Service for Sunday 9th July 2023, which was conducted by Mr Bai Poilapa (student lay preacher)

Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

(Psalm 45: 10 – 17)

“Bride of the King, listen to what I say – forget your people and your relatives. Your beauty will make the King desire you; he is your Master, so you must obey him. The people of Tyre will bring you gifts; rich people will try to win your favour.

The Princess is in the palace – how beautiful she is! Her gown is made of gold thread. In her colourful gown she is led to the King, followed by her bridesmaids, and they also are brought to him. With joy and gladness they come and enter the King’s palace.

You, my King, will have many sons to succeed your ancestors as Kings, and you will make them rulers over the whole Earth. My song will keep your fame alive forever, and everyone will praise you for all time to come.”

Sharing of Peace

You are invited to listen to or sing the Hymn TiS233 ‘I will sing the wondrous story’

Francis Rowley

Prayers

(to be presented in the worship service in the church; the words are not yet available)

Assurance of Forgiveness

Offering

Offering Prayer

Prayers for Others

O Lord our gracious and loving God,

We come to you this morning as your children, deeply aware of the fleetingness of time and life.

Life is precious, and for some it can be precarious.

As we reflect on the world around us and beyond our shores we are concerned for those who are under enormous pressure because of the situations that they find themselves in.

We pray for those who are anxious, and feeling overwhelmed by situations over which they have no control.

We are aware of various conflicts around the world, and the terrible situation in Ukraine continues to be in the forefront of our minds. We pray for those who have lost loved ones, their homes or their livelihoods, and for those who fear for their safety or the safety of loved ones caught up in the fighting Please grant them peace, and hope for their future.

Life for many can be punctuated by the unexpected, and the unwanted.

So we pray those in our own community who are experiencing anxiety because of issues concerning their health, their housing, their finances or their relationships, please grant them hope.

We pray, too, for the bush chaplains of Frontier Services who seek to provide much needed support and encouragement to those who live in remote or isolated regions of our country.

We pray for those in need in our community, especially for children who are suffering illness or disabilities.

May your Spirit bring healing.

We pray for those who give of their time and abilities to the work of your kingdom in our community.

As children return to school this week we pray for those who will provide school chaplaincy services while Kylie Conomos is on leave. We pray too for volunteers such as Ian, who lead the Religious Instruction classes at the school. May your Spirit continually renew them, and provide them with inspiration and wisdom to respond to their challenges.

We pray for all who contribute to the life of our congregation, and for those who lead our worship. May your Spirit continue to provide all who serve, with the inspiration needed to respond to individual situations.

We pray that your Spirit might grant us the vision to look beyond ourselves, and envision what we, as your people, can be and do in community.

We would bring to You the needs of those in our congregation who have their challenges:

dealing with grief, illness, disabilities and anxieties.

We pray that your Spirit might renew them in body, mind and spirit, and provide them with 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.

You have walked with each of us in our life’s journey, and we ask that these prayers will not be words alone, but the expressions of our hearts, offered in sincere faith.

And we offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, who taught us to 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.

Bible Reading

Matthew 11

25 At that time Jesus said,

“Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden rom the wise and learned. 26 Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.

27 My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

28Come to me all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. 30 For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.

You are invited to listen to or sing the Hymn TiS351 ‘Lift high the cross’