Order of Service – Sunday 28 January 2024 – EPIPHANY 4

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CALL TO WORSHIP

This house of prayer is a house of grace.

We gather here to learn our needs: not to justify ourselves but to say we are sorry, not to cling to the familiar but to risk the untested, not to enjoy our own decency but to worship a holy God, not to practise positive thinking but to be caught up in God’s joy.

We join our voices to David and say:

I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God: I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You — I, whom You have redeemed. My tongue will tell of Your righteous acts all day long.                          (Psalm 71:22-24).

HYMN:       216       “Rejoice, the Lord is King”

PRAYER OF ADORATION

Ever-living God, You are infinite, yet compassionate; in You we live, and move, and have our being. One with us in Jesus Christ, You share our life and our death; flowing through us as living water, You quench our thirst. Holy One, we adore You; Holy Wisdom, we adore You; Holy Spirit, we adore You; accept the praise we bring today and for ever. Amen!

INVOCATION

Come to us, O God of surprising grace. Break into the places in our lives which we think are not worthy of Your entry, and show us the measure of Your love for us. Break through into newness in all our life together, O God, in the wonder of Your transforming presence. Amen!

HYMN:       590       “What a Friend We Have In Jesus”

CONFESSION

We come to God, knowing that we have failed to obey the call of Jesus to love God and one another with our whole being; but we come also to a God who reaches out to us with healing and reconciliation.

Let us pray: God of all mercy, give us grace today to make a fresh start.

We know we have not loved You with our whole heart, nor have we loved our neighbour as ourselves.

As we hope to be forgiven, teach us how to forgive; and lead us forward in a new life where neither grudges nor resentment have a part; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!

Let us pray:

For our misuse of Your creation, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

For our failure to love as You have loved us, Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

For our lack of faith in Your gift of life, Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

In the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom; for God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: ‘Your sins are forgiven’.

Thanks be to God.

PSALTER READING  –  Psalm  111 (In Unison)                      (Page 603)

TIME TO PRAY

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

DOXOLOGY   (to be sung with the tune of 768i)

Praise God, the Source of life and birth;

praise God, the Word, who came to earth;

praise God, the Spirit, holy flame;

all glory, honour, to God’s name.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Almighty and everlasting God, by Your Spirit the whole body of Your faithful people is governed and sanctified. Receive our supplication and prayers which we offer before You for all members of Your holy church, that in our vocation and ministry we may truly and devoutly serve You; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!

HYMN:             “Sing Them Over Again”

A PRAYER BEFORE READING THE SCRIPTURES

Until we can see ourselves in the words we read and the stories we hear, it is easy to remark on the rest of the world. May the light of these words fall strongly upon each of us, that we can find the truth. Amen!

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                Frank Knowles

Deuteronomy 18:14-20 (Page 189)                                  Mark 1:21-28 (Pages 990-991)

MUSICAL REFLECTION

MESSAGE:         “Christ – The Holy One of God”       Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:       283       “Long Ago, Prophets Knew”

NOTICES –

  • Centenary Worship Service – Sunday 4 Feb 2024 9:30 am.
  • Movie/ Pizza Nights will resume on Tues 6 Feb 6:30 pm.
  • Time4U will resume on Wed 7 Feb 10:00 am.
  • Elders’ & Council Meetings Wed 14 February 12:30 pm.
  • Ash Wednesday Service – 14 Febr 2024 6:30 pm, Mosman.
  • Bus Trip – Wentworth Falls Lake – Wed 6 March 9:00 am.

Please remember in your Prayers:

– The sick, those who are in recovery, the poor and the needy.

– Refugees who are still struggling with uncertainties.

OFFERING  –     “Freely we have received; let us freely give”

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Everything in heaven and earth comes from you, Lord. We give You only what is Yours. Accept our offerings, bless and use them for the spread of Your Kingdom. May You be praised forever and ever. Amen!

HYMN:       231      “At the Name of Jesus”

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING

Go forth celebrating God’s faithfulness and a renewed relationship with Him.

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