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.
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Together we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians on whose lands we stand today and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future. We commit to walking together across these lands in friendship, trust, justice and healing.
HYMN – Come as you are
Come as you are, that’s how I want you.
Come as you are, feel quite at home.
Close to my heart, loved and forgiven;
come as you are, why stand alone?
No need to fear, love sets no limits.
No need to fear, love never ends.
Don’t run away shamed and disheartened.
Rest in my love, trust me again.
I came to call sinners, not just the righteous
I came to bring peace, not to condemn.
Each time you fail to live by my promise,
why do you think I’d love you the less?
Come as you are, that’s how I love you.
Come as you are, trust me again.
Nothing can change the love that I bear you.
All will be well, just come as you are.
TURNING TO GOD
We bring before you, most loving God, that mixture of eagerness and reticence, truth and distortion, love and indifference, which constitutes our human nature.
We bring the totality of our true selves to you, holding nothing back.
We know that you do not despise even the least or worst of earth’s children.
Please bless us according to our individual needs, and lift us up from all distraction into the unbridled pleasure of thanksgiving, love and worship.
Through Christ Jesus Amen
Hymn introduced by John
God is Known Amanda Udis-Kessler, February 3, 2023
God is known in all creation, in the oceans and the trees,
In the plains and in the mountains, in the storms and in the breeze.
God is known in every being, in its birth and life and death.
God infuses every motion, every heartbeat, every breath.
God is known in evolution, in the ways we grow and change.
God is known in our connections with all creatures close and strange.
God unfolds in our unfolding. God evolves as we evolve,
Coaxing order out of chaos, full of patience and resolve.
God is known in human action, in the work we do to learn.
God is known in our amazement and the joy we find in turn
As the knowledge we develop of the earth on which we live
Draws us closer to the holy, to the heart of all that is.
Now we sing in celebration of the love that has no end,
Ever shifting and unfurling, an astounding, whirling blend
Of the known and the unknowable, wondrous mystery breaking through.
God is known in all creation, making all things ever new.
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
God our most holy Friend, we come before you as wanderers who need to come home to familiar ground and saving grace.
We come compromised from seeking a living in a ruthless world, in need of facing our failures and regaining our bearings.
We come seeking that shepherd-love that gave Mary Magdalene back her sanity, Zacchaeus back his self respect, Peter a second chance, and Paul a totally new life.
And now, holy Friend, please lift us out of our preoccupation with our own needs
Allow us to trust you with all that is past and to commit to you all that is to come.
Make us joyful in all the goodness we have received from your hands.
And let us seek the same grace and joy for those who live and work beside us.
Create in us a new gratitude for all people who are loving, true and beautiful.
Awaken in us a longing for the qualities of Christ Jesus
Please make us aware of the mighty crowd of people surrounding us, both past and present, and all those who are yet to come, who trust, love and worship you.
Through Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen!
FORGIVENESS
Family of the God, by the priceless mercy of Christ we are a new breed, forgiven and restored to declare the wonderful works of the God who brings us out of darkness into light.
Thanks be to God!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
GIVING PRAYER
BIBLE READINGS – Mark 1: 14-20
God, open our hearts and minds and give us understanding and relevance to our lives in these readings
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;] repent, and believe in the good news.’
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Matthew 6: 7 – 13
When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.[c]
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,[d] but rescue us from the evil one
Luke 19:41-44
41 As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognise the time of your visitation from God.
Message: John McK,
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Going out
How will this new week unfold for each of us?
There may be new opportunities; there may be setbacks and dangers.
If we cherish our place in the vine of Christ,
receiving the very sap of his abundant life,
some things might frustrate us but nothing shall defeat us.
Thanks be to God!
Go cheerfully then, and live boldly.
The grace of the Saviour,
the love of the Creator,
the friendship of the Lover,
is yours forever!
Amen!
HYMN
May light come into your eyes
May hope spring up in your heart,
And may peace guide all of your mind
and keep you in God and keep you in God
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