(The readings and sermon can be watched here)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the Dharawal people who live on this land on which we now call Australia. We honour their elders past and present and pledge afresh our commitment to work together. Today, our voices are joined with their voices in their desire & ours for reconciliation and justice making.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord God of all creation, as the earth spins on its axis so that the sun can warm all the earth, we remember that your faithfulness is more constant than the rising and the setting of the sun. Lord God of all creation, God of intimacy, you are closer to us than the beating of our hearts. Lord God of all creation whom we see in the face and life of Christ Jesus, we worship and adore you this day. Amen
CANDLE LIGHTING Darkness is strong but light is stronger. Christ Jesus is the Light of the world. His light we pledge to follow in his service. We light this candle as a sign of what we believe.
HYMN
When morning gilds the skies
My soul awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike in work and prayer
I know my Lord is there:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth’s wide circle round
In joyful notes resound:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky
From depth to height, reply:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this while life is mine
My song of praise divine
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song
Through all the ages long
May Jesus Christ be praised!
CCLI Song # 3928961 Dave Williamson | Edward Caswall | Johan Olof Wallin © Words: Public Domain Music: 2001 Curb Word Music (Admin. by CopyCare Pacific Pty. Ltd.) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI Licence # 31951
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Lenten Studies, Wednesday Book Club & Sydney Alliance…
HYMN
The great love of God is revealed in the Son
who came to this earth to redeem everyone.
That love, like a stream flowing clear to the sea
makes clean every heart that from sin would be free.
It binds the whole world, every barrier it breaks
the hills it lays low, and the mountains it shakes.
It’s yours, it is ours, O how lavishly given!
The pearl of great price, and the treasure of heaven.
Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (1908 – 1970) Used with permission CCLI Licence 31951
BAPTISM
Rev Paul Bartlett: Today it is our joy and privilege to formally welcome Terry who wishes to follow the way of Christ. Terry, we thank God for the grace that has brought you amongst us and in our welcome, ask what it is that you seek?
Terry: I seek life in Christ.
Paul: Terry, you have answered God’s call. You have set out towards your baptism. You have decided to worship God alone, who is known in Jesus Christ. Since you have made this choice are you resolved to remain loyal to Christ, and to follow only him?
Terry: I am.
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’. You have been drawn to Christ’s light and the way of the gospel is open before you. Journey with us and learn to trust Christ. Jesus will show you how to love God and neighbour. Are you ready, with God’s help to share in the Church’s worship, witness and service and to be formed as a disciple of Jesus? Will you be faithful in attending to the Church’s worship of God? And will you listen for the word of God & open your heart and mind to welcome Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
Terry: I will, with God’s help.
Leanne: Sisters and brothers in Christ, will you share this journey of faith with Terry, supporting her with your prayers and example of faith so that she may grow in the knowledge and love of God and of Jesus Christ? We will. Terry, receive the mark of the cross of Christ, as a sign of the way you are to walk, a sign of Christ with you. May the power of the Holy Spirit enable you to know and follow our Lord Jesus Christ until he calls you to baptism in His name. Glory and praise to you, loving God.
Bible Reading: Ian
1 Corinthians 3: 1- 6 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the
Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all kindness and mercy, you know the destructive cycles we often get caught up in – cycles of contempt, cycles of lust, cycles of exploitation, cycles of dis-engagement, cycles of self-centeredness, cycles of deceit – that harm ourselves, others & rob each of us of your life-giving worth & identity. We confess that our old thinking and habits even when we call you ‘Lord’ keep us trapped in lives that negate peace & freedom. Help us to be like you. Come to us with compassion and grace, O God.
God knows our struggles and has not remained at a distance. God has entered into our experience, in Christ, forgiving us and transforming us through love and mercy. Thanks be to God. Amen
Bible Reading: Ian, Matthew 5: 21 – 37 selected verses (NIV)
You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. Here we find God’s word for daily life. Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: Paul
HYMN ODE TO JOY
Wounded world that cries for healing —
here we hold each other’s pain
wounded systems, bruised and bleeding
bear the load, the scars of strain;
dollars ration out compassion
hard decisions rule the day
Jesus of the healing Spirit
free us to another way!
Through our nation’s spent frustration
through the corridors of stress
may there move a kindlier wisdom
all may feel, and all may bless;
tax and tithe are for a purpose
shared to shield the poor and weak:
past the symptoms of our sickness
let the voice of justice speak.
Honour those whose loving spirit
nurses hope, restores and heals
towel and basin used in service
like the Christ who comes and kneels;
in the tending, in the mending
may we see the right and fair
in our common quest for wholeness
heal each other by our care.
Words Shirley Erena Murray © 1996 Hope Publishing Company. Used with permission CCLI Licence 31951
OFFERATORY PRAYER
COMMON GRACE – The Voice video (2 min 45 sec)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORD’S PRAYER Heather
HYMN (inclusive words)
God be our vision, O Lord of our hearts
Naught be all else to us, save that you are
You’re our best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, your presence our light.
God be our wisdom, you’re our true Word
We’re ever with you, and you with us Lord
God our great Lord, your child let us be
You in us dwelling, and us one with you.
Riches we scorn nor the world’s empty praise
You’re our inheritance, now and always
You and you only, the first in our hearts
High King of heaven, our treasure you are.
High King of heaven, after vic-to-ry won
May we reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of our own hearts, whatever befall
Still be our vision, O ruler of all.
CCLI Song # 30639 Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne © Words: Public Domain Music: Public Domain For use solely with the SongSelect. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI Licence # 31951
BLESSING & BENEDICTION
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