Order of Service – Sunday 9 March 2025 – LENT 1
Click the link below to download the Order of Service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come as you are, hear the story of hope. Discover again God who is with us on our journey, who leads our feet along new pathways.
God of dreams and visions renew our vision. Put a spring in our feet as we set our face towards the way of the Cross in store for us.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires are known, and from whom no secrets are hidden, cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
HYMN: 577 “Come, Let Us to the Lord Our God”
A LITANY FOR LENT
Most holy and merciful God, we confess to You, and to one another, that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved You with our whole heart, and mind, and strength.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We have been deaf to Your call to serve as Christ served us.
We have not been true to the mind of Christ.
We have grieved the Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We confess to You, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness:
our pride, our hypocrisy, and our failure to be completely honest with ourselves or with other people.
We confess to You, Lord.
Our preoccupation with our own comforts or possessions,
and our dishonesty in daily life and work.
We confess to You, Lord.
Our exploitation of other people,
and our envy of those with more talents than ourselves.
We confess to You, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to share the faith we have.
We confess to You, Lord.
Accept our repentance, for the wrongs we have done; for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty.
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbours
and for prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us.
Accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation,
and our lack of concern for those who come after us.
Accept our repentance, Lord.
Restore us, good Lord.
Grant us forgiveness and time for amendment of life.
Strengthen us to overcome temptation.
And empower us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
By the cross and passion of Your Son our Lord.
Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.
(Book of Common Prayer, 1979)
HYMN: 25 “As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams”
THANKSGIVING
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, Your unworthy servants, give humble and hearty thanks for all Your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all men; but above all for Your amazing love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace; and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us that due sense of all Your mercies, that our hearts may be truly thankful and that we may declare Your praise not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to Your service, and by walking before You in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with You and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen!
HYMN: 485 “My God, Accept My Heart This Day”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Gracious God You have heard the prayers of Your faithful people.
You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking.
Grant our requests as may be best for us.
This we ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
BIBLE READINGS – Robyn Irwin
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (Pages 195-196) Luke 4:1-13 (Page 1017)
MUSICAL REFLECTION
SERMON: “Sharing God’s Blessings with Others” Krikor
HYMN: 627 “Praise and Thanksgiving”
NOTICES –
- ILane Cove Music – 80th Anniversary Concert 11 March at 7:30 pm (Simon Tedeschi and George Washingmachine).
- nterim Congregational Meeting Sunday 23 March, during Morning Tea.
OFFERING – Let us come and share our openness to the ways of God:
may all have enough, and no one be tempted to grab or to grasp. We are invited to share in the bounteous gifts of God. Your freewill offerings, for the works of God’s church in the world, will now be received.
HYMN: 569 “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMISSIONING
Happy are those who know they are forgiven!
Go out with a light heart, knowing that God’s love surrounds you, covers you with grace and strengthens you to meet all challenges to your true nature. We go out proclaiming the abundant grace of God, free of guilty burdens and fresh with hope.
BENEDICTION
God be with you, not as judge but as light and guide. Christ be with you, the free gift of grace. The Holy Spirit be with you, to lead you not into temptation but towards the abundant life that is your inheritance, as children of the living God. 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