Guest blogger and Presider The Reverend Canon Mary Lysecki has provided today's service
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Opening hymn 656 She Comes Sailing on the Wind
Chorus She comes sailing on the wind,
Her wings flashing in the sun,
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight,
Her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth
Like an empty cradle waiting to be filled,
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
Like a mother breathing life into her child.
Many were the dreamers, whose eyes were given sight
When the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
And then down the ages still she flew on. Chorus
To a gentle girl in Galilee a gentle breeze she came,
A whisper softly calling in the dark;
The promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
Flying to the river, she waited circling high
Above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
And she carried him away in her embrace. Chorus
Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
After dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
The Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
Bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on. Chorus
Gathering:
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Way for you.”
All: And so we come to follow Christ.
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Truth for you.”
All: And so we come to dwell in the light.
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Life for you.”
All: And so we come, leaving behind all else to which we cling.
Prayer for the day:
Chorus She comes sailing on the wind,
Her wings flashing in the sun,
On a journey just begun, she flies on.
And in the passage of her flight,
Her song rings out through the night,
Full of laughter, full of light, she flies on.
Silent waters rocking on the morning of our birth
Like an empty cradle waiting to be filled,
And from the heart of God the Spirit moved upon the earth,
Like a mother breathing life into her child.
Many were the dreamers, whose eyes were given sight
When the Spirit filled their dreams with life and form.
Deserts turned to gardens, broken hearts found new delight,
And then down the ages still she flew on. Chorus
To a gentle girl in Galilee a gentle breeze she came,
A whisper softly calling in the dark;
The promise of a child of peace whose reign would never end,
Mary sang the Spirit song within her heart.
Flying to the river, she waited circling high
Above the child now grown so full of grace.
As he rose up from the water, she swept down from the sky,
And she carried him away in her embrace. Chorus
Long after the deep darkness that fell upon the world,
After dawn returned in flame of rising sun,
The Spirit touched the earth again, again her wings unfurled,
Bringing life in wind and fire as she flew on. Chorus
Gathering:
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Way for you.”
All: And so we come to follow Christ.
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Truth for you.”
All: And so we come to dwell in the light.
Leader: Jesus says, “I am the Life for you.”
All: And so we come, leaving behind all else to which we cling.
Prayer for the day:
Leader: Loving God,
You have led us to this place,
not to shield us from heartache
and the pain of human life,
but to heal us and inspire us,
to gently redirect us,
till we see the world as you do
and love it with your love.
Amen
Hymn 60 I Come with Joy
I come with joy, a child of God,
Forgiven, loved, and free,
The life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
To find, as all are fed,
The new community of love
In Christ’s communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
Each proud division ends.
You have led us to this place,
not to shield us from heartache
and the pain of human life,
but to heal us and inspire us,
to gently redirect us,
till we see the world as you do
and love it with your love.
Amen
Hymn 60 I Come with Joy
I come with joy, a child of God,
Forgiven, loved, and free,
The life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
To find, as all are fed,
The new community of love
In Christ’s communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
Each proud division ends.
The love that made us makes us one,
And strangers now are friends.
The spirit of the risen Christ,
Unseen, but ever near,
Is in such friendship better known,
Alive among us here.
Together met, together bound,
by all that God has done,
We’ll go with joy, to give the world
The love that makes us one.
Gospel
Leader: May God be with you All: and also with you.
Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All: Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
And strangers now are friends.
The spirit of the risen Christ,
Unseen, but ever near,
Is in such friendship better known,
Alive among us here.
Together met, together bound,
by all that God has done,
We’ll go with joy, to give the world
The love that makes us one.
Gospel
Leader: May God be with you All: and also with you.
Leader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All: Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
Jesus put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Leader: The Gospel of Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
Hymn: VU 307 Touch the Earth Lightly
Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently
Nourish the life of the world in our care:
Gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
Trust for the children tomorrow will bear.
We who endanger, who create hunger,
Agents of death for all creatures that live,
We who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!
Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
Water that blesses and air that is sweet,
Health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
Regeneration that peace will complete.
God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
Teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,
Using us gently and making us one.
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’
Leader: The Gospel of Christ. All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
Hymn: VU 307 Touch the Earth Lightly
Touch the earth lightly, use the earth gently
Nourish the life of the world in our care:
Gift of great wonder, ours to surrender,
Trust for the children tomorrow will bear.
We who endanger, who create hunger,
Agents of death for all creatures that live,
We who would foster clouds of disaster,
God of our planet, forestall and forgive!
Let there be greening, birth from the burning,
Water that blesses and air that is sweet,
Health in God’s garden, hope in God’s children,
Regeneration that peace will complete.
God of all living, God of all loving,
God of the seedling, the snow and the sun,
Teach us, deflect us, Christ reconnect us,
Using us gently and making us one.
Affirmation of Faith:
We believe in God
whose love is the source of all life
and the desire of our lives,
whose love was given a human face
in Jesus of Nazareth,
whose love was crucified by the evil
that waits to enslave us all
and whose love, defeating even death,
is our glorious promise of freedom.
Therefore, though we are sometimes fearful
and full of doubt,
in God we trust;
and, in the name of Jesus Christ,
we commit ourselves, in the service of others,
to seek justice and to live in peace,
to care for the earth
and to share the commonwealth
of God’s goodness,
to live in the freedom of forgiveness
and the power of the spirit of love,
and in the company of the faithful
so to be the Church,
for the glory of God. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Leader: We are your people, God, in this time and place, you have called us to pray for those in need.
We pray for the people whose names the world knows, whose stories are told daily in the news. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for people in places of suffering, whose names only you and their friends and families know, and whose lives you cherish. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for the people whose names and lives we know, those who today are in pain or distress or trouble, those who are happy, those who are sad. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for ourselves, God. You know each one of us by name. Make us into the people you want us to be. And when that hurts, reassure us how much you love us. God, we bring you ourselves and our prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn 612 Healer of Our Every Ill
Chorus Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow;
Give us peace beyond our fear,
And hope beyond our sorrow.
You who know our fears and sadness,
Grace us with your peace and gladness.
Spirit of all comfort: fill our hearts. Chorus
In the pain and joy beholding
How your grace is still unfolding,
Give us all your vision: God of love. Chorus
Give us strength to love each other,
Every sister, every brother.
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide. Chorus
You who know each thought and feeling,
Teach us all your way of healing.
Spirit of compassion: fill each heart. Chorus
The Lord’s prayer sung
Blessing
Leader: Jesus said, “I am with you always.”
May God the Creator bless you.
May God the Son walk with you.
May God the Spirit lead your lives with love.
All: Amen.
Dismissal
Leader: Look at your hands, see the touch and the tenderness,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at your feet, see the path and the direction,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at your heart, see the fire and the love,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at the cross, see God’s Son and our Saviour.
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: This is God’s world,
All: and we will serve God in it.
Sending Hymn 502 You are Salt for the Earth
We believe in God
whose love is the source of all life
and the desire of our lives,
whose love was given a human face
in Jesus of Nazareth,
whose love was crucified by the evil
that waits to enslave us all
and whose love, defeating even death,
is our glorious promise of freedom.
Therefore, though we are sometimes fearful
and full of doubt,
in God we trust;
and, in the name of Jesus Christ,
we commit ourselves, in the service of others,
to seek justice and to live in peace,
to care for the earth
and to share the commonwealth
of God’s goodness,
to live in the freedom of forgiveness
and the power of the spirit of love,
and in the company of the faithful
so to be the Church,
for the glory of God. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Leader: We are your people, God, in this time and place, you have called us to pray for those in need.
We pray for the people whose names the world knows, whose stories are told daily in the news. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for people in places of suffering, whose names only you and their friends and families know, and whose lives you cherish. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for the people whose names and lives we know, those who today are in pain or distress or trouble, those who are happy, those who are sad. . .
Silence
God in your mercy All: Hear our prayer.
Leader: We pray for ourselves, God. You know each one of us by name. Make us into the people you want us to be. And when that hurts, reassure us how much you love us. God, we bring you ourselves and our prayers in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn 612 Healer of Our Every Ill
Chorus Healer of our every ill,
Light of each tomorrow;
Give us peace beyond our fear,
And hope beyond our sorrow.
You who know our fears and sadness,
Grace us with your peace and gladness.
Spirit of all comfort: fill our hearts. Chorus
In the pain and joy beholding
How your grace is still unfolding,
Give us all your vision: God of love. Chorus
Give us strength to love each other,
Every sister, every brother.
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide. Chorus
You who know each thought and feeling,
Teach us all your way of healing.
Spirit of compassion: fill each heart. Chorus
The Lord’s prayer sung
Blessing
Leader: Jesus said, “I am with you always.”
May God the Creator bless you.
May God the Son walk with you.
May God the Spirit lead your lives with love.
All: Amen.
Dismissal
Leader: Look at your hands, see the touch and the tenderness,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at your feet, see the path and the direction,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at your heart, see the fire and the love,
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: Look at the cross, see God’s Son and our Saviour.
All: God’s own for the world.
Leader: This is God’s world,
All: and we will serve God in it.
Sending Hymn 502 You are Salt for the Earth
You are salt for the earth, O people:
Salt for the kingdom of God!
Share the flavour of life, O people:
Life in the kingdom of God!
Chorus Bring forth the kingdom of mercy,
Salt for the kingdom of God!
Share the flavour of life, O people:
Life in the kingdom of God!
Chorus Bring forth the kingdom of mercy,
Bring forth the kingdom of peace;
Bring forth the kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the city of God!
You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the city of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the kingdom of God! Chorus
You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the kingdom of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice
Grow in the kingdom of God! Chorus
We are a blest and a pilgrim people
Bound for the kingdom of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the kingdom of God! Chorus
Bring forth the kingdom of justice,
Bring forth the city of God!
You are a light on the hill, O people:
Light for the city of God!
Shine so holy and bright, O people:
Shine for the kingdom of God! Chorus
You are a seed of the Word, O people:
Bring forth the kingdom of God!
Seeds of mercy and seeds of justice
Grow in the kingdom of God! Chorus
We are a blest and a pilgrim people
Bound for the kingdom of God!
Love our journey and love our homeland:
Love is the kingdom of God! Chorus
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