WELCOME AND NOTICES
• The Board of Managers’ Report
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Like the riot of colour of daffodils and blossom – we come.
Diverse and distinct, yet collected together – we come.
Like budding tree branches reaching to the skies – we come.
Yearning for the light and warmth – we come.
Like waves crashing onto sand and rock of the waterfront- we come.
Sometimes worried, sometimes broken – we come.
We come in hope, in faith, and in trust.
We come as a family of faith, eager to worship God as one.
HYMN: Praise With Joy the World’s Creator (Tune: Praise My Soul)
Praise with joy the world’s Creator,
God of justice, love and peace,
source and end of human knowledge,
force of greatness without cease.
Celebrate the Maker’s glory,
power to rescue and release.
Praise the Son who feeds the hungry,
frees the captive, finds the lost,
heals the sick, upsets religion,
fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ’s constant presence –
Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.
Praise the Spirit sent among us,
liberating truth from pride,
forging bonds where race or gender,
age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure –
foolishness none dare deride.
Praise the Maker, Son and Spirit,
one God in community,
calling Christians to embody
oneness and diversity.
Thus the world shall yet believe,
when shown Christ’s vibrant unity. © WGRG, Iona Community (VU)
OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ William Penwell & Eleanor Barton
SONG: My God is So Big
My God is so big,
so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do. (Repeat)
The mountains are his.
The valleys are his.
The stars are his handiwork too.
My God is so big,
so strong and so mighty,
there’s nothing my God cannot do. (Repeat) © St Paul’s Outreach Trust (NJS)
READINGS: 2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a: Nathan’s story that condemns David
Peggy Cree
Ephesians 4: 1-16: Live a life worthy of your calling Audrey Dunnachie
SERMON: Perilous Power
HYMN: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty.
There’s no place where human sorrows are more deeply felt than heav’n.
There’s no place where human failings have such kindly judgements giv’n.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind
and the heart of the eternal is most wonderfully kind.
But we make that love too narrow by the limits of our own;
and we magnify God’s strictness with a zeal love will not own.
There is grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations in that end-less world of bliss.
If our love were but more simple we would trust the living Word;
and our lives would fill with gladness in the joy of Christ our Lord. (C/A)
A TIME OF QUIET
THE OFFERING:
Ordinary things like paper and coin and modern things like electronic transaction can make for the extraordinary work of the Spirit –
alive and active in our world.
Bless these offerings, O God, that they may be the means by which your extraordinary grace is known; for we offer them in Jesus’ name. Amen.
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: God Eternal and Unchanging (Tune: Blaenwern)
God eternal and unchanging, though unbound by time or place, yet with constant, tender yearning you sustain our human race. History in all its colours, present moment where we stand, hidden future, still to open – all are gathered in your hand.
God who sees all human stories, you in each your touch display; sometimes known and sometimes hidden you have met us on our way. Though we may have failed or faltered, doubted love, resisted grace, yet, persistent, you walked with us, as we travelled to this place.
God, whose life pervades each moment, meet us in this present hour, as we open thought and action to your life’s transforming power. Startle, challenge and confront us, touch our hearts and free our hands so that we may see and serve you, yield to all your love demands.
God who stands beyond the future, what’s to come is still unknown. Yet, unchanging, you are with us and we will not walk alone. Go with us through doubt and darkness, stand with us in hopeful place, ‘til the chain of time is broken and we see you face-to-face. ©Pat Bennett
THE BLESSING
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Morning tea will be served after the service.
EMAIL ADDRESSES: Please make sure Anna has your CORRECT email address so we can keep you informed about what is happening.
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will take place on Sunday 9th September following morning worship.
FIRESIDE meets on Tuesday 28th August 7.30pm at Allison’s for a catch-up. Margaret 366 8936.
CUPPA & CHAT: Tuesday & Wednesday 10am – 12 noon. All welcome. Aubrey 930 2525.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 29th August: Meet 9.30am in Stourbridge St near the corner of Therese St. Coffee at Oderings. Others are welcome to join us. Margaret 366 8936.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS meets every Thursday 10am – 12 noon. New faces are always welcome. Beverley 332 7786.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session Monday 10th September 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist – please note change of date. We would love a volunteer to apply nail polish please for our Spring Special! Lyndsey 388 1264.
THE PARISH OFFICE is CLOSED. Anna can be contacted as usual on Wed & Thurs 9am – 12 noon & Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz
The Opawa Painting Group wishes to advise they now meet in the Beckenham Methodist Lounge from 10am until 12 noon on a Monday. Help is available. Reasonable charges. For more information, phone Peter 332 1501.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 27th Marie.