Service for Sunday 27th February 2022, conducted by Mr Ian Kerr

Servicing the Bald Hills and nearby Communities

Service for Sunday 27th February 2022, conducted by Mr Ian Kerr

CALL TO WORSHIP: –

Our Lord and Saviour calls us to journey with Him.

We are called to travel on the high roads and travel through the deep valleys.

We remember the significant times and places experienced throughout our lives.

We remember the many people who have gone before us, who are the pillars of our faith.

We thank God for them.

We remember Jesus who is our greatest example, whose death on the cross and his resurrection makes it possible for us to know God’s everlasting love.

God calls us today to travel with Him to new places to experience the richest moments of life in the ordinariness of every day.

The invitation is for us to come together to worship Him today.

So, we pray

PRAYER OF PRAISE

God, thank you that, as we journey with you

You are transforming us.

Thank you for the mountain top experiences,

the difficult challenges  

as well as the everyday events.

We ask to know your presence and your power

as we live each day for you.

Amen.

Let us sing together as the pilgrims to Jerusalem sang with joy in their hearts so long ago.

SONG SIS 184 ‘Jehovah Jireh my provider’ 

SONG: ‘GOD IS FOR ME’  

From Cry Hosanna collection – Swedish melody copyright unknown

God is for me though I am little.

God is for me when I am dumb.

God is for me if I’m lazy,

or mischievous or glad or glum.

Think of it.  Can you imagine?

Think of it.  God is for me!

Think of it.  Can you imagine?

God loves even you and me!

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AT BALD HILLS STATE SCHOOL:

ALL FOR GOOD

Once again, I have the privilege and opportunity to take Religious Instruction Classes at Bald Hills State School. (“the school across the road”  my “Sunday School” classes of 80 children.)

This Bible narrative about Jesus blessing the children inspires me. (Mark 10:13-16)

13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them.  But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.

14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples.  He said to them, “Let the children come to me.  Don’t stop them!  For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.

I will be taking 4 Year 2 classes each week on Wednesdays.  I am warmly welcomed and enjoy the time I spend in the classroom.  The children come from a variety of backgrounds, church families, families of other faiths, families with little or no faith and no experience of church at all.

Volunteers from Bald Hills Presbyterian, Bracken Ridge Baptist, Bridgeman Downs Baptist, and a couple of others and Bald Hills Uniting agree to teach from an agreed approved curriculum,  Godspace.  

Geoffrey has attended our meetings, and our congregation contributes about $300.00 to cover the cost of the teachers’ manual and children’s activity books, made free of charge to the children.  Thank you for your generosity.

My half hour lessons start off with some chit chat about school life, singing, a Bible story and maybe another interesting everyday story, followed by a prayer time and finish off with workbook activities.

I carry my bags of sundry items, my big black book, my children’s Bible and sometimes my Dad’s Bible, and of course my baby guitar – there are no shortage of children who wish to help carry my load.

Let’s sing again.  A favourite  –  the chorus says it all  –  God really does love us.

OLD BLACK CROW     Colin Buchanan

Words and music Colin Buchanan.  Used by permission.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Let us come before the Throne of Grace as we make our confession before God.

Father, we confess that we are always desperate
for mountaintop experiences.
We want our faith to be fuelled by awe and excitement.

We admit that our faith becomes jaded
when life is difficult or just mundane.
We want to feel spiritually uplifted all the time.

Forgive us, Father, for failing to keep the faith
when we descend from the mountain.
Forgive us for failing you when everyday life returns.

We recommit ourselves to walking with you
every inch of the way, every moment of the day,
whether it be fair or foul,
knowing that you will be faithful to us
even when we lack faith in you.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

 God is patient and forgiving,

He lovingly bears with us and in His grace He grants us encouragement which we can hold like a divine spark safe within cupped hands to light the way in darker times.

We are assured that we are ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven,

At peace with God and each other.

Amen.

PASSING THE PEACE  

                      So we can confidently say to each other:

                                    The peace of the Lord be with you,

                                    And respond joyfully:

                                    And also with you.

SONG  2  TIS 52 ‘Let us sing to the God of Salvation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU3yTLEX6LQ

1 Let us sing to the God of salvation,
let us sing to the Lord our rock;
let us come to his house with thanksgiving,
let us come before the Lord and sing!


Praise our maker, praise our saviour,          
praise the Lord our everlasting King:
every throne must bow before him
God is Lord of everything!

2 In his hand are the Earth’s deepest places,
and the strength of the hills is his;
all the sea is the Lord’s, for he made it
by his hand the solid rock was formed.

Praise our maker, praise our saviour,
praise the Lord our everlasting King:
every throne must bow before him
God is Lord of everything!

3 Let us worship the Lord our maker,
let us kneel to the Lord our God;
for we all are the sheep of his pasture
he will guide us by his powerful hand.


Praise our maker, praise our saviour,
praise the Lord our everlasting King:
every throne must bow before him
God is Lord of everything!

4 Let today be the time when you hear him!
May our hearts not be hard or cold,
lest we stray from the Lord in rebellion
as his people did in time of old.


Praise our maker, praise our saviour,
praise the Lord our everlasting King:
every throne must bow before him
God is Lord of everything!

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

As we prepare to hear the Bible readings today, let us pray together:

Holy one,

Open our hearts and minds

By the power of your Holy Spirit

That, as the Scriptures are read and proclaimed,

We may hear your Word with joy. 

BIBLE READINGS              

Exodus 34:29–35

When Moses went down from Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments, his face was shining because he had been speaking with the Lord; but he did not know it.  Aaron and all the people looked at Moses and saw that his face was shining, and they were afraid to go near him.  But Moses called them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the community went to him, and Moses spoke with them.

After that, all the people of Israel gathered around him, and Moses gave them all the laws that the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai.  When Moses had finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil.

 Whenever Moses went into the Tent of the Lord’s presence to speak to the Lord, he would take the veil off.  When he came out, he would tell the people of Israel everything that he had been commanded to say, and they would see that his face was shining.  Then he would put the veil back on until the next time he went to speak with the Lord.

Reader: Lord, may your Word live in us.

All: And bear much fruit to your glory

Luke 9:28-36

About a week after he had said these things, Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him and went up a hill to pray.  While he was praying, his face changed its appearance, and his clothes became dazzling white.

                Suddenly two men were there talking with him.  They were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in heavenly glory and talked with Jesus about the way in which he would soon fulfill God’s purpose by dying in Jerusalem.  Peter and his companions were sound asleep, but they woke up and saw Jesus’ glory and the two men who were standing with him.  As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, how good it is that we are here!  We will make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  (He did not really know what he was saying.)

While he was still speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them with its shadow; and the disciples were afraid as the cloud came over them.  A voice said from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen—listen to him!”

When the voice stopped, there was Jesus all alone.  The disciples kept quiet about all this and told no one at that time anything they had seen.

Reader: We have been drawn to Christ’s light,

And the way of the Gospel is open before us.

All: We journey together and learn to trust Christ.

We grow to believe in Christ and love Him

With all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

MESSAGE 

Taking the amazing encouragement of the mountain top experiences into the everyday as we go about our daily lives.  And may others see God’s glory reflected.

We all like to look out – and remember times we scanned the horizon from a vantage point to view the ocean and beaches stretching into the distance, or maybe a clifftop looking down at deep valleys.

There is a sense of wonder and awe which goes deep and stirs the soul.

Our first nations people of our land have declared many of the high places to be sacred.

Climbing Uluru is no longer an option and, out of respect for their law and culture, we do not climb the summit of Mt Warning. 

Here are a few places that Liz and I have been.  We have looked out from Western cliffs which look out over the Wollemi National Park and the Blue mountains.

At Hassan’s Walls Lookout near Lithgow there is a vertical drop to the valley below. (Thank God for the railing that prevents me going too far out.)

Bulli Pass Sublime Point Lookout offers 180-degree views over the sea, the rainforest and the many beaches that span the coastline towards Wollongong.

Once, a caged lift ride to the top of Brisbane City Hall offered views that stretched for miles. (That was ages ago – so there was no high rises to block the view.)

A climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a must do for many.  (I haven’t, but Liz has made the climb.)

Mt Kosciuszko slow trek (an interesting journey in itself) to the top and when the summit is reached it hardly seems like the top of Australia – Once tourists could drive almost to the top.  There is a stone cairn at the top announcing that here is the spot, but there still is an urge to climb that, to be at the very top, to have that sense of elation.

Perhaps Mt Coolum, at 197m, grants the intrepid climber a view over the coast.  And you can look down on the jets taking off and landing at Maroochydore Airport.  The route to the top is via the Eastern side but once the summit could be reached via the western side.  But not a good idea when our family struggled to the top in the dark early hours to watch the sunrise on the first of January in the year 2000  (We made it. )

The explorer Matthew Flinders climbed through the bush to the top of Mt Beerburrum, at 278m, to survey the whole of Moreton Bay.  It is paved today and at the top is a forestry bush fire lookout.  Also in the Glasshouse Mts group stands Mt Beerwah, at 556m.  Andy, a friend and experienced climber, guided Liz and I to the top.  The views were spectacular views and the sense of achievement was gratifying.

Are there places that you have looked out from that inspired awe?

These are not everyday experiences, but are held fast in our memories and continue to encourage us as we engage with the World each day.

But as we view the World from these vantage points, we start to lose touch with the everyday.

View the Earth from 13,000m in a Boeing Dreamliner or Airbus and our World  looks smaller and life on Earth becomes remote.

A view of the Earth from a space capsule at 2000km or from further away is reported as a beauty beyond real description, but where is our connection with reality?  We form the question, “Are there really billions of people living down there?”.

What goes up must come down.  At some time, we come down from the heights back into our everyday lives.

We must consider, powerful as they are, the purpose of our awesome experiences.

Do we consider them an encouragement to get us through the ordinariness of our daily lives, or do we just crave the next experience?  Can we get in touch with a more meaningful life through those experiences?

We often relate the great times in our lives as ‘mountain top experiences’, and the day-to-day difficult times as ‘travelling through the dark valleys’ (Psalm 23).  This imagery is powerful.

So ……… great inspiring times = mountain tops

And………Difficulties and hard times = deep valleys

Sometimes it is difficult to verbalise how deeply these experiences affect us.

 We may find in our great time experiences that it’s not the awesomeness but the encouragement we need for the long stretches of the everyday.

In our first reading from Exodus, Moses returns down the mountain, Mt Sinai, with the second pair of stone tablets.  He has been chiselling away recording the important things that God has been speaking to him and committing to memory the finer details of what God requires.  Moses was unaware that his face was aglow from being in the presence of God, but, when the people saw him, they were afraid.

The people gathered round him and listened.  I wonder how much the people who gathered round picked up that reflected glory of the Lord, and, in turn, that glory shining from their faces.  I also wonder how much of those times were an encouragement and had an impact on the everyday struggles, for they still had a long way to go.

When we read the Luke account of the Transfiguration my mind goes into overdrive.

Jesus takes his disciples up the mountain (Mt Tabor, roughly the same height as Beerwah, domed and no doubt with a well worn path to the top) to pray, and what happened was totally unexpected.  His selected disciples could not comprehend the experience.  Jesus’ appearance changing and glowing, Jesus joined by two others, named Moses and Elijah, Peter babbling out an inappropriate response, a voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen—listen to him!” and, then, after it all, they told no one of the things they had seen.

To those three disciples, Jesus’ authority was established, and the question Jesus asks “But who do you say that I am?” can be answered.  “You are God’s Son,  You are the Christ.”

This mountain top experience is related by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, in the parallel Gospels.  At the time, those who were there with Jesus told no one of the things they had seen, but someone, after the event, contemplating the whole time spent with Jesus, did.

But John, the only writer of a Gospel who was actually present, did not include this incident in his Gospel.  John’s reasons for writing his Gospel are clearly stated:

John 20:30

30 In his disciples’ presence Jesus performed many other miracles which are not written down in this book.  31 But these have been written in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through your faith in him you may have life.

John 21:24-25

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down.  We know that his testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John, no doubt encouraged by the Transfiguration experience, carefully chose miracles, events, teaching and parables that would establish Jesus as God’s Son, the Christ, who has come among us.

(The seven miracle stories recorded in John are, first, the turning of water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana; second, the healing of a nobleman’s son who was at the point of death; third, the healing of a man at the sheep-gate pool; fourth, the walking on water; fifth, the feeding of five thousand; sixth, the healing of the man born blind; and seventh, the raising of Lazarus; as well as Jesus’ death and glorious resurrection)

John writes to provokefaith in Jesus, resulting in provoking a faith in eternal life. “That you may believe” could also be translated “that you may continue to believe.”  John is likely writing both to call unbelievers to faith in Jesus and to provide confidence for those believers who are struggling in their faith.

So, John chose not to include the Transfiguration. 

John did not record this – not part of his plan to relate all that might cause us to believe “I have written….” Maybe the highs don’t lead to faith.

The Gospel of John is a selective, symbolic, eyewitness account of the person and ministry of Jesus, written so that you may believe in Him as the Christ, the Son of God, and thus have life in His name.

Maybe it is the encouragement we receive from our highs,

The hearing of a life changing message,

The foundational upbringing of our family within a faith community,

The faithful support of a good friend,

Guidance by a wise mentor,

The example of a life well lived,

Or …. Help given in times of trouble.

Can times like these be the “aha!” moments of faith building, times which still stand out today, that continue to shine like a lighthouse giving encouragement in difficult times.

Or can we in turn be the lighthouse, shining for others in their times of difficulty, reflecting the glory of Graham Kendrick’s song “Shine, Jesus, Shine”

As we gaze on your Kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.

May we stand in the presence of God.

May our lives stand out reflecting the glory of God. 

May our faces shine like Moses, with joy, knowing the ever-present Holy Spirit is with us always.

Amen.

May God makes the changes in us to be his vessels in the World of today. 

Jeremiah 18:1-4

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

“Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

SONG  3    SIS 482 (Source 68) ‘Change my heart O God’

OFFERTORYOur freewill offering will now be received.

DEDICATION PRAYER

  We say together:

Lord and giver of every good thing,

We bring to you our lives and gifts for your Kingdom,

All for transformation through your grace and love

Made known in Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

O Lord our God, we come to share with you our cares and concerns for others.

We come to you as children to a loving father, very much aware of our human frailty and our dependence upon you and your infinite resources.

We are reminded that, when we pray, you are not only ready to hear our prayers,

but it gives you joy when we draw near, to share our concerns,

and you are more willing to respond than we are to receive.

Our hearts go out to those who are suffering overseas and in our own country.

In recent weeks, our hearts had been weighed down by a sense of dread, as we continued to hear news of imminent conflict in Ukraine, and now we are dismayed that what we feared has come to pass.

We pray for the people of that country, that innocent civilians might be kept safe. May their fears be quelled, and grant them hope for a peaceful outcome.

We pray too for wisdom for the leaders of the nations, that they might be able to bring an end to the aggression.

We are aware of the plight of the displaced people of Afghanistan, who have been uprooted from their homes by two decades of internal conflict, many living in parks and open areas, and many living as refugees in one of the surrounding nations.

We pray for their wellbeing, and for the delivery of adequate shelter, clothing, reliable sources of water and food.

 We pray too, for the people of Tonga.

We remember witnessing the scenes of desolation that resulted from the huge volcanic eruption that sent a tsunami wave across the islands, and deposited a layer of ash over much of the country.

We are grateful for the international response to the call for aid.

We pray for the communities of that nation, that they might have the resilience to face the long task ahead, to rebuild their homes, and their businesses, and clear their land to replant their crops.

 As we all become more conscious of the results of climate change, we ask that your Spirit will endow the leaders of the nations of the World with wisdom and the courage to make the difficult decisions that are needed to provide for the future of our planet, especially for the people in poorer countries who are least able to deal with the effects of the changes in climate and the rising level of the oceans.

We are concerned about people who are suffering in our own country.

Last night we witnessed on our TV screens the scenes of devastation caused by the heavy downpours in south east Queensland over the last couple of days.

We have been saddened by the distress of those whose homes and businesses have been inundated, and this morning we would pray for them, that they will be comforted, and that they will be given the inner strength to get through this time.

We pray too, for the SES volunteers who put their lives at risk to help those in trouble, and who sometimes pay the ultimate price, as did the lady who drowned when the vehicle she was in was swept off the road.  We pray for her grieving family and colleagues, that you will grant them comfort.

We are grateful that the wave of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 appears to have passed and that, once again, we are able to worship together and move about more freely, but we are aware that the virus seriously affects some people, especially the elderly, and for some, it results in serious illness and death.

We pray for those who are still trying to cope with the disease and its aftereffects, and for those who have lost loved ones.

We pray that your Spirit might give them peace and comfort.

As our health officers and our politicians continue having to make hard decisions, balancing health and welfare considerations with economic considerations, we pray that they might be guided by your Spirit.

We are aware that there are those in our own community of Bald Hills, who are facing difficult times, whether it is because of issues such as mental stress, financial stress, unemployment, illness or loss.

We pray for those who are struggling, that your Spirit might speak to them in their need, to inspire, quell anxiety, and give hope.

We pray for Kylie in her role as chaplain at the Bald Hills State School, that you will grant her the resources she needs to deal with the needs of students and staff at the school.

May she be encouraged and supported in her task of caring for the needy and troubled children at the School, and of ministering to their families.

We pray for the Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School, that your Holy Spirit will reveal the reality of your love to the children who attend the classes. 

We thank you for the skills of those such as Ian, who lead the classes, that through their words and actions they might sow the seeds of the Gospel in the hearts and minds of the children. 

We are blessed that Geoffrey, Ian and Kerry are available to provide lay ministry for our congregation, and we pray that you will continue to provide them with the inspiration that they need.

We pray, too, for our congregation as we face the challenges of discerning how best we can provide effective witness to you in our community. 

Open our minds to all the possibilities, and grant us the ability to envision a future in which we live out your plans for our congregation.

We are aware that there are those in our congregation who have their struggles, dealing with grief, illness, or disabilities. 

We pray that they might experience your comfort, your healing, your companionship, and your encouragement on their journey, and receive from you what is necessary to meet their deepest needs.

We pray too for those who are unable to join with us in person this morning.  May your Spirit assure them of our continuing concern for their well-being.

As this time of worship concludes, may we go out to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.

We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray:

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, 
Hallowed be your name, 
Your kingdom come, 
Your will be done on Earth as in Heaven. 
 

Give us this day our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins,  
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Save us in the time of trial 
 

And deliver us from evil. 
For the Kingdom, 
the power and the glory are yours,  
now and for ever. 
Amen.
 

SONG 4         TIS 675 (source 335) ‘Lord the light of your love is shining’,

BENEDICTION        

I remind you of the retiring offering for contributions to an emergency appeal launched by Act for Peace for the people of Tonga to assist with the recovery of communities following the devastation caused by the recent volcanic eruption and tsunami.  There is a plate at the entrance and a plate at the exit on the way to morning tea.

We say together:

May the love of God enfold us

May the wisdom of Christ enlighten us

May the fire of the Spirit inflame us

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

Rest upon us and abide with us

Now and evermore.

Amen

SENDING OUT SONG 5    TIS 412 ‘God sends us His Spirit’

 

Jehovah Jireh my provider SIS 184