Order of Service – Sunday 8 September 2024 – PENTECOST 16

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INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 125)

Trust in the Lord, and be like a mountain; firm, unshakable, and standing for ever. Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains; just so, the Lord surrounds us, now and for ever. Surely injustice will not continue to rule over the hopes of those working to put things right; otherwise, they too will become unjust.

Do good, O Lord, to the good, and to those trying to walk a straight path in their living. But may the Lord carry off those who lives take winding, devious ways; together with those doing evil.

Peace be on God’s people.

PRAYER OF APPROACH

Not one of us is worthy to approach You, O God, Creator of the universe, holy and all-powerful. Yet You have approached us and have shown us the human face of Your love in Jesus, Your Son, our Saviour. He revealed Your love and mercy by living as He did – serving others and accepting them as people made in Your image and likeness. Jesus pointed us towards a world in which we each know that we are a precious child of Yours. He even gifted us with the Holy Spirit so that the very fabric of our existence is woven with the thread of his life. May this time of worship be a true reflection of our thanksgiving, wonder and praise over such blessings. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

HYMN:       156       “Morning has Broken”

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Lord Jesus Christ, You swept away centuries of prejudice and legalism when You reached out and accepted people as they were – accepted them as loved fellow human beings. We confess that we often fail to be as inclusive as You. Forgive us if people feel excluded from our fellowship because of their appearance, their poverty, their lack of power or low self-image.

Pause for reflection on these words.

Forgive us if people feel excluded from our fellowship because of their sexuality, their addiction, their lack of a job.

Strengthen us, Lord, where we are weak, and make us strong to withstand the seduction of a society which seems obsessed with the acquisition of wealth and power. We know in our hearts that discipleship demands an utterly new way of seeing people as You did, and being with them unconditionally, as You were, but the journey from heart to eyes and hands and feet can be long and difficult.

We pray for Your forgiveness Lord when we fail, and as people who have received Your mercy over and over, may we be as merciful and compassionate in all we say and do in Your name. Amen!

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

We rejoice in the good news that God sent Jesus into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Those who believe in Him are not condemned but loved and forgiven.

Thanks be to God.

HYMN:       640       “Kneels at the Feet of His Friends”     

BIBLE READINGS –                                                                  Chris Butters

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 (Page 647)                 James 2:1-17 (Pages 1196-1197)

Mark 7:24-37 (Page 998)

MESSAGE:                  “Unwavering Faith”                                Bob Minton

HYMN:       693       “Come as You Are”

NOTICES –

  • Election Day Stall – Saturday 14 September from 8:00 am.
  • Fashion Parade – Wednesday 18 September 10:15 am to noon.
  • John Flynn Combined Service with LCU & the Great Outback BBQ Sunday 27 October 9:30 am at St. Columba’s.

OFFERING  –

Generous God,Father, Son and Holy Spirit,You call us to make realthe sharing of the gifts You have given us.Use the offerings of our hearts and our handsto Your gloryand the service of Your realm. Amen!

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Healing God, You who watch over us yet are within us as we try to live out our faith in You. We come to You this morning wondering, hoping, praying that this silent time with You will awaken us to Your healing presence.

For we come to You broken and bruised, torn apart by the stresses in our lives. So many of these forces seem beyond our control, things that at times we cannot completely comprehend. We feel the burden of financial pressure, the choices we make in lifestyles or friendships. Surround by these forces we have trouble staying focused on Your presence that is here for us at all times. We quiet our minds and close our eyes and fold our hands in an effort to connect to what is good, and true and eternal in You.

For the world You have given us is driven by uncertainty and thrives on anxiety and pressure.  We are reminded quickly of what we have done wrong or given advice on how we have made mistakes that should be corrected. We suffer injuries in our health, both in body and spirit, and have trouble finding Your healing touch. As You have provided Your healing touch to those who sought You out so many years ago, we ask that You provide us with Your healing presence. Help us to be open to You, and to all the ways that You provide care for us. Help us to accept the limitations of our humanity yet strive for overcoming weakness as we focus on our response to Your love.  

In our finiteness, in our weakness, in our limitations, help us to have a vision for the needs of those around us. We know that at times we are blinded by what we cannot see, unaware of the voices we cannot hear, and live among the countless needs of Your children. For we know that there are those who will sleep tonight without shelter, and children who will go to school without food at home, and those in nursing homes who are lonely and afraid. There are prisoners in our jails, and their families, who need the solace of Your word. 

Help us we pray, to be healed from the injuries that have affected us, the deafness and blindness that hinders us. Help us to be restored so that we can in our healing be able to turn to our true ministry to others in Your Name. We pray that this time of quiet, this time of returning to our deep faith in You, that we will be able to take part in the healing process that You provide for all your children. We give thanks for what You have done for us, what You have been for us, and for Your eternal love that sustains us. 

We ask all these things in Jesus’s name, who taught us to pray saying….

THE LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN:       609       “May the Mind of Christ my Saviour”

THE BLESSING

Go, blessed by, and filled with the grace and mercy of God, the inclusive love of Jesus Christ the creative vision of the Holy Spirit.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen!

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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