SONG
The opening song is ‘Love divine’, courtesy of Emu Music. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfVtSSZSyg
Call to worship
God desires all to be saved, and to have knowledge of the truth. May we walk with faith and with hope and the truth that Christ has set us free.Â
You may like to light a candle at this time.
God’s truth is revealed in Jesus Christ the light of the world. May the light shine for the hope of the world.
Acknowledgment of country
As we begin, it is appropriate to recognise that this great land has been home to our first nations peoples for many thousands of years. Let us also acknowledge those Aboriginal peoples who are the first inhabitants of the regions in which we dwell, and honour them for their care of the land.
Prayer
Let’s pray,
Mighty God, we meet to celebrate your greatness. We join with the hosts of heaven to sing your praises and to offer you worship. For you are worthy of adoration from every mouth, and every tongue should praise you. Loving and gracious God,Â
bless us, we pray, with your presence this day. Teach us, who have gathered to learn your ways. Inspire those who seek your wisdom, energize those who are exhausted,Â
comfort those who grieve, and strengthen those who are weak. In the name of Jesus we pray.
God of Mercy, we come to you with our broken promises and failed dreams, with the betrayal and injustice that has happened to us. Tenderly help us to heal, to be knit back together, to feel your love surround us and make us whole again. Lift us up, encourage us, and gently lead us into your light. And forgive us, for all those times when we have hurt others and neglected to do what is right. In the name of Christ, who is the Light of the World, we pray. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Luke 16:1-13. The words of the reading is below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath.
Luke 16:1-13
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’
Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’
So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’
And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?
No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group. If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KODw_5Em1NQ
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen from the Saltbush Community. The story of the shrewd manager can be confronting but it can also be liberating, revealing the roguery of God’s grace. And introducing Cindy James at the end of the video, who shares a bit about her faith, thank you Cindy.
When have you been challenged by God’s unmerited grace? What is a really different way you and your church could proclaim the kingdom of God?
Before a time of prayer you may like to spend some time in silence sitting still. Close your eyes lightly. Sit relaxed but alert. Simply be still and open to God. You may prefer to do this while listening to the ‘Optional reflective music’ below.
Optional reflective music
‘To be Faithful’, by Richard Colligan. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr9TGZMbPX0
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
Jesus Christ, source of healing and inspirer of justice, we bring before you our prayers for the world, our nations, the church and our lives.
Give wisdom to leaders who hold power in communities, churches, society, businesses and nations, that all people may live in dignity and peace. Grant them discernment such that fair systems of work and economy, may be established and the divide between rich and poor diminished.
Bring healing to places of pain and suffering, such that those who weep are comforted and those who ache find rest. In places of grief or destruction, where joy is gone and lives in ruins, bring restoration and consolation. To places of economic injustice, bring fairness and to places of prejudice bring equality.
In our living and in our dying, in our holding and in our giving, in our work and in our play, help us to live faithfully for you, to serve you and be sources of healing and peace in the world. Take these prayers, Jesus Christ, and through them shape us and form us to be your faithful people. Amen.
Blessing
Go in peace, and show God’s love to everyone, in the name of Jesus Christ. And may the love, the joy, the mercy, the truth, and the strength of God be within you, both now and forevermore. Amen.
Song
‘Won my heart’, courtesy of Emu Music. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsQYyi3w_c
Postlude
‘Gifts from God’, by Chris Tomlin. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfLGfuINnG4
Fun Activities
Messy Family Fun Psalm 23
There are many fun activities at HomeFaith based on the theme of the ‘Good Shepherd’ at:
https://homefaith.net/resources/messy-family-fun-psalm-23-2022/
Pentecost Flames Salad Spinner Art and Prayer Ideas
Get a cheap salad spinner and use it to create some spinner art! It’s brilliant: quick, clean (because the spinner sits in its own bowl) and each piece is unique! The process of making the art really lends itself to Pentecost themes so here’s an idea to help celebrate the occasion. Go to the following link:
http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.com/2014/04/pentecost-flames-salad-spinner-art-and.html
Resources
The ‘Prayers for others’ are based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/pentecost-15-the-roguery-of-grace-luke-161-13/
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