Order of Service – Sunday 26 December 2021
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 148
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the highest!
Praise God, sun and moon; praise God, all you shining stars!
Young men and women alike, old and young together!
Let us praise the name of the Lord whose glory is above earth and heaven.
Let us worship God!
HYMN: 152 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You”
We give thanks to You!
Every soul and heart is lifted up to You, undisturbed name, honoured with the name ‘God’ and praised with the name ‘Father’, for to everyone and everything comes the fatherly kindness and affection and love, and any teaching there may be that is sweet and plain, giving us mind, speech, and knowledge:
Mind, so that we may understand You,
speech, so that we may expound You,
knowledge, so that we may know You.
We rejoice because You have shown us Yourself.
We rejoice because while we were in the body,
You have made us through your knowledge.
The thanksgiving of the person who attains to You is one thing:
that we know You, we have known You, intellectual light.
Life of life, we have known You.
Womb of every creature, we have known You.
Womb pregnant with the nature of the Father, we have known You.
Eternal permanence of the begetting Father, thus have we worshipped Your goodness.
There is one petition that we ask:
we would be preserved in the knowledge.
And there is one protection that we desire:
that we not stumble in this kind of life. Amen.
(Gnostic prayers Mid 2nd Century)
HYMN: 106(i) “Now Thank We All Our God”
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
In Colossians we read:
‘Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’
Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, we pray for all those who are suffering and are in distress.
We offer You our words and deeds, our gifts and our hope as we offer thanks for these opportunities to learn and to give.
Bless the work of all those who provide a helping hand in places of need, that Your world of peace and justice may be fulfilled.
HYMN: 598 “Dear Father, Lord of Humankind”
A LITANY FOR CHRISTMAS
Eternal God, our Father, whose coming to us we celebrate in these days of Christmas, we are grateful that in the fullness of time Christ came to us. We thank You that He came not just for a night or for a year, or for a lifetime, but He came to stay.
We celebrate the love which we have experienced, and which no circumstance can destroy. We delight in the peace beyond all description which is Your gift to us.
Thanks be to You, O Lord, that You have come not just to fulfil ancient prophecy, but to bring fullness to our empty lives.
We thank You for light and love and hope that Christ has brought to us. We pledge ourselves to spread that light, manifest that love, and to live in that hope—all of which are ours by faith in Him who comes to us, even Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to love, as You loved; help us to live, as You lived; help us to be neighbours to our fellow men in their need.
Open our ears, O Lord.
To hear what You are saying to us in the things that happen to us and in the people we meet.
Open our eyes, O Lord.
To see the needs of the people around us.
Open our hands, O Lord.
To do our work well, to help when help is needed.
Open our lips, O Lord.
To tell others the good news of Jesus and bring comfort, happiness and joy to other people.
To love You and our fellow men as You have loved us in Jesus. To Him, with You, our Father, and the Holy Spirit, all honour and praise be given now and forever. Amen.
BIBLE READINGS – Wendy Phelps
Psalm 148:1-14 (Page 623) Colossians 3.12-17, 4:2-6 (Page 1167)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
MESSAGE: “New Year’s Rules and Restrictions” Krikor
HYMN: 398 “Come Down, O Love Divine”
NOTICES – Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 1 February.
- Time4U – Recommences on Wednesday 2 February 2022.
- Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 9 Feb 12:30 pm.
- NCLS Survey – Sunday 13 Feb after church Service.
- Congregational Meeting – Sunday 27 Feb 10:30 am.
OFFERING – DEDICATION OF THE OFFERING
Jesus, Emmanuel, God-with-us, we have received so much and now it is our joy to give. Take and bless our gifts today.
May they be part of the revealing of Your presence in the world that You love. Amen!
HYMN: 466 “Peace with the Father, Peace with Christ His Son”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SENDING OUT
Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.
Let us go from here to speak and act as people who are clothed in love, that God’s love in Jesus Christ may be revealed to the world God loves.
And the blessing of God be upon you now and remain with you 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