CALL TO WORSHIP:
We welcome the Season of Lent – a time to remember and reflect on the wonders of God’s promises:
to remember God’s presence in times of difficulty;
remember God’s covenants;
to remember God’s creation;
remember God’s healing love;
to remember God’s forgiveness.
Come, let us worship the God who has promised to love us through all the turnings and seasons of our lives.
HYMN: Fill Your Hearts with Joy (Tune: Regent Square)
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
sing and praise your God and mine!
Great the Lord in love and wisdom,
might and majesty divine!
He who framed the starry heavens
knows and names them as they shine.
Praise the Lord, his people, praise him!
wounded souls his comfort know;
those who fear him find his mercies,
peace for pain and joy for woe;
humble hearts are high exalted,
human pride and power laid low.
Praise the Lord for times and season,
cloud and sunshine, wind and rain;
spring to melt the snows of winter
till the waters flow again;
grass upon the mountain pastures,
golden valleys thick with grain.
Fill your hearts with joy and gladness,
peace and plenty crown your days;
love his laws, declare his judgements,
walk in all his words and ways;
he the Lord and we his children –
praise the Lord, all people, praise! © Timothy Dudley-Smith (HFTC)
OPENING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Alice Shanks
SONG: Songbook 24 Take My Gifts
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS
READINGS: Genesis 9: 8-17 Bernie Brettell
Mark 1: 9-15 Jenny Brettell
SERMON: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
A TIME OF QUIET
OFFERING
God of eternal love, we begin this Lenten journey ever mindful of all that you have done for us, and we re-dedicate ourselves to travel
with Jesus, to remember your promises, and to spread the good news of your never-ending, unconditional love for all people.
Accept these gifts, and accept our promise, to love, serve, and follow, in Christ’s name. Amen.
HYMN: Bless Now, O God, the Journey (Tune: Thornbury)
Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,
the path through noise and silence, the way of give and take.
The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round,
then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.
Bless sojourners and pilgrims who share this winding way,
whose hope burns through the terrors, whose love sustains the day.
We yearn for holy freedom while often we are bound.
Together we are seeking the road where faith is found.
Divine Eternal Lover, you meet us on the road.
We wait for lands of promise where milk and honey flow.
But waiting not for places, you meet us all around.
Our covenant is written on roads, as faith is found. © GIA Publications
(VU)
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: 480 Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go
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.
NEIGHBOURHOOD BBQ TONIGHT 5.00 – 7.00pm. Everything provided. Just bring your neighbours! Enquiries to Sonya please 339 7038.
Next Sunday 4th March the congregation of St George’s/Iona will be joining us. Please could you all bring a plate for morning tea on this day. Thanks. Worship Committee.?
Women are invited to come to a casual meeting of the Fireside group at 7.30pm on Tuesday 28th February in the church lounge. There will be no programme but we hope for a pleasant evening catching up on each others’ activities during the past three months. Enquiries to Margaret 366 8936 please.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday 2nd March 10am at St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, Opawa Rd (please enter off Vincent Pl). This year’s service has been prepared by the women of Malaysia. All are welcome.
CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 29th February ~ meet 9.30am by the bridge to the kiosk in the Gardens (from carpark entrance at Armagh St). See some of the Festival of Flowers exhibits. Coffee venue TBC! June 332 8874.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: The next session is on Thursday 29th March. Please book through the Parish Office. Queries to Lyndsey 388 1264.
MARMALADE FOR MISSIONS ~ please support this fundraiser!
An Invitation is extended to all from St Martins, St James & Hoon Hay to join Cashmere Hills for a picnic on Sunday 11th March, Halswell Quarry 12 noon until 3pm. The booked site is the Lions picnic area – enter from Kennedys Bush Rd. The site will be labelled. Bring your picnic lunch, a chair, hat and sunnies! All Welcome.
Recipes for zucchini – please collect a leaflet from the foyer if you are interested. Apologies from Lyn for inadvertently omitting this from the Messenger.
GARAGE SALE Saturday 10th March. If you can help, please let Warren know 337 1448. Items for sale can be brought to the church from the 5th March.
COMMUNITY BBQ Saturday 3rd March 1-3pm at St Martins School. Sausages provided. Bring along a picnic, games, balls and get ready for a day full of fun. If wet, on 4th March. See noticeboard for details.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 27th Elizabeth; Fri 2nd Marilyn.