Watchword for the Week

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP

(Psalm 119:1-8)

Happy are those whose lives are faultless,

who live according to the law of the LORD.

Happy are those who follow his commands,

who obey him with all their heart.

They never do wrong;

they walk in the LORD’s ways.

Lord, you have given us your laws

and told us to obey them faithfully.

How I hope that I shall be faithful

in keeping your instructions.

If I pay attention to all your commands,

then I will not be put to shame.

As I learn your righteous judgements,

I will praise you with a pure heart.

I will obey your laws; never abandon me!

I will obey your laws; never abandon me!

Hymn 153 * Great is thy faithfulness

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

PRAYER of CONFESSION

With every choice we make, we show how

faithful we are to God’s hopes for us. Yet,

despite the mistakes we make, the false steps

we take, God remains forgiving and gracious.

Let us come to our God, speaking honestly

about our lives, as we pray, saying:

So often we make the wrong choices, God of

our lives! There are times when we look at

others through the prism of prejudice,

distorting who they really are. We can let our

anger feed us with bitterness and hurt. We

toss about harmful words like snowballs on

a winter’s day. We insult those around us,

neglecting to lift them up.

Have mercy on us, God who is everywhere.

May we set aside our squabbling natures to

be united in common worship, common

service, and a common purpose, as we

follow Jesus the Christ. Amen.

WORDS of ASSURANCE

God’s forgiveness dwells in our hearts; Christ’s

love fills us; Spirit’s peace guides our steps.

We are forgiven. Our feet are set on the

journey. Walking in faith and hope with our

God, we will be servants to the world.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

Hymn 530 * One more step along the world

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)

GOSPEL READING

Please stand for the Gospel reading and hymn.

Hymn 97 v. 1 Oh God, you search me

(Hymn of the Month, February 2017)

St. Matthew 5:21-26 NT p. 8 (7)

Hymn 97 v. 2 You know my resting

St. Matthew 5:27-32 NT p. 8

Hymn 97 v. 3 Before a word is on my tongue

St. Matthew 5:33-37 NT p. 8

Hymn 97 v. 4-5 Although your Spirit is upon me

SERMON Rev. James Brown

Hymn 527 * Lord, make us servants

(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)

DEDICATION PRAYER

We pray, Lord, that we may together offer

help, hope and encouragement to one

another and to those in need. Lord, may you

continue to encounter and to confront us

along the pathways of life, that our faith may

be strengthened and transformed making us

worthy of your blessing and ready in your

service. Amen.

Chorus * Dependable, reliable God

Dependable, reliable God. (2x)

I will do as you say; you are worthy to be

praise, dependable, reliable God.

NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS

Response: Show us the way of life;

and help us to walk in it.

The LORD’S PRAYER (German)

English words at: Hymn 652, Second Form (b)

Vater unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde

dein Name. Dein Reich komme. Dein Wille

geschehe, wie im Himmel, so auf Erden.

Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute. Und

vergib uns unsere Schuld, wie auch wir

vergeben unsern Schuldigern. Und führe uns

nicht in Versuchung, sondern erlöse uns von

dem Bösen. Denn dein ist das Reich und die

Kraft und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Hymn 264 * Judge Eternal

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE