Song
‘Psalm 149’, sung by Jason Silver. You can also find this video directly at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxlFRI-56Nc
Prayer
Jesus said, ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them’.
Let us pray,
We gather the few and the many in the presence of Christ. Christ be near us; within and around.
We gather the wounded and the well, the sure and the unsure, the new and the old. Christ be near us; within and around.
We gather to bind and to loose, to give and to get, to do and to be. Christ be near us; within and around.
We gather as the community of Christ. The Way. The children of God. Christ be near us; within and around. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Romans 13:8-14. Underneath the words is a Lumo video with the Gospel reading for this week, Matthew 18:15-20.
Romans 13:8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near.
Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Message
The message is brought to you by Elliot Burns on behalf of Project Reconnect. What is our purpose in life? Someone answered this way, “Its love, isn’t it. The reason we exist is to love and be loved” Practical love, like all love is found in the big and small things in life, the good times and the bad.
When have you observed some of the different types of love? How does Jesus’ compliance with the rule of love and not every other by-law make you feel? How can/does your church share God’s love in the Community?
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
The reflective music is, ‘Steal away’, sung by Jesus Yahosh and Camlyn Giddins. If you have problems connecting, you can also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czX2JUbbN9w
Prayers for others
Let us pray,
Eternal God, where there is hope, you are there. Where there is compassion and the desire for wholeness, you are there. Where there is the struggle for peace, you are there. Wherever love is announced, you are there.
In you is such longing for your creation, and for humanity, and we thank you for that presence of you. In that knowledge, and in our simple faith, we bring our prayers for your creation and for the people of this world.
O Christ we open ourselves in prayer for your creation …Silence
For others we have hear about throughout our world…Silence
For other people we know and are close to … Silence
For our church and our wider community … Silence
And for ourselves in life….Silence
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Blessing
Go in peace, and until we worship God together again, may the love of the Father enfold you, the wisdom of the Son enlighten you, and the fire of the Holy Spirit kindle you. Amen.
Song
It can also be found via a direct link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHo6vC_iKMU
Resources
The opening prayer and 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-discord-community-matthew-18-15-20/