Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Sunday Service Marsden Road Unting Church 5 October 2014


Call to Worship                      Rev Hugh Park

Jesus is the word made flesh, who came to live among us.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Dear friends in Christ, Come, let us praise him.

L: The Lord be with you;

P: And also with you!

Hymn:   TIS 147 To God be the glory A declaration of our awe of the amazing works of our creator and redeemer!

Prayer of Adoration and Confession   (Hugh)

A prayer acknowledging how sin has marred God's perfect creation and how only God could provide the remedy. Hugh claimed God's promise for us to accept us as we are and blessed God's name because it is he and he alone who can deal with the terrors in the world. Hugh on our behalf, confessed our complicity in the things that mar creation and asked for God to re-create us so that we can create a new world in his strength. Hugh pleaded for forgiveness for all our failings.

L: Jesus was born among us, to save us, not to condemn us.

P: Whoever believes in Him is not condemned.

L: Friends, hear the Good News again, the word of Grace and pardon:

P: In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Hymn:  TIS 643 I want to walk as a child of the light We know that God is the source of light to our lives and that he will lead us in ways of goodness. Lucky. Because by ourselves we are hopeless.

Bible Readings: Read by Alan.
Philippians 3:7-14; "I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord."
 
I don't think I can improve on that.
Matthew 21:33-46. An interesting passage. It is unclear what the tenant farmers thought they could get away with without finally being brought to account. First they kill the landowner's representatives and then his son and heir. If we were watching this on TV or a film we would know it wasn't going to end well for the tenants but they seem blind to the obvious. Where do we fit into this story?    

Reflection​​​                      Hugh

"In my sermon last week, I have quoted from the famous author C.S.Lewis who said, True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.Yes. Quite true.  Humility is one word that had been used to describe Jesusattitude in the letter of Philippians. Id like to quote from C.S Lewis again this morning. He said, As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.

Hugh talked of the relevance of today's reading to our lives today. We forget whose world this is and according to whose laws we should be living. We try to derail The Plan and run things according to what we see as advantageous to us. We are not looking at the long term. In eternity, status, control, money don't  count for anything.

"Id like to remind you again of what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 20, that reads the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Amen.

Prayers of the People and Lords PrayerNoelene Price

Noelene spoke of the events of the world that frighten us such as people under the control of terrorists and the warfare destroying the lives of innocent people. She prayed that world leaders look for a peaceful solution to these conflicts. Noeleen prayed for Jan Reeve that she and we will listen to God's voice. Noeleen then prayed for Hugh and Yoonhee as they come to the end of their Ministry with us, that God will them guide to a new position. Prayers were then offered for this close to us and then we joined in the Lord's Prayer.

​​Communion

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of peace.

(All may exchange a sign of peace.)

Hymn : TIS 517 Hallelujah! Sing to Jesus(vv. 1, 2 & 3 only) Praise for God's power and his redeeming work among us. Amen.

Preparation of the Table (Condensed)

(The gifts of the people are gathered and presented; The table is prepared and bread and wine are placed upon it.)

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this bread to set before you, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed be God for ever.

 Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation: through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.

Minister

 The Spirit of the Lord is with you.

R. And also with you.

 Lift up your hearts.

R. We lift them to the Lord.

 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

​R. It is right to give thanks and praise.

 Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:

 Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

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

 Minister:

Lord, you are the source of all holiness; by the power of your Holy Spirit, and according to your holy will, these gifts of bread and wine may become to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Take, eat; this is my body that is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, and drink it in remembrance of me.

 
Let us proclaim our faith.

Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.

Lord Holy Spirit, you are the giver of life in whom we live and move and have our being.  Lord, transform this bread and wine to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, so that we will be transformed to be your Kingdom people in this world.   Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer after Communion

We thank you that you have fed us with this holy bread and wine, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ our Saviour. We now become members of His Body, and thus His agents in this world.  Lord our Father. Bless us so we will be a blessing to many people around us.  Help us to live your Kingdom life, so they will get to know you better through us.  In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Hymn: TIS 699A new commandment That we love one another. We can only be loving because of God's work in us. And this is how God's love is made known to the world.

Benediction and Threefold Amen or retiring hymn:

May the feet of God walk with you

 

 

 

 

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