Order of Service – Sunday 12 February 2023 – EPIPHANY 6
Click th elink below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God says: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and un-searchable things you do not know” (Jer. 33:3).
O God, You have brought us great blessings in the past. Today we call on You to prepare us to receive from You the great blessings You have for us now and in the future. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
INVOCATION
Creator God, our faces and hearts face east as we greet the new day. We lift our face to the light, which You have sent to warm us. We are reminded of Your power because You set the sun in the sky as well as the moon and the stars. We are thankful for Your mercy as we are given another day of life. Each day is a new beginning and is full of new opportunities. Be with us as we seek Your face and gather to worship You. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen!
HYMN: 100 “All Creatures of Our God and King” (1, 2, 3 & 7)
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Gracious God, we humbly thank You for all Your gifts so freely given to us, for life and health and safety, for power to work, leisure to rest, and for all that is beautiful in creation and human life. But, above all, we praise You for our Saviour, Your Son, Jesus Christ, for His death and resurrection, for the gift of Your Spirit, and for the hope of sharing in Your glory. Fill our hearts with all joy and peace in believing; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most merciful and gracious God, we humbly admit that we need Your help. We confess that we have wandered from Your way; we have done wrong, and we have failed to do what is right. You alone can save us. Have mercy on us; wipe out our sins and teach us to forgive others. Bring forth in us the fruit of the Spirit that we may live as disciples of Christ. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen!
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
“If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the perfect offering for our sins, and not for ours only, but also the sins of the whole world.” Your sins are forgiven!
HYMN: 102 “Praise to the Living God”
TIME TO PRAY
THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE APOSTLES’ CREED (Standing)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen!
FOR THE RENEWAL OF OUR HEARTS
Instruct our mouths, O Lord, with a new song, that, our hearts being renewed, we may always rejoice in the praise and in the company of saints, O God our strength and our Redeemer. Amen! (Ancient Scottish Prayer)
HYMN: 106 “Now Thank We All Our God”
BIBLE READINGS – Ian Butters
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (Page 201) 1 Cor. 3:1-9 (Page 1129)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
SERMON: “Choose – Only God” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 107 “Sing Praise and Thanksgiving”
NOTICES –
- Ash Wednesday Combined Service – Lower North Shore Zone Uniting Churches – 22 February 2023 6:00 pm, here atSt. Andrew’s. Please come and join!
- World Day of Prayer – Friday 3 March 2023 10:30 am, here at St. Andrew’s. Theme “I have Heard About Your Faith” prepared by women of Taiwan. Guest speaker Rev. Myung Hwa Park. Everyone welcome!
- Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 7 March 2023.
OFFERING – Give generously and freely for God’s glory.
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
God of power and wisdom, give Your people the blessing of peace.
Lord, Your Son, Jesus Christ took Your commandments and deepened their understanding.
Transform our hearts to show our love for You by walking more fully in Your ways …
May we choose Your abundant life.
Lord, You call Your people to be reconciled and refrain from hate-filled talk.
Bring healing to all places of conflict and division …
May Your fire and water purge and renew the nations of the earth.
Lord, purify Your people to look upon one another with respect and honour.
Forgive our debased and vulgar abuse of our brothers and sisters …
Restore us in Your image and dignity.
Lord, the weight of broken relationships presses upon Your people.
Break the chains that oppress, and bring in Your liberation …
Set us free to praise Your name.
Lord, You set before us the hope of life everlasting.
In this confidence we entrust to You those who have died …
Fulfil Your promise of redemption.
HYMN: 448 “Blessed are the Pure in Heart”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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