29 Aug 2021 by Jan C (Service), John McK (Sermon), Loraine H (Photo of Aboriginal Shields, Qld Gallery of Modern Art) in: Worship Services: 2021
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
From before recorded time, the First Peoples of the Dharawal community cared for this land. We praise God for the beauty of this land 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 this land.
Lighting the Candle Lord As we light this candle which reminds us of your presence with us may our love and understanding of you be refreshed and renewed.
Opening prayers
More awesome than lofty mountains or rolling ocean, are you,
More cheering than the sunshine through winter windows,
fairer than springtime and more fruitful than mellow autumn,
more abundant in mercy than the number of stars in the Milky Way,
and as expensively loving as Christ crucified,
are you, God of all space, time and eternity!
Lovelier than the faces of those whom we most cherish,
more mysterious than the beginning of space and time,
more irrepressible than even Christ on Easter morning,
are you , God of grace, mercy, peace and joy.
There is nothing like you in the heavens above or on earth below!
You always keep faith with your stumbling people
and pour grace on those that love you.
Glory and honour, thanksgiving and worship, shall be yours forever!
Amen!
By Bruce Prewer
PSALM 84
How beautiful is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My inmost being longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my body sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
How blest are those who live in your house,
who can praise you continually.
How blest are those whose strength is in you,
with pilgrim ways in their hearts.
Passing through the valley of Bacca, they make it an oasis;
the early rains will also clothe it with blessings.
They will go from strength to strength,
appearing before God in Zion.
LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer;
listen, O God of Jacob
Look favourably on our shield, O God;
and look upon the face of your anointed.
Far better is a day in your courtyard
than a thousand anywhere else.
I choose lying at the threshold of the house of God
rather than dwelling in the tents of the wicked.
For Sun and Shield is the LORD God
who gives grace and glory;
who does not withhold good from those who walk in integrity.
O LORD God of hosts,
how blest are those who trust in you
Hymn Love Divine Click here
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that promised rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
‘Til in heaven we take our place,
‘Til we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION & WORDS OF GRACE
Let us count our blessings and seek the continuing mercy of God.
Let us pray.
Thank you empowering God, for all that is loving and beautiful in the way we have lived our lives. Thanks for friends cherished, strangers welcomed, enemies forgiven, the needy enabled, hard lessons learned, integrity maintained, obstacles surmounted, injustices fought, and faith made stronger We praise you for the graces that have flowered in our weakness, and for the blessings that have stretched our strengths.
Forgive us for the darker side of our performance. For the things that have been slipshod or cowardly, insensitive or unhelpful, sly or vindictive, self promoting or pompous, degrading or despairing. Have pity on us also for the twists and knots in the labyrinth of our minds; those dark chambers where we rarely see the truth clearly, and seldom deal with the dark forces effectively. We ask not only the word of your forgiveness to release us from shame and discouragement, but also your healing fingers to deeply probe those shadowy places where corruption needs dislodging and motives need straightening.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Liberator and Physician.
Amen!
FORGIVENESS
Friends, let us repeat together one of the many words of forgiveness that speak to us from the pages of the Bible:
If we confess our sins God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
We are indeed forgiven, and by grace have become the liberated children of the new age.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn God of Grace Click here
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown the ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of thls hour,
for the facing of thls hour.
2. Lo! the hosts of evil round us,
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us,
free our hearts to love and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
3. Cure thy children’s warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
4. Set our feet on lofty places;
gird our lives that they may be
armoured with all Christlike graces,
pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
that we fail not them nor thee,
that we fail not them nor thee!
5. Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the search for thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.
BIBLE READINGS
Ephesians 6 10 – 20
Acts 19 23 – 41
Through these readings we hear God speak
Thank you God for your words of life.
MESSAGE The Power behind Actions John McKinnon
HYMN Who would true valour see. Click here
Benediction
Dear God, give comfort and peace to us all separated from loved ones, May the ache in our hearts be the strengthening of our hearts, may longing bring resolve to our lives, conviction and purity to our love. Teach us all to embrace sadness lest it turn to despair. Transform yearning into wisdom. Let our hearts grow fonder. Amen
May God make you impatient to get going,
eager to share the love you have found
and keen to exhibit mercy and peace in all your activities.
May God make you patient with those who seem tardy,
understanding with those who are hesitant, anxious or afraid,
and gracious towards any who appear to be failing in their responsibility.
May the mind that was in Christ possess us all ,
the love that is always at the heart of God enlarge us
and the joy of the Spirit give kindly eyes and thankful soul. Amen
Click here
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
And may the rain fall soft upon your fields
until we meet again,
may you be held in the palm of God’s hand.
until we meet again,
may you be held in the palm of God’s hand.
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