Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 17/01/2020 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.
SONG: “IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, our first hymn, which is “Immortal, invisible, God only wise”. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfu1dqKCGd8&t=6s
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 17/01/2021 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today’s worship is based on the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, and we will be exploring how God calls knows us and calls us in the everyday events of our lives.
O God, you know us inside and out, through and through.
You search us out and lay your hand upon us.
You know what we are going to say even before we speak.
We praise you, O God, for the wonderful knowledge that whoever we are and wherever we go, you are with us.
[based on Psalm 139]
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,
Father God, we give you thanks and praise, for in the hidden depths of time you formed the newborn earth according to your design, and knit us together in our mothers’ wombs. You led your people through Moses, and corrected them through prophets like Samuel, whose every word went forth with your power.
And you sent us your Son — Jesus, son of Mary, from Nazareth. In word and deed, he brought the truth to light and called us to follow in the ways of integrity and discipleship. When the enemies of life put him to death, you raised him up by your power, and likewise you raise us up and unite us with Christ that we too may be an honoured dwelling place for your Holy Spirit.
God of grace, in the days when your word was rarely heard and when visions were scarce, you broke into Samuel’s life and called his name…and he said “Here I am, speak, for your servant is listening”. Merciful God, take from us today all that hinders our hearing your voice, forgive our sin and fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may joyfully respond to Jesus’ call on our lives.
For our life together in Christ, and for the breath of your Spirit among us, we thank you. In the name of Christ, we pray.
MUSICAL REFLECTION
The musical reflection for today is, “O God, you search me and you know me”. The words & music are by Bernadette Farrell. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=broBTwmATx0
BIBLE READINGS
Rev. Keith Robinson leads us in the readings from 1 Samuel 3:1-10 & John 1:43-51.
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 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
Christ calls us by name. Here I am Lord!
Christ calls us by name. Here I am Lord!
Christ calls us to follow him. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
Go, secure in the steadfast love of God rejoicing in the call of Jesus Christ strong in the power of the Holy Spirit.
SONG: “HERE I AM, LORD”
The closing hymn is, “Here I am, Lord”. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9_6amNT_AE
POSTLUDE:
Today’s postlude is particularly for fans of the musical hit, “Hamilton”. It is a parody and tells the Christmas story leading up to when Jesus became an adult calling us to ‘Follow him’. It is a light hearted way of telling a serious story. If you have problems connecting, try this direct link to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygmc8NImCc8
