Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn: CP 300 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious, binding all the church in one,
holy Zion’s help forever, and her confidence alone.
All that dedicated city, dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation pours perpetual melody,
God the One-in-Three adoring in glad hymns eternally.
To this temple, where we call thee, come, O Lord of hosts, today;
with thy wonted lovingkindness, hear thy servants as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction shed within its walls alway.
Here vouch-safe to all thy servants what they ask of thee to gain,
what they gain from thee forever with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory evermore with thee to reign.
Laud and honour to Creator, laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit, ever three, and ever one,
one in might and one in glory, while unending ages run.
Gathering of the Community
We have come to worship God, who loves us!
Be happy and shout to God!
Friends old and new, strangers and outsiders: all are welcome in God’s house.
Be happy and shout to God!
God’s love for us has no limits; God’s arms are open wide to receive us all.
Be happy and shout to God!
Prayer of the Day (together)
O God, we gather in Your presence to praise Your Holy Name, with songs on our lips and love in our hearts. We gather here, because we find joy and love, peace and understanding, among Your people. We seek to serve You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Deliver us from slavery to all sins. Save us from those who would deceive us. Teach us the way that we should go each day. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we might have the comfort of Your presence within us day and night. Amen
The Creation: Collect for the Day
Lord of all love and glory, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Creation; increase in all true unity; nourish the world with all goodness; and bring forth the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the book, Exodus 3.1–15
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.’
But Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your ancestors has sent me to you”, and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.” ’ God also said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, “The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you”: This is my name for ever, and this my title for all generations.
Living Word of God Live in our Hearts today
Psalm 105.1–6, 23–26, 45c
Refrain: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon the divine name; make known the deeds of the Lord among the peoples. Sing to the Lord, sing praises, and speak of all the marvellous works of the Lord. Glory in the holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Search for the strength of the Lord; continually seek the face of God. Remember the marvels the Lord has done, the wonders and the judgements of the mouth of the Lord, O offspring of Abraham the servant of God, O children of Jacob the chosen of the Lord.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham. The Lord made this people exceedingly fruitful; making them stronger than their enemies; whose heart God turned, so that they hated this people, and dealt unjustly with the servants of God. O Lord, you sent Moses your servant, and Aaron whom you had chosen.
Hallelujah!
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 12.9–21
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Living Word of God Live in our Hearts today
Gradual Hymn: CP 430 Will You Come and Follow Me
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you, and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen? And admit to what I mean in you, and you in me?
Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around through my sight and touch and sound in you, and you in me?
Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I'll go, where your love and footsteps show. Thus I'll move and live and grow in you, and you in me.
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew 16.21–28
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
The Homily
An Affirmation of Faith (Norman Habel for Seasons of Creation)
God creates all things, renews all things, and celebrates all things.
Earth is a sanctuary, a sacred planet filled with God’s presence, a home for us to share with all creatures.
God became incarnate, a part of Earth, like Adam, a human being called Jesus Christ, who lived and breathed and spoke among us, suffered and died on a cross for all human beings and for all creation.
The Risen Jesus is the Christ at the center of creation, reconciling all things to God, renewing all creation, and filling the cosmos.
The Spirit renews life in creation, groans in empathy with a suffering creation, and waits with us for the
rebirth of all creation.
This we believe.
We believe that with Christ we will rise and with Christ we will celebrate a new creation. Amen
Prayer of Intercession
O Creator God, in this month of creation time, teach us to see your footprints in the beauty of creation. Help us to listen to the voice of creation, inspire us to respect the rights of all people, and all living species to share in your gifts today and to be always mindful of those who come after us. Lord hear us
God of all life, we give thanks for the gift of the earth, our common home. At this time, many people, the oceans, and the eco-systems of the earth are struggling to survive. Help us to change our ways, to join this river of justice and guide us to live a life which is not centred exclusively on ourselves but on the needs of others and the worship of you as our ultimate concern. Lord hear us
At this time in human history, we are mindful that the survival of our planet and the well-being of humanity is threatened. Let us pray that UN Agreements to reduce global warming and to care for the poor will be honoured by governments throughout the world. Give courage to world leaders as they meet in the coming months to make crucial decisions for our common home. Lord hear us
Let us pray for each other at this time that we may live the vision and values of Care for our Common Home. In particular we pray for greater attention to social justice, climate justice, and intergenerational justice.
Lord hear us
Lord, we pray that we may gain a deeper appreciation of the beauty and diversity of all that you have created. As we journey help us to also listen to the voice of creation, to acknowledge how deeply interconnected we are with each other and with the natural world. Lord hear us
Lord, in the spirit of the call of your Son, Jesus, to follow Him by renouncing ourselves, may we resolve to curb all selfish individual actions that conflict with our interrelationship with each other and with the natural world.
Lord hear us
Lord, on this Sunday – day of rest and recreation - we give thanks for the faith we celebrate in your Son, the Risen Jesus Christ, who has inspired us to gather in thanksgiving and praise. Lord hear us
Lord, may we have the courage to give expression to our faith with practical actions for the betterment of each other and of your creation to ensure the rejuvenation of our common home. Lord hear us
Confession and Assurance
God of challenge and change you call us to be willing to move forward into new things… we confess that all too often we have let our attachment to the past prevent us from following you in the present.
God of challenge and change you call us to continue to study and learn from your word and your world…
We confess that all too often we have let pride or indolence keep us from looking, listening and growing.
God of challenge and change you call us to the risk of standing against what is wrong… we confess that all too often we have let fear or embarrassment keep us from speaking out.
Forgive us for those times when we have dragged our feet stopped-up our minds or looked the other way, and for the damage we have caused in the world by doing so. Help us in the days ahead to make those better choices which honour our responsibilities to the life of your kingdom, and to the earth which is its home. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God whose name and law is Love and whose mercy knows no end grant us the assurance of their forgiveness where we have failed, the grace to begin afresh, the humility to keep learning and the wisdom to make better choices in the cause of caring for one another and the world. Amen.
Offering Hymn: CP 500 Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant
Sister, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow travellers on the road; we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony, born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you; pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
Prayer over the Gifts (together)
Merciful God, receive all we offer you this day. Give us grace to love one another that your love may be made perfect in us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer 4
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right to give you thanks and praise,
O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe,
you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
At your command all things came to be:
the vast expanse of interstellar space,
galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,
and this fragile earth, our island home;
by your will they were created and have their being.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race,
and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill;
you made us the stewards of creation.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
But we turn against you, and betray your trust;
and we turn against one another.
Again and again you call us to return.
Through the prophets and sages
you reveal your righteous law.
In the fullness of time you sent your Son,
born of a woman, to be our Saviour.
He was wounded for our transgressions,
and bruised for our iniquities.
By his death he opened to us
the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Therefore we praise you,
joining with the heavenly chorus,
with prophets, apostles, and martyrs,
and with those in every generation
who have looked to you in hope,
to proclaim with them your glory,
in their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might Heaven and Earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the Highest.
Blessed are you, Lord our God,
for sending us Jesus, the Christ,
who on the night he was handed over
to suffering and death,
took bread, said the blessing,
broke the bread, gave it to his friends,
and said, “Take this, and eat it:
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after supper,
he took the cup of wine;
he gave you thanks,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Gracious God,
we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ,
we proclaim his resurrection and ascension,
and we look with expectation for his coming
as Lord of all the nations.
We who have been redeemed by him,
and made a new people by water and the Spirit,
now bring you these gifts.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this offering of your Church,
that we who eat and drink at this holy table
may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth
and make it your new creation.
Gather your Church together
from the ends of the earth into your kingdom,
where peace and justice are revealed,
that we, with all your people,
of every language, race, and nation,
may share the banquet you have promised;
through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,
all honour and glory are yours, creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray
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.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread. The Communion These are the gifts of God for the People of God.
Songs During Communion
Prayer after Communion
Almighty God, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May your holy food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
May the blessings of the God of Community be with you the blessings of remembrance and celebration, the blessings of hearing and heeding, the blessings of learning and growing, the blessings of nurture and support. And may these blessings flow out through you to bless the creation of which we are a part. Amen
Announcements
Closing Hymn: CP 393 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes;
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but nought changeth thee.
Great Source of all glory and wisdom and light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see
‘tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
The Dismissal
Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia
Postlude