WELCOME AND NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gather us in, Holy God. Gather us in, our Creator.
Gather us in, in your name.
Gather us this Lenten season to hear the old, old stories;
to hear the stories of Jesus.
Gather us for worship, God, for there is no better place to be.
Gather us to learn, to grow, to seek your ways,
and to be renewed.
HYMN: Fill Your Hearts with Joy and Gladness
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine.
Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.
Praise the Lord for times and season,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgements,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children –
praise the Lord, all people, praise! © Hope Publishing (HFTC)
OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Cynthia Cross
CHILDREN’S SONG: The Church is Wherever
The Church is wherever God’s people are praising,
singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The Church is wherever disciples of Jesus
remember his story and walk in his way.
The Church is wherever God’s people are helping
caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The Church is wherever God’s people are sharing
the words of the Bible in gift and in deed. © W. Jenkins (VU)
READINGS: From Psalm 51 – Leslie Brandt David Hodder
Genesis 2: 15-17 and: A Dramatic reading from Genesis 3: 1-14
HYMN: Jesus tempted in the Desert (Tune: Blaenwern WOV 165ii )
Jesus tempted in the desert,
lonely, hungry, tired and worn:
“Use your power,” the tempter tells him;
“turn these barren rocks to bread.”
“Not alone by bread,” he answers,
“can the human heart be filled.
Only by the Word that calls us
Is our deepest hunger stilled.”
Jesus tempted at the temple,
high above its ancient wall:
“throw yourself from lofty turret;
angels wait to break your fall!”
Jesus shuns such empty marvels,
feats that fickle crowds request:
“God whose grace protects, preserves us,
we must never vainly test.”
Jesus, tempted on the mountain
by the lure of vast domain:
fall before me! Be my servant!
Glory, fame, you’re sure to gain!”
Jesus sees the dazzling vision,
turns his eyes another way:
“God alone deserves our homage!
God alone will I obey! ©GIA Publications, Inc (VU)
SERMON: That Fateful Apple!
A TIME OF QUIET
HYMN: O God, You Search Me and You Know Me
O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
and with love everlasting you besiege me:
in every moment of life, or death, you are.
Before a word is on my tongue , Lord,
you have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future too.
Although your Spirit is upon me,
still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
For you created me and shaped me,
gave me life within my mother’s womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
safe in your hands, all creation is made new. ©Bernadette Farrell (CH4)
THE OFFERING:
You have blessed us with great abundance, O God.
You have called us to be a blessing to others.
May the giving of these gifts
and the sharing of hearts and lives
show that your covenant promises
are living among us. Amen.
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: God Gives us a Future (Tune: Camberwell WOV 170ii)
God gives us a future, daring us to go
into dreams and dangers on a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow in the Spirit’s power,
we will let God change us,
for new life starts now.
We must leave behind us sins of yesterday,
for God’s new beginning is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight,
and the strength we lack.
Holy Spirit, teach us how to read the signs,
how to meet the challenge of our troubled times.
Love us into action, stir us into prayer,
till we choose God’s life,
and find our future there. © E J Smith (TIS)
THE BLESSING
THE SESSION HAS CALLED A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING for Sunday 23 March following Morning Worship to consider the plans for application to the Presbytery for permission to proceed and uplift the insurance money.
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today. Please stay for morning tea after the service.
LENTEN STUDIES: Anyone interested in a four week study please speak to Chris.
GUESS WHO IS COMING TO LUNCH? Next Sunday 16th March 12.30pm
Lists are in the foyer – today is your last chance to sign up. Sonya 339 7038.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session TOMORROW 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 12th March: Meet 9.30am Café Jireh, 81 Bickerton St (or carpool from 43 St Martins Rd 9.10am). Long streets, but non-walkers are welcome to join us for coffee afterwards – plenty of carparking. Fern 332 4725.
CHRISTCHURCH APW meets on Wednesday 12 March 9.45am at St James’ Church, Barrington Street. Speakers for the morning are from the Neurological Foundation. There will be a Sales Table. Allison 332 0554.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the lounge at Beckenham Methodist. $3. New faces always welcome. Beverley 332 7786.
CHURCH A5 DIRECTORY WITH PHOTOS: Session seeks permission to print the Church Directory with a photo beside each family/person to help everyone put names with faces. Sonya has undertaken to take photos, so simply tell her if you are not agreeable, or advise Anna.
NAMETAGS: Please wear your Church nametag. See Sonya if you require a new one.
HARVEST THANKSGIVING – CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS Sunday 30th March. Our gifts will be given to Waltham Community Cottage and there is a list of things they need for their pantry, which helps with their cooking classes. Gifts of fresh vegetables and fruit also very welcome. Worship Committee.
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES Court Theatre Thursday 15th May 6.30pm. $41 each, cash payment to Sue on or before Sunday 13th April please. A great idea for Mothers’ Day presents. We need to sell a minimum of 20 seats – please add your name to the list in the lounge. Phone Sue 960 7657 for more information.
THE PARISH OFFICE HOURS are Wednesday & Thursday 9am-12noon & Friday 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz, or pop in to 7 Wilsons Rd.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEBSITE: www.stmartins.org.nz
NO HUB NEWS WAS RECEIVED THIS WEEK.
PHONE LIST UPDATE: Please note Ken & Peggy’s address should be Apartment 209 Cashmere View and they have a new phone number: 337 5128.
BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: Sun 9th Sharyn.