SONG
The opening song is, ‘No love is higher’, courtesy of Emu Youth. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6rjMdSXoHU
Call to worship
We have come to sit and listen, just like the thousands who gathered on a Galilean hillside millennia ago, knowing there was something important afoot, something that would change the way of the world, something that would change their minds and open their hearts. May God bless this time of worship.
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, let us also acknowledge those Aboriginal peoples who are the first inhabitants of the regions in which we dwell, and honour them for their custodianship of the land.
Prayer
Let’s pray.
Holy and awesome God, creator of heaven and earth, as we come before you today we are aware of our imperfect understanding of your ways and of our deep need for your presence in our lives.
We thank you for granting to us a family in which to grow, a people with whom we can mature. We praise you for accepting us as we are and for struggling with us to make us what we can be.
Bless, we pray, this time when your people gather to worship you and call on your name. Grant to us insight into the mind of Christ and a deep love for you and for all whom you have made.
As we lift our voices to you, come down and visit our souls. We ask it in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, our brother, and our friend. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible readings for today are from 2 Kings and the Gospel of Luke. The words of the readings are below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath.
Genesis 32:22-31
The same night he [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.
In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
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=N0cCqlrxGns
Message
The message is brought to you by Keith Robinson of the HomeFaith Community. The The message looks at the story of Jacob and how he struggled with God. It also explores what this means for us today as we seek to know & understand Jesus. Based on Genesis 32:22-31.
What are some ways that you have wrestled with God in your life? What have you learned from them? What are some ways in which people can be blessed by wrestling with 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
The musical reflection for today is, “Jacob’s Struggle“. It is sung by Gabriella Ariana and gives the perspective of Jacob when he wrestled with God. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RigDkEUghyQ&t=44s
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
Eternal Presence, Constant Love, may we know that your desire is for us to know you in our lives. That we would know the vastness of your love, mercy and compassion. That we could share the immensity of your grace with others. And that we could stand as those who embody the life we have been called to in Christ.
And we bring to our prayer at this time.
For creation …
For the world …
For this country …
For the community …
For your Church …
For ourselves …
Blessing
Let us go in peace, and may the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with us on the road. May the Christ who serves with wounded hands, stretch out our hands to serve. May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart open our hearts to love.
May we see the face of Christ in everyone we meet and may everyone we meet see the face of Christ in us, both now and forevermore.
Song
‘Rock of ages’, by Equip Women. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHEUO5vFzkU
Postlude
“How can I keep from singing’, sung by Audrey Assad. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li2hddmy63U
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-19-consistency-of-relationship-luke-181-8/
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