You can watch the service here, or scroll down to read the rest of the Sunday prayers and content, and watch the sermon at the point it occurs during worship.
GATHERING THE PEOPLE
Welcome
Friends, you are welcome in this place. We come with what we know of, and have experienced in life, we come seeking to discover what we don’t yet know about God and God’s hopes and dreams for our lives. Together, we seek to make this a safe environment for all who search for meaning and purpose in life.
The story of God is bigger, wider, more inclusive and welcoming, and filled with more love than we could ever imagine. God loves and accepts us just as we are. Engadine Uniting seeks to be a safe place for all people to gather regardless of age, ability, sexuality, or culture. We gather today accepting each other in our diversity to seek love and joy in the presence of God. There is room here for everyone, there is room here for you.
So welcome again to everyone sitting in this church today and to those who are joining our worship service this morning via zoom or who may be dialing in to listen to our service.
My name is Susan. I am a member of Engadine Uniting Church and will lead the worship service today (for the first time!).
Acknowledgement of country
We pay our respects to elders past and present as they hold the knowledge, language and spiritual connections to this country.
We Acknowledge:
Our gratitude for this land we share today,
Our sorrow for the cost of that sharing,
Our hope that together in the spirit of Reconciliation,
we move to a place of justice and partnership,
As together we walk gently on this land.
All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.
Call to worship
From my first to my last:
O God, you are my rock.
From beginning to end:
O God, you nurture the world.
Be present with us in this time and this place.
We worship you, O God.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Opening Prayer
Creator-of-all,
it is a mystery to us
how you weave all life together,
holding all in your hands,
nurturing each element of the universe from dust.
And as you mother all things into life,
you accompany us, even here, even now.
We ask that you would be among us,
set your Spirit upon us,
call us again to live with Christ’s love.
Amen.
Hymn/Song:
Come as you are, that’s how I want you (Together in Song 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
CCLI Song # 1504731, Deirdre Browne © 1986 Spectrum Publications Pty. Ltd. For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
Prayer of adoration and confession
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
How easily, God, we lose our way.
We long for peace but imagine that it can only come
from having power over others.
Or if we can’t beat them, we’ll join them –
cozying up with power,
sliding into compromise and corruption.
Forgive us, God, for all the ways we forfeit your ways of peace,
for the ways we turn our back on our vocation
to be light-bearers in a world where the wolves roam freely.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
When we return to God, we are embraced.
Like a hen gathering her brood beneath her wings
God keeps us safe.
God forgives us.
God saves us.
The writer of Psalm 71 declares that God is like a place of safety and rest.
Let us then confess our trust in God together:
In you, Loving God, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness free me and rescue me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
Be to me a place of safety and security,
a strong fortress, to protect me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
For you, O God, are my hope,
my trust, O God, from my youngest days.
Amen.
Words of Grace
The psalmist speaks of God’s presence, nurturing, teaching, and accompanying, even from our earliest days. Hear these words of comfort and grace: God has not left us. Christ is among us, God’s Spirit is in the midst of the world.
Thank you God.
HEARING THE WORD
Readings – Lesley and Doug G
Let us pray: God, please open our ears and minds and hearts so that as we hear the words of the Bible, you will speak to us and bring us new life.
1st Reading: Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
2nd Reading
Jeremiah 1:4–10
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7 But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a boy,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.”
9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me,
“Now I have put my words in your mouth.
10 See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak.
All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.
Item and Song
Jeremiah 1 – I Set You Apart || Bible in Song || Project of Love
Project of Love is one man, Xander Stok, and his God-inspired dream – to put all books of the bible to song. After years of struggling with depression, he met God. He states “He took me out of the pit, gave me new life, new clothes, a mission, and here I am.”
For years, Xander had a deep sense of not belonging – Like he had been dropped off on the wrong planet, like this world was not his home, like his home was somewhere else. These feelings of being an outsider cultivated a life of deep depression, and addictions – to escape these feelings. Xander says “No matter how successful I was, I felt empty, small and insignificant. Estranged from the world and its people.”
In his encounter with God, he was freed from depression and experienced a peace that transcends all understanding. For the first time in his life he truly felt like he belonged. And he states that Jeremiah 1: 5-10 was one of the first verses given to him by the Holy Spirit. Especially verse 5: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart…”
In writing this, Jeremiah is describing an intimacy that he feels with God. Jeremiah senses that God knows him and has planned for this moment. It is not a statement of scientific fact or a Christian doctrine of when life begins but it is Jeremiah describing his own ”God encounter”.
It seems like Jeremiah found this encounter a great encouragement as he began and continued a difficult ministry in a time of local and global unrest, uncertainty and violence – violence that severely impacted Jeremiah and also made him feel hated and rejected by everyone.
Even though this passage is about how Jeremiah felt and experienced God, reading it helped Xander also feel loved and wanted; that he belonged; that his life had purpose. On his website Xander exclaims “You know what that means? The God of heaven and earth created me with deep love, care and attention. I was no accident. Now this world still doesn’t feel like my home, but I belong here, I was made for such a time as this.”
When you look at the events that have brought you to where you are now, one thing is certain: God was there and indeed God is here now. And the really good news is, this is not just true for Xander or Jeremiah. It’s true for you too. You are wanted. Planned. Accepted. Loved. And, you belong.
Let’s watch Xander’s Song of Jeremiah 1
Sermon/Reflection – Sue, with activity by Susan
Activity: Examining things that we say to ourselves, compared with what God speaks to us.
Each group has a sheet of faces with speech bubbles. On the left side of the page you can discuss and write some of the negative or unhelpful things we may say to ourselves. On the right hand side of the page, fill in the speech bubbles with things that God might say.
Allow time for groups to share – 10 mins
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Prayer, Creed or other response – Susan
Mother Teresa said “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Let’s pray –
Lord you created us with love, care and attention. Help us to remember our worth. Help us each day to discern and complete the little things that you have set before us. Lead us as we heed your call. Thank you that you will never leave us.
Amen
Now Let’s sing together…
Hymn/Song:
Here I am, Lord D. Schutte, Together in Song 658, ONE LICENSE 80670
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Refrain:
Here I am, Lord.
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord,
if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain
Offertory prayer
Thank you to everyone as you bring your gifts of loving service and financial support through online giving. If you prefer to use cash, it can be placed in the wooden box at the back, and you can also make one-off donations via the QR code on the box. Let us pray:
Generous God, we bring our diverse gifts.
Bless our offerings as you have blessed our lives.
Help us to give as you do, freely,
without expectation of return,
desiring the flourishing of all things.
Amen.
Prayers of the people – Bruce
Bruce will now lead us in the prayers of the people, followed by a version of the Lord’s prayer by SARAH DYLAN BREUER
Loving Creator
we honour you, and we honour all that you have made.
Renew the whole world in the image of your love.
Give us what we need for today,
and a hunger to see the whole world fed.
Strengthen us for what lies ahead;
heal us from the hurts of the past;
give us courage to follow your call in this moment.
For your love is the only power,
the only home, the only honor we need,
in this world and in the world to come.
Amen.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who did something to help out today. Without volunteers we cannot keep going. We love you and you are appreciated!
Benediction
God called Jeremiah!
God also calls us, calls you:
to follow after Christ
to live with compassion,
to call out injustice
to build communities of love,
with God’s Spirit as your companion.
Go in peace to love and serve God.
In the name of Christ, we agree!
Amen!
Benediction Song:
May the feet of God
May the feet of God walk with you and his hand hold you tight.
May the eye of God rest on you and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you and his breath give you life.
May the Child of God grow in you and his love bring you home.
Words: Aubrey Podlich; Music: Robin Mann © 1983
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