time of silent reflection and a prayer of thanks for those who have served.  If you have something that you wish to have shared in the worship service, please send it to me by email or drop it in my letter box or the letter box at Church.  I will aim to collate any such information next Friday, so could you please forward your responses or place them in either letter box by this coming Thursday afternoon.

Geoffrey

17/04/2021