WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
Sing to GOD a new song; play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
For the word of the Lord is upright, and all GOD’s work is done in faithfulness.
GOD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. (Ps 33:2 – 5)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
You are the Creator, LORD. This is your land.
You are the Son, LORD. Land given with identity, stewardship and love in mind.
You are the Holy Spirit, LORD. Present to the Dharawal peoples through song, culture and law.
We gather on your land and their land, the gift of God in community; so let us honour you and them, their elders past and present and our search for reconciliation and justice making.
OUR CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather to worship God
The promise maker.
We gather to worship God
The promise keeper.
We gather to worship God
Because we trust in your promises.
We believe you when you say you care about us.
Be close to us today, we pray. Amen
CANDLE LIGHTING
When do we light a candle, Lord?
When we can no longer discern your brother or sister’s faces.
When do we light a candle Lord?
When compassion and love are in need of a home.
HYMN TIS 693
Come as you are, that’s how I want you
Come as you are, feel quite at home
Close to My heart, loved and forgiven
Come as you are, why stand alone.
No need to fear, love sets no limits
No need to fear, love never ends
Don’t run away, shamed and disheartened
Rest in My love, trust Me again.
I came to call sinners, not just the virtuous
I came to bring peace, not to condemn
Each time you fail, to live by My promise
Why do you think, I’d love you the less.
Come as you are, that’s how I love you
Come as you are, trust Me again
Nothing can change, the love that I bear you
All will be well, just come as you are.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
OLD TESTAMENT READING David & Genelle
Genesis 12:1 – 9 the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’
So he built there an altar to the LORD who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on by stages towards the Negeb in the south.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, As we gather in prayer, you invite us to lay down all that burdens us of mind and of heart, of anxiety and of worry, of grief and of loss, of physical pain and of ill-health. May we also let go of the things that do not sustain us or serve you. May we be comforted in our griefs. These our prayers, we bring to the lifter of burdens and the giver of God’s Peace. Amen.
ASSURANCE: May we know in body, mind, spirit & heart God’s peace that is beyond human understanding & may each of us be comforted in every distress on this day & in the days to come.
HYMN
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because God’s given
Jesus Christ His Son.
And now let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks, give thanks.
CCLI Song # 20285 Henry Smith © 1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI Licence # 31951
GOSPEL READING David & Genelle
Matthew 9: 9 -13 (NRSV) As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in Matthew’s house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, Jesus said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifices**.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’
In this we hear God’s word of invitation and hope. Thanks be to God.
**Hosea 6:6 “I desire mercy, not sacrifices, acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings”.
MESSAGE Rev Paul Bartlett: We follow a pilgrim God
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HYMN – More Voices
Hope of Abraham and Sarah
friend of Hagar, God of Ruth
you desire that every people
worship you in spirit, truth.
Meet us in our sacred places
mosque and synagogue and church
Show us paths of understanding
bless us in our common search.
Root us in our own tradition
faith our forebears handed down.
Grow us in your grace and knowledge;
plant our feet on solid ground.
Cultivate the seeds of sharing
in this world of many creeds.
Keep us open, wise in learning
bearing fruit in loving deeds.
Hope of Abraham and Sarah
sov’reign God whom we adore
form in us your new creation
free of violence, hate, and war.
So my Torah, cross and crescent
each a sign of life made new
point us t’ward your love and justice
earth at peace and one in you.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Jan
HYMN – All Together Again
One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go,
from the old things to the new,
keep me traveling a-long with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.
Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see,
you’ll be looking at along with me:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.
As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
Where I see no way to go
you’ll be telling me the way I know:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.
Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough,
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.
You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me,
ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with you:
And it’s from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.
BLESSING & BENEDICTION – TIS 778
Shalom to you now
Shalom my friends
May God’s full mercies bless you my friends
In all your living and through your loving
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
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