Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 12/09/2020 of the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. This service includes some pre-recorded videos prepared by the region in addition to some YouTube videos for music. Most words are included or links to them are provided.
HYMN: “Praise my Soul”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, to our first hymn, which is “Praise my soul the King of Heaven” (from YouTube channel ‘Thenba’). To help with the singing, the words of all hymns will display within the video.
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 13/09/2020 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today, we will continue to hear the story of how the Israelite people were released from being enslaved to the Egyptians, and explore the meaning of forgiveness for us today.
Come! Come praise the eternal God! Let all that is within us, body, emotions, mind, and will, praise God’s holy name! Despite our failures, God forgives and releases us. More than any doctor, God heals our diseases. When we are famished and weak, God fills us with good and beautiful things, satisfying our needs, and restoring our strength. So come! Come, praise the eternal One and remember all that God has done for us.
We light the candle as a reminder that the light of Christ is always with us.
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,
Awesome and majestic God, your creative power, your glory and holiness were experienced by your people of old as clouds and fire guiding them to freedom. They believed that no one could see your face and live. How blessed therefore are we, for you have revealed your face to us in Jesus—the human face of your love. You also equip us for our journey through life and beyond, by breathing new and everlasting life into our very beings, through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
These people of old believed that it was your presence with them which made them a chosen and special people. We praise and adore you, O God, for making our lives special, by choosing to share your life with us through Jesus. May this time of worship, and the service of our lives, reveal our thanksgiving and our wonder, that you should care for us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Musical reflection
The musical reflection for today is, “Make me a channel of your peace“, sung by Susan Boyle.
Bible readings
John Milnes from Cootamundra Uniting Church leads us in the readings from Exodus 14:19–31 & Matthew 18:21–35.
Message
The speaker is Rev. Keith Robinson. There is a video of the message in the window below. The text can also be downloaded by selecting the link immediately below.
Prayers of the people & Lord’s Prayer
Go to the video below for the ‘Prayers of the people’, which are led by Ros Robinson. The video includes the Lord’s Prayer & a closing blessing by Keith.
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
Go in peace, love and care for one another, showing forgiveness as in Christ you have been shown forgiveness.
And may the power of God save you from all danger. May the mercy of Jesus Christ fill you with love. And may the Holy Spirit uphold you and direct you day by day, both now and forevermore. Amen
HYMN: “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah “
The closing hymn is, “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”, and it is sung in English and Welsh by the choirs and congregation of the Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church, Cardiff, Wales. The Welsh sure know how to write & sing hymns!
POSTLUDE
Today’s postlude is, ”The Arab blessing”. It is the Arabic version of “The blessing”, which now has many different versions prepared by different counties & regions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A translation of the words are below the video. People who took part in this video are from Egypt, South Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestinians in Israel and the State of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Wow!
“The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace.”
[Chorus]
Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen
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