SONG
The opening song is, “How great thou art”. The lyrics were written by the Swedish preacher, Carl Boberg, after he got caught in a violent midday storm. Sung at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed3EhvlNGsI
Call to worship
Come and give thanks to God, who is good! God’s mercy endures forever!
When we experience desolate valleys and times of abandonment, know that God never gives up on us. God’s mercy endures forever!
God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. God’s mercy endures forever!
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 us pray,
Loving God,
you call your people from the north and the south,
the east and the west.
You long to gather us together
from the places we have wandered,
and from the place where we have been scattered,
and into a community of love and justice.
Open our eyes that we may recognize
your presence here among us,
and clothe us with your mercy and grace.
In Jesus name we pray.
O give thanks to the LORD,
for the Lord is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
For the Lord satisfies the thirsty,
and fills the hungry with good things.
Despite a world that chooses violence, God will not give us up.
Despite a world that prefers power rather than humility, God says:
I will not punish you in my anger.
Despite a world that prefers prejudice rather than understanding, God says: My love for you is too strong.
Holy God forgive us our sin,
and open our hearts and our minds to your ways.
Let us strip off our old selves,
and clothe ourselves in the love of God.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Story
“The suitcase: a story about giving“, by Jane G. Meyer.
From the Bible
The Bible reading for today is from Luke 12:13-21. The words of the reading is below. There is also a video of a dramatic re-enactment of the Gospel reading underneath.
Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable:
“The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
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=LlALyQjn9UM
Message
The message is brought to you by Keith Robinson of the HomeFaith Community. In todays reading, Jesus reminds us that it is far more important to be rich towards God, than it is to accumulate treasures for ourselves.
Where is your treasure? What makes you feel more secure in the world?
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
“Show me your face”, sung by Steffany Gretzinger. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCq3HNBmB8k
Prayers for Others
Let us pray.
God of Life, Creator of the earth and all that is in it, we lift our prayers of thanks to you
For the beauty of the earth that surrounds us,
For spring flowers that dazzle us and summer’s
greenery that delights us,
For autumn’s bounty that sustains us, and winter’s hibernation which settles us.
Thanks be to You, Creator of the heavens and the earth, to whom all things belong.
God, we enjoy your abundance, yet are seduced by accumulation.
Spirit of Abundance, let us not be possessed by our possessions.
We claim to enjoy your peace, yet we persist in worrying about things.
Spirit of Abundance, let us not be possessed by our possessions.
We sing of your “blessed assurance,” yet crave promises from our banks and pensions.
Spirit of Abundance, let us not be possessed by our possessions.
We commit ourselves to care for others,
Yet we stock our pantries for tomorrow, while millions suffer empty bellies today.
Spirit of Abundance, let us not be possessed by our possessions.
Our life span is short, at any moment to be taken from us. Free us from greed and fill us with generosity. Release us from insecurity and restore us to contentment with the treasures of your realm. Strip us of our fear and strengthen us to love one another as you have loved us. Thanks be to You, Creator of the heavens and the earth, to whom all things belong.
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
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God”, sung by the Chet Valley Churches, Norwich England. If you have problems connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFxZeY2D5tc
Postlude
“There is one Gospel”, sung by Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson. If you have trouble connecting, go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmBcTrDu4O4
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’ 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-8-being-abundant-luke-1213-21/
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