Order of Service – Sunday 18 Septemeber 2022 – Combined Service
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE FIRST PEOPLES
From river to ocean, from campfire to hearth, may the First People who have cared for this land be blessed.
From breath to song, from step to dance, may those who follow Your songlines guide us on the journey of living honourably in this place.
From greeting to Amen, from silence to chorus, may our worship join with the voices of the First Peoples of this land.
HYMN: 188 “Where Wide Sky Rolls Down and Touches Red Sand”
CALL TO WORSHIP
Creator God we gather together from many places, pasts and communities to celebrate and worship together, as Your people.
We come to worship God.
Jesus, life-giver, we celebrate all that brings us together. We are on a journey, learning and celebrating.
We come to worship Jesus.
Spirit of love, we are a living community, and we give thanks for the movement of the Spirit – ever inspiring, strengthening, moving and challenging us.
We come to worship the Spirit. Amen!
HYMN: 135 “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
“Let knowledge grow from more to more, but more reverence in us dwell;
that mind and soul, according well, may take one music as before.
But vaster. We are fools and slight, we mock thee when we do not fear;
but help Thy foolish ones to bear; help Thy vain world to bear thy light.”
Excerpt from The Busman’s Companion, p. 61
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen!
THANKSGIVING PRAYER
Dear God, thank You for Your amazing power and work in our lives, thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over us.
Thank You for Your great love and care. Thank You for Your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don’t thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that You’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy. We love You and we need You, this day and every day. We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus’ name. Amen!
CHOIR: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” from Stuart Townend
BIBLE READINGS – Robin Irwin
Romans 15:7-13 (Page 1125) Isaiah 40:1-8 (Page 714)
VIDEO CLIP: “The Mantle of Safety” Frontier Services
MESSAGE: “Over the Sandstone Curtain” Rick Johnson
HYMN: 322 “The North Wind is Tossing the Leaves”
NOTICES
OFFERING – Help us to give freely as we have received freely from You.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Almighty God, You continue to bless our lives in many intrinsic and intangible ways. When our financial gifts are used to support mission and ministry, we see other people blessed in very tangible ways. Our desire is to place You first in our financial decision-making. May this offering be a time when we do place You first and when we are grateful for the opportunity to support mission and ministry in Your name. We pray in the name of the One through whom all things are possible. Amen!
HYMN: 590 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (Tune Converse/Erie)
PRAYER FOR OTHERS – God of all places Sue Bowering
God of all places and climes, we are glad to thank You for our friends and partners in faith and vision throughout the world, for people with the strength of character to survive in difficult circumstances, and to live out their faith in joy and thanksgiving for all Your gifts. Amen!
We pray for our friends everywhere, keep their feet from falling, their eyes from tears; and preserve them and us, in the land of living.
Make us able to forgive and help others: even as we would that they should forgive and help us. Hear this, our prayer, through the love of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen!
A ROLLING BROWN LAND Sue Bowering
Lord God, Your Spirit has moved over the face of Australia and formed from its dust a rolling brown land. Your Spirit has moved over its warm tropical waters and created a rich variety of life. Your Spirit has moved in the lives of men, women, and children and given them, from the dream time, an affinity with their lands and waters. Your Spirit has moved in pilgrim people and brought them to a place of freedom and plenty. Your Spirit moves still today in sprawling, high-rise cities, in the vast distances of the outback, and in the ethnic diversity of the Australian people.
Lord God, in the midst of this varied huddle of humanity You have set Your church. Give us, the people You have richly blessed, a commitment to justice and peace for all nations; and a vision of righteousness and equality for all people on our own country.
Help us look beyond our far horizons to see our neighbour in their many guises, so that we may be mutually enriched by our differences. And may our love and compassion for all the people on earth be as wide and varied as our land and as constant as the grace of our Lord, Jesu Christ. Amen!
HYMN: “Shall We Gather at the River” From “The Bushman’s Companion” 1910
BLESSING AND BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine om you, and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace; and the blessing of the God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen!
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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