Waitara Anglican Church | Sermons

A Community that’s Faithful 21st Feb 2021 – Acts 7:51-8:8

Rev. Martin Kemp — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 01:26:24 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praise

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now

Apostle’s Creed

We meet in isolation, yet we share common beliefs with Christians in all locations. Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son?
We believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven.
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come again to
judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy, catholic Church,
the fellowship of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life eternal. Amen.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us.

Thank you Father for making yourself known to us, showing us the way of salvation through faith in your Son. We ask you now to teach us through your word, so that we may be ready to serve you, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Acts 7:51-8:8

⁵¹“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵²Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

The Stoning of Stephen

⁵⁴When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

⁵⁷At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesseslaid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”⁶⁰Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”When he had said this, he fell asleep.

8 And Saul approved of their killing him.

The Church Persecuted and Scattered

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ²Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

⁴Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. ⁵Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.⁷For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸So there was great joy in that city.

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon

Prayers

In Acts 17:30-31 we read

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together

Merciful God,
our maker and our judge,
we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed:
we have not loved you with our whole heart,
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves:
we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God is slow to anger and full of compassion.
He forgives all who humbly repent and trust in his Son as Saviour and Lord.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

Song

Concluding Prayer

Loving God, we thank you for hearing our prayers,
feeding us with your word,
and encouraging us in our meeting together.
Take us and use us
to love and serve you, and all people,
in the power of your Spirit
and in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

A Community that Serves 14th Feb 2021 Acts 6:1-7

Tim Young — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 02:46:00 +0000

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Praising God

Psalm 147:1 says

Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise

Bible Reading

As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Bible reading this week is Acts 6:1-7

The Choosing of the Seven

6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ²So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Sermon

Tim Young will now preach the sermon titled A Community that Serves

Confession of Sin

In telling the story of the Lost Son, Jesus describes how the son “came to his senses, saying ‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father” (Luke 15:17-20).

We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together

Heavenly Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love, But we have often gone our own way, and rejected your will for our lives. We are sorry for our sins and turn away from them. For the sake of your son who died for us, forgive us, cleanse us, and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you, and to please you in every way, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen

Jesus tells us of the Father’s response, explaining that “while the son was still a far way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). This is how our Heavenly Father will respond to each of us as we return to him in the same way.

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer!

Let’s finish our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer together:

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power and glory are yours, now and forever,
Amen

Announcements

Final Song

Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.

Benediction

Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ, Amen!

Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

Service 7th Feb 2021A community that Provides

Rev. Martin Kemp — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 12:59:00 +0000

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Introduction

As we come before God today, let us pray that he might be at work within us

God our Father, we pray that the message of your Son will dwell richly among us we hear from your word and sing with thankfulness in our hearts to you. And whatever we do, in word or deed, may it be done in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and for his glory.  Amen.

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

We will now be led in praise by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we turn to the Bible

Gracious Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, encouraged and supported by your Holy Word, we may embrace and always hold fast the joyful hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Acts 4:32-37

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.³³With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all³⁴that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(which means “son of encouragement”), ³⁷sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

We’ll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon entitled “A Community that Provides”

Confession and Prayers

After our prayers we will share in Holy Communion. When we share the cup of the Lord and break bread together, we express our common participation in the benefits of Jesus’ death for us. We should examine ourselves before we eat the bread and drink the cup, confessing our sins to God, acknowledging the need to care for one another, and renewing our trust in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you are merciful and kind, but we have gone our own way, not loving you as we ought, nor loving our neighbours as ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word and deed and in what we have failed to do. We deserve your condemnation. Father, forgive us. Help us to love you and our neighbour, and to live for your honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemer…

…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen!

Marty will now continue leading us in prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.

Communion

Martin will now lead us in Holy Communion

Song

Our musicians will lead us in responding to God’s mercy with a song of praise

Conclusion

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.

Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Service 31st Jan 2021A Community that Learns

Rev. Martin Kemp — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 12:59:00 +0000

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Introduction

We have come together to meet with God, to express our fellowship in the Lord Jesus, and to take our part in the building of his church. We will praise and thank him for his goodness towards us, hear from his holy word, and pray for the world, and for ourselves.

Almighty God, look with mercy on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to suffer death upon the cross. We praise him who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Praise

We will now be led in praise of Jesus our Saviour by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we prepare to hear from the Bible.

Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of your holy word. May it be a lantern to our feet, a light to our paths, and strength to our lives. Take us and use us to love and serve all people in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Acts 2:42-47

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numberdaily those who were being saved.

Sermon

XX will now deliver the sermon

Prayers

In 1 Peter 2:24 we learn how

Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed.

So let us acknowledge our failure and disobedience, and return to the Lord with repentance and faith.

Most merciful God, we humbly admit that we need your help. We confess that we have wandered from your way: we have done wrong, and we have failed to do what is right. You alone can save us. Have mercy on us: wipe out our sins and teach us to forgive others. Bring forth in us the fruit of the Spirit that we may live as disciples of Christ. This we ask in the name of Jesus our Saviour. Amen. 

The Bible teaches us that God is slow to anger and full of compassion. He forgives all who humbly repent and trust in his Son as Saviour and Lord. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Please Irene to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever.
Amen.

Announcements

Song

Our musicians will lead us in song once more

Closing Prayer and Grace

Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed: guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.  Amen.

Let’s say the words of the grace together:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Service 24th Jan 2021 A Community that Gathers

Rev. Martin Kemp — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 12:59:00 +0000

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Thanksgiving and praise

In Psalm 100:4-5 we are encouraged to praise and give thanks to God:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We begin our service with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a song of praise.

Almighty God, creator and redeemer, we praise you for the beauty of the world around us and for every gift we enjoy.
Thank you for creating us to know you, to love you and to obey you. Most of all, we praise you for your amazing love in sending your Son to restore your world by dying for us and rising to give us new life. Accept our praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to receive God’s word, let’s ask for God to be at work within us.

We thank you heavenly Father, for inspiring all Scripture by the Holy Spirit. Help us by your Spirit so to hear your holy word that we may be equipped for every good work, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Acts 1:12-2:4

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

¹²Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) ¹⁶and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

¹⁸(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field;there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. ¹⁹Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

²⁰“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’

²¹Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, ²²beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

²³So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.²Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Sermon

Martin will now preach the sermon

Prayers

We are the people of God, but Scripture reminds us that we still sin. We need to confess our failures, knowing that the Lord Jesus intercedes for us with the Father, who freely forgives us, through his infinite goodness and mercy.

So let us draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and pray together.

Heavenly Father, you have loved us with an everlasting love, but we have gone our own way and rejected your will for our lives. We are sorry for our sins and turn away from them. For the sake of your Son who died for us, forgive us, cleanse us, and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you and to please you in every way; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In 1 John 1:9, those who confess their sins are assured with these words:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Allow Tim to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

Song

Benediction

As we conclude our service, let’s be encouraged by these words from the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it! Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

When People Don’t Believe – John 12:37-50

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:11:10 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praise

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now

Apostle’s Creed

We meet in isolation, yet we share common beliefs with Christians in all locations. Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us.

John 12:37-50

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

³⁹For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴⁰“He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”

⁴¹Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

⁴²Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; ⁴³for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

⁴⁴Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. ⁴⁶I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

⁴⁷“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.⁴⁸There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.⁴⁹For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Sermon

Martin will now preach the sermon titled When People Don’t Believe!

Prayers

In Acts 17:30-31 we read

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Concluding Prayer

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

The 5-Dimensional King – John 12:12-36

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 23:34:11 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praising God

Psalm 147:1 says

Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise

Bible Reading

As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Bible reading this week is

John 12:12-36

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

¹²The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”

¹⁴Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁵“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.²⁴Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”²⁹The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.³²And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”³³He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

³⁴The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon titled The 5-Dimensional King.

Confession of Sin

We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together

Allow David to lead you in prayer!

Let’s finish our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer together:

Announcements

Final Song

Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.

Benediction

Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ, Amen!

Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

Is He Worth our Devotion?

Rev. Martin Kemp — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 05:15:57 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Introduction

As we come before God today, let us pray that he might be at work within us

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

We will now be led in praise by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we turn to the Bible

John 12:1-11

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,objected, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

⁹Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

We’ll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; of all that is, seen and unseen.

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon entitled “Is He worth our Devotion?”

Confession and Prayers

In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemer…

…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen!

Marty will now continue leading us in prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Communion

Martin will now lead us in Holy Communion

Song

Our musicians will lead us in responding to God’s mercy with a song of praise

Conclusion

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.

Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Jesus & His Friends John 11:38-44

Tim Young — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 04:19:37 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praise

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now

Apostle’s Creed

We meet in isolation, yet we share common beliefs with Christians in all locations. Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us.

John 11:38-44

Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

³⁸Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹“Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

⁴⁰Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

⁴¹So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

⁴³When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Sermon

Tim Young will now preach the sermon

Prayers

In Acts 17:30-31 we read

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Concluding Prayer

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

How are you in a Crisis? John 11:17-37

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:44:17 +0000

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Praising God

Psalm 147:1 says

Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise

Bible Reading

As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Bible reading this week is John 11:17-37

Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus

¹⁷On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁹and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

²¹“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

²³Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

²⁴Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrectionat the last day.”

²⁵Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

²⁷“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

²⁸After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” ²⁹When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

³²When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴“Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

³⁵Jesus wept.

³⁶Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

³⁷But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Sermon

Martin Kemp will now preach the sermon titled How are you in a Crisis?

Confession of Sin

We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together

Allow Irene to lead you in prayer!

Let’s finish our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer together:

Announcements

Final Song

Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.

Benediction

Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ, Amen!

Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

Seeing It. Getting It. John 11:1-16

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 03:52:57 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Introduction

As we come before God today, let us pray that he might be at work within us

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

We will now be led in praise by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we turn to the Bible

John 11:1-16

The Death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany,the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

⁴When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” ⁵Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

⁸“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”

⁹Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. ¹⁰It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

¹¹After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friendLazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

¹²His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”¹³Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

¹⁴So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

¹⁶Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

We’ll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; of all that is, seen and unseen.

Sermon

Martin Kemp will now preach the sermon entitled “Seeing it. Getting it.”

Confession and Prayers

In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemer…

…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen!

David Cameron will now continue leading us in prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Communion

Martin will now lead us in Holy Communion

Announcements

Song

Our musicians will lead us in responding to God’s mercy with a song of praise

Conclusion

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.

Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Two Traits of the Wise

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:22:54 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Introduction

Praise

We will now be led in praise of Jesus our Saviour by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we prepare to hear from the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:14

Invest in Many Ventures

11 Ship your grain across the sea;
after many days you may receive a return.
²Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight;
you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

³If clouds are full of water,
    they pour rain on the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
    in the place where it falls, there it will lie.
⁴Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
    whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

⁵As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed^[a] in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things.

⁶Sow your seed in the morning,
    and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
    whether this or that,
    or whether both will do equally well.

Remember Your Creator While Young

⁷Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
⁸However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

⁹You who are young, be happy while you are young,
    and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
    and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
    God will bring you into judgment.
¹⁰So then, banish anxiety from your heart
    and cast off the troubles of your body,
    for youth and vigor are meaningless.

12 Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—
²before the sun and the light
    and the moon and the stars grow dark,
    and the clouds return after the rain;
³when the keepers of the house tremble,
    and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
    and those looking through the windows grow dim;
⁴when the doors to the street are closed
    and the sound of grinding fades;
when people rise up at the sound of birds,
    but all their songs grow faint;
⁵when people are afraid of heights
    and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
    and the grasshopper drags itself along
    and desire no longer is stirred.
Then people go to their eternal home
    and mourners go about the streets.

⁶Remember him—before the silver cord is severed,
    and the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
    and the wheel broken at the well,
⁷and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
    and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

⁸“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Everything is meaningless!”

The Conclusion of the Matter

⁹Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

¹¹The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. ¹²Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

¹³Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Sermon

Martin Kemp will now deliver the sermon

Prayers

In 1 Peter 2:24 we learn how

Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed.

So let us acknowledge our failure and disobedience, and return to the Lord with repentance and faith.

Please allow Irene to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Our musicians will lead us in song once more

Closing Prayer and Grace

Let’s say the words of the grace together:

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Wising Up About Folly

Tim Young — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 23:47:22 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Thanksgiving and praise

In Psalm 100:4-5 we are encouraged to praise and give thanks to God:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We begin our service with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a song of praise.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to receive God’s word, let’s ask for God to be at work within us.

Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20

¹¹I have seen something else under the sun:

The race is not to the swift
    or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
    or wealth to the brilliant
    or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

¹²Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Wisdom Better Than Folly

¹³I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me:¹⁴There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. ¹⁵Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. ¹⁶So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

¹⁷The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
than the shouts of a ruler of fools.
¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
but one sinner destroys much good.

10 As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,
    so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
²The heart of the wise inclines to the right,
    but the heart of the fool to the left.
³Even as fools walk along the road,
    they lack sense
    and show everyone how stupid they are.
⁴If a ruler’s anger rises against you,
    do not leave your post;
    calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

⁵There is an evil I have seen under the sun,
    the sort of error that arises from a ruler:
⁶Fools are put in many high positions,
    while the rich occupy the low ones.
⁷I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.

⁸Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
⁹Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

¹⁰If the ax is dull
and its edge unsharpened,
more strength is needed,
but skill will bring success.

¹¹If a snake bites before it is charmed,
the charmer receives no fee.

¹²Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.
¹³At the beginning their words are folly;
    at the end they are wicked madness—
¹⁴    and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming—
who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

¹⁵The toil of fools wearies them;
they do not know the way to town.

¹⁶Woe to the land whose king was a servant
    and whose princes feast in the morning.
¹⁷Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth
    and whose princes eat at a proper time—
    for strength and not for drunkenness.

¹⁸Through laziness, the rafters sag;
because of idle hands, the house leaks.

¹⁹A feast is made for laughter,
wine makes life merry,
and money is the answer for everything.

²⁰Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,
or curse the rich in your bedroom,
because a bird in the sky may carry your words,
and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Sermon

Tim Young will now preach the sermon

Prayers

So let us draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and pray together.

In 1 John 1:9, those who confess their sins are assured with these words:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Benediction

As we conclude our service, let’s be encouraged by these words from the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it! Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

Wising Up About Injustice

Rev. Martin Kemp — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:34:53 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praise

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now

Apostle’s Creed

Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us.

Ecclesiastes 8:2-9:10

Obey the King

²Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. ³Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. ⁴Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

⁵Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm,
and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.
⁶For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter,
though a person may be weighed down by misery.

⁷Since no one knows the future,
    who can tell someone else what is to come?
⁸As no one has power over the wind to contain it,
    so no one has power over the time of their death.
As no one is discharged in time of war,
    so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

⁹All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. ¹⁰Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.

¹¹When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. ¹²Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. ¹³Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

¹⁴There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. ¹⁵So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

¹⁶When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night— ¹⁷then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.

A Common Destiny for All

9 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. ²All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.

³This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. ⁴Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

⁵For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
    and even their name is forgotten.
⁶Their love, their hate
    and their jealousy have long since vanished;
never again will they have a part
    in anything that happens under the sun.

⁷Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. ⁸Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. ⁹Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. ¹⁰Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Sermon

Martin Kemp will now preach the sermon

Prayers

In Acts 17:30-31 we read

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together

Allow Tim to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Concluding Prayer

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

How to Pray

Guest Speaker — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 11:45:00 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Praising God

Psalm 147:1 says

Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise

Bible Reading

As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Bible reading this week is Luke 11:1-4

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

²He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
³Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

Sermon

Gilbert Corr will now preach the sermon titled How to Pray.

Confession of Sin

We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together

Allow Marty to lead you in prayer!

Let’s finish our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer together:

Announcements

Final Song

Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.

Benediction

Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ, Amen!

Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

Knowing Your Future

Mark Carpenter — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 02:55:13 +0000

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Introduction

As we come before God today, let us pray that he might be at work within us

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

We will now be led in praise by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we turn to the Bible

Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:1

Wisdom

7 A good name is better than fine perfume,
    and the day of death better than the day of birth.
²It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.
³Frustration is better than laughter,
    because a sad face is good for the heart.
⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
⁵It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
    than to listen to the song of fools.
⁶Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
    so is the laughter of fools.
    This too is meaningless.

⁷Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
and a bribe corrupts the heart.

⁸The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.
⁹Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
for anger resides in the lap of fools.

¹⁰Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
For it is not wise to ask such questions.

¹¹Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
    and benefits those who see the sun.
¹²Wisdom is a shelter
    as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
    Wisdom preserves those who have it.

¹³Consider what God has done:

Who can straighten
    what he has made crooked?
¹⁴When times are good, be happy;
    but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one
    as well as the other.
Therefore, no one can discover
    anything about their future.

¹⁵In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness,
    and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
¹⁶Do not be overrighteous,
    neither be overwise—
    why destroy yourself?
¹⁷Do not be overwicked,
    and do not be a fool—
    why die before your time?
¹⁸It is good to grasp the one
    and not let go of the other.
    Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

¹⁹Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.

²⁰Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,
no one who does what is right and never sins.

²¹Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you—
²²for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.

²³All this I tested by wisdom and I said,

“I am determined to be wise”—
    but this was beyond me.
²⁴Whatever exists is far off and most profound—
    who can discover it?
²⁵So I turned my mind to understand,
    to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
    and the madness of folly.

²⁶I find more bitter than death
    the woman who is a snare,
whose heart is a trap
    and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
    but the sinner she will ensnare.

²⁷“Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered:

“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
²⁸    while I was still searching
    but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
    but not one upright woman among them all.
²⁹This only have I found:
    God created mankind upright,
    but they have gone in search of many schemes.”

8 Who is like the wise?
Who knows the explanation of things?
A person’s wisdom brightens their face
and changes its hard appearance.

We’ll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; of all that is, seen and unseen.

Sermon

Mark Carpenter will now preach the sermon entitled “Knowing Your Future”

Confession and Prayers

In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemer…

…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen!

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Communion

Martin will now lead us in Holy Communion

Song

Our musicians will lead us in responding to God’s mercy with a song of praise

Conclusion

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.

Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.

Wising up About Wealth

Tim Young — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:40:03 +0000

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Thanksgiving and praise

In Psalm 100:4-5 we are encouraged to praise and give thanks to God:

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We begin our service with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a song of praise.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to receive God’s word, let’s ask for God to be at work within us.

Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:12

Riches Are Meaningless

⁸If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. ⁹The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

¹⁰Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.

¹¹As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?

¹²The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.

¹³I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:

wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
¹⁴    or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
    there is nothing left for them to inherit.
¹⁵Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
    and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
    that they can carry in their hands.

¹⁶This too is a grievous evil:

As everyone comes, so they depart,
    and what do they gain,
    since they toil for the wind?
¹⁷All their days they eat in darkness,
    with great frustration, affliction and anger.

¹⁸This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. ¹⁹Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. ²⁰They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

6 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: ²God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

³A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. ⁴It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. ⁵Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man— ⁶even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

⁷Everyone’s toil is for their mouth,
    yet their appetite is never satisfied.
⁸What advantage have the wise over fools?
What do the poor gain
    by knowing how to conduct themselves before others?
⁹Better what the eye sees
    than the roving of the appetite.
This too is meaningless,
    a chasing after the wind.

¹⁰Whatever exists has already been named,
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.
¹¹The more the words,
    the less the meaning,
    and how does that profit anyone?

¹²For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Sermon

Tim Young will now preach the sermon

Prayers

So let us draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and pray together.

In 1 John 1:9, those who confess their sins are assured with these words:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Allow Irene to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Benediction

As we conclude our service, let’s be encouraged by these words from the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it! Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

Four types of Loneliness

Rev. Martin Kemp — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 14:30:00 +0000

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Praise

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now

Apostle’s Creed

We meet in isolation, yet we share common beliefs with Christians in all locations. Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe

Do you believe and trust in God the Father?
We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Bible Reading

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:7

Oppression, Toil, Friendlessness

4 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun:

I saw the tears of the oppressed—
    and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors—
    and they have no comforter.
²And I declared that the dead,
    who had already died,
are happier than the living,
    who are still alive.
³But better than both
    is the one who has never been born,
who has not seen the evil
    that is done under the sun.

⁴And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

⁵Fools fold their hands
    and ruin themselves.
⁶Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil
    and chasing after the wind.

⁷Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:

⁸There was a man all alone;
    he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
    yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
    “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
    a miserable business!

⁹Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
¹²Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Advancement Is Meaningless

¹³Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. ¹⁴The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. ¹⁶There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Fulfill Your Vow to God

5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

²Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

⁴When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. ⁶Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon

Prayers

In Acts 17:30-31 we read

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together

Allow Emily to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Announcements

Song

Concluding Prayer

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.

When Work is Meaningless

Rev. Martin Kemp — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 14:00:00 +0000

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Praising God

Psalm 147:1 says

Praise the Lord! How good is it to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Our musicians will lead us in our first song of praise

Bible Reading

As we turn to this weeks Bible reading, let’s pray together:

Heavenly Father, give us faith to receive your word, understanding to know what it means, and the will to put it into practice, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Bible reading this week is Ecclesiastes 2:17-3:22

Toil Is Meaningless

¹⁷So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ¹⁸I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.²²What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

²⁴A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? ²⁶To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

A Time for Everything

3 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

⁹What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹²I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

¹⁵Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

¹⁶And I saw something else under the sun:

In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

¹⁷I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.”

¹⁸I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. ¹⁹Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. ²⁰All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.²¹Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”

²²So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot.For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?

Sermon

Marty Kemp will now preach the sermon titled “When Work is Meaningless”.

Confession of Sin

We are called to be like this lost Son, returning to God our Father with repentance and faith. Let us confess our sins, praying together

Allow Tim Young to lead you in prayer!

Let’s finish our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer together:

Announcements

Final Song

Our musicians will lead us again as we close our time together.

Benediction

Hear these words from Numbers 6:24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ, Amen!

Thanks for joining us! See you next week!

Life is Meaningless … or is it?

Rev. Martin Kemp — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 13:01:00 +0000

If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold.

Introduction

As we come before God today, let us pray that he might be at work within us

Praise

Hebrews 13:15 encourages us with these words:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

We will now be led in praise by our musicians!

Bible Reading

Let us pray as we turn to the Bible

Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:16

1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

²“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”

³What do people gain from all their labors
    at which they toil under the sun?
⁴Generations come and generations go,
    but the earth remains forever.
⁵The sun rises and the sun sets,
    and hurries back to where it rises.
⁶The wind blows to the south
    and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
    ever returning on its course.
⁷All streams flow into the sea,
    yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
    there they return again.
⁸All things are wearisome,
    more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
    nor the ear its fill of hearing.
⁹What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.
¹⁰Is there anything of which one can say,
    “Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
    it was here before our time.
¹¹No one remembers the former generations,
    and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
    by those who follow them.

¹²I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! ¹⁴I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

¹⁵What is crooked cannot be straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.

¹⁶I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” ¹⁷Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

¹⁸For with much wisdom comes much sorrow;
the more knowledge, the more grief.

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.

⁴I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. ⁵I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. ⁶I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. ⁷I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. ⁸I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem^[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. ⁹I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

¹⁰I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
    I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
    and this was the reward for all my toil.
¹¹Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
    and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
    nothing was gained under the sun.

¹²Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
    and also madness and folly.
What more can the king’s successor do
    than what has already been done?
¹³I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
    just as light is better than darkness.
¹⁴The wise have eyes in their heads,
    while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
    that the same fate overtakes them both.

¹⁵Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
    What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself,
    “This too is meaningless.”
¹⁶For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
    the days have already come when both have been forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise too must die!

Sermon

Marty will now preach the sermon entitled “Life is Meaningless … or is it?”

We’ll now encourage one another with the words of the Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; of all that is, seen and unseen.

Confession and Prayers

In Titus 2:14 we read of Jesus, our saviour and redeemer…

…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Jesus has purified us from our sins! Amen!

Marty will now continue leading us in prayer.

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer

Communion

Martin will now lead us in Holy Communion

Announcements

Song

Our musicians will lead us in responding to God’s mercy with a song of praise

Conclusion

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the Throne, and to the Lamb.

Praise and Glory, wisdom and thanks, honour, power and strength, be to our God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next Sunday.