Watchword for the Week

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his

understanding is beyond measure. (Psalm 147:5)

(Moravian Daily Texts 2015)

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP

(Verses from Psalm 147)

Praise the LORD who is restoring Jerusalem;

he is bringing back the exiles. He heals the

broken-hearted and bandages their wounds.

It is good to sing praise to our God;

it is pleasant and right to praise him.

He has decided the number of stars and calls

each one by name. Great and mighty is our

Lord; his wisdom cannot be measured.

Sing hymns of praise to the LORD;

play music on the harp to our God.

He spreads the clouds over the sky; he provides

rain for the earth and makes the grass grow on

the hills; he gives animals their food.

It is good to sing praise to our God;

it is pleasant and right to praise him.

His pleasure is not in strong horses, nor his

delight in brave soldiers; but he takes pleasure

in those who honour him and trust in his love.

Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion! Praise the LORD!

Hymn 103 Fill your hearts with joy

PRAYER of ADORATION and CONFESSION

God we gather this day

to remember your great love for us.

Your love is woven within us

and in the fabric of all creation.

We cannot comprehend the magnitude

of your love for this planet and for its people,

yet you know each one of us by name;

and you call us to works of peace and justice.

May we respond to your call, leading us into

works of justice, peace and compassion.

God, you ask,

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?”

We try to understand, we think we hear,

but there is so much noise in our world.

We hear those who shout the loudest,

whose sound-bites demand the most attention.

Forgive us for not hearing the voices of the

silenced, not seeing those who are made

invisible. Sometimes, God, the pain and needs

of our communities and our world overwhelm us.

Remind us again that you are God and you are

everlasting, even until the ends of the earth.

Amen.

ASSURANCE of FORGIVENESS

God knows our weariness, knows our blindness,

and loves us still. We have the promise that if

we wait for God our strength will be renewed.

Depend upon it. Be renewed and set free.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Hymn 83 * I rejoiced when I heard them say

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

CHILDREN’S TIME

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

(Children may leave for Kids’ Church in the halls next door)

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Isaiah 40:21-31 OT p. 703 (702)

St. Mark 1:29-39 NT p. 46

People may stand for the Gospel reading.

The word of God – Thanks be to God!

Hymn Those who wait on the Lord (SGP 106)

Those who wait on the Lord

shall renew their strength,

they shall rise up on wings as eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint;

help us Lord, help us Lord in your way.

Those who serve the suffering world…

Those who live the risen life…

Those who love the Mystery…

Those who die on the march…

Those who wait on the Lord…

SERMON Rev. James Brown

Hymn 358 The great love of God is revealed

(Hymn of the Month, February 2015)

(Offerings are gathered)

Hymn 807 * Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

(Offerings are brought forward)

DEDICATION PRAYER

God, we are all in this together. May we keep

that in mind as we return to you a portion of

what you have given us. We pray that our

offerings may be one means of moving your

creation a little closer to peace, justice, and

reconciliation. Amen.

NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS

Sung response (Hymn 805 *):

Your Kingdom come:

your will be done on earth, O Lord!

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, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn 374 * From heaven you came

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE