Wherever you are, whoever you are, Join us in our Journey!
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD
TO PONDER:
Knowing what we do about the behaviour of our
political leaders, how do we live in such a climate?
MUSIC PRELUDE
HYMN:
"Shall we gather at the river" V.U. 710
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
God has called us from the wilderness of our lives.
We are ready to enter the land of promise.
God prepares the way for us to move forward.
We journey into the future filled with memories of the past.
God welcomes us as part of the procession of the ages.
We raise our voices in gratitude and praise for the gift of worship.
OPENING PRAYER (IN UNISON)
We praise You, O God, for all the saints who went before us. They have
spoken to our hearts and have touched us with Your fire. We praise You,
O God, for all the saints who live beside us. Their strengths and
weaknesses are woven into our own. We praise You, O God, for all the
saints who live beyond us. They challenge us to be transformed and to
transform the world. AMEN
HYMN:
"Come, O Fount of every blessing" V.U. 559
SERVICE OF LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE
The candle is lit to mark the start of a new day of worship.
We will live in its light as a sign that the Saviour has come among us.
ANTHEM
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: (IN UNISON)
Eternal God, You know us as we really are. Too often we put on the
masks of righteousness and acceptance while we hide our selfish and
condescending faces. We present ourselves in the costumes of love and
mercy, but live most of our days in greed and narrowness of mind.
Uncover our illusions, O God, and wash away the paint of our
falsehoods. Help us to confront ourselves and one another with honesty.
Help us to practice what we preach and to accept Your grace with mercy
and openness, so that we may become true witnesses to our faith in
Jesus. AMEN
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
God hears all our prayers, for God knows what is in our hearts. In God's
mercy we are loved and redeemed. We thank God for delivering us from all
trouble and distress.
THE LIGHTING Of THE CANDLES FOR ALL SAINTS
WE HEAR GOD'S LOVING WORD FOR US
RESPONSIVE PSALM:
Psalm 107 (Parts One and Four)
V.U. 831-832
RESPONSE: V.U. 400
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place,
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace
PASTORAL PRAYER
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD IN FAITH AND ACTION
HYMN: "
Great is thy faithfulness" V.U. 288
OFFERING INVITATION
OFFERTORY RESPONSE:
For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for friends in a world where
many walk alone, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, we give you
thanks, O God.
V.U.552
OFFERTORY PRAYER: In our brokenness and in our pain, in our poverty and
in our frailty, You have blessed us, O God. Receive these offerings for
they come from hearts and hands that have been shaped for service in
Your gracious realm. AMEN
