N.Z. Celebration of International Children’s Day
A very warm welcome to you all and a special welcome to our friends from the St George’s / Iona Parish
WELCOME AND NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP & CANDLE-LIGHTING ~ Lydia Cross
There is a Way for us to follow, a Truth for us to seek,
a Life for us to live.
His name is Jesus, and we come to worship him.
As we meet in this city we link hands with children and young people, women and men across the world, and find in faith,
one family, one community of loving trust.
HYMN: All Things Bright and Beautiful (NZ Version)
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful –
the Lord God made them all.
The wild flowers in their beauty,
the mountain ranges tall,
the deep lakes and the rivers,
and friendly birds that call.
The cold wind in the winter,
the bright life-giving sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden –
he made them every one.
The coloured walls of gorges,
the pine trees green and tall,
the rocks, and pools and palm trees,
the sparkling waterfall.
The many coloured corals,
the creatures of the sea
of forest, field or valley,
on farms or roaming free.
He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. © Curwen & Sons London (TIS)
OPENING PRAYER ~ Jess Pye
A Practice: Fill The Cup and Share The Bread
STORY-TIME: For Every Child ~ Hilary Moore
SONG: This Little Light of Mine (with a difference)
This little light of ours This little love of ours
we’re gonna let it shine x 3 we’re gonna share with you x 3
let it shine share with you
let it shine share with you
let it shine share with you
Here in St Martin’s
we’re gonna let it shine x 3
let it shine
let it shine
let it shine.
A CHILDREN’S CREED: Children Learn What They Live ~ Deborah
SUNG BLESSING: May the Lord, Mighty God (Tune: Eidelweiss)
May the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you for ever;
grant you peace, perfect peace,
courage in every endeavour.
Lift up your eyes and see his face
and his grace for ever;
may the Lord, mighty God,
bless and keep you for ever.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Habakkuk 1: 2-5 ~ Aubrey McLeod
DRAMATIC READING: Luke 18: 1-8 ~ St George’s Iona
REFLECTION ~ Sheena
A TIME OF QUIET
OFFERING, PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO COMMUNION & THE PEACE
HYMN: Fill The Cup and Share The Bread
Long ago and far away,
Jesus lived and worked and prayed.
Healed the sick and the fearful and lonely.
Lived his life to show us God’s way.
Stretched his arms out as he said
Fill the cup and share the bread
Remember me in love and joy and blessing
Jesus gathered the children around him.
Spoke of love and the joy to be found.
Told them stories of wisdom and wonder.
God’s creation in all that’s around.
Stretched his arms out as he said…
Jesus called all his friends to be with him.
Share the bread and the cup once again.
Life to you I will offer it gladly.
Love will be with you right to the end.
Stretched his arms out as he said… refrain X 2
© Pat Mayberry (S of S)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
May God be with us.
God is here among us.
Let us open our hearts to God.
We open them to God and to one another.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Loving God … for people who are short or tall, round or thin.
For all we have, we thank you:
for food and warmth and safety,
for the love and care that surrounds us,
whether we live with others or by ourselves.
For the love we share … for the songs that sing of your love.
For Jesus who was born for us,
and lived for us,
and died for us,
and lives for us today,
and who brings us together.
For all you give us we thank you.
And so we join with all people everywhere saying:
Holy, holy, holy God,
power of life and love!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna through the ages!
Blessed is the One who comes to bring your justice to earth!
Here on this table are bread and wine … and the gift of his love.
He shared meals with thousands sitting on the side of a hill,
a few friends on the shore of a lake,
an outcast whose house he visited,
and two sad people at the end of a journey…
COMMUNION
PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION
HYMN: Christ be our Light Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your Church gathered today.
Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Christ, be our light…
Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.
Christ, be our light…
Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.
Christ, be our light…
Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.
Christ, be our light… © Bernadette Farrell (CH4)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea in the lounge after the service.
CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 7th March at Halswell Quarry ~ meet 9.30am at the carpark off Cashmere Rd. Bring a picnic morning tea (but if necessary we’ll go to The Old Vicarage). June 332 8874.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: The next session on Thursday 29th March is fully booked. Queries to Lyndsey 388 1264.
MARMALADE FOR MISSIONS ~ please support this fundraiser!
An Invitation is extended to all from St Martins, St James & Hoon Hay to join Cashmere Hills for a picnic on Sunday 11th March, Halswell Quarry 12 noon until 3pm. The booked site is the Lions picnic area – enter from Kennedys Bush Rd. The site will be labelled. Bring your picnic lunch, a chair, hat and sunnies! All Welcome.
GARAGE SALE Saturday 10th March 9am. If you can help, please let Warren know 337 1448. Goods can be brought to the church on Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon or Friday.
NEW PHONE NUMBER for Errol Hildreth: 381 1291 – please update your lists. Thank You.
NEW EMAIL for Bruce Hudson, Session Clerk – hudsonjb1943@gmail.com. Please use this email address for all parish business.
NEXT SUNDAY, 11th March, there will be the baptism of Alana Davies Sankey. Alana is the grand-daughter of David & Aileen Davies.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Tuesday 6th Errol; Thursday 8th Anne; Friday 9th Sharyn