Call to Worship
(Abingdon Worship Annual 2018)
We want to celebrate Mothers as a wonderful gift from God,
but we want to be certain that we recognise mothers – and likewise, families in
general – as a gift from the God who has created all things. So today, as we
are called to worship by the scriptures, we’re called to worship a God who
loves us and welcomes us into his family.
Clap
your hands and shout to God with loud songs of joy.
Sing
praises to God, who fills the world with forgiveness and grace.
Christ
is alive. He is risen from the dead.
The
Holy One calls us to worship and praise.
Baptised
with the power of the Holy Spirit,
we
live with Christ in our hearts.
Clap
your hands and shout to God with loud songs of joy.
Sing
praises to God, who fills the world with forgiveness and grace.
Hymn
TIS 106: "Now thank we all our God" I
have noticed that when I keep looking for my blessings and thanking God for
them, the impact is far greater than if I accept them as a given.
Opening
Prayer
God
our Father, your Son Jesus Christ lived in a family in Nazareth: Grant that in
our families on earth we may so learn to love and to live together that we may
rejoice as one family in your heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer
of Confession
Jesus
said, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Holy One has
set.”
Yet
we keep searching for signs and omens, trying to predict the future instead of living
fully each day.
Jesus
said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Yet
we are more concerned with following the proper procedures, than with opening
our hearts to those around us.
Jesus
said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
Forgive
us, Holy One, when we try to shape the world according to our desires, instead
of asking for the power to do your will.
Declaration of Forgiveness
The
Holy One enlightens the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know the hope to which
we are
alled. In the name of Christ, you are forgiven. Thanks, be to
God!
The
Peace
In
the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ, let us share signs of
peace with one
another. Peace be with you! And also with you.
Hymn
TIS 457: "The Church’s one foundation" An
article I read recently stressed the centrality of God in our church. The point
made in that article was that too often God gets forgotten and the church
itself becomes the centre. That is no more or less than idolatry.
The
Service of the Word
As
it was Mothers’ Day Rev. John spoke on the topic of families and family
relationships. No family is perfect and there is friction from time to time in
any group of people living together. (My nephew who was serving in the
military overseas made this point at one time, saying that he was having
trouble with his constant companion…..his pistol.) In fact there are times
when we become so irritated with a family member we can hardly put up with
their breathing heavily. A friend told me of a family car trip where her son
became quite angry because his brother was looking out of “his window.” Sometimes these times of friction come
down to personal preferences but at other times someone has done something very
wrong.
The
Rev. John had this to say about that:
We do not fail or
even sin that grace may abound. But when we fail to live by God’s call we can
start again, and we can be sure that grace abounds as we repent. Seemliness is
no closer to godliness than cleanliness, and it is a comfort to know that no
failure, no sin, no wound can separate us from the love or purposes of God.
Even the holy family—Mary, Jesus, and Joseph—were beset by intrigue and rumour.
Mary and Joseph were not yet married when she became pregnant. That is not to
suggest that, as I heard one preacher say, unwed pregnancy is "OK,"
only that in and of itself unwed pregnancy does not disqualify us from serving
God.
Hymn
TIS 137: “For
the Beauty of the Earth” For everything that brings joy - every good
thing- thanks be to God.
Grahame
led us into prayer with music and there followed the Prayers of the People and
the Lord’s Prayer. This is such an important time for us when we can each draw
close to the One who loves us so much.
Hymn
TIS 526: “Lord Jesus Christ" Focussing
our hearts and minds on the centre of all things.
Benediction
May
the Lord who brought us to birth by his Spirit,
strengthen
us for the Christian life.
May
the Lord who provides for all our needs
sustain
us day by day.
May
the Lord whose steadfast love is constant as a
mother's
care,
send
us out to live and work for others.
And
the blessing of God Almighty.
the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be
with you and remain with you always. Amen
Hymn
TIS 779: “May the feet of God walk with you,” And
with this we blessed each other as we parted.
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