Song
‘Thanks And Praise’ (Artists: Songs From The Soil, Phillipa Hanna, Rich DiCas and Lucy Grimble. Writers: Chloe Edmonds, Jonny Riggs, Lucy Grimble). If you have problems connecting, also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8vBK1pra1w
Prayer
Let us pray.
Faithful God, we come into your presence with thanksgiving, deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown toward us, your people. When we call out to you, you answer. When we are exhausted, you give us the strength to go on. When we find ourselves in trouble, you are there, standing beside us.
And so, we come before you with gratitude and praise, offering you the worship of our hearts and lives. Open our eyes, to see and know you here, among us, open our ears to recognise your voice. And send us out to live and work in the world as your faithful disciples. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Matthew 10:24-39. There is also a dramatic reading from the Lumo group below the words (which may include some additional verses).
Matthew 10:24-39
“A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household! “So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
Message
The message is brought to you by Geoff Wellington from the Saltbush Community. Jesus having concluded his teaching and healing ministry sends the 12 Disciples out to continue the mission with instructions. Those instructions include warnings about conflict and rejection. Jesus reminds the Disciples that God’s presence, love and care remains constant.
What did you hear in the Word today? How might your Christian community be a place and family of healing, liberation and welcome?
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, ‘Trust’, by Sixpence None the Richer (lyrics) and Steve Taylor. If you have problems connecting, also try this link at YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCLK9P7kh6Y
Prayers for others
Let us pray,
If you were busier, Lord, you would not bother with us. But you have time to listen. So, we praise you, for having all things in proportion, and a time in your silence for us to speak.
If you were like the so called wise of this planet, Lord, you would not bother with us. But you are not like the people of this world. So, we praise you that your interests are indeed upside down to ours; that your standards are not the world’s standards; that you have bent down to touch us.
If you were content with all things, Lord, you would not bother with us. But you are restless: through anger, through excitement, and through love, you will all things to change and be made new.
So we praise you that your restlessness has been born in us as the pain of the world, the cries of your people, the urgency of your gospel, and your Holy Spirit. Upset our easiness and require us to respond. 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
‘Our God will go before us’ (Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa). If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmEYeZB8dDI
Postlude
‘All of this is us’, by Uniting Creative. This is a group of young writers and performers who are part of the Uniting Church in Australia. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3syRY7CV65w
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-4-finding-life-matthew-10-24-39/