Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(from 1 John 1: 5b to 2: 2) 

God is light, and there is no darkness at all in Him.

If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are lying both in our words and in our actions.

But if we live in the light, just as He is in the light,

Then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from every sin.

If we say that we have no sin,

We deceive ourselves, and there is no truth in us.

But if we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise and do what is right:

He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.

If we say that we have not sinned,

We make a liar out of God, and His word is not in us.

But if anyone does sin,

We have someone who pleads with the Father on our behalf, Jesus Christ, the righteous one.

And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven,

And not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.

Comment on 1 John 1

In this, the first of his Letters, the Apostle John is, in part, seeking to reveal the fallacies of the false teachings that were prevalent in various of the early Churches in Asia and Europe at the time of his writing.  John clarifies the Good News which Jesus taught and of which he was an eye-witness, that:

God’s nature is one of light, not darkness, that God alone is righteous, that God’s word is trustworthy and gives us hope.

We, on the other hand, are the liars, the wrongdoers; that our nature is characterised by what is impure.

God seeks for us to acknowledge the sinfulness of our very nature, and the need to confess before Him our failure to live the life that He seeks for Humanity to follow.

That God has promised to listen with mercy to all who confess their sins and to provide the means for us to be purified in His sight, for his son, Christ himself, “is the means by which our sins are forgiven”.  (Charles Dodd in The Johannine Epistles p18) 

That is the Good News that sustains us in this life, and is the hope upon which we depend for Life after this life.  That is the Good News that we celebrate when we gather together here in worship. 

Prayer of Praise  

(from Psalm 1: 2a & 6a, 2: 7b and 4: 6b) 

  Almighty God we come together here today as your children, your precious possession.  You have called us to be in close fellowship with yourself, to show your love for us, to bless us with your kindness. 

  In you we depend for our daily sustenance and provision for our needs.

  By you we receive guidance for right living and protection from the attacks against us from Satan and his demons.

  Through you we have received forgiveness of our sins and our mistakes, a forgiveness that is complete and which lasts forever.

  Ever-loving God, we gather before you today to express our thankfulness for your work of regeneration in our lives, to express our thankfulness for your care and concern for us as individuals and for us as your Church, to praise you above all your Creation in Heaven and on Earth because you are majestic above all else, because your works are marvellous in our eyes, because you are magnanimous in revealing your grace and mercy to us.

  O Lord, our God, we offer you our worship in humbleness and gratitude, to your glory and honour.  Amen.

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

“Come and Praise the Lord our King, Hallelujah”  He’s everything to me number 88

Michael Perry

“Praise the Name of Jesus”  (Communion Songbook page 42)

Roy Hicks

Prayer of Confession 

(from Psalm 5: 4, 5, 11b & 12, 7: 3 & 9a, 9: 4, 12, 13a & 18, 10: 7, and 15: 2b & 3b) 

Lord God, you are not a God who is pleased with wrongdoing,

You allow no evil in your presence.

Lord, you are a righteous God,

You correctly judge our thoughts and our desires.

Lord, if I have wronged anyone, or have offended a friend,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have been unfair or dishonest in my judgements,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have neglected the cry of those who suffer, or if I have neglected the plight of the needy,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if I have boasted of what I have done by my own abilities, but have not given you due thanks for your providence for me,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if my speech is filled with lies and hurtful words,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, if my speech is filled with insincere words or is used to spread rumours among my neighbours,

Have mercy, O God, and forgive my sin.

Lord, You protect those who love you,

They are truly happy because of you.

Lord, you bless those who obey you,

They are joyful because of your love for them.

O Lord, we put our hope in your unending grace towards all people, everywhere.

In your mercy, forgive our sins and no longer remember our wrongdoings.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 John 1: 9) 

The Apostle John assures us that if we confess our sins to God, He will keep His promise, He will forgive us our sins and purify us from our wrongdoings.  Having confessed our sins to God, let us hold onto that promise and know that God has indeed forgiven us and cleansed us in His sight.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

(by John Calvin) 

O Lord, heavenly Father,

in whom is the fullness of light and wisdom,

enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit,

and give us grace to receive your Word with reverence and humility,

without which no person can understand your truth,

for the sake of Jesus Christ

to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all glory.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 133:

1  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in harmony!  2  It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes.  3  It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.  For there the Lord bestows His blessing, life for evermore.

Ephesians 2:

11  You Gentiles, remember your former condition,  12  you were at that time separate from Christ, strangers to the Community of Israel, outside of God’s covenant and the promise that goes with His People.  Your world was a world without hope and without God.  13  But now in union with Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood.  14  For he is himself our peace.  He has made Jews and Gentiles one people.  In his body of flesh and blood he has broken down the enmity which stood like a dividing wall between them;  15  for he annulled the Law with its rules and regulations, so as to create out of the two a single new Humanity in himself, thereby making peace.  16  This was his purpose, to reconcile the two in a single body to God through the cross, bringing the enmity to an end.

17  So he came and proclaimed the good news: peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near by;  18  for through him we both, alike, have access to the Father in the one Spirit.  19  Thus you are no longer aliens in a foreign land, but fellow citizens with God’s People, members of God’s household.  20  You are built upon the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone.  21  In him the whole structure is bonded together and grows into a holy Temple in the Lord.  22  In him you too are being built with all the others into a place where God dwells through His spirit.

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

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 15:

11  Jesus went on the say, ”There was once a man who had two sons.  12  The younger one said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the property now.’  So the man divided his property between his two sons.  13  After a few days the younger son sold his part of the property and left home with the money.  He went to a country far away, where he wasted his money in reckless living.  14  He spent everything he had.  Then a severe famine spread over that country, and he was left without a thing.  15  So he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him out to his farm to take care of the pigs.  16  He wished he could fill himself with the bean pods the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything to eat.  17  At last he came to his senses and said, ‘All my father’s hired workers have more than they can eat, and here I am about to starve!  18  I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you.  19  I am no longer fit to be called your son, treat me as one of your hired workers.”’  20  So he got up and started back to his father.

  He was still a long way from home when his father saw him; his heart was filled with pity, and he ran, threw his arms around his son, and kissed him.  21  ‘Father,’ the son said, ‘I have sinned against God and against you.  I am no longer fit to be called your son.’  22  But the father called his servants.  ‘Hurry!’ he said.  ‘Bring the best robe and put it on him.  Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet.  23  Then go and get the prize calf and kill it, and let us celebrate with a feast!  24  For this son of mine was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’  And so the feast began.

25  In the meantime the older son was out in the field.  On his way back, when he came close to the house, he heard music and dancing.  26  So he called one of the servants and asked him, ’What’s going on?’  27  ‘Your brother has come back home,’ the servant answered, ‘and your father has killed the prize calf, because he got him back safe and sound.  28  The older brother was so angry that he would not go into the house; so his father came out and begged him to come in.  29  But he spoke back to his father, ‘Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders.  What have you given me?  Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends!  30  But this son of yours wasted all your property on reckless living, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!’  31  ‘My son’, the father answered, ‘you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours.  32  But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.’”

[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

“Salvation now to us has come”  TiS195

Verse 1 of 3

Salvation now to us has come

By God’s free grace and favour;

Good works cannot avert our doom,

They help and save us never.

In faith we look to Christ alone,

Who did for all the World atone;

He is our one redeemer.

Verse 2 of 3

Since Christ has full atonement made

And brought to us salvation,

Each Christian therefore may be glad,

And build on this foundation,

Your grace alone, dear Lord, we plead,

Your death is now our life indeed,

For you have paid our ransom.

Verse 3 of 3

All blessing, honour, thanks and praise

To Father, Son, and Spirit,

To God who saved us by His grace

All glory to His merit!

O Triune God, in Heaven above,

You have revealed your saving love;

Your blessed name we hallow.

Paul Speratus

translated by Carl Doving and others

Sermon

Field boundary markers

  It was God who gave the Land of Canaan to the People of God.  It was God who instructed Moses to divide the Land east of the River Jordan amongst the Tribes of Israel who dwelt there.  (Numbers 26: 52 to 56)  It was God who instructed Joshua to divide the Land west of the River Jordan amongst the Tribes of Israel who dwelt there.  (Numbers 34:16, Joshua 14: 1 & 2)  It was God who instructed Moses and Joshua how the land that was allocated to each Tribe was to be divided between each family of the Tribe.

  It was God who instituted the Laws that ensured that the land occupied by each family was theirs to own and to make use of ‘in perpetuity’.  (Numbers 27: 8 to 11 & 36: 7 to 9)  Ownership of land by a family, and therefore the family’s ability to use the land so as to provide for the family’s needs, could not, by God’s Law, be removed nor extinguished.  Land was to be inherited by the descendants of the family, or, if there were no direct descendants, then a close relative of the family.  Such was the case when Boaz purchased the land that had been owned by Naomi’s husband.  (Ruth 4: 1 to 6) 

  It was God who gave Laws instructing people not to move field boundary markers, in an attempt to steal land from their neighbour.  (Deuteronomy 19: 14 & 27: 17)  “Land-rustling” it was called.  Such an act was condemned by God, because it represented a theft of property that God had allocated to a specific family for their descendants to inherit and on which they could earn a living.  (Proverbs 22: 28 & 23: 10, and Job 24: 2) 

  Why was this such a critical aspect of the culture of the People of Israel?  The practice of such land ownership principles ensured that a family, and each subsequent generation, would always have the ability to make use of the land so as to provide for the needs of the family.  It ensured that the wider family would always have the ability to make use of the land so as to provide for the needs of a widow and her family, or of orphans of a family. 

  The practice of such land ownership principles meant that the sons of a family, and their subsequent families, continued to live together in the one household or in close proximity with their parents and wider family.  We see this in the reference to the home of Simon and Andrew in Capernaum, in which there also lived Simon’s mother-in-law and, presumably, Simon’s family  (Mark 1: 29 & 30)  .  It is also the setting of the hypothetical problem brought to Jesus as a test by some Sadducees that involves the seven brothers who each, in turn, needed to marry the widow of the preceding brother, as we read in Mark 12: 18 to 23.

  But, such a household setting could only function effectively and produce mutual benefit for all involved, if there was, not just resigned compliance of the situation by any brothers and their families living together, but an active and willing unity and harmony between these brothers and their families. 

  Such is the context of Psalm 133, where we read, “how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in harmony”.  Such harmony would result in a pleasant family environment, and also in a pleasant working relationship between the brothers that will guarantee mutual benefit for all the family members, as well as God’s blessing upon the household, the “life for evermore” of which the Psalmist sings.

  This is also the cultural framework within which we are to consider the parable of “the Prodigal son”, otherwise known as the parable of “the Lost son”.

Slide 2

“this son of mine was lost, but now he has been found”  Luke 15: 24

  The younger son demands from his father an amount equal to that which would be his inheritance upon the death of his father.  The Good News Bible correctly has the son saying “Father, give me my share of the property now.”  (Luke 15: 12)  .  The younger son is to be criticised, if not condemned for such behaviour, for four reasons:

  Firstly, at the very least, he is showing gross disrespect towards his father, for he is treating his father as if he were already dead.  In doing so, he dishonours his father and brings disgrace upon himself. 

  Secondly, he is wantonly reducing the family assets, that is, reducing the means by which the father ensures, not just the viability of the family farm, but the sustaining of the life of all who live on the farm, family and servants, all who depend upon the farm’s productivity for the food which they require on a daily basis, and for the produce that they will sell at the local marketplace to generate income for the purchasing of future needs.

  Thirdly, there is no consideration by him of his responsibility, as a son, to assist his father in carefully and profitably making use of the property that had been the inheritance of his family from the time that the People of God initially settled in Canaan, the Land that God had promised to give to them.  By his subsequent squandering of his inheritance, “he put at risk the preservation of the family’s land and property, a responsibility of such crucial cultural value in first century Palestinian society”  (John Carroll in Luke – A Commentary p315)  .

  Lastly, by his actions, he has decided to “disassociate himself from his family and strike out on his own”  (Stuart Briscoe in Parables of Luke – Patterns for Power p129)  .  He has rejected the notion of the Family and of family responsibilities as the framework for a fulfilling life as God had decreed.

  We are familiar with the context of why Jesus told this parable, along with the accompanying parables of “The Lost Sheep” and “The Lost Coin”, that is, as a response to the complaints by some Pharisees and Scribes that Jesus, “welcomes outcasts and even eats with them”  (Luke 15: 2)  , as if, in doing so, mixing with this ‘class’ of ‘sinful’ people would make Jesus ‘impure’ in the sight of God, leading him to be rejected by God and unable to worship God in the Temple.

  We are familiar with the lessons that Jesus is seeking to draw out from the parable:

-the misery of Humanity in desiring to live lives separate from the love of God and apart from a life of trust in and of obedience to the Will of God,

-the need for Humanity to come to a point of realising their error, to repent of their turning away from God, and to make a conscious decision to return to God, and

-“the unbounded joy in the Father’s house when the lost child comes home”  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p151)  .

  I like this portrait of the prodigal son returning to the father, for it clearly portrays the gracious forgiveness and acceptance by the father of his son upon his return, regardless of the severity of his son’s prior sinful behaviour and gross disrespect shown to the father.  There is displayed the unbounded joy associated with the son’s return, as we see in the figures in the background, both by the people and by the dogs.  There is displayed the utter humility of the son as he acknowledges his errors and mistakes before his father. 

  But the greatest impact that it has upon me is the father’ great thankfulness that his son has returned.  It is slightly incongruous that the father is looking up to Heaven thanking God for the return of his son, when the father in the parable is, in fact, a representation of God Himself.  But, leaving that aside, it is crucial that we understand the great joy that is God’s when someone repents of their actions that have resulted in their separation from God, and seeks a reconciliation with God.  For I believe that God’s reaction to someone returning to fellowship with Him is exactly mirrored in that displayed by the father in this portrait.

  And we see the father clinging to the son, as if to say, ‘You have returned to me at last.  I will not let go of you again.”

  The joy displayed by the figures in the background and by the dogs mirrors the “rejoicing by the angels of each sinner who repents”, as Jesus tells the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law.  (Luke 15: 7 & 10) 

  And it is also important to note the portrayal of the son’s deep and sincere repentance for his actions, the acknowledgement of the sorrow that he has brought upon his father, for this, too, should mirror our repentance for those acts and those failures in our lives that have caused grief to God.  There is no place for pride or complacency on our part when we confess our sins before God.  Our acknowledgement of the sorrow that we have caused God should be just as deep and sincere as we see with the son in this portrait.

  The Genesis account of the People of God records for us several examples where there was disharmony and disunity within the family, disharmony and disunity which threatened the family’s survival for the future.

  In Genesis 13 we read that “quarrels broke out between the men who took care of Abraham’s animals and the men who took care of Lot’s animals”  (Genesis 13: 1 to 12)  .

  In Genesis 27 we read of Esau’s hatred of Jacob, so much that he thought, “The time to mourn my Father’s death is near; then I will kill Jacob.”  (Genesis 27: 41) 

  In Genesis 37 we read of the hatred that the brothers of Joseph felt towards him, so much so that “when they saw him in the distance, they plotted against him and decided to kill him.”  (Genesis 37: 11 & 18) 

  In such examples, there was no pleasant family life, no guarantee of mutual benefit for all, no ensuring that the needs of all were met, no guarantee for the sustaining of the life of the family in the future.

  And it is on these grounds that we can criticise the actions of the elder son in the Parable of the Lost Son.  Where the Father forgave the younger son because it was obvious that the son was truly and sincerely repentant of his sinful actions and of his waste of what had been given to him; where the Father welcomed the opportunity to be reconciled with his son; where the Father saw renewed hope for the family in the reuniting of the family, the elder son only saw an opportunity to disapprove of his Father’s generosity towards his brother.

  The elder son could look no further than his judgement upon his younger brother’s prior wilful and sinful behaviour.  Where one son showed “remorse’, the other showed “resentful rage”  (John Carroll in Luke – A Commentary p315)  .  Where one son demonstrated repentance, the other demonstrated “rank prejudice and infantile pettiness”  (Stuart Briscoe in Parables of Luke – Patterns for Power p134)  .  The elder son, in turn, dishonoured his Father by refusing to attend the feast.  (Luke 15: 28)  The elder son, in turn, showed discourtesy towards his Father by not addressing him with respect.  (Luke 15: 29 & 30)  The Father was intent on restoring the unity and the harmony of the family, for that would be the only way to guarantee the continued life of the family and the blessing of God upon the family.  And that required his reconciliation with both of his sons, and their reconciliation with each other  (John Carroll in Luke – A Commentary p318)  .  Unity and harmony within a family may not come easily.

Members of State Ecumenical Bodies attending the National Council of Churches in Australia Forum 2019

“you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood”

Ephesians 2: 13

  With the proclamation of the Gospel beyond Jerusalem and Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the Earth, as Jesus commanded the Apostles to do  (Acts 1:8)  , the concept of what constituted the family of God was broadened further.

  This was a time of uncertainty within the Church.  There were some traditionalists who insisted that those who followed Jesus Christ could only be those of the Jewish faith.  Others, though, recognised that the Call of God to come and to join His household was being offered to all people everywhere, people of every tribe and Nation, people of every class and language, people of every race and creed, to both male and female.  (Henry Halley in Halley’s Bible Handbook p507) 

  Paul saw the importance of being united as People of God, united across gender, and racial, and social, and cultural divides.  He saw the Gospel as the means of bridging Human divisions.  (Lesley Charlton – 12 July in International Bible Reading Association Noted on Bible Readings for 1989 p137)  Paul clearly understood that there was only one means for peace with God, Jesus Christ, a means that was open to all peoples everywhere.  This faith in Jesus Christ was the common bond among all people, a bond that was stronger and deeper than any differences between people, differences based on gender, or colour, or class, or race, or tribe, or language, or culture, or former religion or background.  (Donald Guthrie in Acts in The Lion Handbook to the Bible p605) 

  That is why, in today’s passage from his Letter to the Church in Ephesus, Paul writes:

 of the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile,  (verses 14 & 16)  ,

 that by means of the cross God brough both ‘races’ back to Himself as the one body,  (verses 15 & 17)  ,

 that the cornerstone of the foundation of the faith to which we all belong is Jesus Christ  (verse 20)  ,

 that together we are being built into a place where God dwells through His Spirit, the very Household of God  (verse 22)  ,

 that God’s goal is the making of peace, peace between Himself and us, and peace amongst ourselves  (verse 15)  .

  This is reminiscent of the living in harmony and the source of the blessing of God about which we read in Psalm 133.  And it is illustrated by the involvement of the Uniting Church with the National council of Churches, as we see in the slide.

  But we must balance any excitement generated from reading Paul’s words with the lesson that we gained from The Parable of the Lost Son, that unity and harmony within the Family of God may not come easily.

To dwell above with saints we love

O that would sure be glory.

But to dwell below with saints we know

Well, that’s another story.

(Michael Green [ed] 1500 Illustrations for Bible Preaching no.191 p65)

  This slide illustrates how, on the one hand, we sing about and refer to “the saints of the past” as being part of the one big “family of God”, but, on the other hand, we are all too aware of the divisions and disagreements between “the saints of today.

  How do we stop ourselves from acting as did the Pharisees to whom Jesus addressed this parable?  How do we prevent ourselves from judging people as to whether or not people are good enough to come to Church?  How many people has the Church made to feel unwelcome to come into the presence of God and unwelcome to share in fellowship with God’s people?  How do we stop ourselves from becoming like the early Jewish Christians and insist that true worship of God must be done in a certain way with specific traditions and practices?  How many people feel uneasy about entering a church because they are unfamiliar with our traditions and practices, such that they do not know when to stand or what to say?  How do we ensure that we greet them warmly and find ways to worship with them, not glare at them when they ‘don’t do the right thing’?

  How do we reconcile ourselves to brothers and sisters both within the wider Church and within our own Congregation with whom we are in conflict, or who hold strongly held differing views, or who are not comfortable in worshipping with us?  How do we break down the barriers between us?  How do we ensure that the needs of all those in our fellowship are met?  How open are we to sharing our needs?  How open are we to sharing what we possess?  How do we ensure that our Church is a Household of God, that we are working together for the mutual benefit of all of the members of our fellowship?

  In the parable, the father said to his eldest son, “But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found.”  (Luke 15: 32)  God celebrates our being reconciled to Him, and being reconciled with one another.  We should approach our worship as celebrating with God our reconciliation with Him, as celebrating with God the return of others to the Household of God.  Our focus should be on maintaining the unity and harmony as sisters and brothers in the Household of God and of seeking God’s blessing on all that we do.  That is true worship of God and being a ‘family’ of believers, one in mind and heart and spirit.  Amen.

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

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

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

for you understand us and in love you have promised not to push away any who come to you.

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

for you know the warm glow of being praised and the loneliness of being hated.

We pray to you, Lord of palm-branches and the cross,

because you know how quickly life changes to death.

We pray for people who feel pushed away: pushed away from a living faith in Jesus by pressure from friends and family;

those who feel pushed away by other people in churches if they do not share the same kinds of ideas, or ways, or clothes; for people who are pushed out by those who want

power, whose main love is to be noticed, and to have control.

We pray for your church that all those who trust in Jesus will be made able by your Spirit to follow his humility,

to see and to imitate his servant life, to welcome and not to condemn.  Help your church to be like Jesus.

We pray for World leaders, quick to stand in the limelight taking decisions which affect everyone in the world but slow at times to do the steady, less glamorous work to which they are called.

We pray for World leaders to understand their role to serve the peoples of the world, that posturing will be replaced by practical action to make a difference, and jockeying for position be replaced by genuine efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and care for those who are weak.

In days when food banks are required in our land to feed families who struggle to provide the basics for life,

we ask that you will re-arrange our priorities and help us to live more like Jesus.

We pray for those who have recently lost those whom they have loved, 

in the shock, confusion, pain and sorrow especially of unexpected loss, we pray for hearts to be open to the comfort of your Spirit, shown through friendship and community.

We remember those we know who mourn in these days,

who need to be sure of that you invite those in sorrow to turn to you.

We pray for those who know it is Easter, but do not join in the celebration; for those who walk in the sunshine, but cannot feel the warmth; for those who see the flowers, but fail to appreciate their beauty.

We pray for all those in need of joy this day.

We pray for those who see the joy in others, but look away; for those who mourn what might have been; for those who spoil the good things in life.

We pray for all those in need of love this day.

We pray for those who long to step out into the daylight; for those who want release from their captivity.

We pray for all those in need of hope this day.

We pray that through our singing, our worship, our prayers, our attention, through the giving of our skills and time through the days of our lives, that all is given to your glory and for the good of many,

through Jesus who is the Saviour of all.  Amen.

written by Rev Grant Barclay and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.   http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/ –

Worship for Sunday 24th March 2024, by Rev. Sharon Read

Worship for Easter Sunday 2024, by Rev. Joy Rulton

We pray for the peoples of The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

We give thanks for the rich legacies that this area has long embodied, for those who kept both the people and their faith alive during years of repression, for those pursuing peace and reconciliation between the different ethnic and religious groups,  and for the resurgence of the ecumenical witness of churches in recent years.

We pray for a continual healing of historic memories and pains that have been mutually inflicted, for those who continue to experience marginalization and injustice, especially the Roma, for religion to be a means of healing rather than of further separation and exploitation, and for the nurturing and sustaining of pluralistic societies in the Balkans.

Prayers

Prayer before the proclamation of God’s word

Lord God, enlighten us through your word so that we can discover the needs of the people around us.
You are God, the Almighty, and we thank you that like a Father you protect us and through your divine mercy and love you create living space for us and for every single person.
We ask you especially to show mercy to our nation.  Enlighten us through your divine Spirit and create in the hearts of the people interest in your word.
And in this time of crisis and challenges give wisdom from above so that we stay true to your word so that we can respond to the different needs – in both the spiritual and physical aspects.
God, watch over us, because of the mercy and love of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

(Rev. Mihail Cekov)

Litany of unity

Let us ask God for the gift of unity:

God, our Father, who has created all things,
we are your children.
It is your will that we live together in peace
and stand by one another as sisters and brothers.
Your will be done.

Jesus Christ, Son of God,
you have prayed for the unity of all who are baptized in your name,
who believe in you and confess your name.
Is it your will, that the Church, your body, be one.
Your will be done.

Holy Spirit of God,
you have filled the Apostles with the fire of courage
to proclaim the Good News.
It is your will that we proclaim with one voice the great deeds of God
and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Your will be done.

(Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 1986, Slovenia)

May we love you

Set our hearts on fire with love for you,
O Christ, our God,
that in its flame we may love you
with all our heart, with all our mind,
with all our soul and with all our strength,
and love our neighbours as ourselves,
so that by keeping your commandments
we may glorify you,
the giver of all good gifts.

(Mother Teresa, Macedonia, TPP,  p. 227.)

We pray for The Leprosy Mission Nigeria, as they strive for more success in their efforts toward achieving zero leprosy in Nigeria.  We pray for the continued success of their 2021–2025 Country Strategy, and its collaborative effort with State and Federal authorities to reduce the burden of leprosy in Nigeria.  We pray God that you will provide the needed resources and networks for the successful implementation of the projects initiated under this strategy.  We pray that the persons and communities affected by leprosy and disabilities would be positively impacted and truly transformed to live life in all its fullness.

We pray for the TLM Nigeria Board members and the TLM Nigeria team, that they will be strengthened, and that grace will abound for them, so they can do even more than their capacity.  We pray for TLM Nigeria’s resource mobilisation team, that you will give them grace, wisdom, and favour as they continue to explore new partnerships and funding opportunities.

We pray Lord, that as TLM Nigeria’s staff and volunteers visit the communities, you will continue to protect them, and keep them safe from wicked and unreasonable people, given the recent security challenges.  Given that Nigeria is going through a great deal of economic distress, leading to an increased cost of living for everyone, we pray that you will give Nigeria’s leaders the wisdom to implement the right policies for the good of the people.

We give you praise God for the work of Scripture Union chaplains in numerous schools throughout Queensland, especially the work of Andy at Blackall, and Matty at his school.  We thank you  for the success of the GO Missions that were held in Far north Queensland over the summer holidays and the encouragement that it gave to the local churches.  We thank you for the movement of the holy spirit in the lives of several youths who attended the GENTS camp in South Australia in October.  We pray that you will continue to influence their lives as they return to homes an familiar surroundings.  We thank you God for the success of the recent Darwin Dance Outreach, the manner in which it was uniquely able to touch many lives for you.

We pray for that you will work in the lives of the High School children who will attend the Cave Camp at Chillagoe commencing on Monday, 8^th April, the Primary School children who will attend the Easter Adventure Camp at the QCCC Campsite at Mapleton commencing on Monday 8^th April, and the Primary School children who will attend the Shack Creative Art Camp to be held at Hope Community Baptist Church commencing on Tuesday 9^th April.  We pray that you will guide and support the leaders and helpers, and that you will keep everyone associated with these camps healthy.

(from SU Australia News Qld Edition  for March to May 2024)

We pray for the Bangladesh Bible Society who are teaching a literacy course for non-literate women in rural areas.  We pray for the first-year students who struggle to read and write, that you may give them wisdom to learn, and for protection and provision for participants who also strive for food, shelter and health.

We thank you God for your faithfulness as Koorong served the Australian Christian landscape over the Easter period, resourcing Christians and non-Christians alike with Bibles, church supplies, and evangelistic and apologetic resources.  We pray that these resources would be lifechanging and sow seeds of faith.

We pray for the new Mongolian translation of the Bible, which will be easier to understand for readers and listeners.  We pray for the team, for effective training in biblical language, linguistics and Bible translation, and as they work to review the draft translations of the New Testament.  We pray for unity among translators, churches, committee members and the Mongolian Bible Society.

We pray for communities devastated by the QLD fires in 2023, the recent drought in WA and flooding in the NT.  We pray that you will help people struggling to come to terms with loss of life and property.  Please bless the disaster recovery chaplains as they distribute the scriptures and gospel resources that Bible Society Australia sent up to Chinchilla.  We pray for wisdom and energy to reach out to these distraught people.

We thank you God for Gina*, a 45-year-old wife and mother who was able to learn about Jesus through the literacy program in Bangladesh: “Before attending this class I could not read any book … I desired to read and write but I did not have the opportunity to do so. Even I did not know Bible stories. I was so curious to know about Jesus Christ, and my desire has been fulfilled after attending this literacy class.”

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

We pray for all who are questioning their faith or your presence in their lives: that the Holy Spirit will guide them to new insights and help them recognize your presence through the witness of Christian’s love and service.

We pray for a renewal of our faith communities: that, like the early church, we may see the needs of others as our needs and open our hearts and resources to assist them.

We pray that you will enrich our faith so that we may be victors over the lies, illusions, and false promises that secular culture promotes.

We pray for all who are in need, particularly those who suffer violence, are recovering from natural disasters or lack resources for daily living, that you will give them strength, help them to trust, and move the hearts of many to assist them

We pray for healing, that the Spirit will renew the gift of life in all who are sick, discouraged, struggling with addictions or weakness that comes with aging.

We pray for an end to violence, that Christ’s victory over death will turn hearts from violence and revenge and help us to respect the value and dignity of each human life.

We pray for peace, that the Spirit will open dialogue and new understanding amongst nations, communities, and families who are in conflict.

https://liturgy.slu.edu/2EasterB040724/ideas_other.html – Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use.

We pray for those who undertake Religious Instruction classes at Bald Hills State School in the coming weeks.  Guide them in their preparation for the words to say and the approach to take with the children in their classes. 

We pray for Kylie Conomos, the Scripture Union Chaplain at Bald Hills State School, as she addresses the concerns and needs of children, parents and teachers at the Bald Hills State School.

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

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the hymn “Joyful, joyful, we adore you”  TiS152 

Henry Van Dyke

Sacrament of Communion  (following Uniting in Worship 2 p162 to p222) 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Invitation

Christ, our Lord, invites to his Table all who love him, all who earnestly repent of their sin and who seek to live in peace with one another.

Prayer of Approach

Lord God, we come to your Table, trusting in your mercy and not in any goodness of our own.  We are not worthy even to gather up the crumbs under your table, but it is your nature always to have mercy, and on that we depend.  So, feed us with the body and blood of Jesus Christ, your son, that we may for ever live in him and he in us. Amen.

Narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Hear the words of the institution of this Sacrament as recorded by the Apostle Paul:

  “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body which is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new Covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, for the remembrance of me.  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’”  (1 Corinthians 11: 23 to 26) 

  And, so, according to our Saviour’s command, we set this bread and this cup apart for the Holy Supper to which he calls us, and we come to God with our prayers of thanksgiving.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With all we are, we give you glory, God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the one and holy God, Sovereign of all Time and Space.  We thank you for this wide red land, for its rugged beauty, for its changing seasons, for its diverse people, and for all that lives upon this fragile Planet.  You have called us to be the Church in this place, to give voice to every creature under Heaven.  We rejoice with all that you have made, as we join the company of Heaven in their song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed be the One who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you that you called a covenant people to be the light to the Nations.  Through Moses you taught us to love your Law, and, in the Prophets, you cried out for justice.  In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross.  You make us alive together with him, that we may rejoice in his presence and share his peace.  By water and the Spirit, you open the Kingdom to all who believe, and welcome us to your Table: for by grace we are saved through faith.  With this bread and this cup we do as our Saviour commands: we celebrate the redemption he has won for us.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Pour out the Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and the cup, that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ.  Make us one with him, one with each other, and one in ministry in the World, until at last we feast with him in the Kingdom.  Through your Son, Jesus Christ, in your holy Church, all honour and glory are yours, Father Almighty, now and for ever.

Blessing and honour and glory and power are yours for ever and ever.  Amen.

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.

Breaking of the Bread

The bread we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.

The cup we take is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

The gifts of God for the People of God.

Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the World,

Grant us peace.

The Distribution

Receive this Holy Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and feed upon him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

(after all have received the bread)

The body of Christ keep you in eternal life.

(after all have received the juice)

The blood of Christ keep you in eternal life.

Prayer after Communion

Blessed be God who calls us together.

Praise to God who makes us one People.

Blessed be God who has forgiven our sins.

Praise to God who gives us hope and freedom.

Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.

Praise to God who is revealed as the One who loves.

Blessed be God who alone has called us.

Therefore, we offer to God all that we are and all that we shall become.

Accept, O God, our sacrifice of praise.

Accept our thanks for we have seen the greatness of your love.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the song “Since Jesus came into my heart”  Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 number 378

Rufus McDaniel

Benediction 

(from Invocations and Benedictions p75) 

May God shine the light of His presence in our lives this day and each day to come.  Let us go into the World with the assurance of sins forgiven, to serve the Lord with gladness and to serve each other in humility.  May God’s peace unite us in our worship of Him and in our fellowship with each other.

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

Benediction Song

“Now to him who loves us saves us”  TiS 771

https://hymnary.org/media/fetch/179720

Now to him who loved us, gave us

Every pledge that love could give,

Freely shed his blood to save us,

Gave his life that we might live,

Be the Kingdom

And dominion

And the glory evermore.

Samuel Miller Waring