Order of Service – Sunday 25 June 2023 – UCA ANNIVERSARY
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GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE
CALL TO WORSHIP Krikor Youmshajekian
Our land is alive with the glory of God; desert sands hum and gum trees dance. Brown grasses sing and mountains breathe their stillness. All created things add their rhythms of delight and even stones rap out their praise.
Let our voices mingle with those of the earth; may our hearts join the beat of her joy, for our Triune God is with us: our creator surrounds and upholds us. Christ Jesus walks beside and before us. The Spirit moves within and between us. Blessed be God, our wonder and delight.
HYMN: “God the Father, Son and Spirit”
(Words by Keith Pearson – Tune TiS 152 Ode to Joy)
God the Father, Son and Spirit, through your grace immense and free,
Draw us to yourself and bring us into deeper unity.
Come, renew us as we worship, witnessing to truth we hear,
And, through lives of humble service, show forth Christ our saving Lord.
We are ready to go forward, loyal alone to Christ our Head,
In the church which is his body, follow on where He has led.
Open still to your reforming, through your word in Christ your Son,
All united by the Spirit, who makes all your people one.
We acknowledge one another; love and joy to each is shown;
Our belief in Christ our Master sends us out to make Him known.
So we live in hope’s assurance, waiting for the day to come.
When the kingdoms of this world shall be the Kingdom of your Son.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING Krikor Youmshajekian
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good:
For His mercy endures for ever.
Holy Father, eternal God, whom we confess the only true and living one, creator, preserver and ruler of all things, in whom alone we put our trust: With the whole Church in heaven and on earth we worship and praise You. We thank You for having brought us to this hour guarded by Your gracious hand.
We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.
We thank You for Your love made known in Jesus Christ, who became man and dwelt among us in perfect love and obedience, who was lifted up on the cross and died for our sins, who rose again from the dead and is alive for evermore. We praise You that He is gathering into one Your scattered children.
You are the King of Glory, O Christ; the Eternal Son of the Father.
We thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit by whom we are brought to faith in Christ, through whom the gospel is preached in all the world, who gives life to Your people and binds us together in the fellowship of Your Church. In Him, we worship in spirit and in truth.
PRAYER Chris Butters
Gracious God, help us to remember that we must love one another and remember we are all Your children. Remind us, that if we tune our hearts to Jesus’ heart, we will all come together to create a loving and kind world. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
God of our ancestors, You have led Your people, protecting with Your power and sheltering in Your shadow. We praise and adore You.
Lord, You are generous to those who call on You, bringing salvation to all who believe and confess Your name. We praise and adore You.
Living God, remain with us today. Fill us with Your Spirit that we may dwell in Christ. We praise and adore You. Amen!
PSALTER READING – Responsively Chris Butters
Psalm 86 (Pages 585-586)
SONG:
His Name is Wonderful
His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;
He is the mighty King, master of everything,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
He’s the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He;
Bow down before Him, love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.
LITANY FOR OUR CHURCH ANNIVERSARY Heather Andrews
Brothers and sisters, we rejoice that the Holy Spirit inspired our forebears to form the Uniting Church for God’s praise and glory. On this joyful occasion of our church anniversary let us pray to the Lord:
Eternal and loving God, today we give thanks to You for Your goodness through all the years of worship and witness in this place.
For Your grace in calling us to be Your people; for Your love revealed to us in Christ Your Son; for Your gift of the Spirit and the joy of salvation:
We give You our thanks, O God.
For those who established the church here: for their faith and vision, for their gifts and abilities:
We give You our thanks, O God.
For all who have been members of this church; for those who have given freely of their time and money; for those whose wisdom guided us:
We give You our thanks, O God.
For all who have preached and taught here; for all who have confessed here that Jesus is Lord; for all who today lead in worship, witness, and service:
We give You our thanks, O God. (The people stand)
And now let us reaffirm our loyalty to Christ and pledge our faithfulness to the church:
That God may be reverently worshipped; that the gospel may be faithfully proclaimed; that the sacraments may be joyfully celebrated:
We pledge our allegiance to Christ and the Church.
That our families and friendships may be enriched; that our daily lives and work may be consecrated; that our faith and love may be nurtured:
We pledge our allegiance to Christ and the Church.
For the teaching and guiding of those who are young; for the encouraging and equipping for those who serve; for the strengthening of those who seek God’s way; and for the comforting of those who mourn:
We pledge our allegiance to Christ and the Church.
For the conversion of the world to our Saviour; for the reconciliation of the people and nations; for the promotion of righteousness and peace; and for the extension of the reign of God:
We pledge our allegiance to Christ and the Church.
In loving remembrance of all who have run the race and finished their course; in gratitude for one another here today who make up the body of Christ in this place; in thanksgiving for all who keep the faith and in communion with all God’s people on earth:
We pledge our allegiance to Christ and the Church. Amen!
HYMN: “O Lord My God, When I in Awesome Wonder”
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder,
consider all the worlds thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
But when I think how God, his Son not sparing,
sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
that on the cross, my burdens gladly bearing,
he bled and died to take away my sin:
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation,
and take me home, what joy will fill my heart!
Then shall I bow in humble adoration,
and there proclaim: My God, how great thou art!
A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES Mary Cheong
Holy One, open our hearts and minds by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and proclaimed, we may hear Your Word with Joy. Amen!
THE SERVICE OF THE WORD Mary Cheong
Ezekiel 37:15-28 (Pages 858-859) John 17:20-26 (Page 1071)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (adapted from the Basis of Union) Congregation
We believe in God, sovereign in grace and love, maker of all things.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God, the firstborn of a new creation.
We believe in God’s eternal Spirit, pledge and foretaste of the future, given that we may not lose the way, who has endowed us with a diversity of gifts.
We are a pilgrim people on the way to the promised goal. On this way, we are called to live and work within the faith and unity of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
In this unity, we offer our worship, witness and service and receive one another in love and joy.
We are being led to the free obedience of the children of God, and so we look with yearning and hope to the final reconciliation of humanity with God, and the renewal of all creation. Alleluia. Amen.
MESSAGE: “Radical Relationships” Liam McKenna
NOTICES – Krikor & Gaye
OFFERING – Give generously from what God has given. Rick Johnson
COVENANT Rick Johnson
We are not alone and deserted; we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who created and is creating, who has come in the true man, Jesus, to reconcile and renew, who works within us and among us by his Spirit. We trust Him. He calls us to be His church, one church: to celebrate His presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil.
We proclaim His reign over us and the whole world. In life, in death, in life beyond death He is with us. We are not alone: thanks be to God!
WE DEDICATE OURSELVES ANEW
AS MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S CHURCH Rick Johnson
The church is one body, made of many members. Each of us adds something beautiful and unique to this community.
Though we are frail humans, God dwells on earth and makes Himself known in sacred spaces and sacred moments.
God is with us, today, here in this place.
We promise to love as God’s people, and to sing, pray, listen, hear the words of scripture, and to share these things with each other so we may energise and deepen our faith.
We dedicate ourselves this day to serving each other.
We look forward to more years of service and worship together. We dedicate ourselves anew to being Christ’s people in the world.
Where there has been conflict among us, we pray for the softening of hearts and for reconciliation between us.
We pray for healing, peace and co-operation among us.
We covenant anew today, to share the ministry of Jesus with each other, and with the larger community around us, so that all who meet us may know, by our example, of his unconditional love and healing grace.
Filled by the grace and love of Jesus Christ, we dedicate ourselves afresh to God’s service.
With God’s help, may it be so!
HYMN: “In a Church that’s Moving Forward”
(Words: Andrew Williams – Tune: Abbotts Leigh)
In a church that’s moving forward,
this is where we long to be.
In a church with gifts abounding
and the grace to set them free.
In a church of many cultures,
in a church both old and young,
in a church of many accents
when the song of Christ is sung.
With a Lord who leads the mission
of a people on the way,
with a Lord who’s healing blindness,
let the voiceless have their say.
With a Lord of every nation,
with a Lord of every place,
with a Lord who shines compassion
on to every tribe and race.
On a road that leads to wholeness
when we’re broken or unsure,
on a road to understanding
where division finds a cure;
on a road where all may travel,
on a road where many roam,
on a road we walk together,
as we make our journey home.
CLOSING RESPONSE Krikor Youmshajekian
Creator God, You call us to believe and to follow You: awaken our faith in Your presence among us.
Creator God, You call us to be a new creation: fill us now with Your Spirit, and inspire us with the good news of salvation. Creator God, keep us, Your children born of water and spirit, faithful to our calling as followers of Jesus. Amen!
THE LORD’S PRAYER Congregation
HYMN: “God Gives Us a Future”
God gives us a future, daring us to go
into dreams and dangers on a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow in the Spirit’s power,
we will let God change us, for new life starts now.
We must leave behind us sins of yesterday,
for God’s new beginning is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight, and the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us how to read the signs,
how to meet the challenge of our troubled times.
Love us into action, stir us into prayer,
till we choose God’s life, and find our future there.
COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION Krikor Youmshajekian
Union does not happen by accident. Whatever happens, God is doing, wherever we are, God has put us there; He has a purpose in our being there. Christ who dwells within us has something He wants to do through us wherever we are.
DISMISSAL Krikor Youmshajekian
Go in peace; may you carry God’s Wisdom, speak forth God’s Word, and embody God’s Presence wherever you are.
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