Song
‘Joyful, joyful’ at Royal Albert Hall. If you have problems connecting, also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMY3ivdNzwE
Prayer
In Psalm 100 we hear these words:
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, worship the Lord with gladness, come into God’s presence with a song.
Let us pray,
Holy God, breath of life, breathe into your people the fullness of your Spirit. Teach us the ways of Christ. We hear your calling to come and share in the harvest –your mission to bring about your kingdom.
Forgive our deafness and stubbornness as we prefer to get about our own business. Help us to see a need and respond in kindness. Have mercy on us, we pray, and help us to keep focused on the things of eternity. In the name of Christ. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Matthew 9:35-10:8. There is also a dramatic reading from the Lumo group below the words (which includes some additional verses).
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen from the Saltbush Community. Jesus sends the disciples out to heal and to announce the nearness of the reign of God. As 21st Century Christians, the call to discipleship hasn’t changed.
What did you hear in the message today? How are you going with being a disciple of Christ? How is your Christian Community going with being disciples of Christ?
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, ‘Will you come and follow me’, by John Bell. If you have problems connecting, also try this link at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiXnbOORTAU
Prayers for others
Let us pray,
Loving God, you search our hearts, and your Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. Help us to pray according to your will, that our prayers, offered faithfully, may quietly and silently transform this world with your healing grace.
We pray for your people of faith in the region where we live, our nation and around the world. Let your church be like yeast, O God, to spread your Spirit throughout creation.
Bless our communities, that we may be an abundant field and a people of open hearts and hands. Give us a spirit of patience and endurance especially during these unusual times.
Lord of the nations, we pray for all who live with hardship, famine or distress, persecution, or violence. Redeem our world’s brokenness with the love of Christ. May we be instruments of peace and reconciliation.
God of our lives, we bring our personal concerns to you, knowing that you care for every person. We remember people in our families or in our community who need your comfort and healing at this time.
May we hold onto your promise that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
Go in peace, and until we meet we again, may the love of the Father enfold us, the wisdom of the Son enlighten us, and the fire of the Holy Spirit kindle us. Amen.
Song
‘Hymn of the Saviour’, courtesy of Emu Music. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnX6XEDglH4&list=RDEMUB2tE-Xx_5MWPWn6c46XfQ&start_radio=1
Resources
The sermon and 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-3-being-a-disciple-matthew-935-108-9-23/