Order of Service – Sunday 12 March 2023 – LENT 3

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CALL TO WORSHIP

“Come near to God, and He will come near to you” (James 4:8).

May all the barriers between God and ourselves be removed.

Let us open our spirits to the Spirit of God and discover the power and peace of God surging within us.

HYMN:       569       “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

CONFESSION

In penitence and faith, and in a period of silence, let us confess our sins to Almighty God. Let us pray. (Silence)

We acknowledge before God the Lord the wretchedness of our world and the sins of our hearts and minds. Our times are full of evil and we are but children of our times. We have seen the light and we are still in darkness. We have seen the truth and we are half-hearted. We are disciples, but poor disciples, unable to give sight to our neighbour who is blind to where blessing lies. We confess all these things with shame and pray God forgive and redeem. Amen!

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

Hear the words of grace: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And so I declare to you, our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be To God.

HYMN:             “Blessed Assurance”

A LITANY FOR LENT

     Most holy and merciful God, we confess to You, and to one another,

     that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word and deed;

     by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved You with our whole heart, and mind, and strength.

We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.

     Have mercy on us, Lord.

We have been deaf to Your call to serve as Christ served us.

We have not been true to the mind of Christ.

We have grieved the Holy Spirit.

     Have mercy on us, Lord.

We confess to You, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness:

our pride, our hypocrisy, and our failure to be completely honest with ourselves or with other people;

     We confess to You, Lord.

Our preoccupation with our own comforts or possessions,

and our dishonesty in daily life and work;

     We confess to You, Lord.

Our exploitation of other people,

and our envy of those with more talents than ourselves;

     We confess to You, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship,

and our failure to share the faith we have;

     We confess to You, Lord.

Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done;

for our blindness to human need and suffering,

and our indifference to injustice and cruelty;

     Accept our repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbours

and for prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us;

     Accept our repentance, Lord.

For our waste and pollution of Your creation,

and our lack of concern for those who come after us;

     Accept our repentance, Lord.

Restore us, good Lord;

     Grant us forgiveness and time for amendment of life.

Strengthen us to overcome temptation;

     And empower us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

By the cross and passion of Your Son our Lord,

     Bring us with all Your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

                                                                          (Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

HYMN:                    “When Peace Like a River”

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                Wendy Phelps

Exodus 17:1-7 (Page 71)                                                           Romans 5:1-11 (Page 1116)  

MUSICAL REFLECTION

SERMON:   “What Am I to Do With These People?”  Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:       432       “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”

NOTICES –

  • AMAA Sunday Service – Sun 19 March 10:00 am Willoughby.
  • Communion will be on Sunday 26 March and not 2 April.
  • Good Friday Service – Friday 7 April 9:30 am.
  • Easter Sunday Service – Sunday 9 April 9:30 am.
  • Mother’s Day Lunch – Sunday 7 May 12:00 noon.
  • Trip to Narrabri – 22-30 May. If interested, register!

OFFERING  –     “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a

                                           memorial before God”.  (Acts 10:4)

HYMN:       457       “The Church’s One Foundation”

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy. To the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen!

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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