Order of Service- Sunday 1 December 2024 – ADVENT 1 – HOPE – St. ANDREW’S DAY
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
MUSIC – Scottish Bagpipes Robin Cumming
CALL TO WORSHIP
God alone is our hope, our refuge and shelter.
We are called to share this Good News to our world, declaring that God is our source of all hope.
We are called to act for peace and justice, knowing that God makes all things possible.
We are called to love our neighbours knowing that God’s love never fails.
So let us worship together in our love of God.
LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLE – HOPE
We are people of hope. So, we light the Candle of Hope with our hearts full of anticipation, believing that the Kingdom is near, and God’s light will shine bright in the midst of our darkness. Amen!
OPENING PRAYER
Mighty God, speak Your truth to us this day. Give us the treasure of Your wisdom and love, that we might become for the world the treasure You seek us to be. Clothe us with Your compassion, love and courage, that we might be Christ’s loving body and give hope to a hurting world. In Your holy name we pray. Amen!
HYMN: 210 “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
A PRAYER FOR ST. ANDREW’S DAY
Written especially for St. Andrew’s Day, by the Glasgow Churches Together. (adapted)
God, our loving Creator, St. Andrew introduced Peter, the Greek visitors,
and the little boy with loaves and fishes, to Jesus. May we be like Andrew in sharing friendship and hospitality, and in faithfulness to Jesus and His realm of justice, love and peace. May Scotland and all nations be places in which everyone matters, everyone has an honoured place, and the dignity of each is assured by our faith in You as creator of us all. Amen!
LITANY FOR ADVENT
In joyful expectation let us pray to our Saviour and Redeemer, saying:
Lord Jesus, come!
Come and teach us how to live.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Lord, and head of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and You gave the Law on Sinai;
Come with outstretched arm and ransom us.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among nations, all kings will keep silence before You, and all peoples will summon You to their aid:
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel, You open and none can shut, You shut and none can open:
Come and free the captives from prison.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten all who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O King of nations, You alone can fulfill their desires:
Cornerstone, You make opposing nations one:
come and save the creature You fashioned from clay,
Lord Jesus, come soon!
O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, Lord our God.
Lord Jesus, come soon!
HYMN: 271 “The Advent of Our God”
PRAYER – For the Knowledge of God’s Will
Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we live and move and have our being, who has created us for Yourself, so that we can find rest only in You; grant unto grant unto us such purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing Your will and no weakness from doing it; but in Your light we may see light clearly, and in Your service find perfect freedom; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen! Book of Common Order, 1940, Church of Scotland
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord God, we confess that our lives are not as clean and pure as we would wish them to be. We are not the people You Have called us to be. Give us the courage to clean up our act that we may be ready to greet the One whom You are sending. Forgive us for failing to speak out when we might have made a difference. Grant us Your peace, in the name of Jesus Your Son. Amen!
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
God’s grace and truth are available to those who are humble in Spirit. Hear the good news: salvation is near to you. It is a gift. It is grace. It is peace. Receive it and be thankful! Amen!
HYMN: “Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind” (Tune Sky Boat Song)
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove;
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love!
You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth
through it God’s voice is heard.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove;
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love!
Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live His way;
we need Your power, we need Your strength,
following Christ each day.
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove;
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love!
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
God of all strength and wisdom, we pray:
For those impacted by climate change, and for those whose livelihood is impacted by natural disasters and unpredictable weather changes.
For those who have been displaced from their homes and communities and for those who are rebuilding their lives.
Move in our hearts, to know what we can do to reach out.
Move in our hearts, so that we might seek justice and become better stewards of the earth.
Move in our hearts, to show compassion, embrace our siblings, and love our neighbour as ourselves.
Give us the wisdom to be silent and listen to what they need.
Give us the gift of generosity, to share what we have with others.
Give us the courage to have hope and share this hope with all our neighbours.
Loving God, you are our hope. Strengthen us in our time of need. Amen!
BIBLE READINGS Penny Goodley
Genesis 1:26-31 (Page 2) Mathew 5:1-12 (Page 958)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
MESSAGE: “Care for One Another” Rev. Bill Crews
PRAYER Rev. Bill Crews
HYMN: 164 “The Great Love of God”
NOTICES – Movie/Pizza Night – Tuesday 3 December 6:30 pm.
- Sun 8 Dec – Congregational Meeting after churchservice.
- Christmas Carols’ Service – Sunday 15 December 9:30 am.
- Food/Gifts Bill Crews Foundation – All in by 15 December.
- Christmas Eve Service – Tuesday 24 December 7:00 pm.
- Christmas Day Service – Wednesday 25 December 9:00 am.
DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING
God of Abundance, what we have to give is small in comparison to the needs in our world. Yet we bring what we can, knowing that together as a community, we offer it in hope that you, God, will put it to best use. May this mustard seed be lovingly nurtured into a tree that is fruitful and life giving. Give us the humility to be faithful gardeners so that Your Kingdom may be realised on earth. Amen!
HYMN: 216 “Rejoice the Lord is King” (Tune 108/371 Darell)
BENEDICTION
Let us go out into the world as beacons of light in the darkness. May we be in right relationship with the earth we walk on, and the people we pass by, taking only what we need and sharing with others, and striving for justice, and reconciliation so that we may bring God’s hope to our world. Amen!
MUSIC – Scottish Bagpipes Robin Cumming
St. Andrew’s Day is celebrated each year on 30 November and is Scotland’s national day. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, as well as several other countries including Romania, Greece, Russia and Ukraine.
According to legend a monk called Regulus brought relics of St. Andrew to Scotland where he was given land to build a church by a Pictish king. The settlement grew into the town of St. Andrew’s, where the cathedral became a place of religious pilgrimage and the university, the oldest in Scotland, was founded in 1413.
The Scottish flag, the Saltire, is based on the X-shaped cross on which St. Andrew was crucified on 30 November, 60 AD. An ancient story tells that a St. Andrew’s Cross was seen in the sky on the morning of a crucial battle in 832 AD between the Picts and the Angles. The Picts were inspired by the symbol and were victorious in the battle.
In Scotland, and many countries with Scottish connections, St. Andrew’s Day is marked with a celebration of Scottish culture with traditional Scottish food, music and dance. Schools across Scotland hold special St. Andrew’s Day events and activities including art shows, Scottish country dancing, lunchtime ceilidhs, dance festivals, storytelling, reciting and writing poems, writing tall tales, cooking traditional Scottish meals, and bagpipe-playing!
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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