Welcome and Announcements
Acknowledgement of country
We acknowledge that we are gathered here today on the unceded lands of the Dharawal people, the first inhabitants and custodians of this place from time beyond remembering. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present.
All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Today we celebrate God beyond, beside and within us.
We celebrate the light of the world that guides us in the way, the truth and the life has not been overcome by darkness.
We celebrate: the Spirit that renews life, joy, and possibilities. We symbolise this in the lighting the candle
Call to worship
We who come from near and far, who are of wide-ranging ages, contrasting cultures, different first languages, varying faith perspectives, assorted political opinions and diverse educational and socio-economic backgrounds assemble, and are united in the love of God.
Let us worship God, our Gatherer, Host and Friend!
Prayer Of Invocation/Welcome
Great ingathering God,
you who see no distinction and make no distinctions—
looking only for humility and depth of heart—
we call on you, through your Spirit,
to shape, colour and fill our worship.
May we leave room for something surprising to happen,
May we be grounded in the all-embracing love of Christ.
Amen.
Hymn: Here in this place/Gather Us In
Let us give praise with the psalmist who declares,
One: Holy One, our help,
you hear our cry and offer to heal:
All: We give thanks to you forever.
One: Holy One, our help,
you restore our souls,
restore us to community:
All: We give thanks to you forever.
One: Holy One, our help,
each day with you brings new joy!
All: We give thanks to you forever.
Holy One, our help,
mourners dance, and souls will not stay silent:
All: We give thanks to you forever. Amen.
Prayer of confession
Holy One,
we confess that sometimes we are not kind for kindness’ sake alone.
Sometimes, we invest in others only for what they will give us in return.
Sometimes, we invite only the people we know and like.
Sometimes, because we look for a return invitation, the quid pro quo.
We confess that sometimes we are more concerned for ourselves than for each other.
We seek more to appear generous than to share what we have.
We do not live into your call. Forgive us.
Restore us to your way.
leave a time of silence (one to three minutes)
Words of Assurance
We are forgiven. God sees and understands, and restores us to the way of love and wisdom, care and welcome, so we might live with joyful generosity, and share that loving welcome with others. Be at peace. Amen.
HEARING THE WORD
Readings
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.
Luke 14:1, 7-14, 15-24
(1)One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
(7-14) Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.
But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[a] or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
(15-24)One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, “Come; for everything is ready now.” But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.” So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, “Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.” And the slave said, “Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, “Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.”’
Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak.
All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.
Hymn/Song: Lord Let Me See
Lord let me see see more and more
See the beauty of a person, Not the colour of their skin
See the faces of the homeless, With no one to take them in
See discouragement because they’ll never win
See the face of our Lord in the pain: Lord let me see.
Lord let me hear, hear more and more
Hear the sounds of great rejoicing, Hear a person barely sigh
Hear the ring of truth And hollowness of those who live a lie
Hear the wail of starving people who will die
Hear the voice of our Lord in the cry: Lord let me hear.
Lord let me care, care more and more
Care for those who feel the loneliness, For those who have no say
Care for friends who have no job And find it hard to face the day
Care for those with whom we sing and work and pray
And in care Jesus Christ will be found: Lord let me care
Lord let me learn, learn more and more
Learn that what I know is just a speck Of what there is to know
Learn from listening to my neighbour When I’d rather speak and go
Learn that as we live in faith and trust we grow
Learn to see hear and care with our Lord: Lord let me learn.
Lord let me love, love more and more
Love the loveless and the fragile, Help them be what they can be
Love the way that I would like Them to be looking after me
For to know You is to love them and be free
And in love Jesus Christ will be found: Lord let me love
CCLI Song # 1447551, Ross Langmead, © 1981, 1987 Langmead, Ross (Admin. by Alison Langmead), For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI Licence # 31951
Sermon Dr John McKinnon (You can view John’s sermon from 1.00)
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Offering
We who have enough, and more, are pleased to share with those in need. Let us pray: Holy One, may we not love money for itself or what it gives us, but be grateful to have enough and have enough to share. Bless what we give through this church, and may we be part of a change that makes longer tables and enough chairs for all.
Amen.
Prayers of the people (Loraine)
Hymn/Song: Because we bear your name
Benediction
We have feasted at God’s table again, sure of our place, our welcome, our home.
Go now, and share the invitation with others, into nurture, into love, into life.
May Holy One, Holy Three go with you,
inspiring generosity, abounding in love, breathing peace,
in you and through you always.
Amen.
Benediction Song: The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
And give you peace
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