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Wesley Church Melbourne Congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia
Sunday Worship at Home 4th October 2020
Image: Ten Commandments, illustrative wood relief, from a Catholic Church in southern Poland,
from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
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Worship Leader and Preacher Kevin Dobson Musicians: Geoff Urquhart and John Lander Reader: Lesley Kueter-Luks Acknowledgement and Greeting Call to Worship
Living God, you are our God. There is no other God but you. We renounce all that we have allowed to come between us. Living God, we worship you. We praise and honour your name. We worship you on this, your holy day. For your love, for your word, for all that you have given: Living God, we thank you and praise you. We love you.
Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge the First Peoples of the Kulin Nation,
traditional custodians of the land, under God.
We commit ourselves to work and pray for justice in this land.
Using this resource: 1. At points through this Order of Service you will find links (in brown text) to audio and video files which are recordings by the worship leaders. 2. To hear the sound file for the hymns and still be able to read the words on the Order of Service, simply hold the ‘Control’ key while you click on the hymn link. It will open up a new tab which enables you to play the music AND go back to the previous Tab and see the words.
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Hymn 119 I sing the almighty power of God © Together in Song. Organist: Geoff Urquhart. Soloist: John Lander
I sing the almighty power of God that made the mountains rise, that spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies. I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; the moon shines full at his command, and all the stars obey. I sing the goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food; he formed the creatures with his word, and then pronounced them good. There's not a plant or flower below but makes your glories known; and clouds arise and tempests blow by order from your throne. All creatures, numerous as they be, are subject to your care; there's not a place where we can flee but God is present there. God's hand is my perpetual guard, he guides me with his eye; why should I, then, forget the Lord, who is for ever nigh?
Isaac Watts 1674-1748 alt.
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Opening prayers
Gracious and Patient God, as we come to you this day, we are mindful of the many ways in which we have so easily turned our back on you. Turn us around again, O Lord. Open our hearts and our spirits to receive your holy word that we may again walk in the path of true discipleship. Confession is not an easy or a pleasant thing to do. We would like to think that we have been good and faithful disciples, following your way. But we know in our hearts the many ways in which we have turned our backs on you and rejected your will for us. Like the people in the wilderness, we create for ourselves idols and worship them, only to discover their shallowness and emptiness for our lives. And we wonder what went wrong. Stop us in our tracks, O Lord. Help us to be open to your will for our lives. We know what you want us to do. Give us the persistence and the courage to do your will. Heal us from our wayward actions and attitudes. Remind us that we must reach out to others in compassion and peace. Merciful God, come to us this day with your healing power and help us again to be your disciples, offering hope and peace to your hurting and wounded world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.
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Words of Assurance: God, who has never strayed from you, is with you. God will heal your hearts and direct your steps. Place your life in God’s loving care. AMEN.
Introduction of theme with the children “Rules to live by” Reading Reader: Lesley Kueter-Luks Your Word, O Lord, is a lamp to our feet: A light to our path.
Exodus 20:1-20
Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
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You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour. When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.’ May your Word live in us: And bear much fruit to your glory.
Solo: My heart ever faithful J S Bach Organist: Geoff Urquhart. Soloist: John Lander Preaching “Rules or principles.” Question for reflection:
How do our lives reflect obedience and the sacred presence of God to others in our own communities?
Do the Ten Commandments still have a place in our communities? And can our churches be a source of God’s presence to our communities?
Hymn 576 O for a closer walk with God © Together in Song. Organist: Geoff Urquhart. Soloist: John Lander
O for a closer walk with God, a calm and heavenly frame, a light to shine upon the road that leads me to the Lamb.
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Where is the blessedness I knew when first I saw the Lord? Where is the soul-refreshing view of Jesus and his word? What peaceful hours I once enjoyed, how sweet their memory still! But they have left an aching void the world can never fill. Return, 0 holy dove, return, sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made thee mourn, and drove thee from my breast. The dearest idol I have known, whate' er that idol be, help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee. So shall my walk be close with God, calm and serene my frame so purer light shall mark the road that leads me to the Lamb.
William Cowper 1731-1800
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Father, we pray for the holy catholic Church; that we all may be one. Grant that every member of the church may truly and humbly serve you; that your name may be glorified by all people. We pray for all ministers of the gospel; that they may faithfully proclaim your Word and administer your holy sacraments.
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We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; that there may be justice and peace on the earth. Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; that our works may find favour in your sight. Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble; that they may be delivered from their distress We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy; may we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom. Let us pray for our community for the life and worship of this congregation and for those whose needs are known to us..... Let us pray for ourselves..... Each new day we celebrate what it is to be free - to live our lives in fullness. This is the eternal gift of God. But freedom and fullness lives in the simple ⁃ in each breath we take ⁃ in knowing we have a roof over our heads ⁃ in the love of family and community ⁃ all the things we might usually take for granted... Freedom also invites the gift of generosity ⁃ to continue to give where we can ⁃ to support one another as we are able and go the extra mile ⁃ to offer a welcome smile and forget the more formal handshake of yesterday ⁃ to be what we have always been called to be - human. This is not a Church crisis, a worship crisis, nor a financial crisis ⁃ this is about the gift of life, which is for all, irrespective of birth, status or circumstances. As we remember the most simple of these things, may we be inspired to renew calm, peace and hope in every new day. For in the midst of all storms a Presence is found, and freedom in Christ remains.
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Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. 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 for ever. Amen.
Hymn 627 Praise and thanksgiving, Father, we offer © Together in Song. Organist: Geoff Urquhart. Soloist: John Lander
Praise and thanksgiving, Father we offer, for all things living you have made good; harvest of sown fields, fruits of the orchard, hay from the mown fields, blossom and wood. Lord, bless the labour we bring to serve you, that with our neighbour we may be fed. Sowing or tilling, we would work with you; harvesting, milling, for daily bread. Father, providing food for your children, your wisdom guiding teaches us share one with another, so that, rejoicing, sister and brother may know your care. Then will your blessing reach every people; each one confessing your gracious hand; where you are reigning no one will hunger, your love sustaining fruitful the land.
Albert Frederick Bayly 1901- 84 alt.
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Want to have a ‘cuppa and chat’ with others after worship today or any Sunday? Email Kevin at: [email protected] and you will receive an invitation to join the conversation on Zoom at 12 noon (you can arrive a bit late and still get in).
Benediction
May the God whose names are many but whose nature is constant, the One whose story is complex, but whose purpose is clear, enable us to deepen in love, develop in understanding, and be determined in action that we and the world we inhabit can move ever nearer to that which God intends. And the blessing of Almighty God, Creator, redeemer and sanctifier, be with you and all whom you love now and always. Amen
Postlude Almand William Tisdall
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Wesley Church Melbourne
130 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC 3000
[email protected] https://wesleychurchmelbourne.org.au/
Giving You can contribute by setting up a regular or occasional transfer from your bank account into the Wesley Church Melbourne Offerings Account. Direct Transfer BSB 013 423 Account Number 472 967 586
OR PayID: [email protected] If you’d like to set up a regular transfer, please contact us at [email protected] for more details.
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