Sunday 31st January 2016 9am

WELCOME, NOTICES & CELEBRATIONS

 

HYMN: Lord for the Years (Tune: O Perfect Love WOV 526ii)

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord for the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:
Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.

Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world where we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him:
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us –
self on the cross, and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.   ©T Dudley-Smith Hope Publishing

 

LITURGY: Lord, Can this really be?

Lord, can this really be

Is this your church, the people that I see?

Who gather here and worship you with me?

And I must love them all

Shoulder their loads and answer when they call

Forgive their faults and raise them when they fall?

Are these the ear, eye, hand

Your body Lord bound firmly in one band

And learning to keep your great command?

Is this the very place

The school of love where we would see your face?

And through your spirit gain enfolding grace

That all the world would see us live as one.

 

Lord, could this really be? Lord let it really be.

(William Rutherford – slightly adapted)

 

SUNG PRAYER: Father God in Heaven(Tune:Kum Ba Yah)remain seated

We intersperse spoken prayer after each sung verse

Father God in heaven, Lord most high: hear your children’s prayer, Lord most high: hallowed be your name, Lord most high
O Lord, hear our prayer.

May your kingdom come here on earth;

may your will be done here on earth, as it is in heaven so on earth

O Lord, hear our prayer

 

Give us daily bread day by day, and forgive our sins day by day,

as we too forgive day by day.

O Lord hear our prayer.

 

Lead us in your way, make us strong; when temptations come

make us strong; save us from all sin, keep us strong –

O Lord, hear our prayer.

 

All things come from you, all are yours –

kingdom, glory, power, all are yours; take our lives and gifts,

all are yours – O Lord, hear our prayer.                   ©Mrs M Seddon Jubilate Hymns

 

CHILDREN’S TALK: “Me and Mr Thrush”

 

 

 

HYMN: We Are Many, We Are One                                                    We are many, we are one, and the work of Christ is done
when we learn to live in true community,
as the stars that fill the night, as a flock of birds in flight,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the branches of a tree, as the waves upon the sea,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

 

All division is made whole when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand, as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon the loom, as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.

 

We will join creation’s song, make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir, as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow, as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.                 ©Colin Gibson (FFS)

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS:     Acts 2: 42-47

2 Timothy 4: 9-17        Sue Saunders

OFFERING

 

MEDITATION: Saints in a Surprising Place

 

PRAYER from Eusebius ~ a 3rd century Christian saint

 

HYMN: All Are Welcome                              ©Marty Haugen GIA Publications

Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live.

A place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace. Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

 

 

Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong

and true.

Where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace. Here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

 

Let us build a house where love is found, in water, wine and wheat.

A banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space,

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us;

All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

 

BENEDICTION

 

NOTICES

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service. Many thanks to Trevor Crew for leading our worship today.

 

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who participated in yesterday’s fundraiser.

 

FOOT CLINIC: TOMORROW 1-4pm. New helpers are always welcome. See Lyndsey for details.

 

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 2nd February: Meet 9.30am on Mona Vale Ave. Coffee at Dux Dine. Marilyn 338 2453.

 

CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am-12 noon in the Lounge. $3.

 

PARISH OFFICE: Wednesday & Thursday 9am – 12 noon, Fridays 9-11am Ph 332 6192. Email:stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website:www.stmartins.org.nz. Please make sure Anna has any notices by 9am Thursday.

 

ST JAMES’ MEN’S MUSTER: Meet 15th February 6.30pm at St James’ to carpool for a visit to Theophany Loudspeakers. Roger Allen.

 

NEW READERS’ ROSTER available today.

ALPINE PRESBYTERY newsletter is on the noticeboard in the Lounge.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 31st Bryan, Adrienne; Mon 1st Alice; Thu 4th John S; Sat 6th Rob.