Please note that no video was recorded for this service.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN – Morning has Broken
Morning has broken
Like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the word.
Sweet the rain’s new fall
Sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall
On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
Of the wet garden
Sprung from completeness
Where his feet pass.
Mine is the sunlight
Mine is the morning
Born of the one light
Eden saw play.
Praise with elation
God’s recreation
Of the new day.
BIBLE READING (New Testament) – Colossians 3: 12 – 17
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
As we stand at the close of another year, Holy & Eternal One, we pause for a moment and name with honesty: the disappointments….the delights….the gifts….the griefs….the losses….the love….along with our turning from you….our turning toward you….our faithful enacting of your way of life….
And we marvel Lord at all that you are, God Emmanuel, and all that you became one of us who grew in wisdom and stature. Help us to acknowledge all of these things in and through your Name.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Dear friends, as best as possible look back without regret. God of new beginnings says to us that what has caused you grief is bound in the Lord – you may let it go lest it be forever the prism through which you see life so that you can embark on a new year, entering life with new promise, with a peace that the world does not know nor understand. May the Peace of Christ rule in each of our hearts this day. Amen
HYMN
Love came down at Christmas
Love all lovely, love divine
Love was born at Christmas
Star and angel gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead
Love incarnate, Love divine
Worship we our Jesus
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token
Love be yours & love be mine
Love to God and neighbours
Love for plea & gift & sign.
GOSPEL READING Luke 2: 41 – 52
MESSAGE It takes time, to grow, in faith!
God’s time: Κψριοσ and Human time: Καιροσ…
Discuss in groups: How do you see the Colossians reading being lived out in your life – give examples…
More discussion: And as a congregation how has EUC grown in wisdom & stature & in favour with God?
Further discussion: what does it mean for you in practical terms ‘to live in God’s house’?
HYMN Help us accept each other
Help us accept each other
as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother
each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us
and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted
And meant to love and live.
Teach us, O Lord, your lessons
As in our daily life
We struggle to be human
And search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people
for all – not just for some
to love them as we find them
Or as they may become.
Let your acceptance change us
so that we may be moved
in living situations
to do the truth in love;
to practice your acceptance
until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness
and laughter’s healing art.
Lord, for today’s encounters
with all who are in need
who hunger for acceptance
for justice and for bread.
We need new eyes for seeing
new hands for holding on:
renew us with your Spirit
Lord, free us, make us one!
PRAYERS FOR OUR WORLD
‘Women Weeping’ : Based on the ‘Massacre of the Infants’ as found in Matthew 2 vs 16.
“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated and he sent and had killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi.
Our Prayers…
LORD’S PRAYER
Eternal Spirit, source of all that is and ever shall be; loving Parent in whom we discern heaven, may knowledge of your holiness inspire all peoples, and may your commonwealth of peace and freedom flourish on earth until all of humankind heeds your call to justice & compassion.
May we find the bread that we need for today, and for the hurts we cause one another, may we be forgiven in the same measure that we forgive. In times of trial and temptation, help us to be strong and deliver us. When life seems overwhelming, help us to endure; so that you reign in the power of human love, now and forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
Be there at our labours, and give us, we pray
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
BLESSING & BENEDICTION
Jesus was born among us to show us God’s love. Go into your day – go into your new year full of the love of God, the companionship of Jesus, and the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the Three in One. Amen.
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