Watchword for the Week
Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance.
(Psalm 89:15)
(Moravian Daily Texts 2017)
ORGAN PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP
(Verses from Psalm 89)
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,
and proclaim your faithfulness
to all generations.
Your steadfast love endures forever.
Your faithfulness is as high as the heavens
Happy are those who sing your praise
and extol your righteousness all the day.
Hymn 153 * Great is thy faithfulness
People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)
(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)
PRAYER of APPROACH (based on Psalm 89,
Matthew 10:40-42, and Romans 6:12-23)
Steadfast God, you greet us as a loving parent
and patiently love us beyond all measure.
Great is your faithfulness.
Steadfast God, you walk with us as a loving
brother and patiently bear our burdens.
Great is your faithfulness.
Steadfast God, you go before us as a loving
guide and patiently inspire improvement in us.
Great is your faithfulness.
Let us therefore confess our sins, faults and
shortcomings in humility before God:
O Lord, you taught us to love you and our
neighbour, but we have not lived in right
relationship or walked in the light of your
love. Forgive us for the wrongs we have
done; we know that the wages of sin is
death. Yet we trust in your gift of
forgiveness, which is freedom and life in
Christ. Amen.
Hymn 97 v. 1-3 * O God, you search me
WORDS of ASSURANCE (Romans 6:18, 23)
Sisters and brothers, be at peace; you have
been freed from sin that you may serve with
righteousness. Thanks be to God. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Romans 6:12-23 NT p. 193
St. Matthew 10:40-42 NT p. 16 (15)
People may stand for the Gospel reading.
The word of God: Thanks be to God!
Hymn 188 Thou hidden love of God
(Hymn of the Month, July 2017)
SERMON Rev. James Brown
AFFIRMATION of FAITH (in unison)
We believe in God above us, Maker and
Sustainer of all life, of sun and moon,
of water and earth, of male and female.
We believe in God beside us,
Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh,
born of a woman, servant of the poor,
tortured and nailed to a tree.
A man of compassion, he died forsaken;
he descended into the earth
to the place of death.
On the third day he rose from the tomb;
he ascended into heaven
to be everywhere present;
and his kingdom will come on earth.
We believe in God within us,
the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire,
life-giving breath of the church,
spirit of healing and forgiveness,
source of resurrection and eternal life.
Amen.
PRAYERS for OTHERS
God, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
The LORD’S PRAYER Hymn 652, Second Form (b)
Hymn 665 One bread, one body, one Lord
(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)
(Hymn of the Month, June 2017)
COMMUNION PRAYER
The Lord be with you, and also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God our Maker.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…east and west, we join our praise, singing the
song of your eternal greatness:
Hymn 769 * Holy, holy, holy
He promised to be with those who met in his
name: This we believe.
He promised to hear the prayers of faithful
people: This we believe.
He said that in the communion of bread and
wine he would be present to us as we
remembered him: This we celebrate.
BREAKING of the BREAD
…We believe that he who lived, died and rose
again for us will meet us here. Graciously
nourish us, O Christ, so that we who try to
follow you may receive food for the journey
and be bound in solidarity with all who walk
in your way. Amen.
Hymn 778 Lamb of God, you take away
The COMMUNION (please come forward)
The PEACE (all share a sign of peace)
PRAYER and BLESSING
May the everlasting God
shield you wherever you go.
And the blessing of God be upon you;
the blessing of the Giver of life.
The blessing of God be upon you;
the blessing of the Christ of love.
The blessing of God be upon you;
the blessing of the Spirit of peace.
The blessing of the Trinity be upon you,
now and evermore. Amen.
NOTICES
Hymn 511 Your hand, O God, has guided