Order of Service – Sunday 16 April 2023 – EASTER 2

Click the link below to download the Order of Service.

CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER

Almighty God, boldly we approach Your throne of grace. Joyfully, we come knowing You always welcome us. Humbly, we acknowledge before You and one another our need. Eagerly, we seek Your mercy and grace, which are sufficient for our every need. Grant us open hearts, minds, and lives that we might gratefully receive. We pray in the name of Jesus, our great High Priest. Amen!

HYMN:       379       “He is Risen, He is Risen”

PRAYER

God of new beginnings, help us hear the good news that in Christ the old has passed away and the new has come. Help us know that even the darkest wilderness gives way to light and life. We thank You that even when the wilderness is of our own making and we have purposely turned away from You, You await our return as a loving father awaits the return of a lost child.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!

CONFESSION (from Psalm 51)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against You, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight.

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Wash me, O Lord, and make me clean.

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE (from Psalm 103)

Hear the good news: Our gracious God forgives all your iniquity and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; God does not deal with us according to our sins, or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is the steadfast love of God; as far as the east is from the west, so far God removes our transgressions from us. Thanks be to God! Amen!

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Father we thank You that we can come to You just as we are.

We praise You that You know us completely.

We do not have to pretend; You know what we are really like.

We thank You that You still love us.

We praise You that in Jesus You shared all that this life means to us.

We thank You that through him we can enter the heaven of Your love.

We are glad that You know the things that hurt us.

We thank You for understanding our fears.

We praise You that we never need to feel unloved, unwanted, or unnecessary.

We thank You for Your promise to be with us always, and we praise You for the hope that Jesus makes possible.

Father, forgive us for not showing love to each other, for our failure to help those in need, for the foolishness that spoils our love.

Forgive us, and fill us with the love of Jesus.

In His name. Amen!                                                                 (David Clowes)

HYMN:       717       “Give Thanks with A Grateful Heart”

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                              Frank Knowles

1 Peter 1:1-9 (Page 1200)                                                        John 20:19-31 (Page 1075)

AFFIRMATION

In response to the word, let us make our affirmation:

We believe that God is present here, meeting us within our worship, speaking into every heart, offering wisdom for every mind and breathing hope into every soul.

We believe that, in Christ all things are possible and in the Spirit all life is being made new. This we believe.

MESSAGE:            “Learning from Thomas”             Krikor Youmshajekian

RESPONSE

Lord, in private moments we understand Thomas all too well.

For he demanded more than just somebody’s word.

We are suspicious, we have doubts, and we want proof.

Yet You have called us to the life of faith.

PRAYER

O God, You have called us to be wise as serpents in discerning that which is true and that which is false. We know that there are those who would willingly mislead us in this world.  When we have doubt, transform it into faith. When we have no faith, give us the courage to act as if we do until we are blessed with its presence. In the name of Him who revealed himself in His wounds. Amen!

HYMN:       649       “These Things Did Thomas Count as Real”

NOTICES –

• Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 2 May 2023
• Mother’s Day Lunch – Sunday 7 May 12:00 noon.

Please remember in your Prayers

– The sick, those who suffer and especially the displaced.

– Pray for the people of Ukraine, Armenia and Artsakh.

– Pray for the poor, the sick, the vulnerable and the stressed.

– Pray for those who are unwell and struggling.

– Pray for Liam as he takes the role of Lane Cove Chaplain.

– Pray for Mark and Barbara, as they are travelling in the USA.

OFFERING  –   Honour the Lord with your wealth. (Proverbs 3:9)

HYMN:       210       “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

THE LORD’S PRAYER

COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen! (Hebrews 13:20-21)

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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