SONG
The opening song is, ‘How great is our God’, sung by The Living Stones Quartet. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgsLzISuTzk
Call to worship
We come as we have often before and as people come around the world. We come and pray as in our reading today; the Pharisee and the Tax Collector came to pray.
So let us come with an open mind. Let us come with humble hearts. And let us come with graciousness and love towards others.
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.
We confess our sin and the ways we have not loved our God or loved our neighbour. We bow our heads in silence.
[silence]
Breath your Spirit into us Lord as only you can do and bring your peace and forgiveness. Forgive us and send us from here today renewed.
Hear the words of Christ spoken to us and to our world. “God, your sins are forgiven”. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Luke 18:9-14. The words of the reading are below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath.
Luke 18:9-14
He [Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
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=tdKGQSI1YDA
Message
The message is brought to you by Mark Faulkner from the Saltbush Community. Our parable from Luke this week has both a Pharisee and a Tax Collector at prayer in a temple; both uttering very different prayers. Another opportunity to consider Luke’s theme of the upside down ways of God.
Where do you see yourself in today’s parable? What troubled you in today’s parable? How is the way of the Pharisee or the way of the Tax collector a comment on the way 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
Based on one of the psalms for today (Psalm 84). If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLHdnzFqNI
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
God of the day and night,
God of the summer and winter, God of the drought and the rain, We find ourselves in your presence. Christ of friendship, of healing, of bread, wine and fish; We find ourselves in your presence. Spirit of the eternal presence of God; you blow amongst us.To you we pray for your people.
Where there is suffering – Christ be healing.
Where there is hunger – Christ be bread.
Where there is loneliness and fear – Christ be friend.
Where there is hatred and war – Christ be peace amongst us.
Where there is bitterness – Christ be forgiveness.
Where there is judgement and legalism – Christ be our Gospel of life.
Where we are heavy with our love for others – Christ be peace to us and near to them.
Where we struggle ourselves – Christ walk beside us along the way.
Where we struggle to know how to pray, let us pray together.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Blessing
Go out into the world, to love and serve the Lord. Bless us and the people we meet along the way. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Song
‘Send me”, sung by Jen Johnson. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-UkeNNxaQ
Postlude
‘Outback Mission’ with Steve Graces. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptDJAUk27Co
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 & blessing 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-20-the-pharisee-and-the-tax-collector-pray-luke-18-9-14/
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