You can watch the bible readings and sermon here, or scroll down and view them as they occur during the service.
CHRIST CANDLE
In darkness, Christ Jesus came to be light to the world, so that we might follow and not lose our way. We light the Christ candle acknowledging the One who is the Light, the Truth & the Way. Everything we do in this Service and in life flows through the prism of this joy-filled insight.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF COUNTRY
As Jacob wrestled with God at the Jabbok river and was transformed in name and life’s purpose.
So today we come seeking the sacred places of God’s transforming work. For our Indigenous brothers and sisters, such places are in every place. We acknowledge their stewardship of God’s Creation since time immemorial and pledge ourselves to work together for justice & reconciliation.
WELCOME
We say it all the time ‘you are welcome’, yes, you and you and you; there is room here in this place and in God’s heart and ours, for you, & you & you; and yes God knows all about your life, & all about your life & all about my life. We are all welcome. So let us worship God, let us pray…
Come each and every one, let us worship God this day.
Gracious God of invitation and transformation meet us hear we pray who in Christ Jesus gives love a face. Come, Holy Spirit draw us into our own encounter with the threefold name of God that each one of us might hear your call and walk in your footsteps. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
HYMN – ‘Where wide sky rolls down’
Where wide sky rolls down and touches red sand
Where sun turns to gold the grass of the land
Let spinifex, mulga and waterhole tell
Their joy in the One who made everything well.
Where rain forest calm meets reef, tide and storm
Where green things grow lush and oceans are warm
Let every sea-creature and tropical bird
Exult in the light of the life-giving Word.
Where red gum and creek cross hillside and plain
Where cool tree-ferns rise to welcome the rain
Let bushland, farm, mountain-top, all of their days
Delight in the Spirit whom formed them for praise.
Now, people of faith, come gather around
With songs to be shared, for blessings abound!
Australians, whatever your culture or race
Come, lift up your hearts to the Giver of grace.
TODAY…we start a two week series on Men of the New Testament, this follows on from my series back in June called Women of the New Testament. Today we look at Peter & Paul and next week at a number of other disciples of Jesus some of whom you may not know as well.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING & CONFESSION
Shepherd King and humble Saviour, we thank you that each one of us is made in your image so that we can know what it truly is to love and be loved. We thank you for the unique way each one of us lives our lives: our voices, the clothes we wear, our favourite figures of speech, habits and routines all remind us of the unique experiences of life that each of us bring. I invite each of you to think on what is unique and precious about those who sit beside, behind or in front of you…
Deep within our hearts LORD, we also acknowledge that we are not the people we would like to be. Amidst all that today and every day can be for us God of new beginnings and new invitations we let go of these reminders of who and whose we are and lay them down, and hand them over to the One who made us in God’s image, safe now in God’s warm and liberating embrace.
BIBLE READINGS Susan & Brad
Mark 8: 27 – 29, 31 – 33 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but human concerns.”
Luke 22: 54 – 60a (NIV) Then seizing him, they led him away & took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard & had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him & said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him & said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
John 21: 7 – 11, 15 – 19 (NIV) Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep and follow me!”
PAUL
Acts 9: 1 – 6 (NIV) Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Romans 3: 21 – 24 (NIV) But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law & the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith inJesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew & Gentile, for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God & all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3: 26 – 28 & 5:22 – 23 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Ephesians 5: 22 – 24 (NIV) Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. In these words we seek God’s word of life. Thanks be to God.
HYMN
We limit not the truth of God
To our poor reach of mind
by notions of our day and sect
crude, partial and confined
no, let a new and better hope
Within our hearts be stirred:
The Lord has yet more light and truth
To break forth from His word.
Our faithful forebears searching went
The first steps on the way
This was the dawning, yet to grow
Into the perfect day.
And grow it shall, our glorious sun
Will brighter rays afford:
The Lord has yet more light and truth
To break forth from His word.
O Father, Son and Spirit, send
us increase from above
enlarge, expand all living souls
to comprehend your love;
and make us all go on to know
with nobler powers conferred
that you have yet more light and truth
to break forth from your word.
George Rawson 1807 – 1889 Public Domain
MESSAGE Could Jesus make use of your life CV?
HYMN
My Jesus my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Chorus
Shout to the Lord
All the earth let us sing
Power and majesty
Praise to the King
Mountains bow down
And the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy
At the work of Your hands
Forever I’ll love You
Forever I’ll stand
Nothing compares to the promise
I have in You.
© 1993 Wondrous Worship. Used with permission CCLI # Licence 31951
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING PRAYER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Sue
HOLY COMMUNION Irene
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We thank you LORD that you called a covenant people to be a light to the nations.
Through Moses you taught us to love your law, and in the prophets you cried out for justice.
In the fullness of your mercy, you became one with us in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us on the cross. You make us alive together with him. That we may rejoice in his presence, share his peace. By water and the Spirit you open the kingdom to all who believe and welcome us to your table: For by grace we are saved, through faith.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION & INVOCATION
DISTRIBUTION
Closing Prayer: Bountiful God, at this table you have graciously fed us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation. May we who have reached out hungry hands to receive this sacrament be strengthened in your service. We who have sung your praises, tell of your glory in our lives.
Until the day you make all things new in Jesus name we pray. Amen
HYMN
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing
the people of God from his table take leave.
The supper is ended: may now be extended
the fruits of his service in all who believe.
The seed of his teaching, our hungry souls reaching
shall blossom in action for all humankind.
His grace shall incite us, his love shall unite us
to work for his kingdom, his purpose to find.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living,
the tasks of our everyday life we will face
our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing our neighbours all those of each race.
One feast that has feed us, one light that now leads us;
unite us as one in his life that we share.
Then may all the living, with praise and thanksgiving
give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.
Omer Westendorf 1916 – 1997 Used with permission CCLI Licence # 31951
BLESSING & BENEDICTION
And the blessing of God the Creator, of Jesus Christ the Son and the fellowship and inspiration of the Holy Spirit sustain, guide and transform each one of us in Christ’s service.
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