Order of Service – Sunday 24 September 2023 – PENTECOST 17
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
“Come near to God, and He will come near to you”. (James 4:8)
May all the barriers between God and ourselves be removed. Let us open our spirits to the Spirit of God and discover the power and peace of God surging within us.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise”. (Psalm 48:1a)
Therefore, let us joyously unite together as we sing, pray, listen to God’s word and share with God and one another.
HYMN: 142 “Glory Be to God the Father”
A PRAYER OF PRAISE
Almighty God, who deserves to be praised by all life that You have created, we bow in humility before You, realizing the greatness of Your power in the vast universe, and knowing of Your concern for each one of us. Grant that we may praise Your name, not in words alone, but also in our deeds of love and mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
HYMN: 228 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord, we thank You for the love, power and mercy that have brought us to this moment in our lives and our life together.
We confess that we have not always wanted the best for each other or for those around us.
Jesus, Lord of the world, forgive us.
We confess that we have too often and too easily pleased ourselves and put our own wants and needs before those of others.
Jesus, Lord of the world, forgive us.
We confess that we have memories of the past that still hurt us, that we do not always find it easy to cope with what is happening today, and that tomorrow’s uncertainty sometimes makes us afraid.
Jesus, Lord of the world, forgive us.
Lord, we ask not only for forgiveness, but for the desire and strength to begin again.
Jesus, Lord of the world, forgive us. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be, has not yet been made known. But know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Lord, we thank You for the splendour with which You have filled all creation; for the immensity and extent of the universe, which defies our understanding; and for the beauty of our world, which is greater than our words to describe it.
We praise You for the place you have given us in Your creation.
Thank You for those who, through words and pictures, through music and writing, have added to the beauty of Your wonderful world. Thank You for all who have been transformed by the sight of beauty, the touch of love, the care of compassion, the challenge of Your word, the assurance of forgiveness, and the presence of Christ.
Thank You, most of all, for the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and for those moments when You break into our lives all over again; for helping us to recognize the purpose of Your love in the whole of Your creation.
We bring our prayers in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen! (David Clowes)
HYMN: 189 “Glory to Our Boundless God”
TIME TO PRAY
In silence please offer your prayers to the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: “In Christ Alone”
A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES
O Lord and lover of the human race, shine in our hearts the pure light of Your divine knowledge and open the eyes of our mind to the understand-ding of Your Gospel teaching. Instil in us the fear of your blessed commandments, that, forsaking all worldly desires, we may enter on a spiritual life, willing and doing all that is your good pleasure.
For you are light of our souls and our bodies, Christ, O God! And we give glory to you, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good, and life-giving Spirit, now and forever, world without end. Amen.
(John Chrysostom 344-407)
BIBLE READINGS – Chris Butters
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 (Pages 597-598) Exodus 16:1-16 (Page 70)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
MESSAGE: “The Miracle of Manna” Krikor Youmshajekian
HYMN: 569 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”
NOTICES – Movie/Pizza Night – Tuesday 3 October 6:30 pm.
- Elders’ and Council Meeting – Wednesday 4 Oct 12:30 pm.
- Krikor will be on leave 11th to the 25th of October 2023 – to attend the AMAA’s Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Liam McKenna will take the service on Sunday 15 October and Bob Minton on Sunday 22 October.
- Lane Cove Music – Tuesday 10 Oct at 7:30 pm – Pollard Memorial Instrumental Awards for Excellence.
- John Flynn Service – Sunday 29 October 9:30 am. Guest speaker Rob Floyd, National Director of Frontier Services.
- St. Andrew’s Day Luncheon – Sun 26 Nov 12:00 noon.
OFFERING – “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
HYMN: 547 “Be Thou My Vision”
COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION
The LORD watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
The LORD will watch over your coming and going now and forever.
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To contact Krikor call 9453 0787 or 0418 417 411
Church Website: http://www.longueville.unitingchurch.org.au
Church email: standrewsunite@tpg.com.au
Church Office phone: 9427 4740