Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 23/08/2020 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: “Lord Jesus Christ”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, to our first hymn, which is “Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us”. To help with the singing, the words of all hymns will display within the video. From ‘Songs of Praise’.
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 23/08/2020, from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today we will be exploring some big questions about Jesus. Who is Jesus? Who do you say the Son of Man is?
Some have said he was a teacher. Some say he was crazy, or that he never even existed. Some say he was a great healer and man of wisdom. Some have said he was a reincarnated prophet like Elijah, Jeremiah or John the Baptist.
Blessed are you who believe that he is the Anointed One, the only true Son of the living God, for such faith is not your doing, but a gift from God.
We light this candle as a reminder that the light of Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, 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,
Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, we gather together in your name. We come as living sacrifices, to offer You our worship and thanksgiving, our praise and our prayers.
Come among us, living Lord. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, transform our hearts and minds so that we may recognize your presence, hear your voice, know your will, and walk in your way. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
MUSICAL REFLECTION
The musical reflection for today is, “Jesu“ by Gurrumul. Licensed to Youtube. Gospel songs were the first western music Gurrumul heard as a very young child when his family took him to the local Methodist church on Elcho Island [warning: “This video may contain images and voices of deceased people”].
BIBLE READINGS
Rev. Keith Robinson & Ros Robinson lead us in the readings from Exodus 1:8–2:10 & Matthew 16:13-20..
REFLECTION
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 ‘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
In the power of the Holy Spirit we now go forth into the world, to fulfil our calling as the people of God, the body of Christ.
Go in peace, love and care for one another in the name of Christ Jesus, and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you, the love of God embrace you, and the presence of the Holy Spirit transform you and strengthen you for every good work, both now and forevermore. Amen.
HYMN: “I cannot tell “
The closing hymn is, “I cannot tell”, from ‘Songs of Praise’, and it is sung by to the tune of ‘Londonderry Air’
POSTLUDE: “We Will Meet”
Today’s postlude is, ”We will meet”, by John Bell.
Acknowledgements
The ‘Prayers of the people’ were based on a prayer posted on the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/
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