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.
Welcome
Here in Engadine Uniting Church 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.
Acknowledgement of Country
Bereewagal, naa niya. Yura ngura dyi ngurang gurugal. (In Dharawal: People who come from afar I see all of you)
We begin by acknowledging that we gather today on the ancestral lands of the Dharawal people who were removed unjustly, and that we in this community here in Engadine are the beneficiaries of that removal. We honour them as we commence our worship in Engadine Uniting Church.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive)
God calls us to worship.
God calls us to life.
God invites us to sing.
God calls us to life.
God invites us to pray.
God calls us to life.
God invites us to think and talk together.
God calls us to life.
God calls us to life today.
Hymn – Be Still for the Presence of the Lord
Prayer of confession
God of memory and longing,
you know the deep recesses of our minds and hearts.
You know how we long for what is good and what is pure,
how much we desire to live with confidence hand in hand with you.
Do not cease in calling us, God of great patience,
We know we fail you time and time again in laziness, weakness and disobedience
Forgive us and give us courage.
Forgive us and give us persistence.
Forgive us and give us grace that we might, even in the smallest of ways,
and in the briefest of moments, glimpse the life you have set out for us and live out that life in love for you and for others.
Amen.
Words of Grace:
The good news is that God loves and accepts us just as we are. Leave your burdens here, and let us move forward in love together. Amen.
Prayer of Adoration: (The words in bold for the congregation to say)
You are my God and I crave you;
.all that I am thirsts for you;
God, you are strong,
Help us to strengthen our confidence in helping other and living out your
good news.
God you are a refuge for the oppressed
Help us to renounce our complacency and apathy when we see the
widening gap between rich and poor.
God you are compassionate
Help us to foster acceptance and compassion for others and develop
meaningful friendships within my community.
God, you are faithful and trustworthy
Help us to relinquish our uncertainties, anxieties and worries and trust you.
God you are a mighty rock
Help us to be brave to speak out against slurs, racism and ignorance and
when we see injustice.
God, your love drives away all fear
Help us to surrender our fears: fear of ageing, fear of the future, fear of
others who are different.
God you are gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
Help us to cultivate patience, love and forgiveness.
God you will never forsake those who seek you
Help us to encourage others to find you and know your gospel and to
engage with your Word.
We turn away from all that is wrong and unrighteous,
from all that causes pain and suffering to others and to God,
and from all that is not loving and caring.
We turn to you, O God, in your mercy.
We seek your abundant pardon.
We joyfully receive your forgiveness.
Amen.
Hymn – Lead me Lord, Lead me in Safety
Acknowledging Lent (The 5th week of Lent) Uniting World vimeo. In this 5-min video, Rev Nyoman Agustinus, Bishop of the Protestant Christian Church in Bali (GKPB) speaks about climate change and how the Church can play a role through education and inspiring action to protect the environment. You can watch it here.
Prayer: Lord may we hear your word and direction for our lives through scripture today. Amen
Bible reading – 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-14, 35-44
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendour of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendour of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendour, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendour.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Bible Reading – Mark 16:1-8
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Thank you Lord for these words of life.
Message: John McKinnon. There was a problem with the video this week, but we were able to capture the audio for the sermon.
Offering and giving to others Prayer
Prayers of the People –
Paul’s version of the Lord’s Prayer
Our God in heaven, blessed and full of life are you alone!
Come now rule afresh in our hearts, so that your will and purpose is found
Here on earth because it was and is the place where Jesus lived as well as in heaven.
Give us today what will feed us in body, mind, spirit and heart.
Forgive the stuff we’ve messed up as we forgive those who have deeply hurt us.
Save us in the times of temptation and set us free from all that enslaves others.
For you alone are Lord for all eternity, now and forever. Amen.
Hymn – Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Blessing and Benediction
Benediction song – Now Unto Him
Welcome to join us for Morning Tea
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