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, culture, 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 that same 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.
So welcome to everyone sitting in this church today and to those who are joining our worship service this morning via zoom or who may be dialing in to listen to our service.
My name is Susan and I will help lead the worship service today.
Acknowledgement of Country
As we gather this day, we acknowledge the traditional owners of these lands, the Dharawhal people, who have cared for and tended this place since time beyond remembering. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present, as they hold the knowledge, language and spiritual connections to this country.
We Acknowledge:
Our gratitude for this land we share today,
Our sorrow for the cost of that sharing,
Our hope that together in the spirit of Reconciliation,
we move to a place of justice and partnership,
As together we walk gently on this land.
All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.
Call to Worship
Let us draw near together,
let us lay down the burdens we have been carrying,
let us make time to worship God.
Let us pray.
Opening Prayer
Creator God,
send your Spirit to us this day,
help us to hear the whispering voice of inspiration,
help us to see the excitement of anticipation,
help us to feel the stirring of dissatisfaction of injustice
that leads us to action in this place and in this community.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen.
Lighting of the Christ candle – one of the children
Prayer of Confession
Before we speak, we pause.
Before we name what burdens us, we open our hearts.
The Spirit draws near—in dreams, in honesty, in grace.
Let us come with humility.
Let us come with hope.
Let us trust even our silence can be a prayer.
(Provide two to three minutes of silence)
Gracious God,
You know all these things that are on our hearts.
Hear our prayers.
Forgive us.
Bring us peace.
Amen.
Words of Grace
God has heard our prayers, our sins and forgiven and we are invited into the peace that passes understanding.
Amen.
Hymn/Be Thou my vision
Lord, be my Vision, be my guiding star;
Nothing is more to me, Lord, than you are.
You my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Your presence my light.
You be my Wisdom, and You my true Word;
I ever with You, and You with me, Lord;
You my great Father, I your true child;
You in me dwelling, through Christ reconciled.
You be my hand Shield, my Sword for the fight;
You be my Dignity, You my Delight;
You my soul’s Shelter, You my high Tower;
Raise me up heav’nward, O Power of my power.
I need no riches, no earthly vain praise;
You’re my inheritance, now and always.
You and You only, first in my mind,
High King of Heaven, the Treasure I find.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard (c) 2014, 2016
Announcements
Bible Reading 1 – Karen Russell
Joel 2:23–32
23 Children of Zion, rejoice and be glad in the Lord your God, because he will give you the early rain as a sign of righteousness; he will pour down abundant rain for you, the early and the late rain, as before.24 The threshing floors will be full of grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and fresh oil.25 I will repay you for the years that the cutting locust, the swarming locust, the hopping locust, and the devouring locust have eaten—my great army, which I sent against you.26 You will eat abundantly and be satisfied, and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has done wonders for you; and my people will never again be put to shame.27 You will know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God—no other exists; never again will my people be put to shame.28 After that I will pour out my spirit upon everyone; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 29 In those days, I will also pour out my spirit on the male and female slaves.30 I will give signs in the heavens and on the earth—blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 32 But everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be security, as the Lord has promised; and in Jerusalem, the Lord will summon those who survive.
Second Reading Luke 18:9-14 via Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39fHwaR2P40
Item – Sue
Slideshow and commentary of Artworks based on Luke 18:9-14
(Distribute handout for congregation to share one page between 2 or 3 people)
Prayer
This prayer is edited from a prayer found on the Coffee with God website.
Let’s pray…
Dear God, thank you for the revelation that being right with you is all about your grace and mercy, not us. Help us to embrace our ‘tax collector brokenness’, knowing that salvation is not works-based, or dependent on our goodness, but on your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Thank you for the freedom to embrace what we are really like, with the hope of healing, deliverance, and freedom always available in you.
Amen
Sermon – John McKinnon
Hymn – I the Lord of sea and sky
Offertory prayer
Thank you to everyone as you bring your gifts of loving service and financial support through online giving. If you prefer to use cash, it can be placed in the wooden box at the back, and you can also make one-off donations via the QR code on the box.
In every way, we have been enriched by God, who has blessed us. Let us give out of our abundance.
Let us pray:
Generous God, we bring our diverse gifts.
Bless our offerings as you have blessed our lives.
Help us to give as you do, freely,
without expectation of return,
desiring the flourishing of all things.
Amen.
Prayers of the people – Karen Russell
Followed by this Version of the Lord’s Prayer:
God so holy, full of grace,
make the world a better place.
Give us the food we need for today.
Forgive us our wrongs when we go astray.
Help us always to do good,
and love others, like we should.
God we love you; we are yours.
Swing wide open heaven’s doors.
Amen.
Thank You
Thank you to the many people who give their time and skills to support and help our church. Without our volunteers we cannot keep going. Please know you are very much appreciated! Thank You!
Benediction
May you be blessed with dreams and visions.
May you be blessed with dissatisfaction towards injustice.
May you find the words to spread a message of hope, love, and kindness
To each person you meet in your journey.
Go in peace.
Amen.
Benediction song – May the feet of God walk with you
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