SONG
The opening song is, ‘Jesus’ by Chris Tomlin. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbQswNB6Wc
Call to worship
Come and let us gather. May our doors be open to welcome and our hands be open to offer peace.
This would be a good time to light a candle.
Come to us Lord. May your light shine for the hope of the world and may people know your peace.
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. God who loves unconditionally, Your compassion is ever-present in our living. We celebrate your goodness. Open our eyes to the unexpected compassion alive in the world, and lead us to be agents of your love, faithful disciples, learning to love as you love. Amen.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Luke 10:25-37. The words of the reading is below. After that, there is a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading.
Luke 10:25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
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=b3KtuL4ANVM
Skit on loving your enemies
Message
Join with Natasha He from the Saltbush Community as she draws us into the parable of the Good Samaritan. Each time we read this parable we are always, at any stage of our lives, confronted with the question of “who is my neighbour?”
What is the challenge from the Word today? I wonder what you have heard and thought from the Word today?
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, ‘Lord from sorrows deep I call’, by Matt Papa and Matt Boswell. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYGhnbXtqbU&list=PL0ONU3wVC9D0UZfkyQVU6df6m5o-e8r_T&index=5
Prayers for Others
Let us pray. Eternal Presence, Creator God, dwell deeply within us that we would know your truth, your love, your hope, your reign in our lives. That our own lives reflect you and your hopes; refreshing relationships, communities and your creation.
As you dwell within us Holy Presence may we know the sacred life you call us to, that we are made in your image and we acknowledge your image in all we meet. At this time we bring you our prayers.
O Christ we open ourselves in prayer for:
[Silence for personal prayer or invite others to open prayer in between each]
Your creation …
Silence
For others we have heard about throughout our world
Silence
For other people we know and are close to …
Silence
For our church and our wider community …
Silence
For ourselves …
Silence
Help us to move our prayers to action Holy God.
May we be bringers of healing, and be people of neighbourliness.
May we sit with the stranger and show acts of generosity.
Blessing
Go out along the way, the path less travelled, to be offerers of peace, and announcers of the nearness of God. Holy One, bless us and the people we meet along the way. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Song
‘You are called to tell the story’, sung at St. Swithin’s at Bath, England. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3d01QpDzk
Postlude
The postlude is ‘Follow me’, by Casting Crowns. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LraPDltKlvI&list=RDLraPDltKlvI&start_radio=1
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’ & ‘Blessing’ are based on content in the Saltbush service for this week, which can be found at:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/uncategorized/pentecost-5-the-good-samaritan-luke-10-25-37/
The opening prayer is from ‘Lay Leaders Liturgy, Year C, 10 July 2022, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 10C’.
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