Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 30 October 2016

Gathering God’s People

Call to Worship - (Laura Jaquith Bartlett, Abingdon 2016)

To the church of Marsden Road Carlingford, which is in God, our Mother and Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace to all of you!

Greetings to you in the name of God. Greetings to you!

Greetings to you in the name of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Greetings to one and all!

God gives us everything we need. Thanks be to God!

Our God makes us everything we are to be. Let us offer thanks to the Holy Three-in-One!

Hymn TIS 560: “All my hope on God is founded” At that is the only sure place.

Opening prayer

Dear God, it is so easy to get discouraged by the news in our community, across our country, and around the globe. Everywhere we look, we hear of violence, conflict, and injustice. Like the prophets of old, we want to cry out: “Hurry up and change the world, God!” And then we look at our own lives and realize you are calling us to hurry up and change the world. As we encounter Christ in our worship this hour, may our life be transformed; may we leave this place eager to share your blessings, your justice, and your love with a world yearning for a new way of living. Amen.

A Prayer of Confession

The bulletin tells us it’s time for the Prayer of Confession, but is that necessary here in this church? We are not Zacchaeus. We don’t cheat others. What do we have to confess?

God, we live in a world where our systems, corporations, and institutions oppress others. Forgive us when we keep silent.

We don’t perpetrate violence against others. We are a community of love. What do we have to confess? God, we live in a broken world that practices violence in response to conflict. Forgive us when we keep silent.

We are a community of good people who worship Christ and show love and mercy.

What do we have to confess? God, each and every week, we show ourselves to be imperfect human beings, — we miss opportunities to say thank you; we take others for granted; we omit the whole truth in conversations; we snap at family and loved ones; we participate in gossip; we neglect to express gratitude to you for your many blessings. Forgive us when we accept our shortcomings and fail to come to you for help.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Salvation came to Zacchaeus, a cheater and a thief. Today, salvation comes to us in the person of Jesus Christ, who forgives us and sets us free, that we may be transformed in holy love.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Peace

The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.

Offering Prayer

God of amazing grace, you have given us everything, including our very lives. Though we cannot earn your love, you give it to us freely. And so we thank you and ask you to receive our gifts.

Hymn TIS 650: “Brother, Sister let me serve you” It takes more than a little humility to say these words but through grace , we can.

The Bible Readings

Habakkuk 1: 1-4; 2: 1-4 This is a lament. A protest to God about how things are and why he doesn't change them, I think many of us are feeling that way now when we see the news and read the newspapers. But God assures us that he will prevail and if we look about us the world is full of people whose actions show that happening among us now.

2 Thessalonians 1: 1-4. 11-12 I don't know if this link was intended but there is the Church fulfilling the wishes of those who sent up the lament in Habakkuk.

Luke 19: 1-10 We all know the story of Zacchaeus who was called down from his perch in a tree to take Jesus home for a meal and whose life was turned upside down in the process. That's what God promises us who lament that goodness seems to have left the world. His action through changed lives can change the world.

For the Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Preaching of the Word

John spoke about the democratic nature of death. This was one sermon that we couldn't brush off as applying to someone else but not to us. We all will die but we are promised that Jesus will shepherd us through that time and because he experienced death on the Cross and overcame it, we can be assured that we will be guided safely through it. So our journey to and through death can be one of hope. Jesus has experienced death and understands our fears but because he offers us new life and one that offers more than we can ever imagine, we can trust in his care.

"Gentle Shepherd, lead us from our pain to a sense of peace, and help us to trust you even when our eyes are filled with tears. Death submerges us in anguish and confusion. Yet in the midst of our dark valley you are there. Deliver us from our turmoil and help us to rely on your strength during our times of loss and in our fears of death. This we pray through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Amen.

Hymn TIS  209: “And can it be” It always amazes me that this freedom became mine.

Intercessory Prayers (selected lines)

Jesus, Saviour of the lost, hear the prayers we bring for the world and for the Church, that your people who are lost in worlds of poverty, greed or exploitation may see you and know your salvation. We pray for your worldwide church, for all who accept you as their Saviour; for all who seek to see and know you; for those whose longings the church has failed to satisfy; those whom the church has driven away from you. We pray that people who are lost in shame and condemnation may see you and know your salvation. Come into our hearts and homes this day, that your people who are lost in lives without meaning or hope may see you and know your salvation. After this we joined in the Lord's Prayer.

Hymn TIS 495: “Father, we give you thanks, who planted...” An extraordinary act of generosity.

Benediction

In the name of God, our Mother and Father, who gives us everything we need . . . In the name of Christ Jesus, our Master, whose love transforms us . . . In the name of the Holy Spirit, whose power strengthens our faith and increases our love . . . Let us go in peace. Let us go with God. Let us go to transform the world. Amen.

Blessing Song

Hymn TIS 780: May Light Come into your eyes, may hope spring up in your heart, may peace guide all of your mind and keep you in God. Amen.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 16 October 2106

Hopeful Expectation

Welcome to this time of worship and community.

Call to Worship -

Using the words of Mary J. Scifres, John made us aware of our reliance on God to reach out to us first, preparing us for our journey of discovery as we seek a closer relationship with him. This relieves us of the burden of being unsure as to whether we are doing the right thing. With God as our guide, we can be sure.

​"God’s teachings are sweeter than honey. Christ’s love is more precious than jewels.

​The Spirit’s wisdom is mightier than the sword. God’s guidance is the treasure we seek."

​Hymn TIS 468: “We are your people, Lord, by your grace” There is something lovely but very scary in the words of this hymn. Opening ourselves to God's work is the scary bit. What could be asked of us? But his strength is sufficient, which is not only a comfort but a reminder not to rely in our own.

Opening Prayer

​God of discernment and truth, guide us as we listen for your wisdom. Guide our hearts, that we may receive your love. Guide our minds, that we may accept your challenges. Guide our lives, that we may follow your direction. Guide us with your wisdom and truth. Amen

 A Prayer of Confession

Forgive us, O God, when we reject your teaching, and neglect your law.

Forgive us when we meditate on movies and gossip, and ignore your words of love and compassion.

Forgive us when we pursue power and wealth, and forsake the path of justice and mercy.

Guide us back to you, that we may walk in your ways and live in your love.

In Christ’s grace and mercy, we pray. Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness​

In the new covenant of Christ Jesus, grace and forgiveness are ours.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Offering Prayer

May our gifts become instruments of your truth, and examples of your love. Plant new hope with these gifts, and build a world of justice with the ministries we dedicate to you now. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn TIS 168: “For the fruits of all creation”​​​ We are inclined to think that the things we enjoy in our daily lives come as a matter of course and that anyone who doesn't have

them is deprived unfairly. I think there would be less "deprivation" if we appreciated each thing as a gift from God and blessed his name for all we receive.

The Bible Readings: ​​Jeremiah 31: 27-34 God promises a new covenant:  "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more."

 ​​2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 "What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them." We live in a world where the evidence is clear that people are determined to do their own thing regardless of the consequences to other people but this sentence from Timothy gives promise and hope.

​​​​Luke 18: 1-18 In this passage we are taught many lessons. We are told to pray and not lose heart. We are told that a humble offering is far more acceptable than a self-serving piece of self-congratulations. And we are told that not only are children very welcome but to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be as simple in our trust of a God as children are.

​Reader: ​For the Word of the Lord. ​Response: Thanks be to God.

Preaching of the Word "Hopeful Expectation" - Jeremiah 31:27-34

I don't think I can do John's sermon justice but the words that hit me were those about starting anew in hope. Words about needing to examine my present state, and acknowledge the parts that need God's attention if His kingdom is to flourish in me and around me. God's blessings only feel like blessings to those who are attuned to his will. If we are to receive God's blessing we first need to let his Spirit prepare our hearts and minds to receive those blessings.

Hymn TIS 158: “God has spoken by his prophets” God speaks to us in many ways. It is up to us to remain ready to hear his voice.

Music to lead us to prayer During this time we quieten our hearts

Loving God, you teach us to bring our needs to you in prayer and you come to our help when we cry to you: hear our prayers for the world and for the church. John continued in prayer, asking for God's help for all those in distress, confessing our own part in causing that distress and our lack of thoughtfulness about addressing the wrongs we cause.

God be merciful to us, and, in your mercy, hear our prayer...

Help us to follow you in humility and obedience. When we fail, guide us and then bring us, with all your saints, into the joy of your eternal presence.

Ever-generous God be merciful to us, and, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We then joined in The Lord's Prayer,

Hymn TIS 609: “May the mind of Christ my Saviour” That's why we exist - to allow the Spirit to change us so that we will reflect God to the world

Benediction

Go and build houses of love. Go and plant gardens of kindness. Go and create lives of goodness. Go and proclaim the promise of justice. Go with the blessings of God.

​​​And may the blessing of God Almighty, Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be with you always. Amen.

Hymn TIS 779: “May the Feet of God” Just to remind us as we leave.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 2 October 2106

Welcome to this time of worship and community. We hope you find the service helpful and encouraging.

Lay Preachers’ Service. Welcome to Rowena and visitors given by Lyn.

Call to Worship

Lord God, we quietly reflect that, like the aboriginal people before us, we are on sacred ground. For us, it‘s not because of any special construction of the building, but because we, and generations before us, have met you here. In our worship today, inspire in us: Gratitude, Love and a Willingness to serve our neighbours, our community, our world.  In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen

Hymn TIS 90: “I’ll Praise My Maker” (Number 5 from Top 10 list and a special hymn.)

Opening Prayer

Inspire us this day, O God. With the power of your Holy Spirit, revive our courage. With Christ’s holy calling in our lives, rekindle our sense of purpose. With your steadfast love and faithfulness, renew our faith. In gratitude and trust, we pray. Amen.

A Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, comfort us when we wander into exile and find ourselves lost and alone.

Forgive us when we wander from your gracious love and find ourselves falling into sin.

In Christ Jesus, reconcile us to yourself, and bring us back into your loving embrace.

Revive our souls, strengthen our faith, and bless us with your holy calling, that we may be inspired to live your calling, and trust in your grace, all the days of our lives. In Christ’s mercy and grace, we pray. Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

God did not give us a spirit that is timid, but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. Trust in the power of this good news: God’s grace is ours through Christ Jesus, who has destroyed both death and sin. In the name of Christ, we are forgiven and made anew.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Hymn TIS 474: “Here in this place - gather us in.” 

The Service of Holy Communion presided over by John

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.  ​And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. ​We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ​It is right to give our thanks and praise.

With all our hearts we praise you, faithful God. In the beginning, you called light to shine in darkness, you made living things to grow and flourish and you created human beings in your image. You chose us in love, guided us by your presence and blessed us with your holy law. Yet we chose our own sinful ways. We broke your commandments, persecuted your prophets, forgot your wisdom and, time after time, refused to answer your call. So you spoke an eternal word in a human voice in Jesus of Nazareth, son of Mary, Son of God. He called and people followed, leaving every other loyalty. He set us free to praise your holy name. But hatred and violence shouted Jesus down. Betrayed and abandoned and nailed to a cross, he laid down his life for the world he loved, and broke the chains of evil and death. Then you turned our sorrow into joy. On the third day you raised him up to lead your people into life. So we praise you, holy God, with angels and archangels and all your faithful people:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

John then told us again the story of that night when Jesus blessed the bread and wine and shared it with his friends,

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again!

And now, faithful God, send us your Spirit to feed us with the body and the blood of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Make us one body in Christ...

As this broken bread was once many grains, which have been gathered together and made one bread: so may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.

Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

The gifts of God for the people of God. Draw near with faith, to feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.

The Distribution.

Prayer after Communion

Holy God, we came to this table scarred by regrets and broken dreams, anxious about many things, knowing that we are not immune to evil's lure. And you met us at this table; embracing us in our brokenness, naming us "beloved", claiming us for eternity. We thank you, living, loving God. Amen.

Early History of MR Church: Joan spoke to us about the early history of the MRUC and the people who had devoted so much of themselves to the establishment and the nurture of this church. As I sat there listening, I wondered if we are prepared to give our all as they seemed to have done, contributing so much time, money and energy to what was obviously their first concern, the building of God's kingdom here at Marsden Road.

My Call to Lay Preaching Rowena spoke to us of her call to Lay Preaching and the steps in the path that led to that from an early age. She also spoke of the difficulty of obtaining training, when she could only attend classes at night and the hurdles which needed to be jumped to become accredited. We are glad that she persisted because she has been a blessing to the people at MRUC.

Choir: “Bless the Lord” The choir has brought us a number of items during this time of celebrating the anniversary of MRUC, all adding that extra dimension to our worship.

Bible Readings:​ Romans 10: 13-17; Luke 10: 25-37         Glen & Emma

Reflection Warwick spoke on the reading about the Good Samaritan. He covered many relevant points but I think these are especially worth keeping in our minds daily as we travel through life:

The four questions the Good Samaritan didn’t ask, but could have:

1. Is this man one of my group ? Lies at the heart of the story, a story that happens time and time again: Sunni & Shiite; Catholic & Protestant. Does he share my beliefs or values? No! There is a fellow human in need. Why didn’t the priest and Levite stop?

2. Do I like him ? It’s easy to be kind to people we like. People we warm to, people we know and appreciate. But Jesus said, “If you love those who love you....” No ! Liking had nothing to do with it; he didn’t even know him, let alone like him.

3. Does he deserve my help? There are a lot of undeserving people. Warwick then passed on a story of a man in Germany who gave his property as a shelter for asylum seekers...who trashed it. Were they deserving? The Samaritan didn't consider that, he got in and helped.

4. What can I get out of it for me? The satisfaction of helping, but it actually cost him time and effort, and money to pay the innkeeper.

These are the 4 questions the Samaritan didn’t ask, and we can’t afford to ask them either. Jesus asks us: “Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” The lawyer said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” Jesus says to us as he did to the lawyer: “Go and do the same.” 

Amen

Hymn TIS 629: “When I needed a neighbour” ​​

Prayers of the People: Laurel led us. Praying for the concerns of the world and our church in particular, especially the Lay Preachers who have served MRUC. She asked for help for those in physical need in war-torn countries and for refugees who

have had to flee their homes. She prayed for more local concerns but the thing that touched our hearts was the ending:

Take the clay of our lives and shape it to love,

Take the clay of the Church and shape it to grace,

Take the clay of today and shape it to hope,

And then breathe your spirit into it all again.                             

Hymn TIS158: “God has spoken by his prophets”​​

Benediction

May the all embracing love of God, our Father

The grace and example of Jesus Christ, our Lord

The power and conviction of the Holy Spirit

Be with us now, as we go from here.

Sung Blessings:  “May the feet of God walk with you”

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 18 September 2016

Welcome Mae welcomed Norman McDonald, one of MRUC's past ministers as part of our Anniversary celebrations.

Call to Worship - (Safiyah Fosua. Kindle Edition., Abingdon 2016)

​

Friends! Co-workers! Brothers! Sisters! Followers of Christ! Saints of the church! Welcome, one and all! Welcome home! Welcome to this place of worship which it has been for nearly 150 years and will continue to be a place to be refreshed and encouraged. This is a place of acceptance and love! Blessings of grace and peace to you all!

​Amen! Amen! Amen!

Grace to you, and peace from God our maker and from the Lord Jesus Christ! Welcome, friends and co-workers in Christ! Greetings, brothers and sisters!

​We come to rejoice in the love and encouragement of our family in Christ. We come for the joyful reminder that God accepts and loves us.

Opening prayer

God of love, we are your family, brothers and sisters all, sharing in your vision and work. We give you thanks for the many ways you have loved and blessed us, encouraged and renewed us over the last 150 years and we pray will continue to do. We thank you for the times we have experienced joy, and for the knowledge that you love and accept us. We bring our joy and gratitude to you today as we sing our thanksgiving and praise. Amen.

A Prayer of Confession

Jesus Christ, giver of love and peace, we are grateful for your vision of humankind— a vision that embraces all, leaving none behind.

You call us your brothers and sisters, even when we do not recognize this truth. Forgive us when we look down on others, failing to see them as our sisters and brothers.

Forgive us when kinship is not a priority in our lives. Open our hearts to everyone in your family, that they may become our family, too. In your name, brother of us all, we pray. Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness​

The blessings of grace and peace are ours, through God our maker, and Jesus Christ our saviour. Forgiven and peace are ours.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Peace

Friends, co-workers, sisters, brothers, followers of Christ, saints of the Church, let us greet one another with the peace and love of our brother, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn TIS 390: “Alleluia, Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord” The gospel in a thumbnail sketch.

Memories of Marsden Road:​​Rev. Norman​

Norman spoke of his ministry at Marsden Road which was less than half a year. He said that he had arrived feeling cranky. It had been 20 years since he had been involved in a congregation and he was tired and frayed from the job he had been in during the intervening time. He said that he realised later, that his time at Marsden Road gave him new enthusiasm and energy for his new placement.

Offering Prayer

Pour out your Holy Spirit, and bless the gifts we return to you now. May they be as a soothing ointment for a hurting and broken world. Amen.

Hymn TIS 590: “What a Friend we have in Jesus” A hymn that has brought assurance to many of us from our earliest years. This is no. 4 of our favourite hymns and no. 1 for Joan Davis.

Anniversary Banner​:​​ Kaye spoke about our anniversary banner and the significance of its elements and the memories of people in the congregation, some of whom have been here between 40 and 60 years.

Bible Readings Were brought to us by Susan.

​​​​James 2: 1-10, 14-17 Speaks about how we treat each other. Do we discriminate between people in the basis of their worldly attractiveness? Whether we are acting in the church or out in the world, we need to remember the Golden Rule.

​​​​Mark 7: 24-37 An account which gives us quite a different perspective of Jesus and his mission. The Syrophoenician woman, a gentile, pleaded with Jesus for healing for her daughter. Jesus pointed out that his message was for the Jews but she wasn't to be dissuaded and reminded Jesus that the dogs ate the crumbs that fell from the table. This woman was ahead of others in her understanding and her plea was fulfilled.

Men’s Singing Group: “The Old Rugged Cross” Hymns often say what we can't say for ourselves and when they are sung with such skill and feeling, we are helped in understanding the message as it is in each of our lives.

Reflection:​​​ "Saints Alive - even the outsider” Norman spoke about the woman in the Mark reading: how she would have looked a little different; had an accent; had a Greek education; a sharp intellect living within a closed Jewish community - an outsider. Jesus has been criticized for his racist and rude behaviour in this story but perhaps he was laying the groundwork for the woman to write the rest of the scene,  She saw in Jesus what she needed: compassion and healing. And she received it.

God's care and compassion is not just for the in-group. Ethnicity, culture, language are of no account. God's grace is for all.

Are we going to be like the Pharisees who walked to the other side and left the beaten man by the road?

Today it's time to raise our voices for asylum seekers. The woman in today's story challenges us.

Hymn TIS 693: “Come as you are” - That's how I want you. I remember saying to a minister that I didn't think I should keep coming to church because I'm not good enough. She pointed out that God called me as I am. Oh!

Jack brought us the Prayers of the People  and we said the Lord's Prayer together.

Hymn TIS  220: “This, this is the God we adore”  A declaration about the God upon whom we depend for everything.

Benediction​​​ Rev Norman

Sung Blessing: “May the Feet of God Walk with You”

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 25 September 2016

Processional Hymn

Hymn TIS 351 "Lift High the Cross" During the singing of this hymn the cross was  brought to the sanctuary.

Welcome to visitors Jack welcomed Rev. Graham Ellis, our minister for the day and the Walker and Baker families who came especially for this service.

Responsive Prayer of Praise.

O, give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name:

tell among the people what things he has done.

Sing to him, O, sing to him, O sing praises:

And tell of his marvellous works.

Call to mind the wonders he has done:

His marvellous acts and the judgements of his mouth.

Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting:

And all the people say Amen. Praise the Lord.

Almighty God, we praise you for Jesus Christ, the foundation and cornerstone of all we believe and long for:

We praise you, O God....

Graham spoke about Bill Walker and his contribution to the ministry of the Uniting Church.

He directed our attention to the cross which he had carried into the church. It was the work of Bill and a gift to Nth Ryde Uniting Church. Graham pointed out the careful crafting which had gone into the cross, a symbol of Bill's care for the church and its people.

Collect of the Cross

Almighty God, you called your church into being, that your people might know you.

and make your name known, and blessed us with the witness of your servant, Bill Walker.

Grant that we, following in his footsteps, may learn to take hold of the cross, embrace the truth that is eternal, and show our faith by our actions.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Carolyn and Colin then led us in an appreciation of the stained glass windows by relating their history and speaking of the people in whose names the present windows are dedicated, reminding us of the faithfulness of people over time.

Hymn TIS "Love Divine all loves excelling" A prayer to be the blessing that others have been for us.

Scripture: Luke 16: 19 - 31 The account of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man hadn't much time for Lazarus despite seeing him every day, but when he ended up in damnation and seeing Lazarus in Heaven, he wanted his help. I think we are supposed to hear a message about having to respond God's call in this life. I don't know what to make of this passage but my view is that God's merciful, welcoming arms are always open.

Sermon "Saints Alive" Graham began with a line from Judith Wright's "The Slope", "will you deny the burst of glory in the world and man?" Graham told us that the title of today's sermon arose from a conversation "Saints Alive - The Eternal in Time" and also pointed out that 150 years doesn't just happen. He said that Eternity had broken through in these saints. He compared the "quantity" of "everlasting" with the 'quality' of 'eternal' and reminded us that Jesus was about 'quality' and continued by saying that in Bill Walker, quality had invaded time.

Graham remembered a church camp (which he says should be law because of their great benefit) where he conversed with Bill; when the essence of Bill was addressing the essence of Graham and visa versa. It was a matter of being and truth exchanging with being and truth.

And Graham said that essence was found in the construction of the cross. Graham spoke of many people whom the church acknowledges and added Bill Walker to that list. Graham then spoke of the window dedicated to the Walkers and how God's spirit comes to us through art, and how those windows raise an awareness of what is being celebrated and reminded us of John Wesley's words "The best is yet to come." God blessed us with the witness of Bill Walker.

Will you deny the burst of glory in the man Bill Walker?

The Offering During the offering the choir will sing "All Praise to Thee"

The Family Remembers Bill's son spoke of the many memories he and the family had of  Marsden Road. He spoke about many instances where Marsden Road Church had been a blessing to the family and how they had benefited in so many ways from their time here.

Hymn AHB 519 "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind" Another prayer, addressing our God to whom we can turn - always.

Prayers of the People were led by Margaret who began with a reminder that God is waiting to hear us and then turned our prayerful attention to the needs of our own community and the world around us. We then joined in The Lord's Prayer

Graham then pronounced the Benediction to which we responded with the

Threefold Amen.

Hymn TIS 455 "For all the Saints who from their labours rest" Those who have blessed us by the foundation they have laid.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 11 September 2016

It is usual to try to fit this blog into two pages but I'm not sure that I can. On the other hand, looking through my notes on the service, I realise that some of my own abbreviations are a bit cryptic for me, so some things may be left out.

The first hymn was Hymn TIS 179 "Praise with joy the World's Creator" our theme for the day.

Rev. Helen was back to stir us up and did it in style, as she often did when she was our regular minister. This was another service where a previous minister has been invited to recall their time with us and take the service as part of our anniversary celebration.

Helen welcomed us "God be with you" and of course we responded "And also with you."

She then paraphrased Psalm 103, giving God the glory for all his blessings, forgiveness, healing, and the redemption he offers to us - flawed people, longing for wholeness. She thanked God for wrapping us in goodness and keeping us always young in his presence.

Alerting us to the active nature of all the words in the Psalm, Helen invited us to name God's action in our lives. We did this and our spirits rose as we acknowledged all the blessings God heaps upon us daily.

Somewhere in there we sang Hymn TIS 181 "Come, O God of all the earth: come to us O righteous one," asking for God's hand upon all that happens at this time.

Helen then prayed, confessing our lack of appreciation for all God's care for us and for only seeing our own efforts, failing to give God the glory. She asked that God will guide us back and then we said the absolution together.

The Men's Choir then sang "Great is thy Faithfulness" reinforcing our reliance on God's action in our lives and we all appreciated the opportunity to reflect in the theme from a offering perspective.

The Offering was then received and Helen asked that it be blessed and be a blessing for others.

Helen spoke about saints, past and present, and how they and we all share or have shared the joy and laughter; courage, bewilderment, anger, sorrow and tears that make up the journey of any who seek to pursue to truth. She then spoke about her 5 years at MRUC and the shared faith she experienced with us, meeting people who saw things differently, enriched by their contribution. And while she was remembering how we learned to question our faith and our understanding of it, slides were shown of her time with us: the one of Helen in the swimming costume and another with Ruth, both dressed as Angels, brought back memories of the creativity of Helen's ministry to us and how we heard God's voice through it all.

Helen went on to speak of, acknowledge and give thanks for the enormous contribution of Graham Edgerton to all that happened during those five years, with slides showing Graham lifting one heavy item or another and contributing in such a practical way to the creative approach Helen took to everything she did.

Helen then remembered the congregation as people who began to believe in themselves as Children of God who could be a blessing to others.

Phil then read from Genesis 12:1 - 9, the story of Abram, at an advanced age, leaving his home to make a new place to live at the command of God.

Helen pointed out that Abram could have big-noted himself at achieving such a monumental task which required such energy and commitment at his age. But he didn't. He praised God. A lesson for us there. We spend a lot of our time congratulating ourselves on the splendid job we are doing without thanking God or praising him for using us as his hands in this  world and giving us the gifts with which to carry out the work.

Phil then read Luke 10: 17 - 20, the account of the seventy returning from the mission on which Jesus had sent them, excited about the miracles they had achieved. Jesus told them that while that was all very good that their real joy should have been because they were now hand in hand with God their maker.

Helen took this up, imagining the scene and then reminded us of the many times we look at the amazing things "we" have achieved, forgetting that it is God's work and that we should be blessing his name for all that happens.

Carolyn led the Prayers for the People beginning by asking God to quieten our minds and acknowledging the great blessing God is in our lives. She continued thanking God for all he is and does, drawing it together with thanks for his walking with us each moment and the promises he gives for the future.

She expressed our sense of how precious God is to us and asked that we will be equipped for all challenges: that God will be always walking with us and inspiring us. She then asked God's blessing on refugees in their suffering and finished with a plea for God's guidance for Rev. Candy and Rev. Helen. We then joined in the Lord's Prayer.

We then moved onto the Communion Service remembering those who has passed on from this congregation and that as we are joining in Communion here with each other in the community present, we are also joining with the community past.

We joined in Hymn TIS 599 "Take my life and let it be" Our commitment to our theme today of our lives and all we do being for the blessing of God's name.

Helen took us back to that night when Jesus was betrayed. When he broke bread and poured out the wine, sharing it, naming the bread as his body and the wine as his blood which was to be shed - for everyone.

The distribution then took place as we silently thought upon the affect it has had our lives.

What does the future hold? It is given by God.

Hymn TIS 687 "God gives us a future" It is up to us to grasp all that God offers us.

Helen then sent us out to see what God has in store for us in that future and to respond to the future in the spirit of adventure.