You can watch the bible readings and sermon here, or scroll down to read the rest of the Sunday prayers and content, and watch this video at the point it occurs during worship.
Call to worship / Acknowledgement of Country / Safe Place
David danced before the Lord with all his might.
Worship allows us to express our joy.
John the Baptist was unjustly executed.
Faith allows us to acknowledge painful realities.
John’s disciples came and tended to his body.
Worship makes space for tender and loving acts.
Celebrating, mourning or acting in love,
in worship we bring our whole lives before God.
As we gather for worship
we acknowledge that we do so on the land of the Dharawal people,
the first inhabitants of this place from time beyond remembering.
We honour them for their care and custodianship of the land and,
consistent with the Uniting Church covenant with the Congress,
we commit ourselves to walking more closely with First Nations people
towards a more reconciled future.
And let each of us know this is a safe space.
God loves and receives us just as we are,
and is quite blind to matters of age, ability, sexuality, or culture.
Everyone is a part of our circle of faith and exploration,
and each one enriches the whole community.
Know that you are welcome today.
Hymn – Come O God of all the earth
Prayer
Like Psalm 1, this prayer imagines us as a tree besides a river… Perhaps you’d like to think of yourself that way for a moment…
You, loving God,
are the ground of our being and the river of life;
you both steady our roots
and draw us to seek the living waters.
You are like the sunlight enticing us taller and stronger
your Spirit like the breeze, rustling our leaves.
You are with us through hard seasons of summer heat,
and in the nights when winter’s frost ice the landscape
your love warms and sustains us.
O Lord, you are everything to us.
So let our gratitude be large,
let our praise be plentiful,
let our worship be full of wonder
and let our silence speak volumes of love.
Through Christ Jesus your ever-living Son.
Welcome
Covenant Anniversary Info – video
- 30 years since Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and the UCA signed a covenant to formalise the relationship and work together
- 15 years since Assembly adopted the preamble to the constitution
- 2 significant steps in the journey
- Interactive presentation on the Assembly website
- 1982-88, decision to establish a Black Congress
- 1983 decision to form the UAICC
- 1982 Assembly decided to stand in solidarity and not celebrate 1988 bi-centenary, but withdrew that in 1985 – very hurtful for the Congress
- 1994 signing the covenant – listen to Jill Tabart.
- Statement of lament of actions of previous churchesand willingness to work together
- 1996 Apology
- 2009-12 Preamble to constitution, acknowledging the context of our UC and that God was here before white people
- 2015-23 – 2018 endorsed statement from the heart
Hymn – Lord of earth and all creation
First lesson 2 Samuel 6: 1-5
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. 3 They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart 4 with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. 5 David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
Gospel reading Mark 6: 14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” 23 And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother,
“What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Sermon
Song – Beauty for brokenness
Prayer of dedication
The earth and its abundance are yours, O God;
the world, and those living in it.
We offer our lives and the gifts of our living,
to the fullness of your harvest and the spread of your kingdom;
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Notices
Prayers of intercession
O God, you know that the night has been deep and long;
chill shadows have fallen upon our hearts
and we have seen the darkness creep across the face of our land and world.
- we think of our world ravaged by conflict,
- we think of
- we think of powerful despots the world over, reflecting Herod of old; more concerned for their own power than caring for their people
We have felt helpless against the growing darkness, O God,
and so have stood silent and numbed,
at times concerned only for our own loss of light
and our seeming powerlessness to change the season.
- We forget the power of prayer
- We overlook strength in solidarity
- We choose to focus inwards and neglect the experience of others
We know that despair is ever seeking a home,
that love grows cold through fear and bitterness;
we too can retreat into indifference, let tears fall unnoticed,
and harden ourselves to the pain of others.
- And so we pray for those whose tears are fresh and who are in need.
- We pray for those unwell, recovering, grieving, or undergoing treatment
- and for all those battling the challenges and restrictions of age or disability.
But still O God, there is within us that longing for the light of dawn,
for the cracking of night and the rising of your sun.
- dare we hope for reconciliation between Israel and Palestine?
- dare we expect the life expectancy gap between indigenous and European Australians to close?
- dare we look to narrow the ever-increasing chasm between rich and poor?
Yes, O Lord, we dare.
And so we ask of you now, not for the patience of passivity,
but for the endurance and love that gains its strength from the crucified and risen One, who has pierced the darkness,
who knows the way,
and is still with us.
And it is in his name we pray.
Amen.
Hymn – Here in this place
Holy Communion
Setting the table
Blessed are you Lord God of all creation,
you are the giver of this bread.
Fruit of the earth and of human labour,
it will be for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God forever.
Blessed are you Lord God of all creation,
you are the giver of this wine.
Fruit of the vine and of human labour,
it will be for us the wine of the kingdom.
Blessed be God forever.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Gratitude, praise, hearts lifted high,
voices full and joyful…
these you deserve loving God.
For when we were nothing,
you made us something.
When we had no name and no faith and no future,
you called us your children.
When we lost our way or turned away,
you did not abandon us.
When we came back to you,
your arms opened wide in welcome
So now in gratitude, we join our voices
to those of the Church on earth and in heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, O God,
and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son
whom you sent to save us.
He came with healing in his touch,
and was wounded and rejected.
He came with mercy in his voice
and was mocked and despised.
He came with peace in his heart,
and met with violence and death.
But by your power O God,
he broke free from the prison of death.
The one who was dead now lives.
The one who humbled himself
is raised to rule over all creation.
The one who was alone and abandoned,
is with us always as he promised.
So as we do in this place
what you did in an upstairs room,
send down your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine
that they may become for us your body –
healing, forgiving and making us whole –
and that we may become for you,
your body, loving and caring in the world
until your kingdom comes.
Amen.
The Lord’s prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen
Breaking of the bread
Among friends, gathered around a table,
Jesus took bread, broke it and said,
‘This is my body, it is broken for you.’
And later he took a cup of wine and said,
‘This is the new relationship with God,
made possible because of my death.
Take this – all of you – to remember me.’
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Distribution
Prayer after communion
Living God,
the disciples would know the Risen Christ
as they were sent out to serve
and in the breaking of bread:
open our hearts,
that we too may recognise you in this meal
and be raised to new life as we step out in faith
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymn – For the bread that we have eaten
Sending forth and blessing
Within the darkness, may we discern Christ’s light.
For our pain, may we sense Christ’s balm.
In our confusion, may we know Christ’s sure presence.
May God almighty be with us,
creator, redeemer and sustainer. Amen
Recent Comments