Order of Service – Sunday 26 February 2023 – LENT 1
Click the linl below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Sisters and brothers in Christ.
We begin this season of honest reflection and courageous acceptance of the ways we are tempted to turn from trust in God.
We come with eyes open, ready to face the snares and pitfalls that threaten to capture us away from our trust in God.
May the gift of grace surround us on our way forward.
PSALTER READING (In unison) Psalm 32 Page 549
A PRAYER OF INVOCATION
God of grace and God of glory, be known to us in every moment.
With You as guide and compass, we cannot go astray.
Give us the wisdom and strength to answer each temptation with confident trust in Your word. Turn us constantly to the good and renew us continually with Your steadfast love.
We put our trust in You. Our hearts, turned to You, find the wisdom of Your ways. Amen!
HYMN: 595 “O Jesus I Have Promised” (Tune 457 – Aurelia)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
We cannot live our lives in silence or hide away our guilty feelings.
Silence and secrecy hold the guilt in. We waste away with groaning.
We are invited to bring ourselves out into the open space of God’s loving kindness; to seek the light of God’s forgiveness so that we might be free of the enclosure of regret and shame and know joy.
Merciful God, draw near to us in the grace of Jesus Christ as we confess those things that have turned us from You.
Let us find abiding acceptance and renewed hope in our ability to live as people freed by love.
Silence
We pray that You will save us, Lord, in the time of trial – those times when we are ready to turn from the way of love.
In all that we do and all that we are, we remember Your claim upon us. Your love surrounds us and we ARE free indeed. Amen!
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
The rush of mighty waters, waves of guilt and shame, can no longer reach us, because God is our shelter and our hope.
We are freed by the love of God and in the gift of grace in Jesus Christ to live open, joyful lives. So, I can declare before you today that our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
Grace, peace and mercy to you from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
It is good to be thankful for the love of God.
In God’s love we are happy – forgiven, free and sheltered with hope.
Thank You, God, for the bread of wisdom that fills us with courage and insight to face the challenges of our days.
Thank You, God, for Your steadfast presence that we never need to test, for Your promises are true and trustworthy.
Thank You, God, for Your splendour, robed in peace and light surpassing all the wonders of this world.
We find our centre in You, we know there is nothing to compare to the vision You hold for us of abundance and joy. Thank You Lord. Amen!
HYMN: 665 “Jesus Christ is Waiting”
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Jesus teach us to pray: “and lead us not into temptation”.
We know it is not by Your Spirit that we are led to temptation.
The temptations are all around us, and it is Your Spirit who guides us and helps us make our way gracefully along the sometimes treacherous paths.
Loving God, we pray for ourselves.
At times we feel exposed and vulnerable to lesser ways of being.
Loving God, we pray for those who are caught in vicious cycles that have no grace in them; systems of exploitation and oppression that demand choices that are counter to goodness and light; false promises of easy living that are sustained by addictions to deathliness; prizes that can only be won by beating out others and keeping them down.
Liberating God, we pray for everyone who feels trapped in ways of being that do not bring out the best in who they are, but rather demean and dehumanize to such an extent that all hope seems lost.
You alone are the path of life.
Where there is an darkness, bring Your true light.
Where there is a false promise, bring Your true hope.
Where there is exposure, cover us with grace.
In the name of the One who is light, and truth and hope, Jesus the Christ our Lord. Amen!
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BIBLE READINGS – Jan Cartwright
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7 (Pages 2-3 ) Romans 5:12-19 (Page 1116)
Matthew 4:1-11 (Page 957)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
SERMON: “Temptation Vs. Temptation” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 546 “Lord Jesus, Think on Me”
NOTICES – World Day of Prayer – Friday 3 March 2023 10:30 am, hereat
St. Andrew’s, followed by Morning Tea.
- Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 7 March 2023.
- Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 8 Feb 12:30 pm.
OFFERING – Let us come and share our openness to the ways of God: may
all have enough and no one be tempted to grab or to grasp. We are invited to share in the bounteous gifts of God. Your freewill offerings for the works of God’s church in the world, will now be received.
HYMN: 129 “Amazing Grace”
COMMISSIONING
Happy are those who know they are forgiven!
Go out with a light heart, knowing that God’s love surrounds you, covers you with grace and strengthens you to meet all challenges to your true nature.
We go out proclaiming the abundant grace of God, free of guilty burdens and fresh with hope. Amen!
BENEDICTION
God be with you, not just as judge but as light and guide. Christ be with you, the free gift of grace. The Holy Spirit be with you, to lead you not into temptation but towards the abundant life that is your inheritance, as children of the living God. Amen!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
To contact Krikor call 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740