Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 13/12/2020 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: “TELL OUT MY SOUL”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, our first hymn, which is “Tell out my soul”. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ji4y9Q-K0
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 13/12/2020 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today is the third Sunday in Advent, and today we will be exploring the theme of ‘Joy’. Perhaps we have already begun to experience the joy of the season.
Mary said,
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty’
We light the third Advent candle as a reminder of the joy that comes from God’s blessing.
[Light candle]
We now sing the carol, “A Candle is burning” to the tune of “Away in a Manger”. Kaleb Brasee is playing the piano.
A candle is burning, a candle of joy,
a candle to welcome brave Mary’s new boy.
Our hearts fill with wonder, and eyes light and glow
as joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow.
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 (based on Luke 1:46-55),
Our hearts praise you, Lord, and our spirit rejoices in you, our Saviour, because you have remembered us. We shall be called blessed because you have done great things for us. Holy is your name.
From one generation to another you have mercy on those that honour you. You have performed mighty deeds and scattered the proud with all their plans. You have brought mighty rulers down from their thrones but have lifted up the humble. You have lifted up the hungry with good things but have sent the rich away empty.
You have kept the promises you made and have come to our help and offered us mercy. In this Advent time, forgive us our failure to respond as we should. Come to us anew, and by your grace, help us to receive you with joy, as the shepherds did; with obedience, as Mary did; and with love, as you have loved us. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
REFLECTION
This reflection, ‘He came down’, tells the story of Christmas from a ‘special needs’ perspective. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAhzI6bI5WI
BIBLE READINGS
Rev. Keith Robinson leads us in the readings from Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 & Luke 1:46-55.
REFLECTION
The speaker 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 from 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
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us! We have been called, we have been anointed, we have been given a task.
So go out from this place into the mission field that is the world. We go carrying Good News to the world: news about freedom from oppression and healing for the afflicted. The time of the Lord’s favour is now! Hallelujah! Amen.
HYMN: “JOY TO THE WORLD“
The closing hymn is, “Joy to the world”. The choir takes a few liberties with one of the verses (good luck keeping up with them). The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHS7StIz1S8
POSTLUDE: “Mary did you know”
Today’s postlude is, ”Mary did you know”, sung by Pentax. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Blessing. Posted by Rev Gord on his blog, ‘Worship Offerings’.
http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/
