Order of Service – Sunday 22 March 2020 – LENT 4
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Link: Order of Service 22 March 2020
CALL TO WORSHIP
Lord we have come to listen to You and to share with You all that is on our hearts and minds.
We have come to praise You and to give You thanks.
We have come because You are worthy and because of our need.
We have come because You are here and because You have promised to go with us when we leave.
Fill us with Your love and empower us with Your Spirit that we may worship you in Christ. Amen.
Let us praise God who meets our needs and leads us to places of tranquillity and rest.
Let us praise God who comforts us and replaces our fears with overflowing love.
HYMN: 111 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
A PRAYER OF ADORATION
O God, our true life, to know You is life, to serve You is freedom, to enjoy You is a kingdom, to praise You is the joy and happiness of the soul. I praise and bless and adore You, I worship You, I glorify You. I give thanks to You for Your great glory. I humbly beg You to live with me, to reign in me, to make this heart of mine a holy temple, a fit habitation for Your divine majesty. (Augustine of Hippo 354-430)
HYMN: 768(i) DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, doubt can be so troubling to us. Forgive us when we have failed to understand another’s doubt and given them a safe place to share it. Forgive us when we have failed to allow another person to work through their doubt and so grow stronger. Forgive us, God, when we have made doubt a destination and have become complacent in seeking Your presence, Your will, and Your way for our lives. Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. In the name of Jesus we ask this. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! Our mighty God is far more willing and able to forgive than we are to ask. When we turn to God, he hears our prayers and forgives us. This is God’s amazing gift of grace. Amen.
TIME TO PRAY
As we listen to the music, let us be in a time of prayer.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
O God, creator and preserver of all mankind: we humbly pray for all sorts and condition of men, that You would be pleased to make Your way known to them, Your saving power among all nations.
Especially we pray for the welfare of Your global church, that it may be guided and governed by Your good Spirit, so that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life.
We commend to Your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, that it may please You to comfort and relieve them according to their needs, giving them patience in their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. All this we ask for the sake of Christ our Lord.
Almighty God, You have promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in Your Son’s name: mercifully accept us who have made our prayers to You; and grant us those things which we are asking in faith according to Your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The people offer their own petitions silently.
Let us pray for our community, the life and worship of this congregation.
The people offer their own petitions silently.
Let us pray for those whose needs are known to us.
The people offer their own petitions silently.
Let us pray for the devastating terror of the Corona Virus.
The people offer their own petitions silently.
Let us pray for world peace.
The people offer their own petitions silently.
Almighty God, You have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to You; and You have promised, through Your well-beloved Son, that when two or three are gathered together in His name You will be in the midst of them:
Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us;
granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: 430 “Your Words to Me are Life and Health”
A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES
Shine within our hearts the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand Your teachings. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that having conquered sinful desires we may pursue a spiritual way of life, thinking and doing all those things that are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are our light, and to You we give all glory together with Your Father and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
BIBLE READINGS – Ruth West
1 Samuel 16:1-13 (Pages 277-278) Psalm 23:1-6 (Page 544)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
MESSAGE: “The Shepherd of the Shepherd Boy!” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 275 “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”
NOTICES – All our Services and activities have been suspended!
– Bible Study, Time4You, Elders’/Council Meetings, Pizza /Movie Nights as well as Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Services have been cancelled until further notice!
OFFERING – In enthusiasm and hope, in humility and community, in trust and expectation, we make our offering to God.
HYMN: 228 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
BLESSING
Go in peace, be safe and well and pray hard in these challenging times.
God is with you!
PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!
In this very critical and challenging times and seek our great God’s help and care.
To contact Krikor call 9453 0787 or 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740