CHRIST CANDLE
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. In him was life and that life was the light of all humankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
(John 1:1-5) We light our Christ candle to remember who and whose we are.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
We acknowledge the sovereign First Peoples of these lands and waters where we meet, of the Dharawal people. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and to all their descendants who have cared for this place and sought the presence of God’s Spirit in word and song, in custom and in their stewardship of this land since before recorded history.
WELCOME
Come each and every one who gathers here today, we are all made in God’s image and so each of us are welcomed in God’s name as if we were the only children of God’s creation. So let us worship God this day in song and with all of our being. Holy Spirit draw us into our own encounter with the threefold name of God that each one of us might hear your call and walk in your footsteps. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
A PSALM OF AFFIRMATION – Psalm 121
I lift my eyes to the hills
From where will my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD
The maker of heaven and earth.
God’s presence is right beside you day and night
For the One who watches over you never slumbers or sleeps.
The LORD, our God watches over each one of us, always.
HYMN
Sing praise to God who reigns above
The God of all creation
The God of power the God of love
The God of our salvation
With healing balm our souls God fills
And every faithless murmur stills:
To God all praise and glory!
The Lord is never far away
But through all grief distressing
An ever-present help and stay
Our peace and joy and blessing
As with a mother’s tender hand
God leads God’s own God’s chosen band:
To God all praise and glory!
Come, you that name Christ’s holy name
Give God all praise and glory
And all who own his power, proclaim
Aloud the wondrous story.
Cast each false idol from its throne
The Lord is God, and he alone:
To God all praise and glory!
Words: Public Domain; Music: 2002 Pilot Point Music Used with permission CCLI Licence #31951
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (based on Psalm 25)
Our Lord, on you I rest my very being, on you I stake my life. Don’t let me ever be ashamed or discouraged by the success of others for no one who truly seeks to follow you is ever disgraced.
Forgive me Lord when I have forgotten these your promises.
Show me again Lord the disciple’s path and teach me afresh your ways that I may trust in you.
Help me to remember your unfailing compassion especially when others preach only judgment.
Remember not the failings and mis-steps of my youth or the events of this past week that may have caused you grief; but according to your love and mercy as seen in Jesus, remember me.
You alone are truth worthy and true and in you I will find sanctuary and love, in you I will find courage and purpose for my life and our life as your community. I do so confess. Praise be to God!
BIBLE READINGS Andrew, Aquila & Priscilla & Barnabas
John 1: 35 – 42 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah”. And he brought him to Jesus.
John 12: 20 – 22 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Acts 18: 1 – 19 (selected verses) After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila.
1Cor 16:19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
Acts 9:26 – 27 When Saul came to Jerusalem (following his conversion) he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Acts 11: 22 – 26 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians, followers of the Christus, at Antioch.
Acts 13: 1 -3 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. In this we hear God’s invitation to Life!
HYMN
Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult
of our life’s wild restless sea
day by day His voice is sounding
saying, ‘Christian, follow me’
as, of old, Saint Andrew heard it
by the Galilean lake
turned from home and toil and kindred
leaving all for his dear sake.
Jesus calls us! By your mercies
Saviour, may we hear your call
give our hearts to your obedience
serve and love you best of all.
Cecil Frances Alexander 1818 – 1895 Public Domain Used with Permission Licence # CCLI 31951
MESSAGE
HYMN (repeat twice)
Sent by the Lord am I, my hands are ready now
to make the earth the place, in which the kingdom comes.
The angels cannot change, a world of hurt and pain
into a world of love, of justice and of peace.
The task is mine to do to set it really free.
Oh, help me to obey; help me to do your will.
Traditional Nicaraguan. © 1991 World Council of Churches. Used with permission Licence # CCLI 31951
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERATORY PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Karen R
HYMN
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice
tender to me the promise of his word
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His name!
Make known His might, the deeds His arm has done
His mercy sure, from age to age the same
His holy Name – the Lord, the Mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of His word!
Firm is His promise, and His mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children’s children and for evermore!
Timothy Dudley-Smith 1926 – Renewal 1990 Hope Publishing Company. Used with permission.
Licence # CCLI 31951
BLESSING & BENEDICTION All Together (twice)
Faith, hope and love, this is what we long for.
Faith, hope and love, this is what we need.
Faith, hope and love, this is what we cry for
Oh, teach us how to live.© 1994 Trisha Watts. By permission Willow Connection. Licence CCLI # 31951
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