You can watch some parts of the service in this video here (mostly bible readings and the message) or scroll down and read the prayers and songs in the order they happened.
GATHERING THE PEOPLE
Welcome and Announcements
Friends, you are welcome in this place. Our time together is God’s gift to each of us. 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. Together let us seek to be Christ’s light and salt in the world. So welcome to those here in person, to those watching from home and to any one looking back to this Sunday service in time to come who couldn’t be here today.
Acknowledgement of country
We acknowledge the Dharawal people, traditional custodians of this land under God. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and commit ourselves again to working for reconciliation in this land. We recognise the continued ministry of First Peoples within the church, and their continuing connection to their land and living cultures. We acknowledge the ways in which we, the church, have been and continue to be complicit in the oppression of first peoples.
All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
As we light the candle, we think about one another… and we pray for each other, gathered and absent. We look to the light of Christ ever present with us and in us.
Call to worship
Creator God, we gather together from many places, pasts and communities to celebrate and worship together, as your people.
All: We come to worship God.
Jesus, life-giver, we celebrate all that brings us together. We are on a journey, learning and celebrating.
All: We come to worship Jesus.
Spirit of love, we are a living community and we give thanks for the movement of the Spirit – ever inspiring, strengthening, moving and challenging us.
All: We come to worship the Spirit.
Amen!
Prayer
We will read verses 1-5 of Psalm 105 as our prayer of invocation.
O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered
Amen
Hymn: Our first hymn today is Sing Praise and Thanksgiving by Paul Gerhardt 1607-76
Prayer of adoration and confession
God who holds us in the depths and on the mountaintop we seek your face in worship. We seek your face to shine on our questions, on our certainties, on our challenges, on our consolation.
Here in this place, we know the freedom to sing your praise while we also ask: How long, O Lord? How long before we see your justice? How long before we see your creation restored? How long O Lord?
Even as we ask these questions, we acknowledge our complicity in all that ails our world. We acknowledge that often we do not play our part in sharing love, in holding out peace. The things we do too often differentiate and discriminate and make your kingdom less.
So, Lord, hear our confession, hear our cry for forgiveness and our pledge, with your help, to do better.
And then help us who know we can count on your love and your forgiveness to go and make a difference.
To use what you reveal to us here to restore creation according to your will. Amen (Source GungahlinUniting.org)
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.
Reading 1: Genesis 37:1–4, 12–28
Joseph Dreams of Greatness
37 Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the story of the family of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their
father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves.[a] 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ 14 So he said to him, ‘Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.’ So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, ‘What are you seeking?’ 16 ‘I am seeking my brothers,’ he said; ‘tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.’ 17 The man said, ‘They have gone away, for I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.”’ So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19 They said to one another, ‘Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.’ 21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, ‘Let us not take his life.’ 22 Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him’—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves[a] that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,
and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers agreed. 28 When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to
the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
Video: ‘Joseph’s Coat ‘ | Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor … YouTube · The Shows Must Go On! 19 Sept 2020
Reading 2: Matthew 14:22–33
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, [a] for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
28 Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29 He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind,[b] he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak. All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.
Activity
Please join in if you would like to and are able:- there’s going to be some standing up and sitting down in this activity. I’m going to read out some statements; If you think doing the thing in the statement would take courage or trust then stand up, but if it would be easy for you then sit down.
Stand up if you think it would take courage to step out of a boat into a storm.
Sit down if you think Peter trusted Jesus when he took that first step.
Stand up if you think all of us sometimes need courage and trust to follow Jesus.
In this bible story the obvious miracle is that Peter’s faith in Jesus allowed him to walk on water but to me it’s also about Jesus reaching out his hand immediately. When Peter cried “Lord, save me”, Jesus didn’t hesitate. So it is in our lives – whatever storm or challenge we may be facing and however fragile our faith and trust in Jesus feels, he is always ready to reach out to us..
Hymn: Faith will not grow from words alone (Elizabeth G Smith 1956-)
Sermon
This talk from A Sermon For Every Sunday is really meant for last Sunday but we’ve had a few miracles in our readings over the last couple of weeks and I really like the way Carla Pratt Keyes, pastor of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, in Richmond, Virginia talks about miracles and everyday life. She also addresses the story we had recently where Jesus likens The Kingdom of God to yeast in dough. Some of us talked about that after the service and I, for one, found it hard to understand – unlike the disciples who all claimed to understand straight away!
https://asermonforeverysunday.com/sermons/a36-the-ninth sunday-after-pentecost-year-a-2020/
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Gracious God, we see your everyday miracles in the quiet unfolding of creation, the healing of broken relationships, and the persistent courage of justice. Open our eyes to recognise your transformative power at work today, and renew us as a pilgrim people to bear your hope in our communities.
Offertory prayer
Thank you to everyone as you bring your gifts of loving service without which our church would not be able to run. Today I especially thank those involved in this morning’s service and hospitality; Irene, Bruce, Jennie, Judy B and Jan, Kathy, Claire and Alice, and of course Alan. Thank you also for your financial support either through online giving, cash, placed in the wooden box at the back, or a one-off donation via the QR code on the box.
Let us pray: Generous God, we bring our diverse gifts. Let your Holy Spirit breathe life into our serving, so that all that we do may bring glory to your name. Amen
Prayers of the people
Today we will use Peter Parr’s version of The Lord’s Prayer
Perfect Love, We turn again to You. Guide us; help us to love, so that Your Will be done, on earth as in heaven. Help us to forgive our brothers and sisters (and ourselves as well); and to look on them as you look on us. Give us strength to resist temptation. When we are tempted, let us choose peace. Deliver us from our fears. For what You love is safe. And Your love remains forever and always. Give us this day that which we need. Fill us with hope and trust. Amen.
Hymn: Jesus calls us! O’er The Tumult. (Cecil Frances Alexander 1818-95)
Benediction
May there be peace within. May we trust God that we are exactly where we are meant to be. May we not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May we use those gifts that we have received and pass on the love that has been given to us. May we be content knowing we are children of God. Let this presence settle into our bones and allow each soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Today may there be peace within. Amen.
Benediction Song: May the feet of God walk with you. (Aubrey Podlich 1946-)
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