SONG
The opening song is, ‘To God be the glory’, in the Royal Albert Hall. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU&t=14s
Call to worship
Come and celebrate! Shout joyfully to the Lord, your God! Glorify God with praise!
If you prefer, 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 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 us pray. Jesus who sent his disciples out to proclaim the kingdom, open us today to your word. Inspire us to the hospitality of welcome and blessing that we might risk the good news that God has drawn near.
May each of us be open to your Spirit hearing what you tell us, seeing what you show us, and knowing the way you want to lead us.
We pray for your blessing, for your peace, for your hope and your strength, that we may be instruments of your healing and saving love and overflowing vessels of your saving power. Hear our prayer and visit us in this worship. We ask it in Jesus’s name. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. The words of the reading is below. Underneath the reading there is a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading.
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go.
He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.
Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Dramatic readings from Lumo
Here is the dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading by the Lumo group, plus some extra verses (Luke 10:1-24). If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CD5xatcu90
Message
The message is brought to you by Tim Jensen from the Saltbush Community. The Kingdom of God is always near. Displaying acts of hospitality and kindness attests to the nearness of God’s movement (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20).
How did you feel when a stranger showed you welcome and kindness? What areas of your life do you, or would like to, show hospitality and kindness?
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
If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi3eQ7TldIM
Prayers for Others
Let us pray. O God, may we show hospitality to others. May we show hospitality to the stranger, the outcast, the lonely, and those who seek help. When we are shown hospitality, may we be gracious and kind. And on the days when we are turned away, may we pray with graciousness for those who have rejected us.
Merciful God, may we be aware of how our prejudices interfere with our willingness to play host. May we remember that those who do not look like us deserve love, mercy, and grace. May we be willing to speak graciously to others, discuss our different customs, and humbly share the unspoken rules that we have been taught throughout our lives.
Loving God, help us to know when to walk away. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Blessing
The Lord of the harvest sends us out to offer peace and to embody the Kingdom of God.
Go in Peace, to love and serve. In the name of God the Creator, God the Saviour and God the Spirit Holiness. Amen
Song
‘Make me a channel of your peace’, with some images from a place in great need of peace right now. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V55SQBr5_Ok
Postlude
The postlude is ‘Oceans’, by Hillsong United.If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPHALQ6dChA&t=13s
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-3-following-luke-9-51-62/
The opening prayer is from ‘Lay Leaders Liturgy, Year C, First Sunday after Pentecost’, 2022.
0 Comments