Order of Service (including hymn suggestions, notes and sermon notes)

Transcription

1 Blue Care Sunday August 21, 2016 Order of Service (including hymn suggestions, notes and sermon notes) God s Faithfulness as we Discover our Potential The people gather Today we gather to honour God and give thanks that we are all children of God. We retell the imperative set down for us in scripture and in the life of Jesus. In grateful thanks for what God does for us, we are called to offer justice and mercy to people in need. In this service, we will honour the work of Blue Care and the generations of people who have sought to make a difference in the lives of those in their community who are in need. We will ask ourselves how we can find our own place in the service of God. God works to make all things his own. Let us worship God. [A blue candle is lit] Call to worship. Psalm 71 In you, O God, I take refuge Let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, A strong fortress, to save me, For you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O God, from the hand of the wicked, From the grasp of the unjust and the cruel. For you, O God, are my hope, My trust, O God, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; It was you who took me from my mother s womb.

2 My praise is continually of you. Come now to where God is found Come now to the moment of God s revelation. (Suggestions) TIS 474 Here in this place, new light is streaming TIS 44 AHB 347 How lovely is your dwelling TIS 143 AHB 80 Immortal, invisible, God only wise Prayers of thanksgiving and confession God our Creator, our thoughts cannot contain you; our words fall short of your vastness; yet you are our God, God of all ages. Your breath gives us life. Your hands shaped our being. Your artistry in creation leaves us gasping in wonder; longing to experience that which is of you. In each person, there you are, if we could but discern you. For all you have given us For all of your grace, your gifts, your love We are thankful For all you have shown us For all of your insight, your wisdom, your love We are thankful For all you have allowed us to be For all of your encouragement, your faithfulness, your love We are thankful Accept our thanks and praise, O ancient yet youthful God, as we worship and adore you The grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all. Let us come in sorrow for our sins, seeking healing and salvation. In silence let us confess our sins; for God is merciful and compassionate to all. [Silence] Despite your faithfulness, O God, despite the loving care you have showered upon us,

3 despite countless gifts of grace, we have sinned. We have heard your word, but done little in response. We have blinded ourselves to the needs of others, or helped while remaining in comfort. We have lifted our voices to praise your name, while speaking to the hurt of our brothers and sisters. Forgive us for what we have not done, and for the wrong we have done. Help us always to remember that in you there is a new beginning, and a new day. Lead us forward, help us to risk ourselves for your sake. Amen. Declaration of forgiveness God hears our sighs, and recognises our touch. With compassion and care, God looks upon those who wait. Through Christ, God whispers firmly to us: Your faith has made you whole; Go in peace, and be healed. Surely God s love is steadfast, and God s power is great to redeem. Amen. Children's address Show some pictures throughout the life of a congregation member, starting from a baby picture, (can they guess who it is?) Then show a picture of them as a toddler, a school child, a young adult etc. Talk about the differences - what was the biggest change from picture 1 to picture 2, and from picture 2 to picture 3 Could you see particular features that were always present? Conversation about potential = potential to grow and develop and become greater than you might have dreamed What helped develop the person's potential? What might have slowed or disrupted the person's potential? OR Discussion about the development of skills conversation with younger children might involve naming a skill that a child can now do easily but at one time was difficult, eg riding a bike, swimming conversation with older children might involve a discussion about what the child wants to be/do when they grow up, and what they will have to do to achieve this? (study, practice etc).

4 OR Conversation with adults might be about the pain of learning a new skill as an adult, eg. Driving, Snow skiing, Knitting Questions - How did you become better at this skill? Was it easy? Did it take a long time? Did you feel like giving up? God, and people who love you, want you to be all you can be, to reach your full potential God loves you and will be with you all your life so you can be the best person you can become This won t come without some aspiration and some struggle. You can be strong, knowing that God loves you and is helping you God wants the best for you Have a Blue Care staff member or Chaplain tell a story from their work in Blue Care. Have a Blue Care staff member or a Blue Care Committee or Auxiliary member tell how Blue Care and Blue Nursing started in your community. Consider the far-sighted pioneers who, in 1953, conceived a home nursing service as a practical missional activity in their community, The vision of Rev. Arthur Preston, the minister at the Methodist Mission at West End, began with one visit on 24 August Olive Crombie travelled by Brisbane tram to make her first visit, and the Blue Nursing Service was born. those who spread the vision, who fundraised and auspiced local Blue Care services. those who built up Blue Care, and for the significant and effective role it plays today across Queensland and Northern Territory. and finally, those who will carry the agency on into the future, alongside a myriad of other Uniting Care Queensland services assisting people in need. Blue Care s mission to promote and deliver quality caring services based on the compassion of Christ is built on a central understanding of the identity and mission of Christ; and the care that is offered being an example of the compassion of Christ. Blue Care staff work every day to be where people need physical care, social companionship, and pastoral and spiritual care God is faithful to the mission of the church, as lived out in the work of the community services of the Uniting Church, including Blue Care. TIS 669Well, Jesus is the rock TIS 717Give thanks with a grateful heart TIS 407 AHB 407Breath on me, breath of God The people hear the Word of God First reading Jeremiah 1:4-10

5 Second reading Luke 13:10-17 Preaching of the Word - God s Faithfulness as we Discover our Potential Notes -The Old Testament reading is a classic call or commissioning narrative, which contains predictable elements, ie. a crisis in which God confronts the person, the commissioning of the person for some action, objections raised about the person s adequacy for the task, the assurance of God's help "I will be with you" and perhaps a sign to confirm the commission. The call of God into discipleship is not easy, but God always sees our potential. It takes openness to sense God s urging, and to own our own potential. It may take courage to step out of our comfort zone to start something new, to commit to study or preparation for the challenge. Potential needs to be developed, from within and without. We need to recognize what excuses we or others may create and put them aside to commit tour potential. What might we commit to if we knew we could not fail? We are challenged to begin, always knowing that God is with us in the journey and the outcome. Jeremiah was not promised success but, instead, God s faithfulness. The Gospel reading reminds us that God s transforming love is offered to all who need it, even when it s not expected or acceptable in polite society. In this story, Jesus takes an extraordinary stand for the welfare of the woman, challenging the conventions of the day and reminding people that there is no right or wrong time for God s love and healing. The good news of God s love is for everyone. What is our role in God s mission in the world? What potential does God see in us to be part of that mission? The people respond Affirmation of Faith We believe in God who created us, who loves us and makes us whole. We believe in Jesus Christ, God s Son, whose death and resurrection is our salvation and our example. We believe in the Holy Spirit of God who calls us to abundant life. Amen. TIS 547 AHB 455 Be thou my vision TIS 154 Great is your faithfulness TIS 430 AHB 337 Your words to me are life and health Offering Offering Prayer Loving God, for the potential that exists in this group of people, and for the gifts that they offer for your mission in the world, we give thanks.

6 For monetary gifts, but also for time and energy, For developed gifts and skills, but also for potential that you and others awaken. For your mission we pray, In the name of Christ, Amen Prayers of the People The Spirit of God assures us that we are God s children. In the Spirit, we lift our prayers to God. Let us pray for the furthering of God s realm in our lives and the lives of others: For workers of the deep: fishers, sailors, and divers; psychologists, psychiatrists and psychoanalysts; philosophers, sociologists and anthropologists; priests, ministers, spiritual directors and retreat leaders. For bringers of new life: mothers, midwives, nurses and doctors; rehabilitators, recyclers and restorers; quilters, marriage counsellors and good listeners; children, inventors and people with good imaginations. For keepers of tradition: parents and grandparents, elders and people of long life; historians, archivists, storytellers and curators; theologians, hymn writers, musicians and liturgists; people with good memories and a sense of continuity. For disciples of Christ: those who listen obediently and those who work hard; those who keep the tradition and those who introduce new wisdom; those who catch many into the fold and those who loyally shepherd the important few; ourselves and our contribution, however small or large. Loving God, hear us as we offer prayers for the work of Blue Care for the staff and volunteers for the Chaplains and pastoral care volunteers for those in leadership positions

7 we ask that you guide and bless the activities of Blue Care as it continues to be part of your mission in Queensland for those whose home is a Blue Care residential facility for those who are supported and cared for by Blue Care staff in their own homes for those whose lives are enriched by activities at Blue Care respite centres we ask that they may experience compassionate care based on your love Risen Christ, wherever we are, grant us the faith and courage to recognise you in our midst. Risen Christ, Lead us deeper into resurrection life. Amen. 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. The people are sent out TIS 687God gives us a future TIS 185 AHB 13Let all the world in every corner sing TIS 216Lord, you are the light of life to me Blessing The blessing of the Holy Trinity of grace be upon you: May God, who formed you, continue to shape you as a vessel of the Gospel. May Christ Jesus, whom you bear, mark your life with the good news. May the Holy Spirit, dwelling within, fill you with the healing,liberating power of Christ. Amen. All prayers are taken from Uniting in Worship 2, some with additions.