WELCOME: – 

CALL TO WORSHIP: –          

God has been with us through this week and has seen everything we have seen and knows everything that has happened to us. Let us come to God now, bringing the whole of our lives to God in our worship, trusting that God is always fair and always loving.

PRAYER OF PRAISE

Let us, as we, your people, meet here today pray together with one voice

God who sees us,
thank you for being with us this past week
and for bringing us together today.
As we worship, help us to see you afresh
and to look with new eyes on the world
in which you call us to serve you.
Almighty God, all our privileges come from you,
we approach you as humble people
who do not deserve your grace and gifts;
with heartfelt thanks, we bow before you.
Heavenly Father, whose perfect ways are not our ways:
we worship and adore you!
Son of God, who shows us life as it should be lived:
we worship and adore you!
Holy Spirit, messenger, comforter and guide:
we worship and adore you!
Amen.

You are invited to listen to or sing TIS 685  ‘The power of your love’  

INTRODUCTION   

BIG SCREEN – SMALL SCREEN

I enjoy reading the books written by Philip Yancey. You may remember his book entitled “What’s So Amazing About Grace”.  I think with his journalistic background he would have made a great companion for Luke in recording his gospel message.  I’ve been reading one of his books “What Good is God” and in the chapter called Memphis an alternative vision I read about the Orange Revolution that occurred in Ukraine in 2004. As the Ukraine moved towards democracy it was not without corruption. Reformer Victor Yushchenko dared to challenge the entrenched party. Although he nearly died from a mysterious dose of dioxin poisoning. He continued in the presidential race. He had a clear majority of 10 per cent but nevertheless through outright fraud the government managed to reverse the results. The state-run television station reported, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we announce that the challenger Victor Yushchenko has been decisively defeated.”

However, the government authorities had not considered the translation for the hearing impaired in the lower right-hand corner of the TV screen. A brave woman raised by deaf mute parents gave a different message in sign language: “I am addressing all the deaf citizens of Ukraine. Don’t believe what they (the authorities) say. They are lying and I am ashamed to translate these lies. Yushchenko is our president.”

Deaf people inspired by their translator, Natalya Dmitruk, led the Orange Revolution. They text-messaged their friends on mobile phones about the fraudulent elections and soon other journalists likewise refused to broadcast the party line.  

Over the next few weeks as many as a million people wearing orange flooded the streets of Kiev to demand new elections. Finally, the government buckled under the pressure, consenting to new elections, and this time Yushchenko emerged as the undisputed winner.

Philip Yancey writes that “the image of a small screen of truth in the corner of the big screen became an ideal picture of the Church. We, in the Church do not control the big screen.

Take notice of that small screen of truth, the one where Jesus said put into practice “these words of mine” and you will be assured a rock-solid foundation for your life. Throughout the world the kingdom of God, a house built on the rock, can flourish in the most improbable places. As we engage with the world, trusting God’s gracious provision for us we become the salt, the yeast, the light in each place we find ourselves.   

REFLECTION  – YOU RAISE ME UP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRcIEMgppK8

This is an opportunity for us to reflect on the amazing way God’s grace lifts us out of despondency. Marvel on the fact that despite our imperfect sinful nature our Lord desires for us to come to Him, be lifted and restored. We have an amazing God who loves us.

When I am down, and oh my soul so weary
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

There is no life, no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when you come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
And I am strong when I am on your shoulders 
Oh, you raise me up to more than I can be     

You raise me up to more than I can be

PRAYER OF CONFESSION           

We come to God, knowing that we have failed to obey the call of Jesus to love God and one another with our whole being; but we come to God who reaches out to us with healing and reconciliation.

Let us pray:

God of all mercy,

Give us grace today to make a fresh start.

We know that we have not loved you as

With our whole heart, nor have we loved our neighbour as ourselves.

As we hope to be forgiven, teach us how to forgive;

and lead us forward in a new life where neither grudges

nor resentment have a part;    

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

DELARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Here then Christ’s word of Grace to us:

“Your sins are forgiven.”

With heartfelt gratitude, we are humble
before your amazing forgiveness, O Father God.
You forgive us so much, it is almost unbelievable.
Your generosity is more than we can understand.
Praise and glory to you, now and evermore.

Thanks be to God.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to or sing TIS 650      ‘Brother, Sister, let me serve you’

PREPARATION TO HEAR GOD’S FOR US TODAY.

Let us pray together as we prepare to hear God’s word for us today

God, source of all light, by your Word, you give light to the soul. Pour out on us the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that our hearts and minds may be opened to know your truth and your way. Amen.

GOSPEL READING   John 6:1 –  (JB Phillips Paraphrase)

6 ^1-6 After this Jesus crossed the Lake of Galilee (or Lake Tiberias), and a great crowd followed him because they had seen signs which he gave in his dealings with the sick. But Jesus went up the hillside and sat down there with his disciples. The Passover, the Jewish festival, was near, so Jesus, raising his eyes and seeing a great crowd on the way towards him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy food for these people to eat?” (He said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do.)

⁷ “Ten pounds’ worth of bread would not be enough for them,” Philip replied, “even if they had only a little each.”

^8-9 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, another disciple, put in, “There is a boy here who has five small barley loaves and a couple of fish, but what’s the good of that for such a crowd?”

^10a Then Jesus said, “Get the people to sit down.”

^10b-12 There was plenty of grass there, and the men, some five thousand of them, sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks for them and distributed them to the people sitting on the grass, and he distributed the fish in the same way, giving them as much as they wanted. When they had eaten enough, Jesus said to his disciples, “Collect the pieces that are left over so that nothing is wasted.”

^13-14 So they did as he suggested and filled twelve baskets with the broken pieces of the five barley loaves, which were left over after the people had eaten! When the men saw this sign of Jesus’ power, they kept saying, “This certainly is the Prophet who was to come into the world!”

¹⁵ Then Jesus, realising that they were going to carry him off and make him their king, retired once more to the hill-side quite alone.

RESPONSE

For the word of God in scripture,

We give thanks and praise.

For the word of God among us,

We give thanks and praise.

For the word of God within us,
We give thanks and praise.

MESSAGE

The Rock That Is Our Sure Foundation.

Following on the idea that we should take our eyes off the big screen of the chaotic world with which we are bombarded and focus on the small screen of God’s truth, we can view the gospel reading today with kingdom eyes.

Here we have a logistical problem of mammoth proportions. Various solutions are offered but all seem like wishful thinking. The problem is simply too big.

We can understand that this narrative is included to demonstration Jesus’ power. It is one part of the evidence included, that all people would come to believe.

It also demonstrates Jesus’ compassion for those gathered. A holy compassion that we try to emulate in our own lives.

Even though some might have been caught up in the euphoria of the experience, Jesus was unconcerned about impressing them. Jesus’ earthly kingdom was not lavish built on fantasy and magic tricks. He simply relied on God to supply his needs, demonstrating the God of Creation’s provision for His people.  Giving thanks was Jesus’ way of pointing to his heavenly father as the provider of bread and the sustainer of life. God provided more than enough; everyone was filled, with 12 baskets in surplus. This salutary lesson builds our confidence in our heavenly Father who can do more than we can think or imagine.

The passage concludes with Jesus’ response to the crowd’s growing enticement in the amazing miracles. The people’s desire to make him king did not appeal and so Jesus took himself away to be alone.

Remember that way back that Kingship was not the plan when God reluctantly agreed to making Saul king. Kingship would take away people’s ability to trust God. Despite the warnings Saul failed and even the golden boy David, a man after God’s own heart, really came unstuck succumbing to the temptation of Bathsheba then committing worse offences trying to cover it all up.

It is so easy for us to join in what’s going on the big screen and not take notice of the truth that God shows us on the small screen.

Throughout history people and nations have always glorified winners not losers but, like the sign-language translator in the lower right-hand corner of the screen Jesus says in effect. “Don’t believe the big screen…. They are lying”

We listen and take notice! We respond!  We become the messengers on the small screen as we put into practice the words of Jesus who calls us to see the world though God’s eyes. God cares deeply about the happenings throughout the world, not just in our own backyard. Yes, the Kingdom of God flourishes in the most improbable places.

As we “trust in the rock” we gain confidence in the written Word and the promises given. We give thought to the message on the small screen. We are not distracted or weighed down by all that is blasted at us we find on the big screen.

We care knowing that our heavenly Father knows and cares for us. We do not become anxious worrying about tomorrow for our heavenly Father, through Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.” 

While we still have breath, we continue to construct our lives on that firm foundation and from that firm foundation we become the salt, the yeast, the light, that small screen that enriches the world around us.

In our homes and every-day life we become a blessing.

In our congregation we become an encouragement to each other.

As a congregation we take the good news of Jesus to those in PM Village.

As a congregation we enable the chalk face work of School Chaplaincy, providing hope for a younger generation supporting families in distress.

      As a congregation we provide the resources for Religious Instruction at Bald Hills State School, remembering the words of Jesus who says, “Let the children come to me.”

As a congregation we reach out to those in remote places of our land through Frontier Services.

By our actions we insist that a person’s worth is not determined by appearance, age or circumstance, rather is a sacred gift of God.  Compassion and care for “the least of these” are not values agreed on by politicians, sociologists and the self-opinionated but holy commands from the One who created us. 

Philip Yancy, for whom I am indebted for inspiration and his gift of writing, concludes with our need to blot out the message of the big screen and start paying attention to that small screen in the lower right-hand corner. 

We need to go on building our house on the rock: to hear the words of Jesus and put them into practice. No matter what crisis takes place and “the rains come down and the streams rise up, our house will stand“

That Rock is our sure foundation.

OFFERTORY   

We will now make our freewill offering to God

OFFERTORY DEDICATION PRAYER  

We prayer together

“God, we give thanks for your presence in our lives. Bless these offerings, that they may be used to advance your kingdom and glorify your name. And may our faith continue to grow stronger each day, bringing us closer to you. Amen.”

You are invited to listen to or sing TIS 136 ‘There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy’    

this is a hymn which tells of God’s mercy being like the wideness of the sea. This anthem speaks of a sovereign God who, unlike earthly rulers, demonstrates welcome, kindness, grace and mercy. All we need to do is have a simple faith that “rests upon God’s word.”

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

You are the source of our strength and our hope. 

With confidence, let us bring our prayers before you God.

Help us to see those who need our help.

Open our eyes, show us where to look

Help us to see all who are affected by our everyday choices.

Help us to grow ever closer to Our Lord so that our lives

will reflect your amazing love and grace.

May we respond to your call to discipleship and mission.
O God, you have given us a share in the good things of heaven and earth.

Hear our prayers that we may welcome you into our midst 

and make known your saving deeds.

We ask this through Jesus your Son.

 Amen.

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

Psalm 145 provides us with expressions of praise beginning with these verses,

 I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king;
    I will thank you forever and ever.
Every day I will thank you;
    I will praise you forever and ever.

 The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;
    his greatness is beyond understanding.

And so, knowing we are “Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven” we sing together, Praise my soul the King of Heaven.  

SENDING OUT       

Ephesians 3:14-21

When I think of the greatness of this great plan I fall on my knees before God the Father (from whom all fatherhood, earthly or heavenly, derives its name), and I pray that out of the glorious richness of his resources he will enable you to know the strength of the spirit’s inner re-enforcement—that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith. And I pray that you, firmly fixed in love yourselves, may be able to grasp (with all Christians) how wide and deep and long and high is the love of Christ—and to know for yourselves that love so far beyond our comprehension. May you be filled through all your being with God himself!

BENEDICTION

May the love of God enfold you,

The wisdom of Christ enlighten you

The fire of the Spirit inflame you;

And may the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Rest upon you and abide with you

Now and evermore.

Now to him who by his power within us is able to do far more than we ever dare to ask or imagine—to him be glory in the Church through Jesus Christ for ever and ever.

Music as we leave

TEACH ME TO DANCE