Call
to Worship The
Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
Hymn
TIS 627 ‘Praise and Thanksgiving’ A song thanking God for
his provision of the simple things that sustain us and asking for the grace to
share - not only in a practical way but also in a spiritual way that people
will experience God's love.
Prayer
of Adoration Together
Our
Heavenly Father,
Thank
you for bringing us here this morning, to gather around in this beautiful
sacred place to worship and adore you.
Dear
God, help us to truly thank you in all circumstances. Especially when we have
problems.
Whenever
we feel that our problems keep coming, one after another; whenever we feel that
problems land on our laps at the wrong time; whenever we want to slow down or
go somewhere else and do something else or simply stand still or lie down, help
us to wake up to the fact that the rest of our life is just beginning in your
plans.
Help
us to tremble with expectation and an even deeper longing for Your presence and
Your leading in this hour. Make us be
blessed to be a blessing to others.
Through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer
of Confession
Hugh led us praying to our gracious God and Father who knows us better than we
know ourselves. We approached God with confidence in his mercy and compassion.
So often when things go wrong, we are quick to blame others; we are critical
when kindness would be better; we doubt the power of faith and love and
compassion. Give us knowledge of your work in creation, your goodness in all
things and insight into ourselves. Therefore, we confess our sins, in the name
of Jesus Christ.
Your
sins are forgiven.
Thanks
be to God.
Offering
We give
back a little of God's bounteous blessings to us, asking that it be used to
further his kingdom. Bless the gifts and bless the giver. Amen
Hymn
TIS 229 ‘Jesus loves me, this I know’ We know but sometimes we
forget and run around trying to find our help elsewhere. For our every need, we
should focus on God and his will.
Readings: Brought to us by Joan. Ps 85.8-13; A call to listen to God for all
the good things he has to offer, "for he will speak peace to his
people". Surely this world needs that right now. Mt. 14:22-33. The story
of Jesus coming across the water to the disciples during bad weather. Then
Peter tries to do the same and sinks. Maybe like Peter we don't give God enough
credit for being able to lift us from the rough water in our lives.
Sermon: Hugh began with the story of Adam and Eve and
their disobedience followed by their hiding from God. When God asked them why
they were hiding their answer was that they were afraid. We've all
experienced this. We may have described it as staying out of someone's way
until the trouble blew over but we have all done it. But there are lessons
to be learned about fear. When the Israelites saw the Pharaoh's chariots
following closely they were afraid but Moses said, "Stand still and fear
not, and you'll see the salvation of the Lord." Likewise when Mary
expressed her great fear at being told she would bear
a child. The Angel of the
Lord told her, "Fear not, Mary, for you have found favour with God." The bible has
many stories of people being afraid and being consoled by God or his agent and
Hugh explained some of them to us but what it comes down to is that we should
remember that God is our parent. He is always with us. He is always in control.
Hymn
TIS 422 ‘Come, Holy Spirit, come’ (Vss. 1, 3, 5 & 6) A
prayer that the Spirit will work God's will in us. What a people we could be if
we kept this prayer throughout each day.
Prayer
of the people & Lord’s Prayer Hugh prayed that in his mercy, God
would hear our prayer. That as the people God has called together to be his
church, we turn to him in love. Hugh prayed that the planet will be cared for;
that those that govern will do so in the ways of peace: that God's love and
grace will feed his church, maintaining those who lead and supporting all our
church groups, and that as God's people we will receive God's blessing. Hugh
prayed for all those suffering in any way and then for ourselves and our
families. In Jesus’s name. Amen
Final
Hymn TIS 724
‘Hosanna, Hosanna’ As is only right and true - all
honour and praise is owed to God.
Benediction
May the
Lord bless you and keep you: may he make his face to shine upon you. Now may
the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all, evermore.
Amen.
TIS
720 ‘Halle, Halle, Hallelujah’
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