Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 1 November 2015

 

Welcome- All Saints Day-Those who could, gathered outside to recall that it has been 150 years since the foundation stone was laid, giving thanks for all those who grew this church.  We then entered the church singing Hymn TIS 455 ‘For all the saints who from their labours rest' Thanks was given for all those who have gone before us, who established this church through the grace of God, in which we are nurtured. We give unending thanks and praise to God but the saints who have preceded us have been his hands and voice.

Call to worship

We are called together onto the same path;

 

Together we follow the lead of freedom and justice.

We are called together to be of one mind;

Together we love God and neighbour with our all.

We are called together into life;

Together we put our trust in God, our Saviour.

 Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving

This prayer was a reminder that it is through trust in God that we find our strength, our encouragement, our friendships and our certainty when we are uncertain. We declared our trust in God for all things.

Prayer of Confession

The story of Ruth and Naomi challenged us to reflect on our own faithfulness, and who or what we see as our source of strength when circumstances become difficult. It made us reflect on our faithfulness to the people and causes to whom we have pledged commitment. Then we asked forgiveness when we fail, as we do.

Words of Assurance

Hear then God's words of grace to us. Our sins are forgiven! Thanks be to God.

Remembering those who have followed Jesus, who have taught us, loved us, inspired us and encouraged us. Those who wished walked forward to light tea light candles and gave thanks for those who have gone before us.

 Offering The offering was dedicated to the work of spreading God's love and grace.

Hymn TIS 537 “Let us talents and tongues employ” This song encapsulates the experience of communion. We feel joined with each other as we, together, open ourselves to God's healing, restoring us to wholeness, fit to do his will in the world. This hymn was sung with much confidence, reflecting our faith in our source.

 Holy Communion (selections)

Christ our Lord invites us to his table: all who seek him.

 

The words of the institution were those given to us by Paul:

This is my body and blood which is given up for you, for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this in memory of me.

 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.

And so we praise you:

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.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us. Grant us Peace.

The Distribution We remained seated while Jan, Ruth, Elaine and Carolyn distributed the elements. When all the bread was distributed we ate together, and when all the juice was distributed we drank together. Together with God and with each other.

Prayer after Communion We thank you that you have fed us in the sacrament, united us in Christ and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet prepared for all people. Amen.

 Bible Readings- Ruth 2:1-23, 4:13-17 Faithfulness is the theme. Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi; Boaz faithfulness in looking after Ruth's welfare in the field because of her faithfulness to his relative Naomi and Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi, even after her position was secured by her marriage to Boaz. And God's faithful love to two woman who were faithful to him.

Mark 12: 28-34 Jesus is quizzed about which of the commandments is the greatest. Clearly a ploy to entrap him. However, Jesus answered in a way that covered all the commandments and more, leaving his opponents with nothing to say.

 Sermon- ‘LIFE for Naomi and Ruth through the loving kindness of God’ Jan began with reference to the disasters that strike people and how, as a church, we respond. She reminded us that we do not have to face such disasters, where people have no idea where their next meal will come from. But Naomi and her family did have to face such a situation which resulted in them being in a foreign country with the sons growing to adulthood and marrying women from that country. But that good outcome changed, with Naomi's husband and both sons dying, leaving three widows. Naomi realized her best option was to return home but thought it best for her daughters-in-law to stay in their country and marry countrymen. One agreed but Ruth did not and said: 'Don't urge me to go...Your people will be my people and your God my God."

So they returned to Judah which was experiencing a renewal and the crops were plentiful. God was faithful and provided……and Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi. Boaz, seeing the loyalty and love of Ruth, a foreigner, towards his kinswoman,

Naomi, kept a watchful eye over her and saw that she was able to glean with success and without being harassed, thereby providing for herself and Naomi. According to the law, a closer relative had a claim over Ruth and her father-in-law's land but when he relinquished his claim, Boaz married Ruth, so that her position and that of Naomi was secure.

A situation of grief and loss changed into a secure life of love with hope for the future. God was faithful. Ruth and Naomi were faithful to each other and Boaz was faithful to God and to his responsibilities. It turned out well. A thought. Only God could know how well things would be but Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz didn't know but were faithful because they saw it as the thing they had to do. Situations arise like that in life. There are times when we have to be faithful, whether it will profit us or not. We simply know we have to.

 Hymn TIS 683 “God, when human bonds are broken’ When things are broken between us and others, give us faith, hope and love to send out tendrils to draw people together and allow them to see the bonds that hold them together that are simply over shadowed for a time.

 Musical interlude before prayer as we contemplated our personal situations.

Prayers of Intercession – Delma thanked God for answered prayer and asked God's strength and support for the families of those killed in the Russian airplane crash and those refugees suffering in detention. She prayed for all those wandering the world and all those who offer them the hand of friendship. She prayed to God for those close to us and the carers of the community - teachers, medical workers, Firies, Ambos, Police and the military. Care for them and heal their wounds suffered in the trauma they witness. Delma prayed for the church: locally, nationally and internationally and especially the leadership of MRUC that it will spread God's grace to heal this broken world.

 Hymn TIS 154 ‘Great is your faithfulness’ Despite knowing that this is so, it seems we need to experience it anew so many times to remind us that it is true. It's not that God stops being faithful - ever, but we stop noticing unless there is a crisis.

 Blessing  The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God. And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now and always.

Blessing Song TIS 778 ‘Shalom to you now’ Such an amazing blessing, showering each other with everything God can give to make our lives anew.