(Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels)
GATHERING THE PEOPLE
Acknowledgement of country
Leader: As we gather, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this sacred land on which we stand or sit today. Here in Engadine, we meet on the lands of the Dharawal People. We recognise the continued ministry of First Peoples within the church, and their continuing connection to their land and living cultures.
All: We worship on sacred land; holy ground; cared for since time immemorial. In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.
Lighting of the Christ Candle
Today we celebrate God beyond, beside and within us.
We celebrate the light of the world that guides us in the way, the truth and the life has not been overcome by darkness.
We celebrate: the Spirit that renews life, joy, and possibilities.
We symbolise this in the lighting the candle
Comment Some weeks, we gaze bewildered at the Bible readings scheduled for the week wondering how to approach them and searching for suitable bits for the sermon or service. This week, there is almost too much choice: the prophet Jeremiah receives his call from God Almighty; there is a beautiful psalm of deep trust and love; the first 13 verses of 1 Corinthians 13 are the sublime passages about love, so familiar to us and known off by heart by many; and the story of Jesus announcing his ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth only for his neighbours to try and throw him off a cliff is rich and familiar story. It’s impossible to cover it all in such a short time but do look out for these themes in the prayers and songs for today.
Call to worship
Come with what you have.
For you who grieve this day, know that you are invited to bring the broken pieces of your heart.
Loved by one another, we discover God’s love for us.
Come with what you have.
For you who come with gladness, know that your melody will find harmony.
Accepting God’s love for us, we are called to love one another.
Come with what you have.
For you weighed down by too many ‘shoulds’ and ‘what-ifs’, know that here you may lay down the burdens of guilt and shame.
Loved by one another, we discover God’s love for us.
Come with what you have.
For you who have the answers, know that new questions await you.
Accepting God’s love for us, we are called to love one another.
Come with what you have.
For you who come seeking, know that your questions are safe in the presence of God.
Loved by one another, we discover God’s love for us.
[Katherine Hawker, posted on Outside the Box]
Prayer Of Welcome
God of incomparable love, you have shown us in Jesus of Nazareth that all people are embraced by your graciousness. Enable us to relax ourselves in that universal fellowship which flows from sincere worship. Living closer to you and to one another, may we touch the pulse and purpose of existence, and be enabled to live lovingly and bravely as siblings of the one Saviour.
Amen!
(Prayer by Bruce Prewer)
Hymn/Song: Come as you are, by Diedre Brown. This rendition by Mountview Uniting Church in Melbourne.
Prayer of adoration and confession
God of Justice and Mercy, we know that we have fallen silent when we should have spoken up. We have ignored the cries of the innocent and joined the crowds in calls of judgment.
We have mistaken justice for revenge and have sought punishment to ease our pain.
Forgive us, God, for not seeing our own faults, our own sins, and for not holding ourselves responsible for our inaction and injustice.
Restore us, God, to the ways Jesus taught us, to drop our stones and instead seek forgiveness and restoration.
Call us into the paths of love and reconciliation, knowing Your mercy extends to all of us, Your grace is a gift, and there is nothing we can do to deserve or earn it.
Guide us into living into Your forgiveness, peace and reconciliation, in the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.
(Prayer by Pilgrim Uniting Church, Adelaide)
Words of Assurance/Affirmation
God’s love is patient and kind, and will not fail you. The Lord is with you to deliver you. Through the mercy of Jesus Christ the Lord has heard you and is reaching out to save you. People, our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God
PSALM 71:1-6 (Paraphrase by Bruce Prewer, 2003)
In you alone, Holy Friend, I seek asylum,
never let me be dismayed or disgraced.
In your justice, rescue and liberate me,
hear my prayers and heal me.
You are the bedrock on which I stand,
the Uluru at the centre of my salvation.
Deliver me from the hands of rogues,
from the grasp of ruthless injustice.
For you, God, have been my sure hope,-
my true Friend from my childhood.
From the hour of birth you have carried me,
supported me from my mother’s womb.
Always you have been there for me.
I will never stop singing your praises!
HEARING THE WORD
Readings: Peter
Let us pray: May we open ourselves to the seeds of wisdom that lay dormant in these readings, and may our minds be fertile soil in which they may grow strong and true.
Jeremiah 1:4-10
Luke 4:21-30
Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak.
All: Thank you, God, for your words of life.
Poem :“UNTIL” (Paraphrase by Bruce Prewer, 2000)
And all spoke well of him
and of his gracious words
until he called their bluff
and demanded much more
for the outcaste and poor;
then they got rough.
And all spoke well of him,
“A nice bloke, Joseph’s son”;
until he stepped outside
their polite comfort zone
where brave souls walk alone;
then they deride.
And all spoke well of him,
an honour to their town;
until he made it clear
that those of alien race
also received God’s grace;
then they showed fear.
And all speak well of him,
from Broome to Airlie Beach,
until he invites the sad
pros and junkies to share
in his house of prayer;
then they get mad.
Hymn/Song: “I am the Prophet”, by Michael Card
Sermon John McKinnon (17min)
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Prayer:
Holy God, from the womb of creation you brought forth the earth and before any
of us were born, you chose us and loved us into life. You put words in the mouths of your prophets that we might glimpse your truth, if only in part.
Fulfilling the words of the prophets, your child Jesus came, and in him we have seen you face to face. When his passion would not be tamed, his own people were filled with rage and handed him over to be killed, but you raised him back to life. Now and forever, his love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and in his love the wholeness of all things is coming. We praise you with all creation, and ever sing your name.
Collection
Generous God, we bring our diverse gifts.
Let your Holy Spirit breathe life into our serving,
so that all that we do may bring glory to your name.
Amen
Prayers of the people Kathy
Hymn/Song: Inspired by Love and Anger by John Bell and Graham Maule. This version courtesy St Cuthbert’s Wells and Wookey Hole
Benediction
Go now to all to whom God sends you, and speak whatever words God gives you. Rejoice in the truth and do not be afraid. Let all that you do and all that you say be filled with love, for love never ends.
And may God be with you always to deliver you; May Christ Jesus put his gracious words in your mouth; And may the Holy Spirit bring you to completeness in faith, hope and love. Amen
God’s peace be with you.
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