Gathering God’s
People
Call to Worship (I was not able to be
present today but reflected on Rev. John’s notes.)
(Mary J. Scifres, Abingdon Worship Annual 2017)
When God restored the
fortunes of Zion, the Israelites wandered home as if in a dream. Let us be a
people who wander in our dreams. Wander amongst God’s marvellous creation!
Wonder at the amazing things God has done! Do not worry about your life, today
or tomorrow. Trust that God values us even more greatly than birds and flowers,
no matter how beautiful they may be. Know that God treasures us completely, and
gives us all that we will ever need.
Come with hearts
overflowing in gratitude. God has done great things for us.
Be glad and rejoice. We
rejoice in God’s gifts.
Sing praises of joy. Our
mouths are filled with laughter.
Shout with
thanksgiving, in sunshine and rain. Praise God for our lives, for harvest
and food.
Hymn TIS 560:“All my hope on God is
founded;” Echoing the words above.
Opening Prayer
As then moving
forward with faith in God to deliver the promise:
Giver of life, for
sunshine and showers, we give you thanks; for food and drink, we give you
praise; for clothing and shelter, we bestow our gratitude. Gather our worries
and our burdens this day, and shelter us from fear and despair. Help us rest
assured in your arms, knowing that your loving care is enough. It is enough. It
is enough. Amen.
A Prayer of
Confession
God not only delivers
the things of this world but the things of God’s world.
God of abundant love,
sprinkle the tears we have sown with your mercy and hope,
that we may reap a
harvest of joy; replace our selfish dreams of wealth and prestige, with
gratitude for what we have, that we may find contentment in life.
Turn our dreams to
you, O Lord. and remind us of the abundance you offer,
for you have done
great things for us, turning our tears into shouts of joy.
Declaration of
Forgiveness
Through Christ, God’s
love has done great things for us. Through Christ, God’s grace restores our
life and makes us whole once more.
Thanks, be to God!
The Peace
Share with one
another signs of peace and love. Show Christ to one another, that we may be
reminded of the peace that passes all understanding.
Peace be with you! And also with you!
Today, I have
recorded the service almost word for word because in those words there is the
expression of the many longings each of us has. We all find it difficult to
approach God with the words we need to express what we have to say. And here
that is done for us so beautifully
and so accurately. I hope this is an aid
to your expression of your needs to God. In the children’s time, John told the
story of the widow offering a few coins, all she had, at the temple. Often we
think we have nothing to offer in God’s work. But that all he wants. All of us.
And no matter what sort of person we are or how we see our gifts, we all can be
used in God’s hands and we are our most effective when we finally offer our all
Offering
John’s Prayer
reminded us to be glad and joyful for all the good things we are given.
Hymn TIS 555: “Put all your trust in God” If we put our trust and ourselves, including
our plans, in God’s hands and stay alert for his voice, then our path will be true.
The Service of the Word
Readings: Joel 2:
21-27. 1Timothy 2: 1-7. Matthew 6: 25-33 –delivered by Wendy
Preaching of the Word
Rev. John wrote about
various approaches to giving he had encountered or had heard of.
At Marsden Road he
said he had encountered great generosity and so have I. Not just generosity
with money but generosity with both time and energy.
I would agree with
the Rev. John that in the Western World we all have trouble coming to terms
with sacrificial giving. Not many of us are able to bring
ourselves to the level of sacrifice of Mother Teresa, whom Rev. John refers to.
But
many give up much for the benefit of others.
There are many ways of being sacrificial. Some
go without sleep for a sick friend or relative. But I would agree with that in
the West, our giving normally involves giving up luxuries. Not so many visits
to the theatre; not so many holidays away; not so many meals in a restaurant,
or whatever it is that is a luxury for us.
But I think it is
possible to give sacrificially in another way. We can give our all. Not many
are asked to live elsewhere or work within the church administration but we can
be God’s nurses and doctors; God’s mechanics and plumbers; God’s architects and
engineers; God’s teachers and accountants; God’s drivers, police, firemen,
seamstresses. And we can all be hospitable; we can all make sure we are aware
of those in need. but we can always look for ways to be better hands in this
earth for God. Rev. John said: “It took Mother Teresa of Calcutta to show
us how to live out this parable of Jesus. She literally saw Jesus in those she
found dying on the streets of Calcutta and the destitute.”
Even those of us who
think we are living simply for the sake of God’s other children or all of God’s
creation, can probably “do better.”
It's worth reflecting
upon - in Jesus name.
Hymn TIS 589: “Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult” It would be a better place if we could all
ignore the trivial and keep our focus on God’s plan for us.
Grahame played while
the Congregation reflected privately. This was followed by the
Intercessory Prayers
after which they joined in the
Hymn TIS 143: “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” The only one of whom we can depend.
Benediction Go forth with shouts of joy. Proclaim
the greatness of God! Be glad and rejoice in Christ’s care. Trust the promises
of God! As you go in Trust may the blessing of that same God, Creator, Redeemer
and Giver of Life remain with you always.
Hymn TIS 778: “Shalom to you now,”
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