Order of Service – Sunday 28 February 2021 – LENT 2

Click the link below to download the Order of Service.

Order-of-Service-28-February-2021Download

CALL TO WORSHIP

Good morning, God’s people, brothers and sisters in Christ.

In this season of honest reflection and courageous acknowledgement of the ways we are tempted to turn from trust in God.

We come with eyes open, ready to face the snares and pitfalls that threaten to capture us away from our trust in God.

May the gift of grace surround us on our way.

HYMN:       631       “Father, Lord of All Creation”

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

It is good to be thankful for the love of God.

In God’s love we are happy – forgiven, free and sheltered with hope.

Thank You, God, for the bread of wisdom that fills us with courage and insight to face the challenges of our days.

Thank You, God, for Your steadfast presence that we never need to test, for Your promises are true and trustworthy.

Thank You, God, for Your splendour, robed in everlasting peace and light surpassing all the wonders of this world.

We find our centre in You, we know there is nothing to compare to the vision You hold for us of abundance and joy. Thank You Lord. Amen.

PSALTER  READING  (in Unison)         Psalm 121                           Page 612

PRAYER ON LENTEN SEASON

Dear God and our Heavenly Father, this morning we express our thanks for Your love, providence and redemption given freely to us through the death and resurrection of Your only Son, our Saviour and Lord. We ask You, O God, that You make this Lenten Season a vital period of spiritual and moral development. We pray that our hearts and minds, along with those of multitudes, may in these weeks experience the blessing of true penitence, confession, restitution, and joy of salvation in Christ. Deliver us, good Lord, from the deadly sins of the soul; from pride and wrath; from envy and avarice; from lust and sloth; from lying and slander; from dishonesty and unfaithfulness; from cruelty and injustice. Deliver us from impenitence and rebellion against Your holy will; from indifference to spiritual things and disobedience to the heavenly vision; from false ambitions and unholy desires. Amen.                        (Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian)

HYMN:       76       “I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes”

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

We cannot live our lives in silence or hide away our guilty feelings.

Silence and secrecy hold the guilt in. We waste away with groaning.

We are invited to bring ourselves out into the open space of God’s loving kindness; to seek the light of God’s forgiveness so that we might be free of the enclosure of regret and shame and know joy.

Merciful God, draw near to us in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as we confess those things that have turned us from You.

Let us find abiding acceptance and renewed hope in our ability to live as people freed by love.

Silence

We pray that You will save us, Lord, in the time of trial – those times when we are ready to turn from the way of love.

In all that we do and all that we are, we remember Your claim upon us. Your love surrounds us and we ARE free indeed. Amen.

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

The rush of mighty waters, waves of guilt and shame, can no longer reach us, because God is our shelter and our hope.

We are freed by the love of God and in the gift of grace in Jesus Christ to live open, joyful lives. So, I can declare before you today that our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

Grace, peace and mercy to you from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

TIME TO PRAY

In silence please offer your prayers to the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Almighty God, You have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications to You; and You have promised, through Your well-beloved Son, that when two or three are gathered together in His name You will be in the midst of them.

Fulfil now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us;

granting us in this world knowledge of Your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER 

A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES

Lord, inspire us to read Your Scriptures and meditate upon them day and night. We ask You to give us real understanding of what we read and show us how to put Your teachings into practice, so that we may be channels of grace, enlightened by the presence of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whose power and glory will endure throughout the ages. Amen. (Origen, 185-253)

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                     Ian Butters

Genesis17:1-8, 15-16 & 22:1-18 (Pages 14-15  & 19-20)    Romans 4:13-25 (Page 1115)

MUSICAL REFLECTION

MESSAGE:             “The Covenant Promise”              Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:       116       “Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Theme”

NOTICES –Pizza/Movie Night – Tues 2 March 6:30 pm, start at 7:15 pm.

The movie will be – “Flash of Genius”.

  • Elders’ & Council Meetings Wed 3 March 9:00 am.
  • World Day of Prayer Service – Friday 5 March 10:00 am at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, Longueville.
  • Time4U – Will commence on Wed 10 March 10:00 am.
  • Sunday 14 March, Krikor will be away preaching at the Armenian Evangelical Church of Sydney, Willoughby, for the AMAA Sunday. Bob Minton will take the service here.

OFFERING  –   “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

HYMN:       580       “Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us”

BLESSING

We have heard your word, O Lord. It is a powerful word and has changed our lives. In your spirit we go forth to live and work that life might be renewed and people redeemed. Be with us now and always.

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

______________________________________________________________________________

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