Order of Service – Sunday 22 January 2023 – EPIPHANY 3

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CALL TO WORSHIP  (Based on Psalm 27)

The Lord is my light and my salvation, the stronghold of my life.

    Whom shall I fear? And from whom shall I tremble in dread? 

My opponents and enemies drew near, intent on devouring me, but they stumbled and fell.

    Issues in my life sit like an army encamped against me, 

    but my heart shall not fear, even if they all rise up against me. 

One thing I have asked from the Lord.

    This will I seek; to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to catch the vision of the kindly ways of the Lord.

For the Lord God will hide me like treasure, in a booth, on that miserable day;

    hiding me in the secret folds of His tent.

And now the Lord will raise my head, above my enemies round about me.

    And I will sacrifice in the tent of the Lord sacrifices of joy;

    I will sing, and make music to the Lord.

PRAYER OF APPROACH

Holy God, Your glory and majesty far exceed our capacity to imagine them and the assurance of Your care for us is not only spelled out in the words of the Psalmist but in the person of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated the depth of Your care through His love and compassion. A love that resonated in people’s lives, and a compassion which permeated all His actions. He calls us to make such love and compassion, holiness and glory, visible in and through our lives also. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

HYMN:       135        “All Things Bright and Beautiful”

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of wisdom and power, we confess that there are times when we find it difficult to see beyond the foolishness of the cross to the sacrificial love that ended Jesus’ earthly life. Help us to see Jesus’ preparedness to die condemned, betrayed and deserted by followers and friends, not as evidence of weakness but as a powerful sign of his self-giving love. He endured the cross so that we would be empowered to live lives shaped by that same self-giving love.

    Forgive us when we follow the wisdom of the world and find self-serving love more to our liking.

The Apostle Paul implores us to understand God’s values as revealed in the outpoured love and life of Jesus. When we boast, we are to boast in the Lord.

    Forgive us when we boast about our achievements, our status, our authority, our wisdom.

Merciful God, we thank You that Your wisdom and power enables us to grasp the true meaning of the cross for they reveal the great depth of Your love for the world. A love made flesh in Christ – a love that thankfully will not let us go.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Hear the good news – the message about the cross is that in Jesus Christ we are empowered to live new and forgiven lives.

Friends believe in the Gospel – through Jesus we are loved, we are healed, and we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

HYMN:       690       “Beauty for Brokenness”

BIBLE READINGS                                                            Wendy Phelps

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (Page 1128)                Matthew 4:12-23 (Page 958)

MUSICAL REFLECTIONS

MESSAGE:            “A Fishing Story – Discipleship”           Bob Minton

SONG:                         “The Summons”

NOTICES –

  • Time4U – Recommences on Wednesday 1 February 2023.
  • Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 7 February 2023.
  • Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 8 Feb 12:30 pm.
  • Congregational Meeting – Sunday 12 February 10:30 am.

OFFERING –

Generous God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You call us to make real the sharing of the gifts you have given us. Use the offerings of our hearts and our hands to Your glory and the service of Your realm. Amen!

POEM –    “My Country”   by Dorothea Mckellar

The first draft of My Country was written in England when Dorothea Mackellar was feeling homesick for Australia. Dorothea Mackellar wanted the verse to express her deep and true love for her country. It was rewritten several times before a satisfactory completion.

She resented the tendency of acquaintances in her youth to discredit Australia, and to refer to England as ‘Home’. As a young girl Dorothea living on the outskirts of Gunnedah, in north western NSW, she was clearly aware of the variety and beauty presented by the Australian landscape. Much of her poetry has taken its imagery from her love of the natural Australian scenery. The original title for “My Country“ was “Core of My Heart“, and was the title used when the poem was first published in 1908, in the London Spectator Magazine.

The poem will now be read to us.                                  by Penny Goodley

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and the LORD’S PRAYER

Source of all love and joy, Father of Jesus and our God, to You belongs our gratitude. Your loyalty to us is untiring and Your love is beyond all measure.

     We thank You, Lord of life.

When our continent was being created, You thought of us and provided for us. When our land’s inhabitants were kangaroo and koala, jabiru and currawong, crocodile and yabbie, You catered for our needs.

     We thank You, Lord of life

When we inherited this land, we used it recklessly and selfishly. But You did not give us up. Though like tramps we wander among our broken promises, shattered hopes and empty prayers, You give us Jesus the Christ to seek and save the lost.

     We thank you, Lord of life

Though Australians become blinded by technology, misled by opinion poll morality, hardened by greed and captivated by lusts, through Jesus Christ You still come among us, inviting us to reclaim our destiny as Your very children.

     We thank you, Lord of life.

God of Jesus, God of the Southern Cross and of all who read its sign, make our nation Your nation. Let us live to Your glory, today and as long as this land shall last. We ask it in Jesus’s name. 

who taught us to pray saying….

HYMN        672      “Lord of Earth and All Creation”

BLESSING

Let us finish this service well, by reminding ourselves,

that it is not we who chose Christ, but Christ who chose us,

that we were not here because of our goodness but because of God’s grace,

that we were not here to enlighten ourselves,

but to allow Christ to enlighten us,

that we do not go our separate ways alone,

but in the company of the Spirit,

who has great things in store for us.

May Grace, mercy and peace, from God most wonderful be your benediction today, this week and always.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. 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