Oder of Service – Sunday 10 May 2020 – EASTER 5 – MOTHER’S DAY
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Sing to God, all people of the earth, sing praises to the Lord! Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over all the land and whose power reigns above the skies. Praise be to God!
OPENING PRAYER – Seeking the Lord
O gracious and holy God, give us diligence to seek You, wisdom to perceive You, and patience to wait for You.
Grant us, O God, a mind to meditate on You; eyes to behold You; ears to listen for Your word; a heart to love You; and a life to proclaim You; through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(St. Benedict 480-543)
HYMN: 443 “Come, Dearest Lord, Descend and Dwell”
INVOCATION
In the beginning, You created and You continue to create out of chaos, O God. In the midst of chaos, it is difficult for us to hear your voice. In our time of worship may we hear words of encouragement and understand how You offer new opportunities. You never abandon us. Our songs and worship are lifted to You in praise, and in thanksgiving. Through You we see all things anew! Amen.
God of new beginnings has called us to this place.
We come to celebrate the new life that God offers all people.
Be patient. Be attentive. The creator God is here.
In our singing and in our praying and in the silence, God is here.
INVITATION TO REPENTANCE
Lord Jesus Christ, when our words and actions reflect a reluctance to confess You publicly as Lord of our lives: Forgive us.
When we fear that humbling ourselves would be seen by others as weakness, or defect in our character: Forgive us.
When we have betrayed Your love for us through our lack of love for You, for others, and for ourselves: Forgive us.
When we find ourselves disregarding the events of Your passion and death because we looked to Easter as a time of holidays: Forgive us.
Silence
Lord Jesus Christ, fix Your mind in us: remake us in Your likeness;
empty us of all that hinders us from following You
to where pain and suffering, exploitation and injustice exist.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Who, being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a humble servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God.
Thanks be to God.
HYMN: 155 “O Lord My God, When I in Awesome Wonder”
MOTHER’S DAY
Our Heavenly Father, we thank You that You have so planned that we should dwell in homes and families. We are grateful to You for our mothers whose love has sustained family life over the centuries.
We thank You for motherhood that is a symbol of strength and unselfishness.
We thank You for all the mothers whose wisdom has guided their children through the developing years of life.
We thank You for all the mothers whose trust has inspired youth to strive for high ideals, and whose lives have been a signpost pointing them to Christ.
Grant that we may express our gratitude to our mothers and honour them as we recall their loyalty and love, their kindness and patience, their sacrifice and perseverance.
Grant that their example may motivate us to love and serve You more, and reach out and touch the lives of our neighbours.
We pray, that You will bless our mothers today as we honour them, and bless the memory of those who are with You in glory.
Help us, O Lord, to grow in the love which gave us birth and guided our early steps.
Help us to bring about a true sense of love in our world beginning with our own homes.
Inspire us by the example of our mothers’ faith that we may build a stronger foundation for our lives.
Unite us in Your love, O Lord, and bind us together as you guide us into greater service to You, to our parents, and to others, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN: “Faith of Our Mothers”
COLLECT
Almighty God, who has so ordained life that we should dwell together in families, bound into a strong unit by our love for one another. Grant that we may express gratitude for our parents, and especially our mothers. May we honour them as we recall their loyalty and love, their kindness and patience, their sacrifice and perseverance. May you so inspire us that we may fulfil their prayers for us, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
BIBLE READING
Proverbs 31:10-31 (page 657) 2 Timothy 1:1-14 (page1178)
SERMON: “Mothers – Lois and Eunice” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: “Honour Christian Mothers”
OFFERING – “Give and it will be given to you”. Luke 6:38
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Almighty God, who has given us many good gifts as our Heavenly Father, we now offer these pledges to You. We pray that You accept them, bless them and use them for the spread of Your Kingdom and glory. Amen.
HYMN: 581 “Happy the Home that Welcomes You”
SENDING OUT AND BENEDICTION
Father, thank You for the faithful mothers, as we honour them, help us to appreciate them and learn from their example of expressing love and care.
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