Watchword for the Week

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.

(Psalm 103:17) (Moravian Daily Texts 2016)

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP

(Verses from Psalm 71)

LORD, I have come to you for protection; let me never be defeated!

Because you are righteous, help me and rescue me. Listen to me and save me!

Be my secure shelter and a strong fortress to protect me; you are my refuge and defence.

Sovereign LORD, I put my hope in you; I have trusted in you since I was young.

I have relied on you all my life; you have protected me since the day I was born.

I will always praise you. With my whole being I will sing because you have saved me.

Hymn 111 * Holy, holy, holy

People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)

PRAYER of ADORATION and CONFESSION

Heaven and earth are full of your glory, majestic, holy, all-powerful God. We approach the blazing light of your presence with reverence and awe, with humility and penitence.

Accept our adoration and teach us through your word so that, strengthened by your Spirit, our lives may be lived to your glory.

Compassionate God, forgive us for thinking too highly of ourselves in relation to you.

Forgive the pride that makes us imagine that we know what is best, regardless of your commandments.

Forgive the arrogance that leads us to act as though the whole world revolved around us.

Forgive the complacency that allows us to be content with our fainthearted discipleship.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Compassionate God, forgive us for thinking too highly of ourselves in relation to others.

Forgive the selfishness that makes us behave as though they existed for our benefit.

Forgive the self-righteousness that leads us to judge sisters and brothers for whom Christ died.

Forgive the self-concern that allows us to ignore the needy and withhold

food from the hungry.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Compassionate God, forgive our sins and purify our minds, that in thought and in action we may be worthy of our calling, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn 619 + 620 * Spirit of the living God

ASSURANCE of FORGIVENESS

One day, Jesus noticed a woman in a burdened state. He bid her come to hear the words and receive the gentle touch of acceptance and

grace. Let us hear these words as spoken to us: You are set free from all that weighs you down and ails you. Lift up your heads. Rejoice.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Hebrews 12:18-29 NT p. 287 (285)

St. Luke 13:10-17 NT p. 97

People may stand for the Gospel reading.

The word of God: Thanks be to God!

Hymn 266 * God the Omnipotent!

SERMON Rev. James Brown

Hymn 616 There’s a spirit in the air

(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)

(Hymn of the Month, August 2016)

DEDICATION PRAYER

O God, the source of all good things, we bring to you our gifts. Enable us, with our earthly things, to give you the love of our hearts and the service of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (See Notices overleaf)

PRAYERS for OTHERS

Holy God, we believe: help our unbelief.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn 360 * Jesus Christ is waiting

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE