Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 8 June 2014

Call to Worship

Hugh welcomed us to Pentecost Sunday, reminding us of the events of that day that changed the lives of Christians everywhere and for all time. He then invited us to worship God in that Spirit.

 The Lord be with You.

 Hymn TIS 390 'Alleluia alleluia' Praising God for his great gifts which will give new life to all - just as we are.

Prayer of Adoration

Leader:  O God who is greater than the most powerful forces in this world,

People: enable us to be still and know that you are God.

Leader:  O Lord who answers out of the whirlwind of everyday life,

People: breathe in us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, and guide us in the    midst of the storm.

Leader:  O still, small voice, speak to us this hour,

People: that we might become makers of your peace in our homes, in our communities, in our world.

 

              We pray all this in the name of the One who calmed the raging sea. Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession

We humbly beg you to forgive us now as we confess our sins before you.

Silence....

Hugh then spoke of all those wrongs we commit against each other and write off as "human nature". They are "human nature" - wrong human nature.

For all of them we begged forgiveness.

Assurance

Hugh then assured us that the Son of God came into the world to save, not condemn, to forgive, accept and uphold us. He then declared: Our sins are forgiven.

Offering

Our younger members gathered the offering which Hugh dedicated for use in God's Kingdom.

It's lovely to see the kids taking an active role in our services.

 Hymn TIS 643 "I want to walk as a child of the Light." In God there is light and in him we can be freed from darkness. Just by asking.

Bible Readings: Marcia read to us from Genesis 11: 1 - 9 and Acts 2: 1 - 21.

The Genesis story is of a group who built a city and a tower going up to Heaven. The Lord, seeing this, and thinking they were becoming too powerful and independent, scattered them and confused their language so they could no longer understand each other. A story to explain the existence of the many languages in the world but reducing God to some being who could be threatened by the power of people and therefore, in my book, a myth rather than history.
 

The Acts reading records the event of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit entered the disciples, filling them with confidence and insight and joy that they had previously not known since Jesus was with them. Their behaviour made their neighbours think they were drunk but Peter assured everyone, saying a new era had arrived.

 

Reflection.

Hugh told the story of the Tower of Babel and how its destruction was an act of kindness in as much as it turned the people on the true path to God. He pointed out that in a like manner we need God involved in our lives to keep us living in the right way and on the right path. Which is why Pentecost is so important - because God's Spirit guides our words and causes us to be able to communicate to others God's message of love. When we speak the Good News to anyone, we are not alone - the Spirit works through us. When we act as a Good Samaritan, we are not alone. The Spirit works with us and through us.

 Hymn TIS 412 "God sends us His Spirit" Our Spirit Friend who guides us and frees us, creating a new person in us, leading us away from darkness.

Prayers of the People

Hugh led us: O God, the creator and preserver of all, we pray for all people and especially those in any kind of need through famine, war, or natural disaster. Make your ways known upon earth, O God, your saving power among all peoples. Help us to lighten their burden and to seek justice and peace for all in words and actions as your Kingdom people. Guide us by your Holy Spirit, that all who call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth and life of Jesus Christ. Strengthen your Church, especially this church, Marsden Road Uniting Church, and all its leaders and servants in their service of Christ and the community. God of love; grant our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bless those who care for them. We also remember in this prayer those who have died in Christ, grant us with them a share of your eternal kingdom that we will enter.

God of love; grant our prayer.

Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours that we may serve Christ in one another and love as he loves us. God of love; grant our prayer.

Lord our Father, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love. Accept these prayers we pray in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

This was followed by The Lord's Prayer.

 Hymn TIS 420 " Holy Spirit go before us" Asking for the Spirit's guidance not only for us but for all we meet. Sometimes I pray that they won't hear so much of me but that God's message of love will be heard over anything I may say or do.

 Benediction

Go forth to love and serve The Lord.

"May the feet of God walk with you."