(Image: “Saturnalia”, 1783, by Antoine-François Callet. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 14, refers to the believers in Rome eating at the temples of local gods)
Acknowledgement of Country
From before recorded time, the First Peoples of the Dharawal community lived and cared for this land. We praise God for the beauty of the surrounding land we live on, and honour those who have offered themselves in tending it.
We acknowledge the Elders and community who have told the sacred stories and nurtured faithfulness to the Creator.
We ask God’s blessing on those who continue to work for the healing and restoration of our homeland. We all need to belong.
Lighting the Candle
We light the Christ candle and pray: Lighten our minds, Lord, to see past our own prejudices and inbuilt fears. May your light shine and enable us to see others as you see them.
Welcome
At Engadine Uniting we believe all people are created lovingly and wonderfully in the image of God, and we welcome everyone regardless of race, age, ability, sexuality and gender.
As a Christian Community we believe that God reaches out to us in love and acceptance and that our relationships with each other should express love and respect.
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, wherever you’ve come from, wherever you’re going, whatever is in your heart – you are welcome here. This is a safe space to question and wonder; to be silent or to speak; to believe or doubt.
Hymn: Let us build a house where love can dwell
Let us build a house where love can dwell
And all can safely live a place where
Saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, Rock of faith and vault of grace
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions, All are welcome, all are welcome
All are welcome in this place
Let us build a house where prophets speak and words are strong and true
Where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew
Here the cross shall stand as witness and a symbol of God’s grace
Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus, (Refrain: All are welcome in this place)
Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat
A banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet
Here the love of God, through Jesus is revealed in time and space
As we share in Christ the feast that frees us, All are welcome in this place
Songwriters: Paul Tate / Marty Haugen
Confession
With you, loving God, is the beauty that shows up the defects in us, with you is the goodness which shames the evil in us.
Yet also with you is the love that embraces us, that Christ-love that welcomes common sinners and eats with them.
Many are the times we have turned our back on you, but never has there been a time when you have turned your back on us.
All: Today we come again: some of us feeling guilty, some feeling frustrated with ourselves, some feeling lost, some feeling despondent, and maybe some feeling apathetic.
Enfold us all, we pray, within your saving love. Please deal with us in the way we most need; speak comfortable words or uncomfortable words look after our wounds or lance our infections, awaken our conscience and calm our nagging anxiety.
Friend Jesus, give to the timid the courage to accept your mercy, and give the proud the humility to seek your forgiveness. Please touch every person with your redeeming love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!
Forgiveness
Speaker: Family of God, God knows our need before we ask for help. There is enough mercy to cover all our sins, and not ours only, but those of the whole world. Therefore put the past and its errors behind us. Live as forgiven people, for in Christ, we really truly are!
All: Thanks be to God!
Speaker: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!
And also with you.
Bible Readings: Romans 14:1-12 and Matthew 18:21-35
Sermon: John McK
Responsive contemplation: song audio link here. “Love Reigns”
He has showed you all – what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To justly act, with mercy to love, To humbly walk with your God
So let us love! Let us love! Not in words or speech, but in truth and in deed
When a brother or sister is in need….So give of your heart, Give of Your mind, Give of your soul, Give what you find, Give of your time, Give of your wealth, Give as if Jesus was giving himself.
In the Kingdom of Friends – Love reigns! (X2)
Steve Bevis
Hymn: (New words to an old tune)
I lift up my heart Lord in awe and in praise, Your mercy astounds me both now and always, These wonders before me I humbly confess, Your merciful love and my own love-less-ness
I do not love all that you claim as your own, I often would willingly cast a first stone, But op’ning my eyes I’m beginning to see, If I reject others then you‘ve no room for me.
Your love is a mys’try I cannot explain, Your mys’try a grace that I cannot contain, Your grace is a blessing that I’ll never earn, Your blessing a wideness I’ll never discern.
Lord how may I shield you? How honour your name? Do you desire guardians to keep you from shame? Or are you so recklessly, fiercely my friend? That you would give all for me? All, to the end?
Thus I shall bow down at the foot of the cross. My claims to be righteous I’ll count them as loss. Lord, open my heart and transform me I pray, That I may be worthy of your broadening way.
Offertory Prayer
Accept these gifts as a token of service and gratitude. May we be good stewards of all your gifts to us. Amen.
Prayers of the People: Peter
Benediction
May the words we have heard, said and sung this morning stay with us.
May your Spirit help us to challenge all pre-conceived ideas we have unconsciously or consciously adopted.
May we be ever ready to understand, surrender and widen our beliefs.
May the Love of Jesus fill us with compassion and acceptance of others.
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
fill me with life anew,
that I may love the way you love,
and do what you would do.
Hymn
May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, Live in me from day to day,
By His love and power controlling All I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly, In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph, Only through His power.
May the peace of God my Father, Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort, Sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me, As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing, This is victory.
May I run the race before me, Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus As I onward go.
May His beauty rest upon me As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel, Seeing only Him.
Songwriters: K Barclay Wilkinson / M Peterson
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