Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 30/08/2020 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: “Be still”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, to our first hymn, which is “Be still, for the presence of the Lord”, by David J. Evans. 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 30/08/2020 from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today we will be looking at the challenging passage where Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him. What does Jesus mean when says that those people who want to save their life will lose it, whereas those who lose their life for his sake will save it?
Eternal Creator, we see your beauty and love throughout all of creation. We feel your presence in the love we share with others, in the gentle breeze, in your words from Scripture and in the still small voice of the Spirit. With Jesus we journey, as he calls us to imagine greater than our present circumstance, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him. In Christ we pray, Amen.
We light the candle as a reminder that the light of Christ is always with us.
Light candle
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY & PRAYER
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 … Enter into our hearts this day, saving God. Make your mark upon us and form us into a community of hope that works for good, rejoices in the blessings we receive, and looks to the future with anticipation of what will be as your kingdom comes.
May we live in harmony with one another; and not claim to be wiser than you are. May we not repay anyone evil for evil, but live peaceably with all, feed the hungry, give the thirsty something to drink, & overcome evil with good. May this be our way, now and always. Amen.
MUSICAL REFLECTION
The musical reflection for today is, “Brother, sister, let me serve you“. Performed by BBC Radio 2 Choristers of the Year 2013, Laura Barraclough and Luke McWatters, for Songs of Praise broadcast on Easter Sunday, 20 April 2014.
BIBLE READINGS
Rev. Keith Robinson & Ros Robinson lead us in the readings from Exodus 3:1-15 & Matthew 16:21-28.
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 (note that this differs in parts from the recorded service).
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & BLESSING
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
Go in faith as images of the Living God! Imagine greater, speak and act as people of the Kingdom of God.
And may God, the eternal loving presence walk alongside you. God in Christ be your constant guide. The Holy Spirt nurture, encourage and lead you to truth.
Bless us and the people we meet along the way Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
HYMN: “Lift high the cross “
The closing hymn is, “Lift high the cross”, and it is sung by the Chancel Choir, The Chapel Choir, Broadway Baptist Church and The Oratorio Chorus, Southwestern Baptist Seminary, The Festival Brass
POSTLUDE: “Sing gently”
“Sing gently”, sung by Erica Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 6. 17,572 singers from 129 countries come together to perform Eric Whitacre’s “Sing Gently”. Licensed to YouTube. Word below.
Sing gently
May we sing together, always.
May our voice be soft.
May our singing be music for others
and may it keep others aloft.
Sing gently, always.
Sing gently as one.
May we stand together, always.
May our voice be strong.
May we hear the singing and
May we always sing along.
Sing gently, always.
Sing gently as one.
– Eric Whitacre
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Call to worship, Word of mission & blessing: Saltbush service for 30/08/2020. https://saltbushcommunity.uca.org.au/video/the-word/pentecost-13-imagine-greater-matthew-1617-28/
- Opening prayer. Based on ‘Words for worship’, Prayer of Invocation & Confession, August 30 2020, Pentecost 13, Year A’.
- Postlude. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InULYfJHKI0
- Final hymn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbcBXYP4AlE
- Reflection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlNoxoOocZs
- First hymn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U&feature=emb_logo
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