Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands – O prosper the work of our hands! (Ps 90: 16-17)
WELCOME AND NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP:
God, who calls us to find meaningful work for our hands and our lives,
calls us also to see work in its proper perspective,
as a necessary and important part of life,
but not as a measure of life’s worth.
As we seek God’s Spirit moving among and within us,
may we hear the call to relationship ~
both with God and other people, as the real measure of life;
and may we be given insight to respond to that call
with all of our creative powers.
HYMN: God Who Gives to Life (Tune: Blaenwern WOV 165ii)
God who gives to life its goodness,
God creator of all joy,
God who gives to us our freedom,
God who blesses tool and toy:
teach us now to laugh and praise you,
deep within, your praises sing
till the whole creation dances
for the goodness of its king.
God who fills the earth with beauty,
God who binds each friend to friend,
God who names us co-creators
God who wills that chaos end:
grant us now creative spirits,
minds responsive to your mind,
hearts and wills your reign extending
all our acts by love refined. © W. Farquharson (VU)
OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
Learn Come and Find the Quiet Centre
STORY-TIME
READINGS: Exodus 20:1-2, 8-11 Anneke Howie
Responsive Reading – From a paraphrase of Psalm 90 (on the screen)
Mark 2: 23-28 Jeannette Beaumont
SONG: Come and Find the Quiet Centre
Come and find the quiet centre
in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.
Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we’re shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.
In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other’s pain,
let our lives and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming,
there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming
there is always room to spare! © Shirley Murray (FFS)
SERMON: Our calling and our work
THE OFFERING
We trust O God that there are things we can do and bring and say and sing. We can sing for joy, we can say a prayer, we can bring our love and we can do our share. As we present our offering today we do so with hearts of thanksgiving, that it may be used for your purposes in our congregation, in the wider church, and in our neighbourhoods and world. We ask your blessing upon us and these gifts we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HYMN: Sing to Celebrate the City (Tune: Bithynia WOV 363)
Sing to celebrate the city!
Sing the lives of people there,
sing the work of skill and beauty,
all who serve and all who care.
In the dictates of the dollar,
in the systems where we live,
find the currency of kindness,
eyes to smile and hearts to give.
We who are the city’s traffic,
driving, driven, keeping pace,
name the God who makes us neighbours,
give our faith a human face;
in the workplace of God’s people,
in the highrise and the home
our agenda is for justice –
changing lives for good to come.
Celebrate the art of living!
Every colour, every sport,
every cultures dance and music,
every truth that that love has taught –
be for God within the city,
life and loving are not priced:
light the lights of joyful worship,
set the table for the Christ! © Shirley Murray (AA)
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: There’s a Spirit in the Air (Tune: Lauds)
There’s a Spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
“Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.”
Lose your shyness, find your tongue
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!
When believers break the bread,
when a hungry child is fed,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world.
Still the Spirit gives us light,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!
When a stranger’s not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world. © Brian Wren (VU)
THE BLESSING
Lord you have been our refuge from one generation to another.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or the earth and the world were made: you are God, from age to age everlasting.
Teach us to know how few are our days: that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. Satisfy us in the morning with your constant love: so that we may rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
Show your servants your work: and let their children see your glory.
May your favour O Lord our God be upon us: and prosper the work of our hands, O prosper the work of our hands.
HYMN: Lord of All Hopefulness (Tune: Slane (2) WOV 557)
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares can destroy,
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
© Oxford University Press (WOV)
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today. Please stay for morning tea after the service.
BACON FUNDRAISER: All orders are due in TODAY (money with order please). Cost: $8 per pack. Delivery: first week in November. Joan Mac 337 1648.
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES FOR NEXT MAGAZINE is Sunday 10th November. Anneke is looking for contributions NOW. Please email them to: anneke.howie@gmail.com or post to 5 Simeon Quay, Lyttelton 8082. Queries? Phone Anneke on 328 7459.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 30th October: meet 9.30am cnr Wilsons/Beckford Rds. Coffee at Café Mint. June 332 8874.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am -12 noon at Beckenham Methodist. $3 per session. Beverley 332 7786.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday & Thursday 9am – 12 noon and Friday 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.stmartins.org.nz
HUB NEWS: This week’s information is displayed in the Lounge.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session Monday 9th December 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist. Please book through the Parish Office.
CHRISTMAS MARKET STALL Sunday 1st December. Fireside would be very grateful for any contributions from the congregation.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 27th Allison; Tony.
Hub Activities for the week 27th October – 3rd November
St James’ Presbyterian Church
Sun 27 Oct 12 noon LA LA LACs lunch
Tues 29 Oct 9.30am Tuesday Kidz in Hall Lounge
Thurs 31 Oct 9.45am Discussion Group at Stephanie’s
Fri 1 Nov 4.30pm Friday Kidz in Kidz Live Room
Sun 3 Nov 10am Action Church – ‘All Saints’
St Martin’s Presbyterian Church
NB: all events at Beckenham Methodist, Malcolm Ave, unless otherwise specified.
Wed 30 Oct 9.30am Walking Group. Meet cnr Wilsons & Beckford
Rds. Coffee at Cafe Mint. June 332 8874
Thu 31 Oct 10am-12noon Crafty Crafters. $3 per session. New faces always
welcome. Beverley 332 7786
Sun 3 Nov 9am Communion
Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church
Tues 29 Oct 10.00am Mainly Music. Eleanor 960 4824
Weds 30 Oct 10.00 am Craft Group. Linda 322 4437
7.00 pm Scottish Country Dancing. David 322 7954
Thurs 31 Oct 9.30am & 10.40am Tai Chi for seniors in lounge. Brian 338 6228
7.30 pm Spreydon Indoor Bowls. Pat 353 0265
Fri 1 Nov 7.00pm Lift Youth Group. Matt 027 3890000
Cashmere Hills Presbyterian Church
Sun 27 Oct 11.30am Healing Service
12noon Parish Luncheon
5.00pm Sunday Night Lights
Wed 30 Oct 10.00am Forum – a group to discuss and reflect on the
previous Sunday’s Readings and Sermon. All Welcome
Thurs 31 Oct 10.30am – 12 noon Prayer Group at 20 Major Aiken Drive
Sun 3 Nov 3-5pm Neighbourhood Week community barbecue in
association with Cashmere Residents
Association. Refreshments, activities and
information from Civil Defence and associated
agencies. Come join us for a snack and a chat,
and enjoy meeting more neighbours.