Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 01/11/2020 of the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. This service includes some pre-recorded videos prepared by the region in addition to some music videos. Most words are included or links to them are provided.
HYMN: “For all the Saints”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, our first hymn, which is “For all the Saints”. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFV_iJPwR9k
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
The ‘Call to Worship’ and ‘Opening Prayers’, which are in the video below, are led by Rev. Keith Robinson. The words are underneath the video.
Welcome to the Sunday online worship for 01/11/2020 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today we celebrate ‘All Saints Day’. This is a time when we remember and celebrate those people in whom God’s grace has been powerfully at work. It is also a time to remember with thanksgiving those people we have known personally, who have since departed to be with their Lord.
Let us join together in the ‘call to worship’ found in the order of service, which is based on chapter 7 from the book of Revelation. Please respond with the words in bold type.
I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out with a loud voice, saying,
ALL: ‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ [Revelation 7:9-10]
We light this candle as a reminder that Christ, who is the lamb of God, offers us wholeness & forgiveness.
Light candle
Acknowledgement of country
As we begin our worship, let us also acknowledge the Wiradjuri people. They are the first inhabitants of our region, and part of God’s good creation. We honour them for their custodianship of the land, on which we live today.
Let us pray,
God of all ages, we thank you for the faithful witness of your apostles, prophets, and martyrs throughout the history of your church and throughout the world even today. Through their witness we see and hear your truth.
We praise you for all who serve you without recognition or honour, offering encouragement to the lonely, the sick, and the fearful. Through their lives we see your faithfulness and sense your comfort.
We also remember loved ones whose faithfulness once lit our path and whose presence warmed our hearts. We thank you for all the good that we have received through them.
Yet we admit that our own light flickers and our love becomes lukewarm. We are mostly just average disciples, seldom very evil and rarely achieving half of the good which we intend.
And so we pray that you will use even us to reflect the glory we see in Christ. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may celebrate your glory and worship you in spirit and in truth through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Musical reflection
The musical reflection for today is, “Away down the river“, by Alison Krauss. It is a tender reminder that we will see again those who have gone before us. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G433DMhm_aQ
Bible readings
Ros Robinson leads us in the readings from Revelation 7:9–17 & Matthew 5:1–12.
Reflection
The speaker today is Rev. Keith Robinson. There is a video of the message in the window below.
Prayers of the people & Lord’s Prayer
Go to the video below for the ‘Prayer of the people’, which are led by Rev. Keith Robinson. The prayer includes a closing blessing as well as time for us to remember those people who have been like saints to us or those who have now left us and gone to be with their Lord. You may like to find a candle for the time of remembrance.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Word of mission & blessing
May Christ who makes saints of sinners, transforming those we remember today, raise and strengthen you that you may transform the world.
And the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
HYMN: “You are called to tell the story “
The closing hymn is, “You are called to tell the story”, and it is sung at St Swithin’s Church, Bath. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3d01QpDzk
POSTLUDE: “Ode to Joy” (‘flashmob’)
Today’s postlude is, ”Ode to Joy”, by Beethoven. It is performed as a ‘flashmob’, and if you don’t know what that is, have a look! The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxLbmnvMWM0
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