Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 25/10/2020 of the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. This service includes some pre-recorded videos prepared by the region in addition to some Youtube music videos. Most words are included or links to them are provided.

HYMN: “O, Praise ye the Lord”

Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, our first hymn, which is “O, Praise ye the Lord” from ‘Hymns of Praise’. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRauK1m7Pko

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 online worship for 25/10/2020 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today we will be exploring Paul’s first letter to the people of the city of Thessalonica, and the example of faithfulness and increase in love that they provide.

When we love God and our neighbours, everything changes. With hearts ready to serve, God turns our mourning into singing and our sorrows into laughter. With hope and expectation, God turns our weeping into celebration and our grief into shouts of joy. Come before the Lord with yearning, with hearts ready to serve. Amen.

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,

Gracious God, thank for this day of grace, to celebrate your love and remember the victory won for us through Jesus Christ your Son, our Saviour.  

Bless us, we pray, with your presence this day. Feed us with your word and bless us by your Holy Spirit so that your will may be done both here and to the ends of the earth.

Help us to remember the words of Jesus, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Help us also to live by the commandments that he said were the greatest, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

Forgive us, we pray, for our rejection of your ways. Free us for joyful obedience, for we know you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

(silence for personal confession)

We pray these things through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Musical reflection

The musical reflection for today is, “Bind us together“. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuhIBLp5aHM

Bible readings

Keith Robinson lead us in the readings from 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 &  Matthew 22:34–46.

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 ‘Prayers 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

Go in peace, and may the glory of God’s goodness be revealed to you, may the grace and peace and love of Jesus Christ take root in you, and may the inspiration of the Holy Spirit fill you with joy and bring forth wondrous fruit both now and forevermore.

HYMN: “Love Divine “

The closing hymn is, “Love divine”, and it is sung The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfVtSSZSyg&list=PLSkYeXnWwUAut949v01UZPCUYOmQjtevF&index=1

POSTLUDE: “We are one”

Today’s postlude is, “We are one”, Emu Music, © 2020 Claire Williams & Alanna Glover, CCLI Song No: 7145090. The video is below & a separate link is provided if you prefer to go directly to Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBKKZtpF9po

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1. Call to worship. Saltbush service for 25/10/2020.
https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/pentecost-21-the-greatest-commandment-matthew-22-34-46/

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Eastern Riverina Uniting Churches