CALL TO WORSHIP
Let us rejoice, for a new day has dawned.
We know the beauty of God’s Creation and the wonder of
the human family.
We remember those whose love and example has shaped our lives; those whose loyalty and faithfulness has continued in times of difficulty as well as celebration.
We gather here to worship God, to give thanks and to reaffirm our commitment to God and the task we are called to.
HYMN: Sing Praise and Thanksgiving
Sing praise and thanksgiving, let all creatures living
now worship their maker with gladness and song;
all glory and honour we come to him bringing:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God!
Our lives of his making he brings to their waking;
in darkness he held us in his gracious care,
now into the light we are called from our sleeping:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God!
Lord, frame our desiring to do your requiring,
that unto your glory be all that we do;
and where we have faltered, give strength and give healing:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God! © C.A. Gibson & M. Barclay (WOV)
OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Gillian Cree
SONG: Go Tell Everyone God’s Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do,
what I have to do.
He sent me to give the Good News to the poor,
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more,
Tell blind people that they can see,
and set the downtrodden free.
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come,
And go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come.
And just as the Father sent me,
so I’m sending you out to be
My witnesses throughout the world,
the whole of the world.
Don’t worry what you have to say,
don’t worry because on that day
God’s Spirit will speak in your heart,
will speak in your heart.
READINGS:
Psalm 111: Praise for God’s Wonderful Works
Praise the Lord!
I will thank you O Lord with all my heart:
in the company of the upright, in their assembly.
Great are your works O Lord:
and to be studied by all who delight in them.
Your deeds are full of majesty and splendour:
and your righteousness endures for ever.
You have caused your marvellous acts to be remembered: you Lord are gracious and full of compassion.
You give food to those who fear you:
you keep your covenant always in mind. You have shown your people your power in action:
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
The works of your hands are faithful and just:
and all your precepts are trustworthy.
They stand fast for ever and ever:
they are grounded in truth and justice. You sent redemption to your people,
you decreed your eternal covenant:
holy and awesome is your name.
The fear of you O Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
those who revere you have good understanding:
your praise shall endure for ever.
Mark 14: 3-9 Jeannette Beaumont
REFLECTION
A TIME OF QUIET
HYMN: Come, Celebrate the Women (Tune : Ellacombe)
Come, celebrate the women
who brought the Church to birth!
the gentle revolution
that shall transform the earth:
whose faith was salt and leaven,
whose hearts and minds were free,
and this was their direction –
to peace and unity.
The teachers, saints and mothers
who lived and died unsung
kept safe the gospel story
and taught it to the young;
the Christ child Mary cradled,
the living Word to be
was crucified for pleading
this peace and unity.
Daughters of the disciples,
you weave the story still,
the fabric of the future
with warmth and love and skill,
you make the bread of wholeness,
the wine of harmony –
and all shall share your feasting
in peace and unity! © Shirley Murray
THE OFFERING
God, we offer you our money and these gifts of food.
We offer you our gifts and skills.
We offer you the work of our hands and hearts in the wider community and beyond.
God, may we reflect in our work and in our lives the community we have found in the sharing of the loaf; and the presence we have known in the breaking of the bread, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
THE ORDINATION OF NEW ELDERS
Presentation
Preamble
There are different gifts,
but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving God,
but it is the same Lord who is served.
God works through different people in different ways,
but it is the same God whose purpose is at work in us all.
We are all given gifts by the Spirit to use for the common good.
We have the joy of using our gifts
as members of Christ’s Church,
which is his body continuing his ministry in the world today…
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We are not alone, we live in God’s world.
We believe in God: who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence, to live with respect in Creation,
to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death,
God is with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God. (United Church of Canada, 1968)
Vows
Congregational Vows
Do you, the members of this congregation, accept Hilary and Barry as serving elders? We do
Will you encourage them and support them in this ministry, serving with them the one Lord Jesus Christ? We will
As members of this congregation will you encourage and support all leaders, surrounding them with your love, remembering them in prayer? We will
Signing of the Formula
Prayer
Aaronic Blessing: The Lord Bless You and Keep You (WOV 572)
The Lord bless you, and keep you:
The Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. C/A
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you,
pray that I may have the grace
to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are travellers on the road,
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear,
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping,
when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you,
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven,
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love, and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you,
pray that I may have the grace
to let you be my servant too.
THE BLESSING
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
CHRIS’ LAST SUNDAY 28TH JUNE: A lunch has been organised at the Cashmere Club at 12.30pm. $33 per head. Allison has the list available – please put your name on the list if you wish to attend. Payment to be made on the day at the Club. We hope as many as possible will be able to attend. The list will be available for the next four weeks or ring Allison 332 0554.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 13th May: Meet 9.30am in the Heathcote Valley Inn carpark for a stroll around Heathcote. All are welcome. Anneke 328 7459.
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CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.
DEADLINE FOR COPY for “Messenger” is this Friday 15th May. Anneke (anneke.howie@gmail.com).
INVITATION TO A FAMILY GAMES NIGHT NEXT Sunday 17th May 5 – 7.30 p.m. Beckenham Church Lounge. Bring your own tea and a favourite game. Drinks provided. THIS EVENING IS FOR EVERYONE.
NEW READERS’ ROSTER available today – please check to see if there is one for you. Anna.
CEILIDH: Saturday 6th June 2015 St Martins School Hall 7 – 10.30pm.
Everyone is welcome. It will be a great night of fun, dance etc and the
Incredible Ceilidh Band have been invited to help musically and with the
dancing. Spread the word. Bring your family and friends, and cash to purchase jams and pickles for your pantry.
A very special fundraiser for the Link Building.
Tickets $15 each or $40 a family. See Anneke or Irene.
CARING & SHARING: Wednesday 27th May 2pm, Beckenham Methodist Lounge. We’d love to see everyone – old, young, even in between! Irene 332 7306.
FOOT CLINIC: Next Session Monday 15th June 1-4pm. Phone Judith 332 1577 to book.
INVITATION: The annual ecumenical service for the observance of the Week for Christian Unity is being held on Wednesday 20th May at 7pm at the Transitional Cathedral. All are most welcome to attend, and stay on for a cuppa afterwards.
BELLA’S BENEFIT BASH featuring the Jabulani Choir TOMORROW 7.30pm at Waltham School Hall (entrance off Hastings St East). Tickets available from Adrienne 942 2173. Entry by koha: Waged $15, Bring a friend $25, Unwaged $5.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wed & Thurs 9am-12noon and Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Pop in and say hello – 7 Wilsons Rd (at the rear of the St Anne’s site near the sandpit).
Please ensure Anna has any notices by 9am Thursday each week.
Keep an eye on the website: www.stmartins.org.nz
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 10th Jill; Sat 16th Kim.