https://vimeo.com/448216471
Order of Service – August 16, 2020
Welcome to this week’s worship resources. This week we encourage you to dive into the scripture and hear again the story of Jesus walking on the water and reflect on how this story meets us this week.
Perhaps you might choose one prayer to pray daily, or commit to listening to two songs each day, or reading one of the bible verses every two days?
Faith At Home.
This week we invite you to take the Psalm 67 and rewrite it in your own words. Perhaps you’d like to write your own psalm of blessing, giving thanks to God for all God’s created and given.
Perhaps you might like to go a little further and put it to music, an old hymn, or tune, or perhaps write one of your own.
Grateful
As you make space this weekend think back on your week, what are you grateful for? Spend some time giving thanks to God.
Call to Worship
We come with questions.
We struggle with patience.
We open our hearts to the Lord.We come in search of answers.
We journey with uncertainty.
We put out trust in the Lord.Let us worship God together.
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 23
Song: The Earth Has Yielded It’s Harvest
PSALM 67 (Another Version for Today)
Be gracious to us, O God, and bless us;
Source: The Billabong
make your face shine upon us.
Knowing your ways in the earth,
your saving works among all the nations,
let the peoples praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
Let them shout with joy,
for you judge the nations with justice,
and guide the peoples of the earth.
Let the people praise you, O God,
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has presented its produce;
you continue to bless us, O God, our God.
May God bless us –
and be held in holy awe to all the ends of the earth.
Song: Psalm 67
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
God who holds us in the depths
and on the mountaintop
we seek your face in worship.We seek your face to shine
on our questions,
on our certainties,
on our challenges,
on our consolation.Here in this place,
we know the freedom to sing your praise
while we also ask:
How long, O Lord?How long before we see your justice?
How long before we see your creation restored?
How long O Lord?Even as we ask these questions,
we acknowledge our complicity
in all that ails our world.
We acknowledge that often
we do not play our part in sharing love,
in holding out peace.The things we do too often differentiate
and discriminate and make your kingdom less.So, Lord, hear our confession,
hear our cry for forgiveness and our pledge,
with your help, to do better.And then help us who know
we can count on your love
and your forgiveness
to go and make a difference.
To use what you reveal to us here
to restore creation
according to your will.Amen.
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 23
Story: Something Beautiful
A story of blessings…
Song: Sharing The Road
Readings:
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Song: I’ll Praise My Maker
Reflection – On Blessings
Song: We Are Blessed
Prayers for Others
When upon the storms of life you’re tossed about,
When you are discouraged, and begin to doubt,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has doneHeavenly Father, we are tossed about upon the storms of life.
We share anxiety and uncertainty about COVID-19
and its impact on health, comfort and wellbeing.
We also may have individual storms of life.
Whilst easier said than done,
we pray for Your encouragement
to count our blessings and be mindful of how much You have done.Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.Lord God, we think of those with significant health concerns for themselves or loved ones.
Continue to share these loads of care and place Your encouraging and healing hands over these situations.
Grant us peace to be mindful of the access to health services, the skill and resilience of health professionals
and the diligence and focus of scientific researchers, especially in developing a COVID-19 vaccine.When you look at others with their lands and gold.
Thing that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.Almighty Lord, many also face challenges to economic wellbeing due to unemployment or other adjustments that create difficulties to making ends meet.
Remind us of our ultimate citizenship in Heaven and of how fortunate we are to have care from loved ones, access to support services and a relatively peaceful society.So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.Good Shepherd, You are over all, nothing can separate us from Your love and You hear our prayers.
Minister to us through Your Holy Spirit, Your angels and Your Church.
Thank you for the encouragement and friendship shared throughout the Gungahlin Uniting Church community.Count your blessings, name them one by one:
Ian Bartholomew, August 2020
Count your blessings see what God has done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God has done. AMEN
Blessing Prayer
Using the letters in the word “Blessing” write your own prayer of thanks to God for the blessings you’re thankful for and again write a prayer for help in serving your neighbours this week.
B
L
E
S
S
I
N
G
B
L
E
S
S
I
N
G
Song: For Everyone Born
Sending & Blessing
Send us out, O God!
To speak your words
to a waiting world
and share those words with all who hear.
Order of Service – August 09, 2020
Welcome to worship this week, in this time you’ll be invited to reflect on the scripture for the week, hear words of inspiration, psalms of faith, songs of hope and reflect on our own journeys with fear.
Carve out a space this week, light a candle if you can and use this to help you and your household reflect on your faith and worship the God of creation.
Song: The Sun Will Rise
Call to Worship
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35
Joseph with his technicolour dream coat
must have felt so very alone.Jesus withdrew to solitary places
intentionally to be alone.Peter went to be with Christ
and then felt incredibly afraid.Jesus disperses a crowd
who were nothing but a gathering of individuals.
Gather today with the worldwide Church
even if you feel alone.Withdraw with intention today to be with God.
If you have any fear,
bring it to Christ that he may help you walk.As the individual that you are,
worship as you can.
Song: Inspired By Love & Anger
Story
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35
You come to us early in the morning;
wind howling, waves crashing,
the world unravelling around us.You come to us walking on the water,
proclaiming peace when
we feel anything but peaceful.Somewhere in our fear,
in our finitude,
we decided that we
must be water-walkers
to earn your love.Forgive us when we step out of the boat
to test ourselves,
to test you,
to shore up our faith,
our egos, our fear.You do not call us out
to test our faith,
you call us out in love,
to be love
and you are ever by our side.Comfort us
when the waves rock the boat.Steady us
when the wind is up,
and our guard is down.Challenge us to live our faith
from grace’s perspective
knowing you match our steps,
stride by stormy stride.Amen.
Readings
Song: Let Our Heart’s Rejoice
Song: Wade in the Water
Reflection
All-Age Prayer
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35
Jesus Christ,
you know what it is to be afraid
and when you saw your friends soaked and scared,
you came to them.While you were on your way,
you called to them
telling them it was okay to be afraid,
that you were with them on the water.When Peter shouted out,
so excited and courageous,
you invited him to step out
not to prove his faith
but to share your love.And when the fear started
to beat harder in his heart
and his feet got wet with the waves,
you reached out your hand,
loved him,
and together you walked back to the boat.Remind us that we are always safe with you.
Challenge us to make more safe places for each other
especially when we see other people scared.Amen.
Song: Forever by Christ Tomlin
Prayer for Others
Gracious and loving God,
We lift up to you all those who are affected by the corona virus.
For those who are ill, bring them healing.
For those struggling with job loss and isolation,
bring them peace and surround them with people to support them.
For those working on the front lines,
be with them and their families and give them strength.
We pray to you, who walked on water, giver of help and miracle maker,
for an effective vaccine.
Be with our church as we struggle through this time.
Be with those who are planning the recommencement of worship,
filling in the endless paperwork and making tough decisions to try to keep us safe.
Be with each member of our church community
in the waiting, the wondering and the worrying.
Help us to do our best to care for each other
and to put love at the centre of all we do.
Amen
Holly Wright, August 2020
Sending
Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35
Jesus, you are the Son of God.
Even the wind and the waves,
the stormy seas,
are calmed by your Spirit.We might never walk on the surface of water,
as if immune to life’s troubles,
yet, neither do we need to sink.For you, Lord, are with us.
Your hand is upon us.
Your love is for us.
Your commitment to us is endless.Thanks be to God, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, today and always.
Song: Christ Before Me
Take Home Ideas
What has kept you from sinking?
Take time to consider (perhaps write down as a list) times in your life when you have found yourself starting to have that sinking feeling. Troubling, challenging times when naturally it has been difficult to cope emotionally and sometimes physically.
We all have these times.
- What prevented you sinking?
- Who stopped you from sinking deeper?
- How did you manage to stay afloat?
Hopefully we recognise the hand of God in those moments.
Be thankful for the people, the self-resilience and the help that was available to you as you managed these difficult times.
Reflection – August 2, 2020
Home Brewed Worship – August 02, 2020 – Order of Service
Call to Worship
Spill The Beans Issue 12
Jesus wanted to be alone,
to mourn the loss of his cousin, but the people followed him.
When Jesus saw the crowd
he was filled with compassion.
His own needs were put to the side.
Jesus spent the day healing the sick
and by evening the people were hungry. So, Jesus blessed what they had,
five loaves and two fish,
and everyone shared together
with twelve whole baskets left over.
We gather today as people who are in need of healing and who are hungry for God’s word.
Let us worship our God
who is extravagantly generous to all people.
Prayer of Adoration
Spill The Beans Issue 12
Loving God, you care for all people.
You are deeply aware of the hurts we carry and the fragility of our existence.
Better than we know ourselves,
you recognise that as human beings
we are vulnerable
to the circumstances of life.
That is why you never turn your back on us.
You are always available and we can always find you. So today we seek you, God, ready to share with you
the blessing we have enjoyed, recognising your creativity and generosity and bringing to you our concerns
over those things
that bother or threaten us.
To worship we gather,
in faith we come together,
and in anticipation we wait to be fed. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen..
Readings
Genesis 32:22-31
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
Reflection
Spill The Beans Issue 35
When Jesus heard this…
the news that his cousin had been killed: he wanted time to be alone,
he wanted space to mourn,
but everyone wanted a piece of him.
Often we do not know the back story. We only know our needs,
and our wants.
May we have compassion:
for all the back stories,
that we might never hear,
and may we tread cautiously
in our encounters with others, allowing for the possibility
that we tread on broken dreams, and shattered hope.
May we be gentle,
may we be kind,
making space for one another.
Story
The Growing In God’s Love Storybible has a great poem retelling the story of the feeding of the crowd (it’s based on the John version, bit still beautifully done). You can access the poem/retelling here.
Holy Moly
Check out this week’s Home Brewed Worship email for the password to view the Holy Moly video for this week’s Gospel reading.
Question for conversation or contemplation:
- Imagine sharing a meal with many friends. Can you draw, paint, sculpt the meal? Who would you like to be eating with at this moment?
- Can you write your own retelling of this story in poem, story or song?
Reflection – 2 August, 2020
Prayers for Others
(Margaret Reeson)
Lord Jesus, who saw the crowds and had compassion on them,
we bring our prayers for our anxious world.We pray for those who are looking for sense and meaning in these times of trouble,
and are trying to work out whose advice and example they can follow.
Jesus, may they find that One in you,
as did the crowds who followed you into the lonely place.We pray for those who are ill, and afraid of becoming ill.
Lord, comfort them and be close to each one in their anxiety and pain.
Jesus Christ, who had compassion on the many sick people who followed you,
help the health professionals with strength and courage for each day,
as they are your human hands and feet.
Please help the scientists, the researchers, the contact tracers
and those spending hours providing testing.
When they are exhausted, and in despair,
we pray that they may have practical support that gives hope.We pray for those who are struggling to survive as they lose their jobs
and their businesses in ways they could not have imagined.
We pray for decision-makers with responsibility for the economy
and the livelihoods of our communities.
Jesus Christ, who saw the needs of the hungry crowds and met those needs,
please give wisdom, helpful initiatives and practical solutions
for the health of our society.We pray for those who feel that their important issues and needs are being ignored
while we all focus on a pandemic and the economy.
Jesus Christ, you saw the women and children as well as the men.
You knew the other things that mattered, not only illness and hunger.
Please give us all eyes to see and act, as we are able,
beyond the narrow focus that sometimes limits us.We pray for each other as a congregation.
Help us all as we work out the ways in which we may begin to gather again
when it is safe to do so.
Bless us, together and apart, in our homes and in our daily work,
alone or with our families.We are still the people who come seeking you, longing for answers
and needing your care.Be with us all, we pray. Amen
Blessing
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