Welcome: –

Call to Worship: – 

(from 2 Samuel 23: 3 to 5) 

“The God of Israel has spoken,” said King David, “the protector of Israel said to me: ‘The King who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God, is like the Sun shining on a cloudless dawn, the Sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain.’

And that is how God will bless my descendants, because He has made an eternal covenant with me, an agreement that will not be broken, a promise that will not be changed.  That is all I desire; … and God will surely bring it about.”

  With these words David emphasises the power of God as the protector of those He loves, he emphasises the purpose of God in establishing an eternal covenant with those He loves, he emphasises the passion of God in seeking to bless those He loves, and he emphasises the privilege that is ours to be part of that promise.  Above all, David confidently declares that “God will surely bring it about”.

  Three things stand out about God above all else:

      God’s sovereign power as Creator and Sustainer of all life,

      God’s moral expectation for all leaders and rulers to govern others with the identical justice and righteousness with which He rules Heaven and Earth, and

      God’s abiding and unconditional faithfulness and lovingkindness towards Humanity.

  These same attributes have been used since the time of the early Church to affirm for us the character of Jesus Christ and his ministry on Earth, Jesus:

      who was raised to power,

      who rules justly, and

      who bears God’s abiding commitments to Humanity.

(Walter Brueggemann in First and Second Samuel p347)

  That is the attitude of hope and trust that is ours in our God who loves and cares for us.  This is the God whom we have gathered here today to offer our worship and praise.

Prayer of Praise  

(from Liturgies on-line, Nathan Nettleton and BD Prewer) 

Almighty God, we praise and adore you.  You are truly without beginning or end.  Your reign is eternal and your being all-powerful, and, yet, you chose to reveal your power in the most powerless and vulnerable manner – as a baby.

As you shared our Humanity in Jesus, you gave the World a new understanding of power.  We know now that power is not to be used to dominate, but to serve others as Christ served.  He transformed the love of power by the power of love. 

We wonder at the baby who the shepherds adored, and who the Magi worshipped.

We wonder at the hands that touched lepers, the arms that embraced little children, and the fingers that anointed blind eyes.

We wonder at the smile that welcomed outcastes, the frown that rebuked the arrogant, and the tongue that told parables of grace.

We wonder at the courage that led Jesus to Jerusalem, the faith that agonised in Gethsemane, and the love poured out on the hill of Golgotha.

We wonder at the lips that gave the first Easter greeting, the wounds that witnessed to his reality, and the Spirit which he breathed on his Disciples.

We wonder at his majesty, and the promise that he is here for us unto the end of Time.

Though Jesus was accused of treason before Pilate and executed by his own Nation, he was the first born from the dead, raised by your power to free us from sin and to make us your holy people.

You gave him glory and dominion forever, and he rules over all with an authority that comes, not from this World, but from you, our God and our Rock.

We gather today to celebrate your rule of love in our hearts as we experience it in Jesus and through the enabling gift of your Spirit.

Most awesome God, help us to honour Christ our King through all the ups and downs of life, through all that we think and do and say.  All gratitude and thanksgiving, praise and glory be given to you for ever and ever.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing 2 Songs

‘Majesty’ 

Scripture in Song Volume 2 Number 206

Jack Hayford 

‘King of kings and Lord of lords’

Scripture in Song volume 2 number 410

Nomi Yah (Naomi Batya Ginsberg) and Sophie Conty

(https://hymnary.org/text/king_of_kings_and_lord_of_lords_glory)

Prayer of Confession 

(from Liturgies on-line, Nathan Nettleton and BD Prewer) 

Merciful God, your grace reaches across races and Nations, neither favouring the righteous alone nor despising the unrighteous, as is the way that we so often do.  Your hopes for us are not deterred by our rebelliousness, our indifference nor our ignorance.

Forgive us for our wandering and going in ways that cut us off from you. 

Merciful God, we boast of our plans to achieve great things by our own efforts, yet these come to nothing because we have not sought to be your faithful stewards and servants. 

Forgive us for when we forget that doing your will is our greatest priority.

Merciful God, we confess our sins to you, knowing that you see our need to live holy and righteous lives much better than we do.  Please forgive not only the sins that we recognize, but also the many to which we are blind. 

Reveal to us our attempts to hide our faults from you, reprove our complicity with the evil that is present in the World around us, and renew within us the love for the powerless and the oppressed that was so evident in the way that Jesus Christ lived his life on Earth. 

Remind us, O God, that the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to witness to the values of your Kingdom in and through all we do and say, and that thankfully this power far exceeds any apathy or fear on our part. 

Renew us with your Spirit, O God, so that our lives testify to the truth of your Kingdom revealed so fully in Jesus Christ, the servant King, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(from Revelation 1: 5b) 

The Apostle John assures us that Jesus Christ loves us and by his sacrificial death has freed us from our sins.  Having confessed our sins before God, and trusting in the grace of God freely made available to us, we can declare with confidence that God has listened to our prayers, that our sins are indeed forgiven and our lives cleansed in God’s sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

(from https://pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Liturgist_Resources-1.pdf) 

God, source of all knowledge.  By your Word you give light to the soul.  Pour upon us the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, so that our hearts and minds may be open to know your truth and your way.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 132:

11  (God) made a solemn promise to David – a promise (He) will not take back:

“I will make one of your sons King, and he will rule after you.  12  If your sons are true to my covenant and to the Commands I give them, their sons, also, will succeed you for all time as Kings.”

13  The Lord has chosen Zion; He wants to make it his home:

14  “This is where I will live forever; this is where I want to rule.  15  I will richly provide Zion with all she needs, I will satisfy her poor with food.  16  I will bless her priests in all they do, and her people will sing and shout for joy.

17  Here, I will make one of David’s descendants a great King; here, I will preserve the rule of my chosen King.  18  I will cover his enemies with shame, but his Kingdom will prosper and flourish.”

Daniel 7:

9  While I was looking, thrones were put in place.  One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones.  His clothes were white as snow, and His hair was like pure wool.  His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire,  10  and a stream of fire was pouring out from it.  There were many thousands of people there to serve Him, and millions of people stood before Him.  The Court began its session, and the Books were opened.

13  During this vision in the night, I saw what looked like a Human being.  He was approaching me, surrounded by clouds, and he went to the one who had been living forever and was presented to Him.  14  He was given authority, honour, and royal power, so that the people of all Nations, races, and languages would serve him.  His authority would last forever, and his Kingdom would never end.

Revelation 1:

4  From John to the seven Churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace be yours from God, who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits in front of his throne,  5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the Ruler of the kings of the World.

He loves us, and by his sacrificial death he has freed us from our sins  6  and made us a Kingdom of priests to serve His God and Father.  To Jesus Christ be the glory and power, forever and ever!  Amen.

7  Look, he is coming on the clouds!  Everyone will see him, including those who pierced him.  All peoples on Earth will mourn over him.  So shall it be!

8  “I am the first and the last.”  says the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come.

[Today’s English Version]

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

John 18:

33  Pilate went back into the palace and called Jesus. 

“Are you the King of the Jews?” he asked Jesus.

34  Jesus answered,

”Does this question come from you or have others told you about me?”

35  Pilate replied,

“Do you think I am a Jew?  It was your own people and the Chief Priests who handed you over to me.  What have you done?”

36  Jesus said,

“My Kingdom does not belong to the World; if my Kingdom belonged to this World, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish Authorities.  No, my Kingdom does not belong here!”

37  So Pilate asked him,

“Are you a King then?”

Jesus answered,

“You say that I am a King.  I was born and came into the World for this one purpose, to speak about the truth.  Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me.”

38  “And what is truth?” Pilate asked.

[Today’s English Version]

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn

‘Jesus, Saviour, hear our call’ 

Number 20 in Pitcairn Hymns

 [This YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune. The words are printed below]

Verse 1 of 4

Jesus, Saviour, hear our cry,

unto you we make our call,

low before your throne on high,

we your humble servants fall.

Verse 2 of 4

Wash us in your crimson tide,

cleanse us Lord from all our sin,

let your blood to us applied

make and keep us pure within.

Verse 3 of 4

Feed our souls with bread divine,

you’re our strength, from day to day,

cause your light on us to shine,

you’re our life, our truth, our stay.

Verse 4 of 4

Friend of sinners, King of love,

keep us by your powerful grace,

‘til within your fold above

we behold you face to face.

Gustav Quintal  (adapted) 

Sermon

Paul Monk is an author and regular contributor of articles to The Weekend Australian newspaper.  If you read any of his articles, please be aware of the thinking that underlies his writings.

  He does not share Paul’s advice to Timothy, as we read in 2 Timothy 3: 16, that,

“All Scripture (that is, the Old Testament writings) are inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction  for right living.”

  He does not accept what is contained in paragraph 21 of the 1952 edition of The Junior Catechism of The Methodist Church, that,

“The Old Testament tells us how God prepared men (and women) through His chosen People to look for and receive the gift of His Son, our Saviour.”

  He does not accept what is contained in paragraph 5 of the 1992 edition of the Basis of Union of the Uniting Church in Australia, that,

“The Uniting Church acknowledges that the Church has received the books of the Old and New Testaments as unique prophetic and apostolic testimony, in which it hears the Word of God and by which its faith and obedience are nourished and regulated.”

 His stance is that:

“The early Books of the Bible are mythic tales.”, and that

“The Biblical story of wicked and idolatrous Kings .. was highly theological and historically inaccurate.”

(Paul Monk in “Israel’s place in History puts this conflict into sharp focus” in The Weekend Australian 26-27 October 2024)

  Elsewhere he claims that,

“Hugo Grotius initiated the development of the very idea of universal Human rights.”,

and he writes of,

“Immanuel Kant’s vision of a Global community that upholds basic Human rights”

(Paul monk in “The World is out of Order and on the cusp of a catastrophe” in The Weekend Australian 16-17 November 2024)

  But, as you and I well know, centuries before Hugo Grotius and Immanuel Kant collated their thoughts, such understandings of “basic Human rights”, that is, guidelines for how we are to relate to one another, were to be found in God’s Laws and God’s Commandments, as they are written for us in The Old Testament.

  But, of course, Paul Monk could not admit that fact, because, as we have just seen, in the previous article Paul Monk stated his belief that there are no truths to be found in The Old Testament, because, as far as Paul Monk is concerned, what is found in The Old Testament is but myth and inaccurate historical writing.

  In the North Garden at the UN headquarters in New York City, overlooking the East River, is a bronze sculpture created by a Russian artist, Yevgeny Vuchetich.  It was given by the then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the United Nations in 1959 as a gesture of peace.  The sculpture depicts a man holding a hammer aloft in one hand which he is using to beat a sword into a plough, an image of a weapon of war being turned into a farming implement.  This gesture of peace by Nikita Khrushchev, at a time of considerable mistrust between the Soviet Union and the United States, was considered a brave gesture on the World stage.  The sculpture is titled,

Let us Beat Swords into Ploughshares

https://www.russianartdealer.com/artwork/let-us-beat-swords-into-ploughshares-1959-by-evgeny-vuchetich, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swords_to_ploughshares

  These words on the sculpture do not derive from words found in the works of Hugo Grotius, nor from Immanuel Kant, nor from Confucius, nor from Karl Marx, but are a revised form of a portion of a verse from, you guessed it, The Old Testament, Holy Scripture, God’s Word.

  In the writings of the Prophet Isaiah is found this passage,

“Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us his ways and that we may walk in His paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (God) shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  (Isaiah 2: 3 & 4) 

  [These words are also quoted in Micah 4: 3.]

  As has already been mentioned, guidelines for how we are to relate to one another had already been detailed in God’s Word from the very beginning of God’s relationship with the People of Israel, as is detailed for us in the Old Testament writings.  And at the very essence of an understanding of how we are to relate to others, be it on an individual basis, person to person, or on a national basis, nation to nation, is our relationship with God.

  We need to note that the words as they are found on the sculpture are misleading, for the statement, “Let us beat swords into plowshares”, conveys the impression that the initiative to change from conflict with others to cooperation with others was by people themselves.  This is not the understanding derived from a reading of the passage from the writings of the Prophet Isaiah.  Isaiah writes that it is as God becomes Judge between Nations and as God arbitrates between Nations that Nations, and as we are taught His ways and walk in His paths, will be led by God to,

“beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks”,

and that,

“nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more”.

  There is the clear understanding that if people are to respect one another, be it on an individual level or on a national level, and if people are to uphold basis universal Human rights in their relationship with each other, be it on an individual level or on a national level, then this can only take place upon the foundation of the leadership of God over the person and the Nation.

We read of Moses acknowledging this at the very beginning of the Exodus journey, and saying, “You, Lord, will be King (of the People of Israel) forever and ever.”  (Exodus 15: 18) 

  God laid claim to being the absolute and Almighty authority over the People of Israel, based upon four aspects of His character and, therefore, four aspects of His relationship with them.

  God claimed authority over the People of Israel as the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

  We read in the Book of Job,

“God spoke to job,

‘Who are you to question my wisdom with your ignorant, empty words?  Stand up like a man and answer the questions I ask you.  Were you there when I made the World?  If you know so much, tell me about it.”  (Job 38: 2 to 4) 

  The author of Psalm 24 writes,

“The World and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the Earth and all who live on it are His.”  (Psalm 24: 1) 

  But, this is not a claim by God for authority, based upon His power and His ability to exert control over the life and livelihoods of people, as is the practice of all authoritarian leaders, of the past as well as the present.  And we need look no further than the claim for authority by the current leaders of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea; and, potentially of Donald Trump, who make their claim for leadership based upon their very ability to exert power and control over the making of decisions that affect the lives and livelihoods of the peoples of their Nations. 

  But, in direct contrast, God makes His claim based upon His desire for close fellowship with those whom He created. 

  At the very beginning of the Earth, it was God who came to the Garden of Eden in the cool of the evening to walk with and to talk with Adam and Eve.  (Genesis 3: 8) 

  Moses writes of God saying to the People of Israel,

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.”  (Leviticus 26: 12) 

  And it is this understanding that underlies the second aspect of God, for God claims authority over those whom He has called to be his People. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews writes,

“It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which

God had promised to give him.”  (Hebrews 11: 8, Joshua 24: 34) 

  The same God who called Abraham to obey Him, was the same God who called the People of Israel to obey him, so that God could be their God and to fellowship with them.

  The third aspect of God’s claim for authority rests on His willingness to forgive sins, and to cure them of their sinful lives.

  Towards the end of his life, Joshua called the People of God together, and reminded them to “honour the LORD and (to) serve him sincerely and faithfully” and to rid themselves of anything in their lives that would stop them from doing so.  For only in living their lives in service to God will God forgive their sins.  He warned them that if they would ever “leave the LORD to serve other gods”, then “He will not forgive their sins for God tolerates no rivals” for His affection for them.  (Joshua 24: 14 to 20) 

  The author of Psalm 24 writes on the same theme,

“Who has the right to go up the LORD’s hill?  Who may enter His holy Temple?  Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises.  The LORD will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent.”  (Psalm 24: 3 to 5) 

  The fourth aspect of God’s claim for authority, is His promise to be the People’s carer. 

  David’s Psalm based upon his image of God as ‘the good shepherd’ reminds of us God’s ample and all-sufficient provision for us as our carer,

“I have everything I need.”  (Psalm 23: 1a) 

Joshua reminded the People of Israel of the care which God showed to them during their Exodus journey,

“He kept us safe wherever we went among all the Nations through which we passed.”  (Joshua 24: 17b)  ,

and of the blessings from God that they now enjoyed in the Land of Canaan, they were

eating grapes from vines that they did not plant, and olives from trees that they did not plant.  (Joshua 24: 13b) 

  Thus, the People of Israel were without excuse for their drifting away from such close fellowship with God, and of rejecting God’s many attempts to remind them of the authority

that He exerted over them, that was obvious to them from just a simple glance of their History and Scripture.

  God makes the same claim upon Humanity today based upon these identical 4 aspects of His nature and of His relationship with us.  But something far greater in God’s dealings with Humanity was occurring.  God was, in Christ, reconciling the World to Himself.  (2 Corinthians 5: 19) 

 “I saw what looked like a Human being .. (who) was given authority, honour, and royal power, so that the people of all Nations, races, and languages would serve him.  Daniel 7: 13 & 14 

  The reign of God’s chosen King was Foretold.

  We have the author of Psalm 132 recalling the words of God, saying,

“I will make one of David’s descendants a great King; here, I will preserve the rule of my chosen King.”  Psalm 132: 17 

  Daniel, in a vision, writes,

“I saw what looked like a Human being .. (who) was given authority, honour, and royal power, so that the people of all Nations, races, and languages would serve him.  (Daniel 7: 13 & 14) 

  Such writings in the Old Testament foretell of God working in a marvellous way in the future through a man who would be God’s chosen and anointed King of the Earth.

  The Gospel writers record for us that Jesus was faithful to God’s calling for him to be God’s chosen and anointed King.  Mark records for us the poignant words of Jesus as he prayed to God in the Garden of Gethsemane,

“Yet not what I want, but what you want.”  (Mark 14: 36b) 

  And John records the confident and clear words of Jesus in his response the questioning of Pilate,

“My Kingdom does not belong to the World; .. I was born and came into the World for this one purpose, to speak about the truth.”  (John 18: 36 & 37) 

  And we have the later words of the Apostle John,

“Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first to be raised from death and who is also the Ruler of the kings of the World.”  (Revelation 1: 5) 

  These affirm for us that God’s plan to reconcile Humanity to Himself has been fulfilled.  But Christ’s work of redeeming Humanity is ongoing, for Christ continues to call all people to respond to his call to respond to the grace and mercy of God.  And Christ continues to work in the lives of those who have responded to his call to repent and to return to God.

  There is a critical question for each of us,

‘How have we responded to the call of God to accept the reign of Jesus Christ in our lives?’

  Have we allowed Christ to access every part of our lives?  Have we allowed Christ to look into every crack and crevice of our heart and our mind and our soul, so that he can work in our lives and rid our lives of everything that is a rival to God, everything that hinders us from giving honour to the LORD and that prevents us from serving him sincerely and faithfully.

  Christ’s work of providing the means for redeeming the world for God is fulfilled, but, as with the People of God in the time of Joshua, there is the ongoing wok of Christ to keep us “pure in act and in thought”, such that we can confidently “come into the very presence of God”.  (Psalm 24: 4a & 6b) 

  I came across this poem during my reading this week:

“By grace now I’m saved, Hallelujah!

Praise God, and through faith it’s been done;

naught of myself, but believing

in the finished work of His Son.”

Mercy Gladwin

(from Whom will you trust? in Our Daily Bread  13 November 2008)

  May we allow Christ to work in our lives such that we, too, are declared innocent in the eyes of God and have the honour of enjoying the close fellowship with God that He has desired from His Creation from the beginning of Time until Time after Time.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn: ‘Jesus shall reign where’er the Sun’ 

(TiS207  AHB136  MHB272)

Isaac Watts

Offering

Offering Prayer    

With our hearts lifted high, we offer you these gifts as a token of our thanks and praise for your mercy and grace at work in our lives.  We ask for your guidance on their use so that your offer of salvation and reconciliation is made known to the World, near and far.  This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

©2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net – https://laughingbird.net/index.php/occasion/b42/2024-11-01/

Prayers for Others

Eternal Father, we pray for your Church, of which your Son is King.

We pray that you will draw us together and unite us in the love of Christ, that we may proclaim with one voice your justice and righteousness in a broken World.

Eternal Father, we pray for your World, of which your Son is King.

We pray for peace, reconciliation and healing in the places of war, hatred and oppression.  We pray that the Nations of this World may be united and subject to the rule of Christ the King, through whom and for whom all things were created.

Eternal Father, we pray for our communities of which your Son is King.

We pray for the communities of our friends and families, our Church and our places of work and study.  Help us to know the people around us to be our sisters and brothers in Christ, and to serve them as Christ the King would serve them.

Eternal Father, we pray for all those who suffer or are in pain, those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, among whom your Son is King.

We pray that they will know the presence of the Son of Man alongside them and the power of Christ the King within them bringing peace and healing according to their needs.

Eternal Father, we give thanks to you for all that you do in our lives.

We ask that you use us to make a difference in people’s lives.  Help us to walk in this World as citizens of your Kingdom of Light where Christ reigns as King in glory for ever and ever.  For we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and King. 

(Katharine Smith  The Burning Word  https://www.katharinesmith.org.uk/common-worship-lectionary/year-c-sundays-before-advent/intercessions-for-christ-the-king-year-c-1/)

(Rev’d Steve Foster  (singingvicar@gmail.com) – Capellania Anglicana de La Costa Blanca – https://costablanca-anglicanchaplaincy.org/prayers-and-intercessions/)

Other Prayers (From a variety of sources, but not used in the service in the church)

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may become people of truth through listening to your Word and giving witness to it in our decisions and actions.

We pray for the grace of detachment, that we may humbly surrender our plans and goals to you and follow wherever you lead us.

We pray for a transformation of our attitudes, that we may follow Christ in using our power and abilities to wash the feet of others, to speak up for those who are oppressed, and help carry the burdens of those who are suffering.

We pray for all believers, that we may come to a deep realization that Christ holds our past, walks with us each day, and has a vision for tomorrow filled with compassion and hope

We pray for all whose commitment to the truth brings them into conflict with the social, governmental, and religious authorities, that they may learn from and be strengthened by Christ, the suffering servant of truth.

We pray for leaders of Government and Judges, that they may recognize that their authority comes from you and that it is intended for the service of the Human community.

We pray for all who bear the marks of suffering, persecution, or famine, that the World community may recognize their dignity and work to alleviate their pain.

We pray for all who are seekers after the Truth, that the Holy Spirit will lead them to the source of all truth and guide them to communities of faith where they and their questions are welcomed.

We pray for families, that members may speak the truth in love to one another and deepen their support for one another along life’s journey.

We pray for a spirit of gratitude, that we may recognize all our skills, opportunities, and freedoms as gifts from you and place them at your service and to one another.

We pray for all who are entrapped by poverty, that you will lead them to freedom and open the hearts of many to assist and encourage them.

We pray for all who are rebuilding their lives, that you will restore the sick to health, guide the unemployed to new opportunities, provide the needed resources to those recovering from natural disasters, and comfort those who are grieving.

We pray for the safety of all travellers, that you will protect all who are travelling this week and help them to have renewing visits with family and friends.

We pray that you will guide World leaders and each of us in caring for the Earth and give us the courage to follow through on difficult choices to preserve our common home.

(Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/ChristKingB112424/ideas_other.html)

Almighty god, we pray for the peoples of East Timor (Timor Leste), Indonesia, and The Philippines.

We are thankful for the vital witness of Churches in this region, for the diversity of ethnicities, cultures and religious beliefs, and especially those in Indonesia who have built bridges between them, for those who have resisted bravely and worked for Human rights, justice, peace and reconciliation, especially the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, and for those who protest exploitative mining, deforestation and other environmental damage.

We pray for Governments in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste, that they will eradicate corruption, establish justice and peace, and work effectively for the wellbeing of all their people, for victims of violence, torture, drug and Human trafficking, and Human rights violations, that those responsible might be held accountable, for all those affected by earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters, and for the rebuilding of communities afterwards, and for ecumenical and interfaith cooperation to bring justice, peace and sustainability to these lands.

Prayers

L: We begin our worship in the name of God the Father
C: who has chosen us to be the channels of blessings;
L: in the name of the Son,
C: who became one like us;
L: in the name of the Holy Spirit,
C: who has given us wisdom and strength.
L: Creator of the Cosmos, of eternity and time:
C: Be with us in this time.
L: Saviour of the world, healer of the nations:
C: Be with us in this place.
L: Breath of all that lives, of people near and far:
C: Be with us in our hearts.
L: Creator-Redeemer-Sustainer, God of here and now:
C: Stir within our lives.  Amen.

(from WCC AGAPE meeting, closing prayer, 2012, Jakarta/Indonesia)

Lord, make us realize that our Christianity is like a rice field: when it is newly planted the paddies are prominent, but as the plants take root and grow taller, these divided paddies gradually vanish, and soon there appears only one vast continuous field.  So give us roots that love, and help us grow in Christian fellowship and service, that your will be done in our lives, through our Saviour, your Son, Jesus Christ.

(From the Philippines. A Procession of Prayers: Meditations and Prayers from around the World, comp. John Carden, WCC and Cassell, London, UK, 1998, p. 174.)

Prayer in remembrance of the victims of the 2004 tsunami

Stay with us, Lord, in the devastating moment
when waters roll above our heads,
smashing trees, destroying houses,
flooding rice fields, swallowing cattle herds,
chasing people running to save their lives.

Stay with us, Lord, in the dark moments,
open our eyes that we may recognize you as the risen One,
who has defeated death and its sting;
who has come by water and blood;
who has been baptized with water by John;
who has changed water into wine;
who has calmed the stormy sea;
who has given living water;
who wipes away our tears.

Stay with us, Lord, in the uncertain moments.
With your Holy Spirit raise us from our hopelessness,
wipe away our disbelief and strengthen our faith,
so that our hearts will burn to proclaim your resurrection,
the water of life springing forth and bringing hope.

© 2005 Ester Pudjo Widiasih, Jakarta Theological Seminary, Jakarta, Indonesia.

(https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/prayer-cycle/east-timor-timor-leste-indonesia-philippines)

Almighty God, we thank you for Western Australia’s Scripture Union Mentors who dedicate their time to supporting students in schools each week.  Grant them wisdom and compassion as they guide young hearts, helping them to grow in faith and navigate life’s challenges.

We pray for the messages preached at NSW’s spring camps to continue to transform the lives of attendees long after camp, drawing them closer to a love for and relationship with you, their Creator.

We pray for our new partnerships with Churches and Organisations to support chaplaincy and Special Religious Education / Religious Instruction.  We thank you God for our partners that bless us financially, through prayer and resources.

We give you thanks God for the South Australia Family Mission teams preparing and planning for summer missions, that you will guide and lead these teams as they seek to foster ways to engage and create opportunities to boldly share and show Jesus.

We pray for the planning of Northern Territories’ youth and children’s ministry training for 2025.  May the organisers prepare a program that will equip and inspire leaders to nurture the faith of the next generation to your glory.

We pray that Central North QLD’s upcoming summer camps will bless all participants with a time to learn and reflect on the Good News of Jesus, make new friendships and enjoy Christian community.

We pray that many people will hear and respond to the Gospel message at NT’s Community Carols in the Waterpark, hosted by local churches and with SU Australia providing the children’s program.

(SU%20Prayer-Guide-October%20to%20December%202024.pdf)

Almighty god, we pray for the United Bible Society (UBS) and its mission partners as they develop a Global Literacy Strategy tailored to the needs of each country they serve.  We pray for wisdom, clarity, and effectiveness in this strategy and its successful implementation in the years ahead.  We also lift up the UBS Global Mission Team in prayer for your guidance during their discussions and planning.

We thank you God for the “Jesus. All About Life” evangelism outreach run by African Evangelistic Enterprise (AEE) Rwanda.  We praise you that during their 2024 Easter campaign, more than 16,000 people came to Christ and hundreds of thousands have been reached with the Gospel message.  We pray for all Rwandans’ spiritual growth in Christ, especially those who carry scars from the genocide, that this outreach continues to bring more souls into God’s Kingdom.

We pray for Koorong, for continual improvement and progress in serving Australians as a leading Christian bookstore.  We pray for your wisdom and guidance as Koorong navigates technological, business, and market challenges, that you would provide insight into your plans for Koorong, both as a business and in serving its customers, helping it thrive and impact lives for your glory.

We pray for the success of the “Open My Eyes” literacy project in the Solomon Islands, that it will continue to empower communities through Bible-based literacy learning.  We pray for the participants to grow in confidence as they learn to read and engage with Scripture in their mother tongue.  We lift up the volunteer teachers and literacy facilitators and pray for a lasting spiritual and educational transformation.

We pray for the Centre for Public Christianity’s Life and Faith podcast in Australia, that it continues to engage listeners with thoughtful discussions on the relevance of the Christian faith in today’s world.  We pray for the hosts and guests to be filled with your wisdom and insight and for this podcast to reach more listeners, inspiring their faith through these meaningful conversations.

We praise you God for the lives changed through the “Jesus. All About Life” outreach in Rwanda.  Michael* testifies, “I am grateful to God for having provided this opportunity for me to attend this evangelism outreach. I have been involved in different kind of sins. But now I want to testify that I am going back from the outreach totally transformed and believe that I will keep on walking in the new Christian lifestyle as long as I will live.”

(Bible%20Society%20November%202024%20Prayer%20Letter.pdf)

Almighty God we pray for peace and justice within the country of Chad, which tribal issues and violence often disturb this.  We pray for the Sudanese refugees that have crossed the Chadian border and have lost all they have: parents, children, homes and work.

We pray for the health of The Leprosy Mission Chad team, their partners, and their families, who often suffer from malaria and typhoid, as well as other health issues.

We pray for the coordination team of the National Leprosy Control Programme in Shad, who often have difficulty running the programme in an effective way.  We pray for the Chadian health staff, who are often discouraged and demotivated in their role, that they may develop new strength for their work with people with health problems and that persons affected by leprosy will receive the attention they need.

We pray for the many of their patients who suffer from leprosy reaction during or after their treatment, which causes both pain and disability, for an early detection of reaction and speedy and full recovery as far as this is possible.

In a society with big differences between the rich and the poor, many persons with disability are leading a difficult life.  We pray for your blessings on the efforts of the TLM Chad team to find solutions and return people to fullness of life.

We thank you for the TLM countries that support Chad (the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium) and the TLM International Office team, all of whom are faithfully encouraging the team in Chad.

We pray for good health and guidance for Bunmi Oluloto, the Country Leader in Chad, for Geeske Zijp – Programme Manager, for Marc Djibrine Victor – Administration and Finance Officer, for Djibrine Arabi – Human Resource Officer, for Abdel Djelil Hassane – Driver, and for Hissein Dagache – Chairman of the TLM-Support Committee.

(The%20Leprosy%20Mission%20Prayer%20Guide%202024.pdf)

Almighty God, we pray for people and resources to be used to preach the Gospel to the unreached in Western Cham in Southeast Asia, Population: 325,400*, Language: Western Cham, and Religion: Islam.

We pray for FEBC’s programs helping to reduce domestic violence against women in countries in southern Asia where this issue is common.

We praise you God for the nearly 1.7 million who watched the FEBC Kyrgyzstan Partner’s web streaming last year and the more than 82,000 people who subscribed to its Instagram. We pray for receptive hearts.

We pray for the FEBC Kyrgyzstan Partner who received nearly 25,000 listener responses via WhatsApp, email, and phone, for our team to engage with listeners wisely.

We pray for those living in Mongolia who are facing economic challenges due to the war in Ukraine, for God’s provision for the poor to stay warm in the harsh winter.

We give you thanks God for a new studio in Kazakhstan, which will be used to record programs and for rental income.  We pray that the team is successful in seeking local income.

We praise you God for the number of FEBC Kazakhstan’s Facebook views to reach close to 1.6 million in 2023, with many reacting to testimonies  We pray for more Kazak believers to share their testimonies.

(FEBC Praise-Prayer-Dec-Oct-24-digital-FINAL.pdf)

Lord God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your lovingkindness.  To your glory we pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the hymn

‘Jesus is Lord’ 

Scripture in Song volume 2 number 360

David Mansell

Benediction 

(from Quas Primas paragraph 33 – https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius11/p11prima.htm) 

  May Christ reign in our minds.  May Christ reign in our wills.  May Christ reign in our hearts.  May Christ reign in our bodies.  May God’s Will be done, and may God’s Kingdom come.

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

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

‘May the grace of Christ our Saviour’

(TiS777)

[The words are printed below]

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