Order of Service – Sunday 20 March 2022 – LENT 3
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David”. (Isaiah 55:1-3)
The world belongs to God, the earth and all its people.
How good and how lovely it is to live together in unity.
If the Lord’s disciples keep silent, these stones would shout aloud.
Lord, open our lips and our mouths shall proclaim Your praise.
Come, let us worship God.
HYMN: 221 “Glory to God on High”
INVOCATION
Come to us, O God of surprising grace. Break into the places in our lives which we think are not worthy of Your entry and show us the measure of Your love for us. Break through into newness in all our life together, O God, in the wonder of Your transforming presence. Amen!
RESPONSIVE READING Isaiah 63:1-8
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen You in the sanctuary and seen Your power and Your glory.
Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.
I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You.
On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night.
Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
TIME TO PRAY
In silence please offer your prayers to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: 703 “As the Deer Pants for the Water”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Our loving God and Father, we do not pretend that our lives are good enough for Your friendship or approval. We have lived in Your world as if You were insignificant and sometimes as if You were irrelevant. We have pushed our own ideas and projects, forgetting Your kindness to us and Your authority over us. Especially we have failed to appreciate the greatness and goodness of Your Son Jesus Christ, who lived and died and rose among us. Yet, You are full of love and forgiveness, the very gifts that Jesus died to bring to those who ask.
For His sake forgive us, and work in us to make us grateful, faithful and joyful people. In His name we pray. Amen!
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws He gave us through His servants the prophets. (Daniel 9.9-10)
LENTEN PRAYER
God, we know that You come to us in the creation You have made, and through people in Your image and likeness. Sometimes it is difficult to hear Your voice speak in new ways to us in the Scriptures. We find it hard to see clearly what is habit or an inappropriate part of our culture, that has crept into how we see and hear and understand Your voice and guidance. Sometimes we hold on to old ways and values in caring for the earth and treasuring each other. May the Christ Light remind us how much new light You have to bring. May we be helped to see the difference between what binds us and frees us to meet, know and follow You in our various cultures and experiences.
Guide us by the Light! Guide us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray Amen!
HYMN: 211(i) “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
God of all Truth, teach us what is true.
When we know the Truth, may we keep it holy.
May our conversation together and our sharing of truths lead us to discover Your Truths which lead to life. Amen!
BIBLE READINGS – Roslyn McCawley
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (Pages 1134-1135) Luke 13:1-9 (Pages 1032-1033)
SERMON: “One More Year!” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 236 “Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands”
NOTICES – Working Bee – Wednesday 30 March from12:30 pm.
– Movie/Pizza Night – Tuesday 5 April 6:30 pm.
The movie will be Woman in Gold.
OFFERING – “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial
before God”. (Acts 10.4)
DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING – PRAYER
God, You have given each of us gifts to use as members of the body of Christ. Here are our gifts – the work of our hands, our hearts, and our lives. We pray that they may help to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to our world, today and always, here and everywhere. Amen.
HYMN: 64 “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” (Tune 228)
SENDING OUT AND BENEDICTION
Father, thank You for Your love. Send us out from here in the power of the Holy Spirit and help us to share our gifts with those who are in need. For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, now and forever. 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