SONG
The opening song is, “All creatures that on earth do dwell”, courtesy of Emu Music. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRklkCklycU
Call to worship
Blessed are you who are poor; blessed are you who are hungry; blessed are you who weep; for Jesus comes healing and with power to turn our expectations of a blessed life upside down. Come let us worship this strange God who call us to live our lives in contrast to the world. Amen.
You may like to light a candle at this time.
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. Therefore, let us also acknowledge those Aboriginal peoples who are the first habitants of the regions in which we dwell and honour them for their care of the land.
Prayer
Let us pray. Compassionate God, we recognise that our world is a broken place, hurt by poverty, famine and disease. We admit that sometimes we make the world a broken place, tolerating prejudice, conflict and self-interest. We confess that our hearts also suffer with anger, resentment and jealousy.
Renew us in your love, O God, and heal us with the comfort of your abundant love. Awaken us to the role we can play in healing your creation. Strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit to hear your word and move forward in faith. Amen.
You may like to play the song, “The road less travelled”, by John Coleman (© John Coleman, Revealing The Holy, 2008). Select the play icon, there is no need to buy a single track.
https://johncoleman.bandcamp.com/track/the-road-less-travelled-2
Message for the young at heart
The message for the young at heart is called, ‘Tina the tree’, and it is by the Lost Sheep Group. This can be played privately without breaching copyright, but you will need to buy it if you plan to use it in church. If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAxR41VpK8
From the Bible
The Bible readings for today are from Jeremiah and Luke. The words of the Jeremiah reading are below and a video of our reading from Luke, which is by the Lumo group and includes most of next weeks reading as well, is below that. If you have trouble connecting you can go directly to YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A5wMA9luzI
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.
The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse– who can understand it? I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.
Message
The message today is brought to us by Keith Robinson, from the HomeFaith Community.
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.
Prayers for Others
Drawn by God’s love and abundant faithfulness to us, let us pray.
Righteous and disturbing God, we pray for your world, for your people who are hungry, poor and oppressed. When the earth’s resources and are plundered by the rich, when countries are trapped in poverty and debt, when we take from those who have little and give to those who have much, disturb our minds and turn our hearts to you. May we hear the cries of the dispossessed and learn to share our abundance.
Righteous God, hear our prayer.
We pray for Australia, for your people who are outcast, homeless or unemployed. When economic gain is more important than human dignity, when ancient injustices are not addressed, when people are reviled through prejudice and fear, disturb our minds and turn our hearts to you. May we create a society where all are recognised and valued and our diversity is celebrated.
Righteous God, hear our prayer.
We pray for your church, for your followers who are persecuted or who live in danger
When we preach a gospel that does not challenge or unsettle, when pomp and possessions mask our dependence on you, when we stray from your path or lead others from your ways, disturb our minds and turn our hearts to you. May we be a community of faith which proclaims your reign of justice and peace.
Righteous God, hear our prayer.
We now pray for those people and personal concerns that are on our hearts right now. We hand all of them over to you.
[You may like to spend some time naming these things]
Righteous God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Disturb our minds and turn our hearts to you, that with Christ we may live your way here and now, disturbing the comfortable and comforting the disturbed. In the name of Christ we pray all these things.
Blessing
Whether we have blessings or woes, each calls us to become more like Christ. Each of us has a gift to give and a blessing to receive.
Bless us and the people we meet along the way Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
SONG
The closing song is, “The blessing”, and it is sung by people from many different countries. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48-qbcovVY
Fun Activity
See below for a fun activity.
Make a mini garden pond
Make a pond in your back yard using a small container and some rocks or sticks. Put some plants around your pond and enjoy!
Dawn and Archie build a pond
DIY quick and easy pond
Take time to rest and refresh
Spend some time sitting by your pond. Talk with God about anything
that’s on your mind. Be still and listen… what can you hear?
Follow the sun (Xavier Rudd)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E1bNmyPWww
Resources
- Opening prayer by Gill Le Fevre from:
https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search/label/Epiphany%206%20C - Call to worship and prayers for the people from the Saltbush Community worship:
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/epiphany-6-blessed-are-the-poor-luke-6-17-26/
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