CALL TO WORSHIP – from the back of the church
Our worship on this Sunday following All Saint’s Day gives us opportunity to celebrate and remember those in our community who have gone before us.
Their presence in our community has contributed and shaped
our work, and life, character, and story.
We remember those whose faithful lives proclaimed the gospel
of Jesus Christ in words loud and soft, in actions great and small.
We gather before God, and remember the saints who have told the stories of God’s people, who witnessed to their faith
in times past.
HYMN: Ours is a Singing Faith (Tune: WOV 163 Diademata)
Ours is a singing faith!
Now here the hymns we raise.
Resounding, strong, the years a long
and echoing our praise.
Ours is a singing faith!
In confidence we sing:
Creation’s throne is God’s alone,
so joyous voices ring.
Ours is a singing faith!
Through all the ebb and flow
of youth and age, on history’s page
we see saints come and go.
Ours is a singing faith!
The melody rolls on,
sustained by those whose voices rose
in praise in times long gone.
Ours is a singing faith!
All thanks to God be sung
by people here both far and near
in every land and tongue.
Ours is a singing faith!
Let psalms and anthems rise
from sun and moon and stars in tune
till music fills the skies! ©Jane Parker Huber (ASF)
OPENING PRAYERS and THE LORD’S PRAYER
WELCOME AND NOTICES
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
SONG: He’s got the whole world in his hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands.
He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,?He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,?He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands.??He’s got the rivers and the mountains in His hands,?He’s got the oceans and the seas in His hands,?He’s got you and he’s got me in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands.??He’s got everybody here in His hands,?He’s got everybody there in His hands,?He’s got everybody everywhere in His hands,?He’s got the whole world in His hands. (author unknown)
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS
READINGS: Revelation 7: 9-17 Bob Cathro
From Matthew 5 (The Message) Joan Scott
SERMON: Wounded Healers
A TIME OF QUIET
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – together
We believe in God who created and who goes on creating in us.
We believe that God so loved the world that he came to us
in Jesus Christ, living life with us, preaching, teaching and healing.
We believe that God remains with us through the Spirit,
to be our strength and guide.
We believe that God has called his people through the ages to be peacemakers, to hunger and thirst for what is right, and to show mercy to others.
Along with the people of God around the world, and in company with the other churches in this city, we name ourselves
as those called to do the task in this time and this place.
We too have heard the call of Christ to follow in the way of the cross.
In faith we lay down our fear, our weakness and our lack of worth,
and announce again, with those who have gone before us,
the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. AMEN.
OFFERING
God of us all, you love us and give us so much.
We pray that our daily giving and receiving, may be like this offertory, not tired habit or empty duty alone, but prompted and steered
by celebration of your love shown in Jesus. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
INVITATION TO COMMUNION & THE PEACE
COMMUNION HYMN: 656 Take our Bread
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to God. It is good to give God thanks and praise.
It is always good … have joined together to praise you saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might;
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in your name,
Hosanna in the highest…
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God you feed us that we might go out from here to be
your people in the world. Strengthen and empower us.
Bless us and send us into the world you love; the world that needs your love and your healing, transforming power.
May we be bearers of your love; awed but not overwhelmed by the task you call us to, in the name of Christ. Amen.
HYMN: We Shall Go Out With Hope (Tune: Londonderry Air)
We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
we shall go out, from strength to strength go on,
we shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
tales of a love that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
we’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
we’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
within the vision of a Christ who sets us free.
We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken,
we’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
we’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer,
expressing love alive in every heart.
We’ll share God’s care with those who still are weeping,
raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
we’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
including all within the circles of our love.
© June Boyce-Tillman (VU)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge after the service.
Thank you to those who helped with last weekend’s Garage Sale. We raised $400, which is a good result.
Marmalade for Missions: please support this fundraiser.
NOTICES
The Christchurch APW will meet at St Martins on Wednesday 9th November at 9.45am. This will be our final meeting of the year and we will be entertained by the junior pupils of Hillview Christian School. Please remember to bring your grocery items for the hampers for Pillars. There will be a Sales Table. Look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Allison 332 0554.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 9th November – Ilam Gardens: Meet 9.45am at the bus stop In Ilam Rd opposite carpark by Ngaio Marsh building. This will allow Orbiter travellers to catch 9.12 bus from St Martins and en route. Fern 332 4725.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the Lounge. Please help!! We require a person to help us out on the days Audrey has Foot Clinic in the afternoon (once every six weeks). Please contact Beverley 942 7821 or text 027 787 5868. ?
ROSTERS FOR 2012
We are looking for more names to add to our rosters for 2012. This is for:
*Serving morning tea after worship
*Church cleaning
*Flowers
If you can help with any/all of these we would be very grateful. The more people we have sharing in this makes it lighter for everyone.
Please contact Joan 338 8700 or Allison 332 0554.
CUPPA & CHAT: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in!
FOOTCARE CLINIC: the next session on Thursday 17th November is fully booked.
There are copies of Chris’ study leave report on the table in the foyer. Please sign the notebook if you borrow a copy.