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

Sing: We Light A Candle by Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan

Psalm 124

If you had not sided with us, LORD,
……..we all know where we’d have ended up.

If we had not had you on our side
……..when people turned against us,
…………….attacking with the fury of a wounded shark,
……..they would have made mince meat out of us.

Their frenzied rage would have dragged us under,
……..their lust for blood would have torn us apart.
The thrashing waters would have closed over us,
……..hiding the violence,
…………….concealing our fate.

All the credit and all the honours go to you, LORD;
……..it was you who saved our flesh
…………….from the teeth of our enemies. 

Thanks to you, we have shaken off their grip,
……..and soared to safety, as free as a bird.
Their savage attack was repelled,
……..and we have escaped unharmed.

It is you, LORD, the creator of heaven and earth,
……..who guarantees our safety.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Sing – You Are The Light of The World by Cathy Pino

Story – Miriam Hides Moses

Sing – More Light by Christopher Grundy

Bible Readings

This week’s scripture readings are:

• Exodus 1:8-2:10
• Psalm 124
• Matthew 16:13-20

We’ve focussed on the Exodus story for this week’s resources.

Listen: We Shall Overcome

Sing: Be Still My Soul

Reflection

Prayers for Others

Dear Heavenly Father,
We give thanks and praise for your wonderful love and compassion.
Thank you for answered prayers.

Lord, across our beautiful world there is trouble,
many have become infected with the Coronavirus, and the death toll is vast.
Many have lost employment and businesses have closed.
Whole states have been locked down and borders closed to travellers.
People are weary of the restrictions
and look for different ways to supplement their income.
Mental health is on the rise and tempers are frayed.

Help us to contact those we know with a friendly call or visit,
a casserole or cake to make life brighter and ease some of the stress in their lives.

Give us hope Lord, that there will be an end to this pandemic
and that a satisfactory vaccine is developed, ready for use in the near future.

We pray for all who are feeling depressed, for those who are disheartened,
for the unemployed, the lonely, and the forgotten.
Give them hope for a brighter and meaningful future.

Loving God, we bring before you all who are in need of your healing touch today.
We pray for the terminally ill, those going through chemotherapy and radiotherapy,
those whose independence is slowly slipping away,
and those who have difficulty with memory.
Be with them Lord, and give them comfort, strength and compassion.

You call us to pray and work for peace.
We pray for those who lead the different nations,
that they might rule with justice and concern for all.
Where there is division between nations,
let cool heads prevail for continued world peace.

We pray for ourselves, that with your Holy Spirit working through us,
we may reflect your glory and love to others.

Surprise our limited understanding with new glimpses of your love and compassion.

May we grow in your grace, in Jesus name. Amen

Pauline Loughhead

Sing: Goodness is Stronger Than Evil by Desmond Tutu & John Bell

Sending

Loving God

Let us hear the voice of those crying for justice

and be filled with compassion.

Let us hear the voice of the children of our community

and be filled with compassion.

Let us hear your voice calling out to us

and may we answer your call.

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.

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?

Readings:

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Prayers:

• All Age Prayer
• Prayer For Others
• Prayer of Adoration & Confession

Story:

Here are three stories that reflect on the theme of Blessing this week. Perhaps they might be stories to reflect on together at the end of the day this week, or over the course of Sunday.

Singing The Scriptures

This week’s singing the scripture playlist provides many ways to reflect on Psalm 67 and 133, both songs of blessing.

Reflection – On Blessings

Faith At Home

Activities to help you reflect on Blessings at home this week, they would provide good conversation at the table or activities to do with others over the course of the weekend.

Go Deeper:

This week, if you’d like to spend more time on Psalm 67 we’d like to point you to three commentaries on the Working Preacher website.

• Commentary, Psalm 67, James K. Mead
• Commentary, Psalm 67, Nancy Koester
• Commentary, Psalm 67, Rolf Jacobson

If you’d like to reflect ton the other bible readings for this week here are a few other links:

• The Thing About Dogs, a reflection on Matthew 15
• By The Well, Podcast reflecting on this week’s readings