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 we live on 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.
PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE
Loving God, we ask you to hold the people of Ukraine deep in your heart.
Protect them, we pray; from violence, from political gamesmanship, from being used and abused. Give, we pray, the nations of the world the courage and the wisdom to stand up for justice and the courage too, to dare to care – generously.
Lord in your mercy, take from us all, the tendencies in us that seek to lord it over others: Take from us those traits that see us pursuing our own needs and wants before those of others. Teach us how to live in love and dignity and respect – following your example. In your name and for your sake, Amen.
Lighting the Candle
As I light this candle as a symbol of God With Us listen to the words of
Be Still for the presence of The Lord the Holy One is here
First 2 verses
Call to Prayer
Let’s go up the mountain.
Let’s go up to the place where the land meets the sky
where the earth touches the heavens,
to the place of meeting,
to the place of mists,
to the place of voices and conversations,
to the place of listening.
Opening Prayer
O God,
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
the months of ministry transfigured to a beam of light,
the light of the world,
your light.
May your light shine on us.
We open our eyes and we see Moses and Elijah,
your word restoring us, showing us the way,
telling a story,
your story, his story, our story.
May your word speak to us.
We open our eyes and we see mist,
the cloud of your presence
which assures us of all we do not know
and that we do not need to fear that.
Teach us to trust.
We open our eyes and we see Peter’s constructions,
his best plans, our best plans,
our missing the point,
our missing the way.
Forgive our foolishness and sin
We open our eyes and we see Jesus,
not casting us off,
but leading us down, leading us out –
to ministry, to people.
Your love endures forever.
We open our ears and we hear your voice,
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him!’
And we give you thanks.
Amen
HYMN
Shine Jesus Shine
CONFESSION AND PETITION:
Merciful God, we are all sinners, needing grace to cover our sins and amend our lives.
We bow before you seeking forgiveness, and for cleansing
We also humbly ask for whatever painful therapy is needed to get us in better spiritual shape,
Holy God, awesome Friend of sinners,
please interfere in our daily lives.
Please interfere as much as is good for us.
Make us hungry for whatever you deem most valuable,
to strive for this with undivided tenacity,
to show particular love to whoever you want us to love,
and to cherish those pleasures which delight you most.
With every milligram of the free will you have given us,
we choose to ask you:
Please don’t allow us to mess up ;
make us yours today and forever.
Through the grace of Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Amen!
ABSOLUTION
My friends, God is not about to give up on us. The forgiveness of Christ is real and lasting. As far as the east is from the west, so far and more has he removed the burden of our sins from us.
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Announcements and Giving Prayer
Lord accept us and gifts we bring not just money, but time and energy. Lord bless all the people of our congregation who do the things for others that we do not know about. We pray your blessing on all our freely given gifts
Amen
POEM Judy
It could have been on Mt Wellington
or on St Mary’s Peak,
up there with Christ something went on
which words could never speak.
It could have been Liz, or Jack or Fay,
Grechen, Nardoo or Ruth,
with Peter, James and John that day
when they saw blazing truth.
It could have been an Aussie voice
that spoke to them like thunder:
“Listen to him, my chosen Son,”
and left them dazed with wonder.
It could now be at scenic Bright
or maybe Botany Bay,
that human souls still see the light
of Love that’s here to stay.
B.D. Prewer 2000
BIBLE READINGS Judy and Bruce
Exodus 34: 29 – 36
Luke 9:28 – 36
Song: The Face that Shone
SERMON John
Prayers of the People Bruce
HYMN
Here in this place
Benediction
Go out of this place and walk in the amount of light that you have been given. Do not envy those who appear to have more than you, and never look down on those who appear to have less. From the beginning of this new week to its end, let Christ be your sufficiency.
Amen!
May Christ shine in our hearts through faith.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, receive the blessings which God has prepared for you.
Amen
Last verse of Be still for the presence of the Lord.
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