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