Welcome to the Sunday Online Worship 28/06/2020 of the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Multiple people from Young Uniting Church are leading this pre-recorded service today. Some YouTube videos are included to provide music.
HYMN: “Sing of the Lord’s Goodness”
Let us worship together, and sing if you are able, our first hymn, which is “Sing of the Lord’s goodness”. Tohelp 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 28th June 2020, from the Eastern Region of the Riverina Presbytery. Today, people from Young Uniting Church help lead us in worship.
Blessed are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of God’s presence. Let us worship God, whose faithfulness and unfailing love endures forever. May we find rest, hope, and healing.
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,
Holy God, your faithful love toward us never ends! It is as sure and dependable as the sky over our heads. We have come to this service to offer you our worship and our thanksgiving; to come before you with our needs; and declare to any who will listen that you are our God, and we are your people.
O God, you have prepared for those who love you, for those who have faith in you, joys beyond understanding. May Your Spirit be at work among us as we worship, opening our eyes to the light of your presence in our lives.
Be present to us, as we are present to you in this time of worship, and throughout this day. To you alone, faithful creator, redeemer, and sustainer; be all glory and honour, now and forever. Amen.
MUSICAL REFLECTION
The musical reflection for today is, “Create in me“. The song is sung by ‘The Acappella Company’ and the music was written by Terry Talbot.
BIBLE READINGS
Jennifer Beatty from Young Uniting Church lead us in the readings from Genesis 22:1-14 & Matthew 10:40-42.
REFLECTION
The speaker is Pastor Adrian Single from Young Uniting Church. There is a video of the message in the window below. The text can also be downloaded as a printable pdf file.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORD’S PRAYER
Go to the video below for the ‘Prayer of the people’, which are led by from Rev. Keith Robinson. The video includes the Lord’s Prayer & a closing blessing by Keith.
We bring to God our prayers for those we love, those we know of, and those who are part of the world we live in. Let us pray…
Holy God, you invite us to bring all our concerns and needs before you in prayer. And so we do this now, in this time of worship, with our sisters and brothers in Christ.
[pause for silent prayer]
Loving God, we pray today for those who are closest to us right now: our families, our friends and other members of your family, Lord – the people of God, sisters and brothers who walk with us on the road of faith with you. Some people we know well, having worshipped together over many years; others are new friends, new family. We remember those we know who may be unwell at home, in hospital, at work, or away from home… (pause) We pray for one another, for those who walk alongside us, for each other’s wellbeing…
[pause for silent prayer]
God of the needy, we pray for people living us in the wider community. Our town depends on teachers, local councillors, those who work in our post office and supermarkets, our police, paramedics, doctors and hospital staff. We see these people every day, but may not think about them, let alone pray for them. Who stands out for each of us in our community? Who needs our prayers right now? Perhaps they are people we know well, or people we know only a little. How can we speak your message of hope to them? Whoever they are, Lord, we bring them before you now in prayer…
[pause for silent prayer]
God of all life, everywhere we see the struggle of your creation to live up to your purposes – in our nation and in nations around the world. There are so many people and places that need our prayer. We pray for people recovering and rebuilding their homes after fires, floods, pandemic or other natural disasters. We pray for leaders of all nations, seeking to manage the challenges of these difficult times. We pray that your peace and justice would be known in countries split by war and conflict, and that those fleeing violence would find shelter and food.
[pause for silent prayer]
Lord God of the universe, who are we that you would care for us? We know that our prayers this day are only a tiny offering of love in an ocean of need. Yet we boldly claim the promises you give us in Scripture that each of us is made in your image and precious to you. Please take our prayers, along with the prayers of millions of other people, to bring love, healing and hope to the very edges of our world and beyond.
We pray together in the words Jesus taught us:
Lord’s Prayer
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.
May the hand of God protect us. May the way of Christ direct us. May the wisdom of the Spirit instruct us, this day and forever more. Amen.
HYMN: “There’s a Spirit in the air “
The closing hymn is, “There’s a Spirit in the air”, and it is sung by the Olive Tree Church, Luton, UK.
POSTLUDE: “Lord of the Starfields”
Today’s postlude is, ”Lord of the Starfields“. The song is sung and composed by Bruce Cockburn. The photos are from the Hubble telescope.
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