Prayer

God beyond vision,
God beyond time,
God beyond everything, 
yet contained within it all, 
may we dream again, 
catch the vision,
and let it grow in us.

So in our town,
in the places where questions are asked, 
may we live those questions,
seek adventures,
that allow the light of hope
to break through.

In our neighbourhood,
in the places of loneliness, 
may we be companions 
that open up a welcome, 
that brings in those
who need compassion.

In our world
in the places of poverty, 
may we be richness
in our standing with people, 
that we hear their story
and let it affect who we are.

God of vision
may we dream the vision
that is already waiting to be heard 
in our world,
among your people,
all around us
if only we had ears to hear it
and eyes to witness its waiting.

Amen

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Readings:

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 

Psalm 90

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Matthew 22:34-46

Song: Children of the Earth

Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17

Lord, in every generation
   you have been house and home to us.

You are God, and have been from time before time;
   even before you brought the mountains to birth;
      even before you created the planet or anything on it.

You tell us when our time is up,
   and return us to the earth from which we came.

From where you look,
   a thousand years is like the blink of an eye,
      and the ancient past like yesterday.

Our lives pass as if you had erased them completely;
   they are gone like a dream.
Like cut flowers they are fresh and new one day,
   and faded memories the next.

It’s time for a change, LORD.
   Hasn’t this gone on long enough?
      For pity’s sake, it’s time to give us a break.

Let a new day dawn 
   and give us our fill of your love and loyalty,
so that our lives may be full of smiles and laughter 
   till the end of our days.

Give us more days of happiness 
   than the days of suffering you sent.
May the years where evil reigned
   be cancelled out by years of joy.

Make your actions clear to those of us in your service;
   let your children see your strength in all its glory.

Put us in your good books, O Lord our God,
   and give us a rich return for all our labour —
      may the work of our hands turn to gold!

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sermon – O God, our help in ages past

Ian Bartholomew shares this week’s reflection on Psalm 90.

Access this week’s reflection as a pdf:

https://vimeo.com/471020044

Song: O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Prayer For Others

Leaning In: A Prayer of Intention

We pray for the lonely ones
knowing that some of us are lonely
and we pray for the heartbroken ones
knowing that some of us are heartbroken

All our hearts and minds
are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way
of love in the world

We pray for the wounded
knowing that some of us are wounded
and we pray for the regretful ones
knowing that some of us are regretful

All our hearts and minds
are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your
way of love in the healing

We pray for the starving ones
knowing that some of us are starving
and we pray for the imprisoned ones
knowing that some of us are imprisoned

All our hearts and minds
are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way
of justice in the world

We pray for the dying ones
knowing that some of us are dying
and we pray for the newly born ones
knowing that some of us are arriving

All our hearts and minds
are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way
of love in the world

Amen.

Words by Christopher Grundy
2013. Hand & Soil Music

Closing Prayer

With thankful hearts,
for Moses and Aaron and Joshua,
for their call to follow God,
for the witness of generations,
for the part we play
in the continuing story of your people, we go encouraged to serve you,
to seek to build your Kingdom,
here,
now,
this week,
for ever.

Song: Psalm 90

Go Deeper

Pray The Psalm:

Try practicing Lectio Divina with the psalm for this week, you can use the instructions here on our website.

Rewrite The Psalm:

Spend some time this week and rewrite the Psalm in your own words, share it with us and we’ll add it to the website.

Art:

Grab some textas, pencils or paint, choose a few lines from the psalm and allow the to inspire you to paint/draw/sketch.

Commentary:

• Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12 Commentary by Rolf Jacobson
• Psalm 90:12-17 Commentary by J. Clinton McCann
• Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12 Commentary by James K. Mead
• Psalm 90:12-17 Commentary by Matthew Stith

Audio:

Check out this week’s Pulpit Fiction Podcast for Richard Bruxvoort-Collligan’s nugget on Psalm 90. It starts at 39:05

Music:

Singing the Scripture

A playlist of music reflecting on this week’s readings to travel with you throughout the week.

Sing!

Call to Worship

Into your presence we come,
Lord of freedom,
remembering those who fled captivity
and found freedom in your sanctuary.
Into your presence we come,
Lord of forgiveness,remembering your Son’s gift to us,
and your gracious reconciliation.
Into your presence we come,
Lord of grace,
and we know your generosity to us
is beyond our understanding.
Into your presence we come,
may we lift up our praise to you!

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Prayer

God, we are here today
because you love us,
you made us, and
you want us to be your friends.

You have given each one of us
the skills we need,
to help make the universe
all it was meant to be.

From being kind and helpful,
to forgiving someone who has hurt us.

You sent Jesus to help us to learn
how to live and love each other.

Saying sorry when we get things wrong,
and forgiving others when they hurt us
are just two things we can do
to make the world
a better place for everyone.

Neither of these are easy,
but life is not always easy.
Help us to try to do all we can
to make our world a better,
happier place.
Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Readings:

Exodus 14:19-31
Psalm 114

Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

God of grace,
your love created the universe,
and all that it contains.
Earth, air, fire, and water
the traditional ‘elements’ of all life.

Every part of creation
made from the same
tiny atoms of life-giving energy.
Each one made with love.

You give us so much more
than we deserve,
and you ask only
that we love you in return.
You give us free will,
which allows us to choose
to say yes or no to your love.

Merciful God, forgive us,
for those times we chose to say no,
help us desire to say yes.

Father, you promise to forgive us;
to restore our relationship with you
when we turn and say yes to your love.

You invite us into a relationship
and desire us to play our full part in it.

You also ask us to treat the rest of creation
as you do, with love and mercy.
You have given us a great responsibility
over all creation and too often,
over millennia, we have failed to act wisely;
we have been greedy and selfish,
and have forgotten to care and share all that creation gives us.

Merciful God, forgive us.
Help us to seek to be better co-creators,
and to make the changes we need to
so that our world can flourish as it should.
Your son, Jesus, has left us the example
we can choose to follow.

Give us courage to want to choose his path.
In his name, we pray.

Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Sing!

Prayers for Others

Loving God
Sometimes we get stuck in prayer, not knowing where to start. Our lives may be filled with chaos, our hearts with pain and our minds with confusion.
At times like this, help us to remember to rest in Your presence as we seek strength and peace that only You can provide.

Sometimes we try to fix our lives or other people with our own strength and in all our hasty efforts, forget to let You lead the way. We may often get caught up in overwhelming situations that seem far bigger than we can handle.
At times like this, help us to take these situations to You and trust that You will work in our favour.

Sometimes we find it hard to accept our daily circumstances and physical conditions. We fail to see how wonderfully You created us and disregard how we can use the gifts You gave each of us to enrich our own lives and the lives of others.

At times like this, help us to find the strength to change our habits, to stop complaining about our problems and start being grateful for all the problems we do not have.

Sometimes You tremendously bless us with instant answers to our prayers, with great relationships, fulfilling jobs, and good health.

At times like this, help us to take a moment to thank You Lord and reach out to others who may be feeling less blessed.

Sometimes we fail to love others in the way You instruct us to love each other. You are slow to anger and quick to forgive, yet we neglect to do the same, even with people who are near and dear to us.

At times like this, forgive us once again and help us to be more like you…gentle and humble in spirit.

Merciful Father help each of us to lean not on our own understanding, but in all things acknowledge You and trust You. Absolutely resting in Your sovereignty and faithfulness. In Your infinite wisdom, lead all Your children in these uncertain times.

Continue to remind us of Your loving and healing presence. We trust that You are with us all and will watch over us wherever we go in our different life journeys.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Source: Caroline Wallace

Sing!

Sing!

Action

Set up a jar or a container of some kind.

Each day, challenge yourself to write down seven ‘wrongs’ from your life.

They could be recent things said or left unsaid, deeds done or
not done; they could also be world issues that worry you, or people you have an instinct to dislike.

At the end of the week, pray over the jar or container;
take to God your guilt or worry.

Then, if you have a suitable and safe way to do this,
set them on fire. Let them burn away.

If setting them alight is not possible, find another way of destroying them, such as tearing them up into little pieces and putting the little pieces in your recycling bin.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Action – Psalm 114

Action – Build A Story

Put out your LEGO bricks/pieces for everyone to play with, build a scene from the story.

After you’ve all build something engage in conversation about what parts you each built and why, what do you think forgiveness looks like?

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Action: Kindness Charades

Hand everyone three pieces of paper, ask them to write one act of kindness on each piece. Fold the paper and place them in a bowl or hat. (There are some ideas listed below)

One person closes their eyes while everyone else looks at one act of kindness charade topic.

Everyone acts out the charade while the person opens their eyes and tries to work out what the act of kindness is from the different ways everyone else is acting out the clue.

Some examples you could use might be:
• Try to act out helping some cross the road.
• Writing a card to someone.
• Delivering a prescription.
• Doing shopping for someone.
• Fitting a lightbulb.
• Digging the garden for someone.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 36

Discuss:

Forgiveness is really hard. Both the being forgiven and also forgiving people who have done wrong to you.

• When have you seen someone forgive someone else? • Was it a small thing to forgive or a big thing?
• Was the person who was forgiven changed?

This story Jesus was telling had a small forgiveness that was withheld, in the context of a big forgiveness that was given. He wanted to say if you have been forgiven a big thing, then you should forgive as a response.

• Why did Jesus want the disciples to hear this?
• How are people changed as a result of forgiveness?
• Is it easier to forgive a big thing than to forgive a small thing? If so, why do you think that is the case?

Go Deeper:

The By The Well Podcast explores this week’s scripture readings here

The Working Preacher Podcast explores this week’s scripture readings here

• Exodus 14:19-31 Commentary
• Matthew 18:21-35 Commentary
• Romans 14:1-12 Commentary
• Forgiveness Is at the Core

The Rob Bell Podcast explored Forgiveness a while ago, you can access the episodes here

• Episode 38 – The Forgiving Flow – Part 1 – What it is
• Episode 39 – The Forgiving Flow – Part 2 – Drop the Jawbone
• Episode 40 – The Forgiving Flow – Part 3 – The Dog and its Vomit
• Episode 41 – The Forgiving Flow – Part 4 – Sending it Away
• Episode 42 – The Forgiving Flow – Part 5 – Power, Presence, Control and Surprises

Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Forgiveness

If you ever get the chance, pick up Archbishop’d book on forgiveness, the internet is peppered with Tutu speaking on forgiveness, I highly recommend listening to what he has to say.

This week’s Exodus reading is the story of the first Passover. As we’re still telling the story of Moses this week’s material includes a few of the videos and material from last week.

For those of you who want to make a space to worship on Sunday we’ve put together an order of service that you can use to reflect in music, read the scripture and pray in worship,

For those of you who feel that you only have cracks and crevices in your week available to intentionally spend time with God we’ve created this material as a kind of playlist for you to use through your week to dive in and out of when you can make space in your work, home, car or whenever you find yourself open to spend time with God.

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?

Aid to worship at home:

Order of Service – September 6, 2020

Aid to worship for people worshipping with young people

This resource has a number of videos and idea to help people explore the story from Exodus and pray together as a household. 

Worship at Home with Youth/Children – September 6, 2020

Worship Online

Join us on Zoom for community worship online this week, message us for the link.

Worship in Person

If you’d like to attend this week in person you can find more information on the service and rsvp here: https://www.gungahlinuniting.org/?tribe_events=worship-on-site-on-zoom-2 

For the months of September and October we will be meeting at the church for worship on the first and third Sundays of the month.  Every week we’ll send out an invitation and a link to RSVP for seats, at the moment we can only fit 55 people in the auditorium and so we need to use the website to keep our numbers below 55.

Readings:

Exodus 12:1-14
Romans 13:8-14
Psalm 119:33-40

Psalm 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45c

We shout your name and give you thanks, LORD;
……..we will tell everyone what you have done for us.
We sing your praises in your presence,
……..and publicise your wonderful achievements.

We put your name up in lights, your name alone;
……..our hearts burst with joy when we approach you.
It is you we want most of all, you and your strength;
……..we try to keep near to you all the time.

Like all the descendants of Abraham and Jacob,
……..and all your chosen children,
we remember all the astonishing things you have done
……..and the breath-taking wisdom of your decisions.

Your people turned up in Egypt;
……..yes, Jacob migrated to Africa.
You let them breed there like rabbits, LORD,
……..and they grew stronger than the native population.
The Egyptians grew fearful and bitter
……..and plotted to force your people into slavery.

You sent your trusty worker, Moses,
……..and his chosen right hand man, Aaron.

You are the greatest, LORD!

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Singing The Scripture

More Music

Reflection – September 6, 2020

https://vimeo.com/454373090

This Week at home

Every day make sure you eat one meal together at a table.
When you do ask each other these questions.

• What are you grateful for today?
• How do you want to give thanks to God today?
• How can we remember all that God has given us today?
  • Can you journal?
  • Can you draw or paint?
  • Can you mould with play dough or clay?
  • Can you sing?

This week, as you eat remember/share stories from your own life of times that you have felt God working in your life / in your world.

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

God of all creation,
God of the universe,
of the stars in the sky,
of the grains of sand on the beach,we marvel at the wonder of all you have created and we marvel at our place in all of that.

You, Lord of all, care for us.
Lord, we confess that too often
we do not pause to realise your majesty.
We move through life with a sense of entitlement yet we are nothing without you.
you created all
and gift your creation to our safe keeping.

Forgive us, Lord,
when we so readily squander your gifts, when we mess up what you made perfect, when we despise what you call good.

Forgive us and call us back,
time and again, to gratitude and praise
for all that you are and all you created us to be and, as we recognise how blessed we are,
may we share that blessing with others
in honour of you, Lord of all.

Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 20

Prayer for Others

Our loving God 

So much of our concerns these days surround the Coronavirus.  It seems to pervade our lives and rightly so as these generations have never experienced this before. And so we continue in prayer as we have all year to ask that you walk with us and may we know that you are here by our side. 

You have never promised us lives without trial and we ask today that we are aware and thankful that we know you as a God of the hard times,  the God of the journey to a better place. 

Of course our prayers are with those who suffer from this virus and all those both directly and indirectly who help us through this vale of tears. 

Be with those who make vital decisions about our wellbeing.  Be with them in the dark sleepless nights, in times of public scrutiny and times where we look to them for guidance and condolence.

As this virus dominates our thoughts let us not forget that life goes on.  Some are hungry,  some are homeless,  some are victims of violence,  others have health issues other than the coronavirus.

It has been and will continue to be a year of trial but as you have so often promised you will be there with us.  May we nurture the faith that affirms that.

Amen.

Chris Dodd

All-Age Prayer

This would be a great prayer to say at the end of each day as you gather for a meal together

God, you are a mystery to us.
You show yourself in the bible.
You speak to us through history,
and creation, and each other.
You speak to us in bread and wine.

Lord, we are glad to have an earth
that produces food of
every shape and colour,
from potatoes and rice
to cucumber and broccoli
from pasta and pizza
to curry and kebabs.

We are glad to be able
to enjoy such a variety
of meals each day.

Forgive us when
we forget to say thank you
for the wonderful selection
of food we enjoy each day.

Forgive us when
We are fussy or greedy,
wasting food when we
know there are so many
who do not have what we do.

May we make our mealtimes
news times and catch-up times
special times with family and friends.

May we remember that every meal is special,
that each one is a gift from you.
And may we be reminded
that we are blessed with so much
when many have little or nothing.

Help us to enjoy our meals
and to find ways to
help others enjoy them to.

So be it.
Amen

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 20

Go Deeper:

• The Working Preacher Podcast – 14th Sunday after Pentecost 
• By The Well – 14th Sunday after Pentecost
• Commentary on Exodus 12
• “Plagued by the Plagues” by Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus
• Parshat Va’eira: The Ancient Plagues of Egypt (Video)

Pete Ruins Exodus

The Bible For Normal People podcast ran a series on Exodus, if you’d like to dive into the story and theme of Exodus then this is a series for you.

• Pete Ruins Exodus 1
• Pete Ruins Exodus 2
• Pete Ruins Exodus 3
• Pete Ruins Exodus 4
• Pete Ruins Exodus 5
• Pete Ruins Exodus 6

The Bible Project Does Exodus

This week’s Exodus reading is the story of Moses and the Burning Bush from Exodus 3:1-15. As we’re still telling the story of Moses this week’s material includes a lot of the videos and material from last week.

For those of you who want to make a space to worship on Sunday we’ve put together an order of service that you can use to reflect in music, read the scripture and pray in worship,

For those of you who feel that you only have cracks and crevices in your week available to intentionally spend time with God we’ve created this material as a kind of playlist for you to use through your week to dive in and out of when you can make space in your work, home, car or whenever you find yourself open to spend time with God.

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?

Aid to worship at home:

Order of Service – August 30, 2020

Aid to worship for people worshipping with young people

This resource has a number of videos and idea to help people explore the story from Exodus and pray together as a household. 

Worship at Home with Youth/Children – August 30, 2020

Worship Online

Join us on Zoom for community worship online this week, message us for the link.

Readings:

Exodus 3:1-15
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28

Singing The Scripture

The Story of Moses

The Saddleback kids videos on Moses help tell the story of Moses, this is a playlist of 6 videos including a kids song to learn

Psalm 105: 1-6, 23-26, 45c

We shout your name and give you thanks, LORD;
……..we will tell everyone what you have done for us.
We sing your praises in your presence,
……..and publicise your wonderful achievements.

We put your name up in lights, your name alone;
……..our hearts burst with joy when we approach you.
It is you we want most of all, you and your strength;
……..we try to keep near to you all the time.

Like all the descendants of Abraham and Jacob,
……..and all your chosen children,
we remember all the astonishing things you have done
……..and the breath-taking wisdom of your decisions.

Your people turned up in Egypt;
……..yes, Jacob migrated to Africa.
You let them breed there like rabbits, LORD,
……..and they grew stronger than the native population.
The Egyptians grew fearful and bitter
……..and plotted to force your people into slavery.

You sent your trusty worker, Moses,
……..and his chosen right hand man, Aaron.

You are the greatest, LORD!

©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Prayers

Prayer

for what shall we pray, O God?
where there is death,
let us offer life,
where there is brokenness,
let us be healers,
where there is loneliness,
let us offer a welcome.
for what shall we pray, O Jesus?
where there is cruelty,
let us seek justice,
where there is bitterness,
let us sow kindness,
where there is hatred,
let us offer hands of love.
for what shall we pray O Spirit?
where there is anger,
let us be the breath of hope,
where there is violence,
let us be peacemakers,
where neighbourhoods are in ruins,
let us rebuild communities.
for what shall we pray?
for more tenderness than tensions,
for more listening than lecturing,
for more forgiving than pointing fingers,
for more concern for the forgotten than the favoured,
for more humanity than hatred.
hear our prayers, God in Community, Holy in One,
hear our prayers, Amen.

Source:  2020 Thom M. Shuman

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Holy God,
we approach in awe.
We come into your presence
as Moses did:
slowly, cautiously, unsure of ourselves,
unsure of what, or whom we encounter.
Holy God, may we feel welcome in your presence, may we be bold and brave as we come.
Accept our prayers of love
yet, even as we approach,
we become aware of our place, our weakness and our lives. In silence now we name our shadows…
things which lurk in the darkness,
away from your burning light.
Silence
Holy God, forgive us we pray,
accept our humble petitions
so that freed from our burdens we may worship you In this place,
this day.
Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans – Narrative Lectionary – Issue 16

Prayers for Others

Compassionate God, we thank you for your great love.  In a world which, for many, feels turbulent and uncertain, we call for your guidance and peace.

We pray for all who have lost their jobs or their businesses. We pray for those who are worried and anxious about their future. Guide them and grant them the hope they need.

We lift up the medical teams, heath professionals and researchers who continue to play a crucial role during the pandemic. Protect and restore them, providing new energy as they provide care and solve problems each day.

We pray for political and business decision makers in our nation and community. Grant them wisdom. May they lead with empathy, justice and compassion.

We continue to pray for greater wisdom and responsibility in our stewardship of this earth. May the world community and individuals answer your call to share resources to alleviate poverty, injustice and disease.

Loving God, we pray for those whose lives are troubled by illness and for those who care for them. Send healing and strength. We ask for your comfort and peace for those who grieve.

We pray for those who feel isolated or lonely. Send your light and love to give them the assurance and hope they need. May they find the support they need through family, friends and other services.

We pray for all who touch our lives – our family, our friends and those within the community. We pray for deepening friendships and relationships, and a greater awareness of the needs of others for support and encouragement. Help us to respond to those needs and show your love.

We lift up these prayers in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.

Brooke Kilah

Go Deeper:

• The Working Preacher Podcast – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
• By The Well – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
• Commentary on Exodus 3

Pete Ruins Exodus

The Bible For Normal People podcast ran a series on Exodus, if you’d like to dive into the story and theme of Exodus then this is a series for you.

• Pete Ruins Exodus 1
• Pete Ruins Exodus 2
• Pete Ruins Exodus 3
• Pete Ruins Exodus 4
• Pete Ruins Exodus 5
• Pete Ruins Exodus 6