Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(Psalm 29: 3b, 5b, 7, 8a, 4, 2, 10b, 11) 

“The voice of the LORD echoes over the ocean.

The voice of the LORD splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

The voice of the LORD makes the lightning flash.

The voice of the LORD makes the desert shake.

The voice of the LORD is heard in all its might and majesty.

Praise the LORD’s glorious name; bow down before the Holy One when He appears.

The LORD rules as King forever.

The LORD gives strength to His People and blesses them with peace.”

Comment on Psalm 29

  Psalm 29 reads as a description of a thunderstorm, gathering energy over the Mediterranean Sea, making landfall on the coastal plains, advancing in strength across the forested hills and mountains of the hinterland, before passing into the vast emptiness of the desert areas to the east.  The tremendous force visible in the storm as it passes and the inevitability of it arising and progressing where it wills, unopposed, reminds the writer of the Psalm of the overwhelming power and majesty of God, by whose very Word the Universe was created and continues to be sustained, and whose very Will controls Time and History.  The writer states that such a demonstration of the Divine power of God should fill the onlooker with fear and trembling, as if they were in the very presence of God, calling them to respond in worship and praise of Almighty God.  But, at the same time, the onlooker can rest assured that the same demonstration of the power of God is an assurance that God is faithful in His promise to care for those whom He calls His People, to grant them blessing and courage in their times of need, and to promise “peace on Earth”.  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p260 to 265, L McCaw & J Motyer in Psalms in The New Bible Commentary p468 to 469) 

  We gather today to worship this same God, whose Word and whose Will governs all that we see taking place in the World around us, who calls us to bow down before Him in worship, who reassures us of His love and care for us, and who continues to promise “peace on Earth to those with whom He is pleased”.  (Luke 2: 14b) 

Prayer of Praise  

(from Uniting in Worship Red Book p290, An Aust Prayer Book p184, The Book of worship pp35 to 38, Invocations & Benedictions p106, Opening Prayers p9, A Year of Prayer pp244 to 245) 

  Almighty and majestic God, we look in wonder at your Creation.  We marvel at your handiwork, at the intellect behind the design in Nature and the interrelatedness in the natural world.  We are in awe of your power to hold the Galaxy together in the seemingly infiniteness of Space.  We recognise your control even over the waves crashing onto the seashore and the thundering storms overhead.

  We thank you God for your patience, for you care, for the way you enfold your arms around us as we journey through life.  We thank you for the lessons of life that you impart to us, for the wisdom and understanding that you bring to our lives.

  All Nations sing your praise, Almighty God, all Peoples sing of your merciful kindness, because of the great hope that is represented in the incarnate Jesus Christ, your Word clothed in our likeness.  For in Christ we see the brightness of your glory and the fullness of your love for your Creation.  For in Christ we see the blessing that is ours because you walk with us and share every minute of our lives.

    Yet God, you seek to be with us, you seek to communicate with us and to relate with us, though we are feeble and prone to error.  You seek intimacy with each one of us, though we are so different in many ways.

    We praise you God that you are in control.  You are in control of the future, of our futures.  We praise you because you continue to call each one of us to come, to come to you in love, to come with you as you lead us into the dark and unknown future.  We praise you because you are the one person in whom we can put our whole trust, knowing that you will never leave us nor allow us to feel alone or unwanted.

    We worship you today, Almighty God, and offer to you our utmost praise and thanks.  May you be glorified and honoured all the days of our life and for Time everlasting.  Amen.

We sing the Hymn: ‘O God, the Rock of Ages’  MHB958

by Edward Bickersteth

Verse 1 of 4

O God, the Rock of Ages,

Who evermore hast been,

While life’s brief tempest rages

Our dwelling place serene:

Before the World’s creation,

O Lord, the same as now,

To endless generations

The everlasting Thou.

Verse 2 of 4

Our years are like the shadows

On sunny hills that lie,

Or grasses in the meadows

That blossom but to die:

A sleep, a dream, a story

By strangers briefly told,

An unremaining glory

Of things that soon are old.

Verse 3 of 4

O Thou, who cannot slumber

Whose light grows never pale,

Teach us aright to number

Our years before they fail.

And may we find and know Thee,

Thy kindness and Thy ways,

And Thou our guide and friend be

The Lord of all our days.

Verse 4 of 4

Lord, crown our faith’s endeavour

With beauty and with grace,

Till, clothed in light for ever,

We see Thee face to face:

A joy no language measures,

A fountain brimming o’er,

An endless flow of pleasures,

In Christ for evermore.

Prayer of Confession 

(from Uniting in Worship Red Book p290, An Aust Prayer Book p184, The Book of worship pp35 to 38, Invocations and Benedictions p106) 

  Merciful God, we remember at this time your purpose in sending the Light upon the Earth, that is, to open the eyes of the sinful to your condemnation, and to reveal to those living in the darkness of sin the despair of continuing in such a lifestyle.  We too acknowledge that we are no different to those of the World.  We confess that we too transgress your Law of Love and Obedience. 

  Merciful God, we humble ourselves before you, knowing how prone we are to wander from your pathway, knowing how easily we let go of your hand and seek to go our own way.

  There are so many things in life that we allow to clamour for our attention and to distract us.  But we fail to hear the soft calling of your voice, seeking us to come and sit quietly beside you.  We confess our neglect and ask for your forgiveness.

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

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

  Merciful god, our guilt and disgrace before you is without question, and you stand in judgement before us.  Take away our sins and renew our souls, so that we may know the joy of sins forgiven and of our spirits being in fellowship with You.  Have mercy upon us and incline our hearts to listen to your voice and to follow your commands.  Steady our erratic and error-prone walk so that we may be conformed to Christ’s likeness.  May our lives thus honour you better than our tongues are able.  May we know with assurance the righteousness that is ours because you have loved us so dearly and have bought our reconciliation by the cross and death of your beloved son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

  Loving and merciful God, forgive us; open our ears and our hearts to receive your call to follow and to obey.  Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(from Ephesians 3: 11 & 12)  

  The Apostle Paul writes to the Church in Ephesus that God achieved His secret Plan for the World through Jesus Christ, in that, in union with Christ and through our faith in him, we can boldly seek to be in the very presence of God, with our sins have been forgiven and having been cleansed of all unrighteousness.  Let us accept what Paul says at face value and with total confidence, and we should act upon Paul’s words, for indeed, God has forgiven our sins and God has cleansed us of all that is unrighteous and displeasing to Him

  Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination 

(from Uniting in Worship Book 1 number 12 p599) 

  Prepare our hearts, O Lord, to receive your Word.  Silence in us any voice but your own.  In hearing these words may we perceive new truths that you seek to teach us, and may we perceive your will that you seek for us to follow, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Psalm 2:

1  Why do the nations rage?  Why do the peoples hatch their futile plots?  2  The kings of the Earth revolt and their rulers conspire together against the LORD and His anointed King.  3  “Let us free ourselves from their rule,” they say, “let us throw off their control.”

4  From His throne in Heaven the LORD laughs at them in scorn, and derides them.  5  Then He rebukes them in anger, and He terrifies them in His fury.  6  “On Zion, my sacred hill,” He says, “I have enthroned my King.”

7  “I will announce,” says the King, what the LORD has declared.  He said to me, ‘You are my son, today I become your father.  8  Ask of me what you will: I will give you nations as your inheritance, the ends of the Earth as your possession.’”

Isaiah 42:

1  The LORD says, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight, I have filled him with my Spirit, and he will bring justice to every nation.  2  He will not shout or raise his voice or make loud speeches in the streets.  3  He will not break a bruised reed, nor snuff out a smouldering wick.  He will faithfully bring lasting justice to every nation.  4  He will never falter or be discouraged, he will establish justice on the Earth, where distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching.”

Isaiah 61:

1  The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me because the LORD has anointed me.  He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to announce liberty to the captives and release those in prison.  2  He has sent me to proclaim that the time has come when the LORD will save His People and defeat their enemies, to comfort all who mourn.” 

Acts 10:

34  Peter began to speak, “I now see how true it is that God has no favourites, and treats everyone on the same basis.  35  In every nation, regardless of race, those who fear God and who do what is right are acceptable to Him.

36  He sent His message to the people of Israel giving the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.  37  I need not tell you what happened lately throughout all of Judea, starting from Galilee after John preached his message of baptism,  38  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.

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

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Luke 3:

21  After all the people had been baptised, Jesus also was baptised.  While he was praying, Heaven was opened,  22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from Heaven saying, “You are my own dear son, I am pleased with you.”

Luke 4:

16  The Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went to the Synagogue on the sabbath as he regularly did.  17  He stood up to read the lesson and was handed the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah.  He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written:

18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind, and to free the oppressed  19  and announce that the time has come when the LORD will save His people.”

20  Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.  All the people in the Synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 21  as he said to them, “This passage of Scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.”

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

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Passing the Peace

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

  And also with you.

For the Young and the Young at Heart

  Our second granddaughter, Aurora, had a favourite teddy bear which she took everywhere with her.  One day she took it to Day Care, but, at the end of the day, it was nowhere to be seen when it came time for her bag to be packed.  The staff looked everywhere in the complex but could not locate it.  The only suitable explanation was that another child liked it so much that they took it home when they left.  Although, if that was the case, wouldn’t the parents have noticed and realised that it belonged to another child and have returned it the next day?  Who knows. 

Screen 1

Don’t take your favourite teddy bear to Day Care.

  Anyway, the lesson that we can all learn from this is:

“Don’t take your favourite teddy bear to Day Care.”

  Everyone was quite upset about the loss of the teddy bear, especially Aurora, but, over time, Aurora stopped mentioning it.  However, the matter was not forgotten, for while Nat was doing her Christmas shopping, she found a teddy bear that exactly matched the one that was lost, well, the one that was flogged by a thieving child if you wish to speak about it in simple terms.

  Aurora received this teddy bear as a present from Santa on Christmas Day, and she joyfully showed it to everyone, saying how clever was Santa to find a replacement for her lost teddy bear.  This was part of the magic of Christmas that we shared with them.  But when I thought about the joy that Aurora expressed about her present, I thought back to the Christmas accounts in the Gospels and realised that the birth of Jesus was predominantly a time of joy for many of the people involved.

Screen 2

“The shepherds sent back, singing praises to God for all they had seen.”  Luke 2: 20 

  We read that the shepherds expressed joy at seeing the baby Jesus lying in the manger just as the angels had said.  We read that:

“The shepherds sent back, singing praises to God for all they had seen.”  Luke 2: 20 

Screen 3

“They saw the same star they had seen in the East.  When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs.”  Matthew 2: 10 

  We read that the Magi expressed joy when they again saw the star that they had seen in the East and which had led them to the land of Judah. 

“When they saw it, how happy they were, what joy was theirs.”  Matthew 2: 10 

  Seeing the star meant that it would lead them to the place where lay the child for whom that had travelled as far to find and to offer their worship.

  Both the shepherds and the Magi were guided by God to find the Christ child and to experience the joy of an understanding of all that this child stood for in terms of God intruding in Time and Space and History to fulfill His will and purpose for Humanity and ultimately for His Creation.  In the hustle and bustle of everyone-day life, especially midst the uncertainty of Covid-19, let us not forget the joy that is ours from our understanding that God has acted in the World so that each of us can be reconciled to Him and know His love and grace.  As we enter this new year, let that be the source of joy for us each day.

We sing the Hymn ‘Almighty Father who dost give’  MHB907  AHB541

Verse 1 of 4

Almighty Father, who dost give

The gift of life to all who live,

Look down on all Earth’s sin and strife

And lift us to a nobler life.

Verse 2 of 4

Lift up our hearts, O King of kings

To brighter hopes and kindlier things,

To visions of a larger good,

And holier dreams of brotherhood.

Verse 3 of 4

The World is weary of its pain,

Of selfish greed and fruitless gain,

Of tarnished honour, falsely strong,

And all its ancient deeds of wrong.

Verse 4 of 4

Hear Thou the prayer Thy servants pray,

Uprising from all lands today,

And o’er the vanquished powers of sin

O bring Thy great salvation in.

John Masterman

Sermon

  Imagine that you are travelling by train, whether it is to and from work or to go to an appointment or to go shopping.  You stand on the platform waiting for the announcement that your scheduled train is approaching in two minutes time.  Sometimes, the announcement cannot be heard clearly.  A wire may be loose in the speaker and all that you hear is a garbled squeak instead of a voice.  Or a Goods Train may pass at the same time as the announcement, and all that you can hear is the loud rattling of the train’s wheels along the rails.  Sometimes you arrive on the platform just as an announcement finishes, so you have no way of knowing whether or not it relates to your train.

Screen 1

Oops!

  Sometimes you’re too engrossed in doing the crossword that you miss the announcement entirely, and the only indication of the train’s arrival is the train departing the platform.

  The words that we read from Psalm 29 in our ‘Call to Worship’ tell us there is one voice which is clearly heard, which cannot be missed or mistaken, and which cannot be ignored: God’s voice.  God calls to us when we are listening and also when we least expect it.  But, every time, His message to us is clearly heard and clearly understood.  At this time in the Church Calendar we can see God speaking on two occasions.

  We read in Luke 2: 1 – “At that time Emperor Augustus ordered that an enrolment for taxation purposes be taken throughout the Roman Empire.”  Caesar Augustus, formerly known as Octavius, the grand-nephew and heir of Julius Caesar, was the first of the Roman Emperors, supreme and autocratic ruler of all the lands around the Mediterranean Sea, beloved of the Roman People for he had brought stability, peace and prosperity to the Roman Empire.  He issued his decrees regardless of the consequences for others, and without a concern for how people were inconvenienced.  Caesar Augustus considered himself to be the most important person in his world, for millions acted upon his words and “moved at his beck and call”.  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p31)  We could easily describe Joseph and Mary as two of these millions of such humble and, to Augustus, insignificant people, because, so it seems, they were travelling from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem in Judea solely in obedience to the decree issued by the Emperor Augustus. 

  Yet, in the greater scope of things, we can easily see that Augustus himself was just such an insignificant and unimportant person, for he himself was merely a pawn in God’s grand plan.  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p31)  God had been in control of events all along, and it was He who determined when Augustus would issue his decree.  Nine months before Joseph and Mary were compelled to travel to Bethlehem, did not God speak to Mary through the angel Gabriel, informing her that she would become pregnant and have a son, and that she was to call him Jesus?  (Luke 1:31)  Was it not God who, through Augustus, directed that Joseph and Mary journey to the town of Bethlehem at the exact time when Jesus was born and to the exact place where Jesus was to be born, in accordance with the prophesy recorded in Micah5: 2, where it reads “for out of you (Bethlehem) I will bring a ruler for Israel.”?  For where not Mary and Joseph the two most important people in the World at that time, for were they not the parents God had chosen to care for the infant Jesus, the incarnate Son of God and the Saviour of all people?  Though Augustus was the absolute and autocratic ruler of the Roman World, it was to God’s voice to which he was compelled to listen and obey.

  We read in Luke 3: 21 that Jesus was baptised by his cousin John, in the River Jordan. 

Screen 2

“Jesus also was baptised”  Luke 3: 21

The question that has been asked by theologians over the centuries is “Why?  Why did Jesus choose to be baptised?”

  The preaching of John the Baptist was clear:

“Turn away from your sins and be baptised”  (Luke 3: 3) 

  But there is one thing of which all of the Apostles were in agreement, “Jesus did not sin”.

  Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5: 21, “Christ was without sin.”

  Peter writes in 1 Peter 2: 22, “Christ committed no sin.”

  John writes in 1 john 3: 5, “There is no sin in Christ.”

  If Jesus was without sin, if he was sinless, why be baptised for the forgiveness of sin, how could he be baptised for the forgiveness of sin?  Such an act would appear to be superfluous, or even inappropriate.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p55) 

  Yet, several things were achieved and confirmed in the act of Jesus being baptised.

  Firstly, Jesus, “by submitting to the baptism of John, publicly placed his seal of approval on John’s ministry in the clearest possible way.”  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p40)  Jesus is confirming to John the worth of what John was doing.

  Secondly, because of John’s ministry, “throughout the whole of the country, there was an unprecedented movement towards God”.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33)  In his baptism, Jesus was identifying himself with this movement and with the people in their search for God.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33)  Michael Wilcock writes that throughout his life, Jesus was a man who lived among sinful men, and at no point was the made more explicitly than when he accepts baptism along with them.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p55) 

  Thirdly, this “movement towards God” was the sign for Jesus that the “day had come” for him to say “goodbye to Nazareth” and to “(the life of) the village carpenter”, and to go out upon his larger task”.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33)  His baptism signified the break with his life until that point in time and the beginning of his ministry on Earth.

  Fourthly, before he was to embark on his ministry, Jesus “had to be sure that he was right” in what he was doing and as to where it was to lead.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33)  And we read from Luke’s account:

And a voice came from Heaven saying, “You are my own dear son, I am pleased with you.”

(Luke 3: 22) 

  The voice of God came to Jesus and confirmed for Jesus “that he had made the right decision”.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33) 

  God said to Jesus, “You are my own dear Son.  I am pleased with you.”  (Luke 3: 22)  We understand that this is, in part, a quote from Psalm 2: 1, where King David is writing of God’s future chosen King whose reign, King David readily acknowledged, would be greater than his.  We understand that it was also, in part, a quote from Isaiah 42: 1, where we read “The LORD says, ‘Here is my servant, … the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased.’”

  God was acknowledging to Jesus his obedience to God’s will.

  God was acknowledging to Jesus that his obedience to God’s will would lead him to Calvary and the resurrection.  (William Barclay in The Gospel of Luke p33) 

  Further in this passage from Isaiah 42, we read that the LORD’s servant “will bring light to the Nations”.  (Isaiah 42: 6c)  Is not this what we read of Jesus, for did not Simeon say the same thing when he saw the infant Jesus in the Temple?  “With my own eyes I have seen (God’s) salvation” Simeon states, “which (God) has prepared in the presence of all peoples: a light to reveal (God’s) will to the Gentiles”?  (Luke 2: 30 to 32a) 

  This passage from Isaiah 42 continues saying that, through His servant, that God “will make a covenant with all peoples”.  (Isaiah 42: 6b)  Is not this to which Jesus referred at the Passover Supper, where he held up a cup and, giving thanks to God, said to the Disciples, “Drink of it, for this is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”?  (Matthew 26: 27 & 28) 

  Fifthly, the passage in Luke 3: 22 continues, saying “and the Holy Spirit came down upon (Jesus) in bodily form like a dove.”  “The Spirit of the Lord endowed an individual with an authority that only God possessed.”  The presence of the Spirit of the LORD was “a clear indication of god’s authority at work in someone, exercising an authority that was only God’s to give.”  (John Walton, Victor Matthews and Mark Chavalas in The IVP Bible Background Commentary on the Old Testament p255 & 305) 

  Thus, we see that not only was Jesus receiving God’s approval for his role as the promised Messiah, but also that Jesus was being empowered and endowed with God’s authority to fulfill God’s will in the World.  The Apostle Peter readily testified to this in his speech to Cornelius and to those who had gathered in the house of Cornelius and his family to hear what Peter had to say about Jesus of Nazareth.  (Acts 10: 38) 

  Michael Wilcock writes that in the words that God spoke at the baptism of Jesus, He was revealing to the World that Jesus, unlike all other people, was the only one acceptable to God, and that Jesus, like no other person, was in a true relationship with God.  (Michael Wilcock in The Message of Luke p56) 

  G Coleman Coleman Luck notes that at the baptism of Jesus, “each of the three Persons of the Trinity are distinctly manifested; the Son is being baptised on Earth, the Holy Spirit descends on him from above, and the voice of God speaks from Heaven.  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p41) 

  When God spoke at the baptism of Jesus, it was to reveal that Jesus, the “son of Man” was also the divine “Son of God.  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p41)  When God spoke at the baptism of Jesus, it was to reveal to the World that His great plan for the forgiveness of sins and for the reconciliation of Humanity to Himself had been fulfilled in and through His Son, Jesus. 

  In Micah’s prophesy, he states that the ruler to be born in Bethlehem would “bring (God’s) peace”  (Micah 5: 5)  The great choir of angels who appeared to the shepherds while they were in the fields around Bethlehem, sang their praises of God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and peace on Earth to those with whom He is pleased.”  (Luke 2: 14) 

  It is said of Caesar Augustus that his reign was one of peace and stability.  But scholars have acknowledged that his was a harsh peace, a peace that was costly, a peace that was imposed upon the people, for, in the words of one writer, “the reason (there was no social or political unrest was because) the people (had been) bludgeoned (by the social, political and military powers of the time) into (submitting to the will of Augustus)”.  (G C Morgan in The Gospel according to Luke p34 – 35, quoted in G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p31) 

  God’s peace, in contrast, is one of ‘shalom’, of fulfillment, of completeness, of being at rest and in commune with God.  “This peace is realised by those who received God’s Son.”  (G Coleman Luck in Luke  The Gospel of the Son of Man p32)  It is not a peace imposed upon us, nor a peace of our own making, but a peace given by God’s grace and mercy.  For, as the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 5: 1) 

  At this beginning of a new year, let us move forward with this hope and hold firmly to this promise.  For, indeed, we eagerly hear God’s voice and eagerly rejoice at His Good News of sadness turned into joy, of mourning turned into gladness, of release from poverty and captivity, and of healing for the broken-hearted.  (Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People Year C p 35 & 36)  Let us join with the angels and sing of glory to God for the great things He has done for us through His son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Wew sing Hymn ‘O God, our help in ages past’  MHB878  AHB46  TiS47

Isaac Watts

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[ sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction]

[This YouTube is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed]

[alternatively, if you have the facility on your computer to play such music, double-click on the Mp3 file below and then select ‘open’ – there is a very small introduction]

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

Let us come before God with our cares and our concerns.

Almighty God, we pray for the Church, that we may recognize our calling to be your daughters and sons, and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to manifest your love and compassion through our words and deeds.

We pray for understanding, that we may learn from Jesus how to be fully Human and place all our gifts and talents into your service.

We pray for a renewal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that you will stir up the gift of the Spirit within us, make us strong in our faith and dynamic in our love.

We pray for a deepening of prayer in our lives: that, like Jesus, we may grow in our relationship with you through prayer and listening.

We pray for courage, that you will strengthen us to bear the challenges of daily life and thus give witness to your faithfulness.

We pray for all who have been baptized in our community, particularly those during this last year: that they may be faithful disciples of Jesus and continue to grow in their knowledge and love of you.

We pray for all who have responded to your call to ministry, that you will strengthen them, make fruitful their service, and empower them with the Holy Spirit.

We pray for all who need a shepherd’s care, that you will provide for those lacking food or heat, guide refugees and those fleeing violence, and bring freedom to those unjustly detained.

We pray for all who are making vocational choices, that the Holy Spirit will guide them in responding to you guiding and directing.

We pray for all who have experienced abuse or discrimination, that they may hear your affirmation that they are beloved and that they will experience healing for their bodies, minds, and spirits.

We pray for all who have suffered persecution or discrimination for proclaiming the Gospel and living out their life of faith.  Strengthen them, bring them through their times of difficulty.  Convict those who display hatred and opposition towards your Church of their error and ultimately of the hatred that they are displaying towards you.  Convince them that it is you who represent what is truth and life giving.

We pray for all who are sick, that you will heal those who are ill, bring an end to the Covid pandemic, and sustain all who care for the sick.

We pray for all young adults who attend worship, that they may respond to your invitations to build up the Christian community and to participate in the mission of the Church.

We pray for a new dawning of peace and reconciliation, that those who strive for peace may not tire and that you will open new opportunities for opponents to recognize the good in one another.

We pray that you will guide those whom you have chosen to be your agents in places of authority, that they may rule with justice and integrity, and break down barriers to truth and honesty.

Copyright © 2021. Joe Milner. All rights reserved.<br> Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. – https://liturgy.slu.edu/

[Raymond Chapman in Leading Intercessions p90 & 91, David Hostetter in Prayers for the Seasons of god’s People Year C p36]

  We pray for the people of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, during this time of increasing hostility within these nations and of increasing uncertainty about the future.  We pray for those who unceasingly work for peace and reconciliation in the Holy Land, that you will encourage them and strengthen their efforts.  We pray for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, that it will achieve its goals of growing harmony and cooperation where hostility and suspicion now exist.  We pray for those who continue to welcome the multitudes of refugees in their lands, that they will see positive results from their work.

We pray for an ending the violence racking this region, that the people might live together in peace, security and respect for each other those who have grown weary and disillusioned in searching for solutions.  We pray for an end to religious differences being exploited to perpetuate conflict and further displacement of people.  We pray for political leaders who will courageously bring about justice and reconciliation for the sake of all.

Grant to all our leaders attributes of the strong; mutual respect in word and deed, restraint in the exercise of power, and the will for peace with justice, for all.

We pray for the Mawlamyine Christian Leprosy Hospital and the Christian Leprosy Mission in Eastern Shan province in Myanmar, please bless them and their work.  We pray for the success of an Early Childhood Intervention Pilot model, which is running in two townships in Myanmar.  We pray  for TLM Myanmar’s prosthesis, orthotics and orthopaedic shoes team & mobile workshops as they continue production and services for people affected by leprosy and persons with disabilities.  We pray for the successful completion of the workshop building and the installation of the machines and equipment.  We pray for a settling of the political situation in Myanmar, so that the work of treating leprosy is not hindered.  We pray for TLM Myanmar Staff as they commit to serving the community, may they be kept them safe from Covid-19.  We pray for the churches in Myanmar, that they will be more serious about the inclusion of leprosy and disability in their worship programmes. We pray for our Board Members and our Senior Leadership Team as they serve and govern TLM Myanmar.  We pray for MAPAL, the Myanmar Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy, for the different MAPAL groups across 15 places in Myanmar, that they will each be a blessing to their communities.

Partner in Prayer

We pray for all Scripture Union school chaplains that they will rest and recuperate during the school holidays so that they are refreshed and encouraged to face the tasks and challenges of the 2022 school year.

We pray for the success of the presentation of the Gospel at Scripture Union camps and beach missions over the school holidays.  We pray for the safety of the leaders and those who attend the activities.

We pray for those who provided Religious Instruction at Bald Hills State School during 2021, that you will encourage them to continue to lead their weekly classes in 2022.  May the Holy Spirit work in the hearts and minds of the children who were in these classes during 2021, that they will come to an understanding of the truths of the Gospel and respond to the message of your love and grace for them.

Loving God, we bring these prayers to you, trusting in your compassion and care.  To your glory we pray.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

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

Give us today our daily bread.

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

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

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

Now and forever.  Amen.

We sing the Hymn ‘Through all the changing scenes of life’  MHB427  AHB30  TiS112

Nahum Tate

Nicholas Brady

Benediction    

  God assures us when He states:

“I make plans and carry them out.  I have understanding and I am strong.”  (Proverbs 8: 14) 

  Let us face each day trusting that whatever happens in our individual lives or in the wider World, that it is God’s will and that His plans will prevail.  May this truth encourage us to face the coming year with confidence and with the reassurance that God’s love follows us every step of our lives.

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

Benediction Song

“By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered”  TiS617

[sung to the tune Finlandia – only the one verse to be sung – there is a short introduction]

Verse 1 of 1

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,

And confidently waiting come what may,

We know that God is with us night and morning

And never fails to greet us each new day.

We shall remember all the days we live through

All of our life before our God we lay.

Dietrich Bonhoffer

Translated by Frederick Pratt Green