Welcome
Jan
welcomed us, calling our attention to NAIDOC week and acknowledging the
original indigenous owners of the land.
She gave thanks for the care those elders had taken of the land.
Call
to Worship
The
Earth is the Lord's and all that is in it.
The
world and those that live in it.
He
has founded it in the seas,
And
established it on the rivers.
Lift
up your heads, O gates and be lifted up, O ancient doors.
That
the King of glory may come in. We praise God's holy name.
Hymn
TIS 12 "Ye
gates lift up your heads on high" A reiteration of the call to worship in
song, praising and glorifying God.
Prayer
of Praise and Thanksgiving/Confession/Assurance
Jan
gave thanks for those things that we are familiar with on a daily basis - our
bodies, shelter, food, the world itself and all that it houses. We often think
this things are "natural" and "normal" and forget what a
gift they are and what delight they bring - the starry night and the wagging
tail of the dog. She gave thanks for those things that underpin our existence -
love, relationships and life itself.
Jan
then confessed for us that we do not always measure up to what we should be as
God's children and said how hard we find it to do so. She confessed also that
we feel so weak and small and that we give up because we think we cannot have
any impact against the forces of this world. Jan asked for God's strength to
trust him and open our eyes and ears to the ways we can help others.
Jan
asked God to forgive us and gave thanks for his grace and mercy that sets us
free to start anew.
Thanks
be to God.
Bible
Readings read
to us by Norma
2
Samuel 6: 1 - 5, 12b - 19. Ephesians 1: 1 -14. In the reading from 2 Samuel,
David brings home the Ark accompanied by much rejoicing. But it's not the Ark
but God's presence which is being celebrated because of their implicit belief
in the power of God.
The
Ephesians reading proclaims the gospel in a nutshell. It tells of our great
blessing of being God's children and the forgiveness that brings and the grace
that is bestowed upon us because of Jesus.
Sermon
"It
was very special being able to appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of God's
creation, and to see in that creativity, a God who is worthy of our praise and
adoration."
Reflecting
on the history of Australia was a prompt to think of the beginnings of
Christianity and the part Paul played in that. The Letter to the Ephesians
revealed Paul's pastoral role, beginning with the Greeting and then The Great
Eulogy which speaks of the blessings flowing out of Jesus' sacrifice and
triumph over death. It speaks of God's greatness and his love for us. Jan said
that her experience at Uluru was such that praise for God was the natural
consequence but that sometimes we find that thanks and praise hard to
experience and express. We should bless God because even from before the
beginning "He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus
Christ , according to the Good pleasure of his will." Eph: 1 : 5.
"Not
only are we forgiven, but we can share in God's wisdom and insights into the
world and the way God is at work through Jesus Christ." This places us in
a unique position. As well, we have the gift of the Spirit which continues to
lead us throughout our lives. We need to stay in tune with this spirit to do
God's will and produce the fruits that the work of the Spirit produces in us.
Hymn
TIS 129 "
Amazing Grace" ...that saved a wretch like me...God's grace is sufficient
for ANY need. We are not to be discouraged in any circumstances.
Musical
Interlude
Grahame
played while we thought on our personal concerns and laid them before our God.
Prayers
for the People
Jan spoke
- "Warming God, we remember the cycles of life and times of winter."
She then prayed for those close to us they will flourish with love and care.
She prayed for the homeless; for those suffering shame or guilt; for those
suffering because of extremes of climate and for ourselves as we learn to use
resources wisely. She then prayed for the close concerns of the congregation
after which we joined in The Lord's Prayer.
Hymn
TIS 611 "God
of grace and glory" A plea that we will be saved from our doubts and fears
to go forward with wisdom and courage to "serve you whom we adore".
Jan
concluded the service with the Aaronic Blessing after which we
blessed each other with:
May
our God, God of love bless and keep you forever.
Grant
you peace, perfect peace, strength for every endeavour.
Now go
and serve him with all your heart, serving him forever.
May
our God, God of love bless and keep you forever.
Amen
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