IN MERE SERVICE
AND DISTRICT AT MERE URC, 22nd Oct 2017
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GATHERING - from Proverbs 8:22-36
LEADER: From before creation
before earth and water
before mountain and sea
before the dawning of time
ALL: Wisdom calls.
At the creation
of heaven and Earth
of depths and heights
of breath bringing dust to life
ALL: Wisdom delights.
To the creation
of all who listen
who watch and wait
who seek to follow
ALL: Wisdom instructs.
Opening HYMN 67 - Immortal, invisible
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
READER 1
Creator God
We thank you for the wonder of this incredible world
for the majesty of mountains and the
mystery of the oceans
for the rhythm of the seasons and the
faithfulness of the sun
and for your precious wisdom, making all things new.
READER 2
Reconciling Son
We thank you for your great love for the world
for becoming human, the Word made flesh,
for walking and teaching on mountains and sea
for your peace-making wisdom,
reconciling all of creation.
READER 3
Revealing Spirit
We thank you for your presence at work in the world
for searching out secrets and finding the hidden
for teaching spiritual things to those who are spiritual
for revealing the unfathomable depths of the wisdom of God.
To your name be glory and praise
now and forever more, Amen.
CONFESSION & ASSURANCE
LEADER:
‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you?’ (Luke 6:46)
ALL: Lord, Lord,
we are sorry for those times
when we have said one thing with our mouth
but done something else with our actions.
LEADER: When we have said we care about climate change
but then do nothing to change our own lives or practices.
ALL: when we have said we want to help those in need, but
don’t speak out against policies that hurt them most.
LEADER: When we have said we want conflicts to end but bear
grudges and fall out with family and friends.
ALL: When we have said we want everyone to have enough
but take more than we need and are oblivious to greed.
LEADER: When we have said we trust you but worry about what
we will eat, or what we will wear.
ALL: Forgive us, Lord
for not considering the lilies of the field or the birds of the air
LEADER: for not contemplating the grass of the field, alive today
and gone tomorrow;
for not communing with creation more than we consume resources;
ALL: for not seeking your kingdom first,
where all other things are added.
Forgive us for when our actions, our heart and the things we treasure, do not match what we say.
[LONG SILENCE]
LEADER:
Do not be afraid.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse us,
Nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
Nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the Earth,
So great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him
As far as the east is from the west
So far he removes our transgressions from us.
Amen
Hymn 629 Make me a channel of your peace
“Just a moment” (from Christian Concern for One World)
READER 4 It starts with a change
So outwardly insignificant
That no one would notice
Except the person
Behind you in the aisle.
READER 5 Just a moment
When instead of seeing rows of labels
On a supermarket shelf
You imagine the people
Behind them,
Tilling the earth,
Sowing the seed,
Gathering the crops.
READER 6 And you pause,
Wondering,
What their names are,
Where they live,
What difference it will make
If your hand picks up
This box instead of that,
READER 7 Wondering: how do I love these neighbours?
Can I help change
This child`s long journey for water,
Her mother`s lack of healthcare,
The prospect her father faces
Of another year unable
To feed his family well?
READER 8 Just a moment.
And the person behind you,
Her impatient baby
Squirming in the trolley,
May never realise
That in that brief hesitation,
A life hung in the balance.
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Bible readings
READER 9: Amos 8. 4-7; READER 10: Micah 6. 6, 8;
READER 11: Luke 10.25-37; READER 12: 1 John 3.18
ADDRESS: Samuel Williams (Christian Aid)
Hymn 635 - Put peace into each other’s hands (omit v.4)
Prayers from CCOW (based on the readings)
Almighty God, we grieve that in Your world despite all the riches You have given us so freely, selfishness and greed so often rule our decisions in trade as in so many other areas of our lives. Forgive us our acceptance of unjust structures of trade and help us to
ALL: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you,
our God
Almighty God, lover of justice and kindness, You command all your children to love their neighbours and tell us that love must be shown in deeds and not just words. We pray for all refugees and those made homeless through war and disaster. May governments be generous in response and may we in this country be ready to welcome refugees among us, seeking to
ALL: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you,
our God
Almighty God, in whose Kingdom Justice and mercy, peace and righteousness meet. We pray for those who are most vulnerable to climate change. Transform and renew the hearts of all in authority that as they negotiate agreements that affect the lives of others they may seek to
ALL: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you,
our God
Almighty God, who longs for all your children to live together in your peace, we thank you for the ways in which we are connected with brothers and sisters around the world as we seek to follow your commands. Strengthen the bonds of trust and care between us, and all people, that together we may
ALL: Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you
our God
ALL: Loving and righteous Lord,
Grant us the prophets’ vision and strength,
That hearing Your call,
We may speak out and work for justice and for love,
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
HYMN 609 - Am I my brother’s keeper (tune: Thy hand O God has guided).
CONCLUDING PRAYERS:
Dear Lord,
We ask your blessing on all people everywhere keeping One World Week at this time. We thank you that modern communications enable us to know about and share in many aspects of each other’s’ lives, and pray for wisdom in the way they are used;
ALL: We pray for the Red Cross and Shelterbox the
disasters Emergency Committee and all those seeking to bring relief in times of urgent need;
We pray for all of your children, our brothers and sisters, our neighbours near and far, who at this moment are desperate for food, water, shelter and safety.
ALL: We pray for the UN’s work towards sustainable
development and for CAFOD, Christian Aid and all development agencies that in supporting them we may all become ‘good neighbours’ of one another;
Dear Lord, You call us to a neighbourly love
That is generous in practical ways,
That does not leave by the roadside those harmed by sin and greed
But goes out of the way to bring healing.
Help us to see
How neighbours near and far are suffering, their resources stolen by unjust people and systems.
And fill us, we pray, with your Spirit,
That we may be inspired
To go further each day in using our gifts
Of time and money and talents lovingly,
In ways that redress injustice
And renew life.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
ALL: Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
HYMN 647 - In Christ there is no East or West
DISMISSAL (adapted from a Christian Aid Prayer):
Let us leave this worship, knowing the richness of blessings through the love of God,
the selfless giving of Christ
and the bounty of the Holy Spirit in our lives
so that we can take generous blessings
to our neighbours in our local communities
and send generous blessings to our partners in global situations that they may all know peace.
Amen.
The Grace
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