Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(from Leslie Weatherhead in That Immortal Sea p90 & 91) 

  The author, Leslie Weatherhead ,wrote in his book That Immortal Sea:

“Humanity’s only purpose in living is the glory of God, and all of our achievements are vain unless they can be used for God’s purposes.”

  We would do well to consider why we gather for worship, for, when we do so, we do not proclaim: 

“Glory to Mankind in the highest for Mankind is the Master of things.”,

  rather, we say and sing and pray the words which the angels sang to the shepherds at Bethlehem:

“Glory to God in the highest Heaven”  (Luke 2: 14a)  .

  We gather to worship God, the God who loves us and who has stated His ownership of us.  Let us rejoice in the knowledge of the love and mercy of God for those who come humbly into His presence, and of the hope of close fellowship with God in ‘the here and now’ and for “the Time without end’. 

Prayer of Praise  

(from Moira Laidlaw in Liturgies On-Line Year A weeks 1,2 & 3) 

  Holy God, your glory and majesty far exceed our capacity to imagine them and the assurance of your care for us is not only spelled out in the words of the Psalmist but in the person of Jesus Christ.  He demonstrated the depth of your care through his love and compassion, a love that resonated in people’s lives, and a compassion which permeated all his actions.  May we heed his call to make such love and compassion, holiness and glory, visible in and through our lives also. 

  We approach you, holy God, with thanksgiving in our hearts, for we believe that you hear and answer us when we call upon you for help.  You hear because you are not a distant God but someone who journeys with us in the person of Jesus Christ.  Through his sacrificial love, your love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  So we have every reason to offer our praise and thanksgiving for all your goodness towards us – blessings undeserved by us but graciously given by you. 

  Holy God, through you comes the energy by which the World was made – and the very breath which gives us life.  And yet, you chose to reveal your power and your glory through one who serves others.  One in whom you delight.  One who is gentle and persistent in the pursuit of justice.  Accept our prayers and praises for revealing your love for the world in such a grace-full and transforming way and bless us as we seek to serve you with the gentleness, compassion and persistence of Jesus.

  Here, in this time of worship, in the promised presence of Jesus, and in the graced presence of one another, we wholeheartedly offer our gratitude and praise for these glorious signs of your great love for the world.  This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You are invited to join in singing along to this video clip:

‘Lift up your heads to the coming King’ (Scripture in Song Volume 2 number 218)

Steven Fry

You are invited to join in singing along to this video clip:

 ‘Jesus name above all names’ (Scripture in Song volume 2 No 226)

Naida Hearn

Prayer of Confession   

  Merciful God, we humble ourselves before you, knowing how prone we are to wander from your pathway, knowing how easily we let go of your hand and seek to go our own way.  There are so many things in life that we allow to clamour for our attention and to distract us.  But we fail to hear the soft calling of your voice, seeking for us to come and to sit quietly beside you.

  We confess our neglect of your call to come, and ask for your forgiveness.

  We rush about with our daily tasks.  We hurry to do the things that we feel need to be finished, or the things that give us excitement.  But we fail to heed the call to spend time with others.  We fail to recognise the need in another’s life, the need for comfort, for companionship, for a hand to hold theirs. 

  We confess our neglect of your call to come, and ask for your forgiveness.

  Often we find ourselves in something unfamiliar or unknown.  Often we tend to trust in our own abilities and strengths to get us out of trouble or to guide us out of a dark place, instead of reaching out and searching for your hand to hold onto for strength and guidance.

  We confess our neglect of your call to come, and ask for forgiveness.

  Loving and merciful God, forgive us.  Open our ears to hear your call to follow and to obey.  Open our hearts to receive your promise of life and love, in this life and in the life to come.

  Open our lives for your service, so that your Kingdom will come and that your will be done.  This we pray to your glory and honour.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from 1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 24) 

The Apostle Paul writes to the Church in Corinth assuring them of the saving power of God made visible in and through the crucified Christ, for we who profess a believe in the Good News of God’s grace and forgiveness made possible because of the death and resurrection of Christ have found favour with God and are reconciled to Him.

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

Psalm 40

1  I waited patiently for the LORD’s help; then he bent down to me and heard my cry.

2  He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the mire and clay.  He set me safely on a rock and gave me a firm footing.

3  He taught me to sing a new song, a song of praise to our God.  Many who see this will tremble with awe and will put learn to put their trust in the LORD.

4  Happy are those who trust the LORD, who do not turn to idols or join those who worship false gods.

5  You have done many things for us, O LORD our God; none can compare with you!  You have made many wonderful plans for us.  I could never speak of them all – their number is so great!

6  You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins.  Instead, you have given me ears to hear you,  7  and so I answered, “Here I am; your instructions for me are in the book of the Law.  8  How I love to do your will, my God! I keep your teaching in my heart.”

9  In the assembly of all your people, LORD, I told the good news that you save us.  You know that I will never stop telling it.  10  I have not kept the news of salvation to myself; I have always spoken of your faithfulness and saving power.  In the assembly of all your people I have not been silent about your loyalty and constant love.

11  LORD, I know you will never stop being merciful to me. Your unfailing love and truth will always keep me safe.  16  May all who come to you be glad and joyful.  May all who are thankful for your salvation always say, “How great is the Lord!”

17  I am weak and poor, O LORD, but you have not forgotten me.  You are my Saviour and my God – hurry to my aid.

[Today’s English Version]

(https://www.biblestudytools.com/gnt/psalms/40.html)

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Matthew 4:

12  When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went away to Galilee.  13  He did not stay in Nazareth, but went to live in Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.

14  This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said,

15  “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the road to the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee, land of the Gentiles!  16  The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine.”  (Isaiah 9: 1 & 2) 

17  From that time Jesus began to preach his message: “Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”

18  As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers who were fishermen, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew, catching fish in the lake with a net.

19  Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.”

20  At once they left their nets and went with him.  21  He went on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee.  They were in their boat with their father Zebedee, getting their nets ready. Jesus called them,  22  and at once they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

23  Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness.

24  The news about him spread through the whole country of Syria, so that people brought to him all those who were sick, suffering from all kinds of diseases and disorders: people with demons, and epileptics, and paralytics – and Jesus healed them all.

25  Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Towns, from Jerusalem, Judea, and the land on the other side of the Jordan.

[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

We are one in fellowship and in worship of our God, whether we gather together in the Church building on Sunday morning or whether we worship in the ‘digital sphere’.  It is important that we recognise that, together, we remain one in Christ Jesus.  With that thought, let us uplift our hands and greet those both here and in their homes: May the peace of God be with you all.

And also with you.

You are invited to join in singing along to this video clip: (The music is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune, and the words are printed out below)

‘Come, Saviour, Jesus, from above’  MHB546  (Wesley’s Hymns No 285)

Verse 1 of 5

Come, Saviour, Jesus, from above!

Assist me with your Heavenly grace;

Empty my heart of Earthly love

And for yourself prepare a place.

Verse 2 of 5

O let your sacred presence fill

And set my longing spirit free,

Which longs to have no other will,

But day and night to rest on Thee.

Verse 3 of 5

That path with humble speed I’ll seek,

Wherein my Saviour’s footsteps trod,

Nor will I hear, nor will I speak

Of any other Lord but God.

Verse 4 of 5

You I can love, and you alone,

With pure delight and inward bliss,

To know you take me for your own,

Oh what a happiness is this!

Verse 5 of 5

Nothing on Earth do I desire

But your pure love within my heart,

This, only this, will I require,

And freely set all else apart.

Antoinette Bourignon

translated by John Wesley

Sermon

Screen 1

Helping an old lady across the road

  There’s a story of a bloke who was charged with being a public nuisance for assisting old ladies to walk across a busy road adjacent to a shopping centre.  Apparently none of the old ladies wanted to cross the road in the first place.

  In contrast, we read in today’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel that many people we willing to cross roads and countryside to find Jesus and to follow Jesus, in the early days of his ministry.  (Matthew 4: 24 & 25) 

Screen 2

Areas around Galilee

  I am hoping that this map will assist us to gauge the extent to which “news about Jesus” had spread so early in his ministry.  Galilee is in the central north in this portion of the Middle East, to the right of the Sea of Galilee.  Besides Galilee itself, we read of the influence of Jesus on the peoples of the surrounding Nations and Roman Provinces.

  We read that “news about Jesus spread through the whole country of Syria”, located to the east, to the north and to the north-east of Galilee.  (Matthew 4: 24) 

  We read that many people who followed Jesus were from “the Ten Towns”, commonly referred to as the “Decapolis”, located to the east and adjacent south-east of Galilee.  (Matthew 4: 25) 

  We read that many people who followed Jesus were from Jerusalem and Judea, located far to the south of Galilee.  (Matthew 4: 25) 

  We read that many people who followed Jesus were from “the land on the other side of the Jordan River”, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, far to the south-east of Galilee.  (Matthew 4: 25) 

  The peoples who formed the “large crowds” who followed Jesus lived a distance of up to 120 km from Capernaum, “a town by Lake Galilee”, where Jesus had gone to live,  (Matthew 4: 13)  a significant distance given the terrain of the countryside and the mode of transport of the time.  The Timeline of “The Life of Jesus” in the New International Version Study Bible lists these events taking place in mid27AD, about seven months after the baptism and temptation of Jesus.  (The Life of Jesus in the New International Version Study Bible p1508 & 1509)  So we are talking of a time very early in the ministry of Jesus, at the time when he commenced his calling of his twelve closest Disciples to journey with him. 

  Yet, in such a short time, Jesus was exerting an influence over many people from diverse and far-off places.  Why was this so?  What was it about Jesus that appealed to people or attracted these people to him?

  The author of Psalm 40, wrote of three aspects of the nature and character of God that formed the basis for their sincere and solid trust and faith in God.

Screen 3

“Many who see what God has done and will tremble with awe and will put learn to put their trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 40: 3

In this Psalm we read the author stating:

“Many who see what God has done will tremble with awe and will learn to put their trust in the LORD.”  (Psalm 40: 3) 

  I prefer this reading, which brings the image of people seeing how God has intervened in the life and History of the people of Israel, to provide for their needs, to protect them from those who seek to harm them, and to promote their wellbeing and prosperity, and trembling in awe of God as He demonstrates His power and might, and as He exercises His authority and rule over people and Nations.

  Artur Weiser writes: “The genuineness and truth of the experience of the presence of God is demonstrated by this strange combination of fear and trust.  Complete trust is possible only when God’s action is comprehended in such a way that the direct impression of His power makes people tremble because they perceive that God’s power is unsurpassably and superhumanly great.  It would never be possible to put absolute trust in a god to whose power a limit was set somewhere.  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p336) 

  What is our impression of God?  Are we amazed at the ways He has worked His

redemptive power in our lives?  Do we tremble in awe at the ways we can see God at work sustaining the World around us that He has created, or changing the lives of others, or exercising His authority in the History of Nations?  Have we placed our absolute trust in God?  Or are we hesitant because we cannot conceive of God without placing limits on our understanding of His power and authority?

  Gregory Beale and Donald Carson write that: “the person who places (their) trust in (God) (are blessed), for (God) is a God of wonders and great plans for those who follow Him”, and that: “confidence is expressed in the character of God, (for) He will be true to His word not to abandon (nor to) forsake His People.  Therefore, there is no reason to fear what Humans can do.  God’s presence as a Helper negates the worst that people can put forward.”    (Gregory Beale and Donald Carson in Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament p976 & 992) 

Screen 4

“God has pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the mire and clay.”

Psalm 40: 2

Also in this Psalm we read the author stating:

“God has pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the mire and clay.”  (Psalm 40: 2) 

  Here we have the image of the author finding themselves in “a dangerous pit”, a dire situation from which they cannot extricate themselves, a situation that is beyond their capabilities to resolve.  It is then that they find God acting on their behalf.  But the imagery is not that God directed someone else to do something or that He waved a magic wand and everything was changed.  No!  Rather, we read of God coming down and lifting the author out of that which was holding them, “the mire and clay”, and releasing them from that which had bound them. 

  Again, it is a demonstration of God’s power, that is, to accomplish something that is beyond Human capability to complete.  But it highlights the supreme love of God, that He would deign to leave His Kingdom in Heaven to descend to Earth to act in such a way as to save an individual from that which imperils them.  George Knight comments in his Commentary on this Psalm, that the words of the Psalm describe to us how God is willing to descend into the very pit itself, into the mud and the mire, because that is the only way for God to get close enough to the person so as to lift them out and away from the danger.  (George Knight in Psalms Volume 1 p193)  God is, and cannot be, afraid of that which terrifies us.  God is, and always will be, willing and able to fulfill His Will and Purpose to save and redeem Humans and Humanity, individually and corporately.

Screen 5

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins.  Instead, you have given me ears to hear you.  How I love to do your will, my God!”

Psalm 40: 6 to 8

Also in this Psalm we read the author stating:

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings; you do not ask for animals burned whole on the altar or for sacrifices to take away sins.  Instead, you have given me ears to hear you.  How I love to do your will, my God!”  (Psalm 40: 6 to 8) 

  This is an expression of a revelation to the author, that is on the one hand, a clearer understanding of the nature of one’s worship of God, and, on the other hand, a release from the bonds of the rites and rituals of the sacrificial worship that predominated the Jewish religion.  Gone is view that right worship of God requires the ‘right’ number of sin and thanksgiving sacrifices, both as a way to demonstrate your willingness to part with a significant amount of your assets so as to provide for the elements of these sacrifices, and also as a way for sufficient blood to be shed to symbolically cleanse you from all of your sins.  For an inordinate focus on the act of making a sacrifice as the sole means to get right with God has a tendency to lead, then, to the attitude that, once having made the sacrifices, there is no more that is required from you to be in a right relationship with God and to maintain right relationships with your neighbours.

  The author of Psalm 40 is clearly stating, firstly, that what God wants, above everything, is an attitude of being still and listening to His voice with your “open ears”.  (Psalm 40: 6b)  George Knight puts it this way:

“An open ear means the ability to know and understand what God is whispering to us, so that hour to hour we know exactly where our duty lies.”  (George Knight in Psalms Volume 1 p194) 

  Secondly, we are to do the will of God, not out of a sense of duty or obligation, nor out of a fear of the consequences of not doing so, but because we “love to do your will, my God”.  (Psalm 40: 8b)  George Knight writes of an attitude of “choosing to do so because we love and trust God”, “thrilled to do so because that desire exists in our inner being.”  (George Knight in Psalms Volume 1 p194 & 195) 

  What desires exist in our “inner being”, in our “hearts”?  Is it the attitude of having an open ear to the voice of God and the thrill of readily obeying the voice of God, simply because He is our God who calls us to Himself?

Screen 6

“Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues”,

Matthew 4: 23a

 How does our reading of Psalm 40 explain why crowds of people desired to follow Jesus?

  Firstly, we read that:

“Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues.”  (Matthew 4: 23a) 

  But what was so special or unique about his teaching?  Matthew gives us the answer further in his Gospel account, where he writes:

“When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught.  He wasn’t like the Teachers of the Law, instead, he taught with authority.”  (Matthew 7: 28 & 29) 

  William Barclay writes that the teaching of Jesus was “the uncompromising proclamation of certainties”, “the explanation and meaning and the significance“ of God’s Word, of Scripture.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p83)  He writes that, in his teaching, “Jesus came to defeat (Humanity’s) misunderstandings” of the truth of God and His dealings with Humanity whom He created.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p83) 

Screen 7

“Jesus went all over Galilee, .. preaching the Good News about the Kingdom”

Matthew 4: 23b

 Secondly, we read that:

“Jesus went all over Galilee, .. preaching the Good News about the Kingdom.”  (Matthew 4: 23b) 

  Matthew highlights that in Jesus was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy:

“The people who live in darkness will see a great light.  On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine.”  (Matthew 4: 16, Isaiah 9: 2) 

Such an ‘enlightenment’ is illustrated in John’s account of Jesus and the woman by the well in the Samaritan village of Sychar.  We read in Johns Gospel:

“Many of the Samaritans in that town believed in Jesus” (because of the testimony of the woman), “and they told the woman, ‘We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard him, and we know that he really is the Saviour of the world.”  (John 4: 41 & 42) 

  William Barclay writes that:

“Jesus came to defeat (Humanity’s) ignorance.  He came to tell them the truth about God, to tell them that which by themselves they could never have found out.  He came to put an end to guessing and to groping, and to show (people) what (God’s love and mercy) is like.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p83) 

Screen 8

“Jesus went all over Galilee, .. healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness.”

Matthew 4: 23c

Thirdly, we read that:

“Jesus went all over Galilee, .. healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness.”  (Matthew 4: 23c) 

  Randolph Tasker makes the comment in this passage that Matthew sought to show that “there is no kind of illness that Jesus failed to cure, and (that) among the numerous patients that were brought to him were those tormented by the most acute forms of physical and mental derangement.”  (Randolph Tasker in Matthew  An Introduction and Commentary p58) 

  Elsewhere in his Gospel, Matthew records people’s comprehension of the ability of Jesus to heal people.  In his account of the Canaanite woman who lived in the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, we read of her addressing Jesus as “Son of David”, and of all that this title implied about Jesus being God’s chosen one who was to accomplish God’s will on Earth.  It was upon this understanding that she pleaded for the healing of her daughter.  (Matthew 15: 21 & 22) 

  After this incident, Matthew continues his account, saying:

“Jesus left there and went along by Lake Galilee. He climbed a hill and sat down.  Large crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the dumb, and many other sick people, whom they placed at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.  The people were amazed as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they praised the God of Israel.”  (Matthew 15: 29 to 31) 

https://www.biblestudytools.com/gnt/matthew/15.html

  What is significant is that the people, upon seeing Jesus perform his miraculous acts of healing and of making people whole again, was not that they praised his abilities as a physician, but that they praised “the God of Israel”, recognising that Jesus could not have undertaken what he had accomplished unless God, the Creator and Recreator, was acting though him, and that Jesus was acting with God’s authority and power.

  Thus we see that Jesus was the embodiment of all that the author of Psalm 40 had written of God.  In his acts of healing Jesus was demonstrating the power and authority of God, of which people were truly in awe, and which gave reason for people to place their trust in God’s love and mercy.  In his teaching Jesus was encouraging people to listen to the voice of God, to obey God and to willingly follow God’s will and purpose for their lives.  In his preaching Jesus was giving people the hope of sins forgiven, of being redeemed by God, of a restoration of a right relationship with God.  Ultimately, Jesus was presenting himself as God dwelling among them, God come down from Heaven to Earth, to lift them out of the miry pit of their bondage to sin and death, to die for them so that they may live.

  William Barclay writes that, in this account by Matthew, “We see not only the Jews but the Gentiles also coming to Jesus Christ for what he alone could give them.  Already the ends of the Earth are gathering to him.”  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew Volume 1 p82) 

Screen 9

“Through the help of the Holy Spirit the Church was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the lord.”

Acts 9: 31b

Luke, in his book, Acts of the Apostles, includes this short passage after his account of the conversion of Saul.

“And it was that the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace.  Through the help of the Holy Spirit the Church was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the Lord.”  (Acts 9: 31) 

  We see that people continued to be attracted to the person of Jesus in the early years after his ascension, as the Gospel was shared with them.  The Church in those areas closest to Jerusalem and to the areas through which Jesus wandered and taught and preached and healed, grew in “faith and piety”, as Thomas Lindsay writes,  (Thomas Lindsay in The Acts of the Apostles p111)  as well as in numbers.  But looking closely at the passage we notice two things.  Firstly, it was not the Churches doing, it was “through the help of the Holy Spirit”  (Acts 9: 31b)  .  Secondly, it required the Church to continue to live and move in a humble and reverent relationship with their redeemer God.  (Acts 9: 31b)  There was occasion for joy, but a joy based upon seeing the wonder and majesty of God at work in people’s lives.

  There is no reason why we, today, should not see the same growth among the Church of today.

  May we approach God with confidence, trusting in his unlimited authority and graciousness, knowing that He holds each of us in the palm of His hand, guiding us as we walk in life, supporting us in our trials and troubles.

  May we approach God with reverence to listen and obey His voice, willing to follow where He leads us.

  May we prepare ourselves with eagerness to be the voice and hands of God reaching out to people, calling them to place their trust in God in this life and in the next.

  May we always be ready to say, “How great is the Lord!”  (Psalm 40: 17)  Amen. H

You are invited to join in singing along to this video clip (the words are printed out below):

‘Jesus calls us !  O’er the tumult’  TiS589 

Verse 1 of 5

Jesus calls us!  O’er the tumult

Of our life’s wild restless sea,

Day by day his sweet voice sounding

Saying, “Christian, follow me.”

Verse 2 of 5

As, of old, Saint Andrew heard it

By the Galilean lake,

Turned from home and toil and kindred,

Leaving all for his dear sake.

Verse 3 of 5

Jesus calls us from the worship

Of the vain World’s golden store,

From each idol that would keep us, saying

“Christian, love me more.”

Verse 4 of 5

In our joys and in our sorrows,

Days of toil and hours of ease,

Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,

“Christian, love me more than these.”

Verse 5 of 5

Jesus calls us!  By your mercies

Saviour, may we hear your call,

Give our hearts to your obedience,

Serve and love you best of all.

Cecil Alexander

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[This hymn is being sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction.]

[This YouTube 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

Loving God, knowing your love for all of Humanity, especially your compassion for the needy, we come to you with our cares and our concerns.

We bring to you our prayers for the World around us and for people individually.

Loving God, we live in a World where mistrust and selfishness breeds cruelty towards others, the abuse of power and privilege, the oppression of the powerless and the poor, discrimination towards those who are classed as ‘different’, and indifference towards the needs of others.

May the decision-makers in Governments and Business, in cultures and communities, acknowledge your Lordship over all of Humanity, and acknowledge their accountability to you for their actions and their inactions towards those whom you love in equal measure.

Loving God, we live in a World where forgiving others is seen as a sign of weakness, where holding onto grudges is the norm.

Make us instruments of peace, reconcile us where we are in dispute with others and cleanse us from all resentment.

Loving God, we live in a World where the innocent are the ones who suffer in times of conflicts, where the unprotected are the ones who are the victims of terror and crime.

We pray for your protection over children and their families.  May they experience your care such that their lives and their livelihoods are prosperous and fulfilling.

Loving God, we live in a World where many suffer pain from accident or illness, where many are disabled or sick in body, mind and spirit.

Please bring relief to those who suffer, please bring healing and wholeness to the ill and the injured.  Please bless the efforts of medical and nursing staff, of counsellors and service providers.

Loving God, we live in a World where the Church seen as irrelevant or, at the very least, distrusted.

Loving God, reawaken in your Church its calling to be the light of the World, to provoke the World to judge itself in terms of your standards and principles.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to boldly proclaim your Gospel message of hope for the sinful and the lost.  Reawaken in your Church its calling to show leadership in the caring for the needy and in proper stewardship of your Creation.

    We ask that you will bless the efforts of Ian and the other volunteers who are leading Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that the Holy Spirit is engaging with the children who attend the classes, opening hearts and minds with a clear message of your love for them.

  We pray for the Chaplain at Bald hills State School, Kylie Conomos, that you are guiding her efforts to care for the children and teachers at the School, that you are encouraging her in her work and supporting her as she gives of herself to those whom she serves there.

  We pray for the residents at PM Village, that they will find comfort and fulfillment during their time under care.  We pray for the staff, that they will have patience and compassion as they fulfill their roles and responsibilities for the residents.

    We pray for those who have been unable to join us in worship and fellowship.  May they experience your closeness with them in their own circumstances and situation.  May they experience your love and care for them.  Please protect and provide for them as they move through their daily lives.

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.

You are invited to join in singing along to this video clip:

‘Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling’  (Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 No 115)

Will Thompson

Benediction    

Let us go into the World united in thought and in action, to be living witnesses to the grace and mercy of God, and to be active sharers of the Word of God to a World hungry for truth and hope.  And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

You are invited to join in singing along to this Benediction Song (the music is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune):

“By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered”  TiS617

Verse 1 of 1

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,

And confidently waiting come what may,

We know that God is with us night and morning

And never fails to greet us each new day.

We shall remember, all the days we live through,

All of our life before our God we lay.

Dietrich Bonhoffer

Translated by Frederick Pratt Green  (adapted)