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.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY & WELCOME
We welcome a video created by proud Aboriginal women Bianca Manning and Safina Stewart of Common Grace at the ‘landing place’ in Kurnell.
OPENING PRAYER
God of reconciling grace, embracing the whole world into God’s loving care, a love, called agape we call because it reveals your heart in all its fulness and your love for us and all your world. You, Lord, are present with us in every moment of our lives. You are bridge builder and reconciler.
You are present with us now as we gather to learn from you, and to be transformed by you into our true selves. As we gather, today, give us strength and courage to face what we must, to be reconciled with you, with ourselves and with each other. Give us joy and hope as we hear from you, give us true hearts of love and trust so that we can respond in ways that transform all that we are.
HYMN
Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead
find the room for hope to enter
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter
be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us
cools the heat and slows the pace
God it is who speaks and names us
knows our being, touches base
making space within our thinking
lifting shades to show the sun
raising courage when we’re shrinking
finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel
open to each other’s pain
let our loves and fears unravel
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming
there’s a time for heart to care
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare!
Words Shirley Erena Murray. Hope Publishing Co. Used with permission CCLI Licence # 31951
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1 SAMUEL 3: 1 – 10 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Adapted from Thomas Cranmer’s 1549 ‘Book of Common Prayer’
Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed: We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves; We repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Loving God, forgive us and strengthen us to love and serve you in newness of life all the days of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord our example and our hope. In quietness, with honesty and peace we share our private thoughts with you now…
Receive our prayers, and our lives that they may be salt and leaven in your world. In Jesus Name.
GOSPEL READING
MARK 2:23 – 3: 6 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. In this we hear of God’s healing touch. Thanks be to God.
HYMN
O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored
when reached by love that never ends?
From every ailment flesh endures
Our bodies clamour to be freed;
Yet in our hearts we would confess
That wholeness is our deepest need.
How strong, O Lord, are our desires
how weak our knowledge of ourselves!
Release in us those healing truths
unconscious pride resists or shelves.
In conflicts that destroy our health
We recognise the world’s disease
Our common life declares our ills
Is there no cure, Christ, for these?
Grant that we all, made one in faith
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach the whole of humankind.
Fred Pratt Green 1903 – 2000 © 1969 Hope Publishing Company, Used with permission CCLI Licence # 31951
MESSAGE
HYMN ‘I have called you by your name’ by Daniel Charles Damon
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HOLY COMMUNION
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.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and gave it form, substance and life.
In the fulness of time this planet came into being and with it all life on Earth.
In the fulness of time Abraham & Sarah and all the Patriarchs and Matriarchs sought God.
In the fulness of time Moses & Aaron, Ruth & Naomi, Samuel & Elijah spoke about God.
In the fulness of time Jesus of Nazareth, flesh of our flesh and Son of God lived and spoke God’s Word to the 1st C peoples of Palestine.
Through his death and resurrection we have the gift of the Holy Spirit that enables us to break bread not just in remembrance but as the Body of Christ, the Bread of Life.
So come dear friends, eat and drink in community with our Risen Lord and know his presence & Peace. And so let us now praise the Lord along with the faithful of every time and place, by joining with the choirs of angels and the whole creation in the eternal hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Be present risen and ascended Lord Jesus, as you were with your disciples and make yourself known to us in the breaking of bread and in the pouring of wine, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
DISTRIBUTION
Closing Prayer: Bountiful God, at this table you have graciously fed us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation. May we who have reached out hungry hands to receive this sacrament be strengthened in your service. We who have sung your praises, tell of your glory in our lives. Until the day you make all things new in your Kingdom & we worship the Lamb with never ending song praise.
HYMN
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices
Who wondrous things has done
In whom the world rejoices;
Who from our mother’s arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us
With ever joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us.
Lord keep us in your grace
And guide us when perplexed
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
Who reigns in highest heaven
To Father and to Son
And Spirit now be given:
The one eternal God
Whom earth and heaven adore
Who was, is now
And shall be ever more.
Martin Rinkart 1648 Public Domain Used with permission CCLI Licence # 31951
BLESSING & BENEDICTION (repeat)
Shalom to you now, shalom my friends.
May God’s full mercies bless you, my friends.
In all your living and through your loving
Christ be your shalom, Christ be your shalom.
Elise Shoemaker Eslinger 1942 – Words and music United Methodist Hymnal USA. Used with permission CCLI Licence # 31951
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