Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 1 March 2020

 Today was our Communion service which is always treated with great seriousness and reverence by our Congregation.

Anyone visiting for the first time would not detect anything different when they arrived as people greeted each other before the service.

Each person attending offered others present a warm smile and a hug, kiss or handshake, depending on the relationship between the individuals involved.

But as the service proper began, the mood quickly shifted as we entered into the felt holiness of the experience.

Firstly we did what was only right and proper by acknowledging the ownership and care by the first people of the place we were standing on and praying that our voices would join with theirs in worship.

Rev. John then prayed that we would let our vulnerabilities be seen by God.

When I pray I always  try to not hide away from God, but allow my every fault and flaw and sin be exposed, as I allow my God to begin the cleansing and healing process.

Rev. John then prayed as we all intended:

In the wilderness of life, we are not alone.

God is with us, even in the midst of our loneliness.

On the treacherous paths, God’s guidance is ours.

We will walk in God’s ways of wisdom and truth.

Come to hear. Come to learn. Come to the hiding place of God.

Here we find grace. Here we find love. Here we will worship and pray.

In our flawed state, others cannot stand-in for us. We must ask God for forgiveness personally and face our brokenness honestly and openly. Only God can show us how to be what we are intended to be.

 

Hymn TIS 119: “I sing the almighty power of God”

Opening prayer

Faithful God strengthen us for the journey ahead. Guide us with your knowledge and your love. Send your Spirit to drive us and guide us where we need to go— ever-closer to you and to your ways through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

We followed this with a prayer of confession. We need to name our sins as well as acknowledge our flawed nature before God can heal us.

 

A Prayer of Confession

God of mercy and grace cover our nakedness and strengthen our vulnerabilities. Forgive us in our sinfulness, and surround us with your faithful love, that we may know true happiness through your mercy and grace. This we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen

Declaration of Forgiveness

Faithful love surrounds you. Forgiveness is yours, through the grace of Christ. Rejoice and be glad!

Thanks, be to God!

We know that God is ready and willing to forgive but it’s good to hear that said aloud after which it is only right that we share the peace that brings with each other.

Hymn TIS 412:“God sends us his Spirit” Without God’s spirit guiding us we will lose our way.

Then we entered into a time when we were conscious of not only our relationship with God but our relationship with other Christians, especially those with us in the service.

                  The Service of Holy Communion

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere, mighty Creator, ever living God. We give you thanks and praise for your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who by the power of your Holy Spirit was born of Mary and lived as one of us. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet he did not sin. By his death on the cross and rising to new life, he offered the one true sacrifice for sin and obtained an eternal deliverance for his people. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to walk in the way of his love. So, we praise you, holy God, with angels and archangels and all your faithful people:

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and
might, Heaven and earth are full of your
glory. Hosanna in the highest!

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

Having begun by acknowledging the holiness
of God, we continued the service and our
lives afterwards, always affected by the
cleansing and healing power of God, and
given Jesus’ life as the example of a life of sacrifice and service. AMEN.