Order of Service – Sunday 1 January 2023 – NEW YEAR

Click the link below to download the Order of Service.

CALL TO WORSHIP

A new day, a new year, a fresh beginning…

         Renew us as Your people.

With Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, as our High Priest,

         We come to worship God.

With the Spirit humming carols in our ears,

         We hold ourselves ready to sing in Your story.

HYMN:       93       “Praise the Lord, You Heavens Adore Him”

RESPONSIVE READING – Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights above.

         Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you shining stars.

         Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at His command they were created,

         and He established them for ever and ever—He issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

         lightning and hail, snow and clouds,stormy winds that do His bidding,

you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

         wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,

         young men and women, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted;

         His splendour is above the earth and the heavens.

And He has raised up for His people a horn, the praise of all His faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to His heart.

         Praise the Lord.

HYMN:       100      “All Creatures of Our God and King” (Vrs. 1,2,3 & 7)

BIBLE READING                                                                            Ivy Lee

Isaiah 63:7-9 (Page 741)                                            Matthew 2:13-23 (Pages 956-957)

MESSAGE:    “New Year, New Life, New Hopes”     Krikor Youmshajekian

HYMN:       124      “Great God, we Sing that Mighty Hand”

NOTICES –Time4U – Recommences on Wednesday 1 February 2023.

• Movie/Pizza Night – 6:30 pm Tuesday 7 February 2023.
• Elders’ & Council Meeting – Wednesday 8 Feb 12:30 pm.
• Congregational Meeting – Sunday 12 February 10:30 am.

OFFERING and DEDICATION

We offer this most special day, the celebrations already begun and the conversations yet to be had… may they honour You and Your way for life.

We offer You our gifts, the work that has been done and the work that is yet to do…

May they honour the times You have given each of us. We ask You to transform our gifts of time and money into hope for the hopeless and comfort for the bereft. Amen!

PRAYER OF INTERCESSION

Relocation driven by desperation,

Enduring empty bellies and escaping evil situations,

Forgotten followers of paths without destination,

Understand and listen to the plight of the displaced and despised.

Grant protection to the weak and wisdom to the unjustly accused.

Enrich the lives of those who wait in limbo, yearning for miracles.

Enter each day into the lives of those who are called to journey the refugee road You took so long ago.

How long must the world wait for Your mercy?

Open now doors to the home of Your heart. Show us the way.

Make and remake the lives of the traumatised.

Enlighten the darkness and cast out the shadows.

HYMN:       538      “Feed Us Now, Bread of life”

THE INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

Dear friends, the Lord has prepared His table for all who love Him and trust Him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and who desire to live in obedience to Him, are now invited to take with gladness from the table of the Lord.

PRAYER

Father, we thank You that you feed us in these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

We thank You for the assurance of Your goodness and love, and that we are living members of his body and heirs of His eternal kingdom.

May the Holy Spirit be upon us now, that as we receive this bread and wine we may know the presence and power of Christ our Lord. Amen!

BREAKING THE BREAD

We break this bread and take this cup so that we can share in the life of Christ. God’s gifts for God’s people.

COMMUNION

Take, eat, remember and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for a complete remission of all our sins.

Take, drink, remember and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for a complete remission of all our sins.

PRAYER

Most gracious God, You have made us one with all Your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for Your service. Now we give ourselves to You, and ask that our daily living may be part of the life of Your kingdom. May our love be Your love, reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen!

HYMN:       782       “Go Now in Peace”

THE LORD’S PRAYER AND SENDING OUT

Walk into 2023 with good intentions, backed by committed prayer and the

relationships of family and friends.

May God draw you forward.

May Christ prepare the way.

May the Spirit prepare your soul.

Be blessed by God, in this day and in those to come, in this place and in

the next. 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