Welcome and Announcements
Welcome to Engadine Uniting Church. We are working towards making this a safe place for all people to worship regardless of age, cultural background, sexual orientation or creed. A warm welcome is extended to all. Your presence both enriches us and this time of celebration together.
Acknowledging Country
From before recorded time, the Dharawal People cared for this Land. We praise the Creator for the beauty of this Land and honour those who have tended it.
We acknowledge the Elders and communities who have told the sacred stories and nurtured faithfulness to the Creator. We pay our respects to the Elders who have gone before and all who carry the stories today.
We ask God’s blessing on all those who continue to work for the healing and restoration of this Land and Her Communities.
Lighting the Christ Candle and Call to Worship
Once there was someone who said such wonderful things and did such amazing things that people just had to ask him who he was. One time when they asked him who he was he said: “I am the light of the world, and whoever walks with me will never walk in darkness”
This is the one who we follow. Jesus is light – not just of this place, of just this nation, or just of people like us. Jesus is the light of the world.
And so we gather, knowing that we are joined across the world by countless thousands of our brothers and sisters. In cathedrals and cottages, people are gathered and the Spirit of God threads us together in love and grace.
Across the globe we gather to worship: Our God is here!
Congregation: God’s Spirit dwells with us. We are one in Christ
Song: TiS 696 A prophet woman broke a jar, to the tune Dominus Regit Me (TiS 145)
A prophet woman broke a jar, by Love’s divine appointing. With rare perfume she filled the room, presiding and anointing.
A prophet woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying. With rare perfume she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying.
A faithful woman left a tomb by Love’s divine commission. She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb, with resurrection gospel. She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, apostle to apostle.
Though woman wisdom, woman truth, for centuries were hidden, unsung, unwritten and unheard, derided and forbidden,
The Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending, can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, by Love’s divine ordaining, the friends we need, to serve and lead, their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, from women, men and children, the friends we need, to serve and lead. Rejoice and make them welcome!
Brian Wren
Prayer of Invocation
God of the new dawn, shine on us today. God of the cool breeze, move us today. God of the flowing waters, refresh us today. God of the flourishing creation, grow our hearts today. God of peace, settle in us today. For we long to be your people and learn your ways throughout our days. Amen
Prayer of Adoration and Thanksgiving
God of all seasons, we give thanks for the new things now. For the new dawn each day revealing your creation. For the beauty of the moon and stars, the landscape of the sky. For the delicate seasonal changes and the unfurling of new shoots. For the cycle of new life, bringing hope for tomorrow. With thanks and praise, we pause with you now… God of the delicate, let us see grace in what is here before us.
As we see leaves change colour and fall, make us ready to let fall all that would hinder our worship.Prepare our hearts and minds to receive the seeds of faith you wish to plant in us today.
Fill our eyes with your vision for a world renewed and reconciled. Give us courage to act boldly in obedience to your call on our lives. Grow us as a community of faith in which Jesus is made known through our love and compassion, and our care of each other and all creation.
Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.
Song: TiS 660 Myrrh-bearing Mary.
- Myrrh-bearing Mary from Magdala came, Seeking her Jesus, with spirit aflame
He had commanded her sickness depart, She would now thank him for newness of heart
2. Myrrh-bearing Mary from Bethany came, Seeking her Jesus, who called her by name
There she anointed his feet and his head, With precious oils that were meant for the dead
3. Myrrh-bearing Mary to Calvary came, Seeking her Jesus, who hung there in shame
And as the careless and heedless passed by, Hopeless and helpless she watched her Lord die.
4. Myrrh-bearing Mary to death’s garden came, Seeking her Jesus, who’d borne the world’s blame
Heart-sick she stood til she heard the Lord’s voice: “Mary!”, he said, “I am risen; rejoice!”
Rae E. Whitney
Prayer of Confession
Lover of all, we confess our lack of love. Too often, we have not attended to those who give to us. You surround us with people of care. In our fatigue and concerns, we forget to care for them, too. We bring these people before you now in a moment of silence… We are so sorry. We are not living in your way. You refresh us, and yet we often make the days of others more trying. God of Deliverance, loose our shackles of selfish ways, of judgements and prejudice, of expectations and timelines. Help us, Loving One, to find the extra care of kindly words, loving actions and listening patience. Help us be aware of the new things that we can be doing, to share the love that you share with us.
Words of Assurance
Look up and see the warming light of God. Look around and see the shining face of God. Look within and find God is with you. See, the new things of love are dwelling in your heart. God is with you. Thanks be to God.
Reading: Isaiah 43:16–21, John 12:1–8
Song: TiS 661 Woman in the night, to the tune Halad (Tis 465).
Woman in the night
- Woman in the night, Spent from giving birth, Guard our precious light, Peace is on the earth!
Chorus: Come and join the song, Women, men, children, Jesus makes us free to live again!
2. Woman at the well, Question Messiah, Find your friends and tell, Drink your heart’s desire!
3. Woman at the feast, Let the righteous stare; Come and go in peace, Love him with your hair!
4. Woman in the house, Nurtured to be meek, Leave your lowly place, Listen, think and speak!
5. Woman on the hill, Stand when men have fled, Christ needs loving still, Though your hope is dead
6. Woman in the dawn, Spices and care bring, Earliest to mourn, Earliest to sing!
Brian Arthur Wren
Sermon: Rev Yvonne Ghavalas is our guest preacher for today. She is a Uniting Minister at a congregation in the Riverina district of NSW. You can find Yvonne’s sermon on the Sermon Share website here. (12min)
Prayers of the People – Karen
Lord’s Prayer
Breath of our every fibre, Flowing in and beyond the stars, May we rejoice in your ever-renewing life.
May your love flourish, May your peace be known, in all beings and becomings. Sustain us in what we need.
Transform the suffering we inflict, as we transform the suffering we endure. Free us from all that crushes joy, and keep us from unbearable pain.
Let your way be our journey, your truth our story, and your life our coming home, now and always, Amen
Offertory sentence and Prayer
‘These small gifts we offer add to the wider renewal happening each moment in God’s realm. Let us give with genuine care.’
God of such generosity, we offer these gifts as part of the wider gift of our lives. Use our being and living to bring about new things that offer life and depth to your realm. May we be bringers of hope today and in days to come, through all that we are and in all that we do. Amen.
Song: TiS 687 God gives us a future
God gives us a future, Daring us to go, Into dreams and dangers, On a path unknown. We will face tomorrow, In the Spirit’s power, We will let God change us, for new life starts now.
We must leave behind us, Ways of yesterday, For God’s new beginning, Is a better way. Fear and doubt and habit, Must not hold us back, God gives hope and insight And the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us, how to read the signs, How to meet the challenge Of our troubled times. Love us into action, Stir us into prayer, Til we choose God’s life and Find our future there.
Elizabeth J Smith
Commissioning and Benediction
People of faith, watch for the new thing that God is doing. See what is here and now. Hear with sensitivity. Love with deep care. Be the person God calls you to be. Move forward with hope, for there is so much more than we will ever understand. Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer God is in us, around us and before us. Let us go out with joy as we watch for the new thing God is doing.
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