Preparing for Worship

 

Welcome to our online worship service today with the People of Boronia Park Uniting Church! Especially this Sunday, it is called Youth Full Sunday, our proud and passionate high schoolers and young adult leads the service. We, Boronia Park Uniting Church has had a great privilege that we have observed young ones growing in faith and maturity, increasing our expectation in God’s reign in their lives. This year, we have a new member in youth group who began his high school and one who will start his university in March. We look forward to their tomorrow in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Also we begin the Lenten season 2021 today. Next 40 days, we continue exploring how much God loves us and finding out our spiritual coordinate where the grace of Jesus Christ who completed God’s will in his life corresponds to. In this worship, we believe that we will go in sync with the steps of God as we begin this Lenten journey.

 

 

Acknowledgement for the First Peoples

 

We would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the traditional owners of the land on which we meet; the Wallumettagal people of the Eora Nation. It is upon their ancestral lands that the Boronia Park Uniting Church is built. As we share our own knowledge, teaching, learning and Christian practice within this congregation may we also pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever within the Aboriginal Custodianship of Country.

 

 

Opening Prayer

 

Loving Lord,

at the beginning of this Lenten season,

we are met with the challenge of handing over

every bit of our lives that do not come from You.

To rid ourselves of what disgraces our lives,

and all that delays us from the simple truth

of Your love for us.

 

Your prophets have called us to change the way we worship—

to make internal sacrifices instead of external ones.

To seek justice, and love kindness,

and walk humbly with You

each and every one of our days.

 

If we don’t give anything up for Lent,

then let us at least give up this:

that we might live cease living in ways that disconnect us from You,

for every one of our steps is like a circle around Your temple.

Perhaps this Lent,

we can give up our way

and give ourselves to Your way for us.

 

So, lead and guide us on this Lenten way.

May we walk with Jesus toward the hill just outside of Jerusalem.

May we like Him take up our cross and follow,

spending each moment of our lives living responsively to You,

just as Christ Himself did.

For that is the faithful way. Amen.                                           

Attributed by Patrick Ryan

Song of Praise     Here I Am to Worship

 

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you

 

So here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

 

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love's sake became poor

So here I am to worship …

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

So here I am to worship …

 

Tim Hughes © 2000 Thankyou Music |CCLI #260394

 

 

The Peace

 

The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

 

 

Bible Reading     Mark 1:9-15

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

¹² At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³ and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

 

Jesus Announces the Good News

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

 

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

 

Song      You raise me up

 

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence

Until You come and sit awhile with me.

 

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders

You raise me up to more than I can be

 

Songwriters: Rolf Lovland / Brendan Joseph Graham | CCLI# 260394

 

 

Sermon         Seung Jae Yeon

 

Firstly, I want to talk about the amazing properties of water. And why water? Why do people say that water is necessary for life? Why have we never found any living organism that can flourish in a completely dry environment? How is it that something odourless, colourless, tasteless and relatively unreactive makes up 60 per cent of our body mass? Why could another liquid not be used? Again, why water?

 

Water has several properties that make it unique amongst compounds and make it possible for all forms of known life to function. Whether we are aware of the importance or not, getting hydrated by drink and food, we are able to function as human being. Water is almost everywhere in different forms or states. Do you know that?

 

Water is the only natural substance that is found in all three physical states at the temperatures that naturally appear on Earth. Let’s find out more. We see water as a liquid, in rivers and seas, and in any containers that hold it. Water as a solid, as snow and ice, and as a gas, as clouds or steam. If this was not the case, the water cycle would be completely different. Imagine what if water didn't evaporate in the sun? Snow and ice might not exist? Maybe thousands of species would now be homeless and weather would be very different. No snow or no rain. How would farmers water their vast paddocks. Can you think of anything else that would be different? Do you think we could still live if water was only a liquid? What about only a gas or solid? Fortunately, nope, by God’s Creation and purpose, there are water almost everywhere on earth as form of liquid, solid and gas. I believe that the fact that we briefly studied together tells us how important water as the amazing properties exists and forms God’s creation including our day today, days ahead and faith that we own this moment.

 

The reading today tells us about the baptism, the testing and the good news of Jesus Christ our Saviour. In baptism and its ceremonial acts, water is substantial ingredient. If you are a baptised member of the Church, you would have experienced water as liquid on your head soaking your hair and clothes. In the Jordan, Jesus was baptised, fully dunked in water and accepted as a person who is cleansed and becomes a sacred one of their religious community. However, most of all, Jesus got the amazing voice from the sky, saying, “You are my Son so I love you. Because of you, I am so glad.”

 

You know what? The early Christians understood Jesus to be human in the same sense as they were. He was not totally other or strangely alien. Those who had lived with him considered it entirely natural to use their own experience as human beings. They were baptised as he had. They needed substance of life like food and water as he had. We should explore the insight here that Jesus had given them regarding his own gaining of what other people might need in order to remain faithful to God. He was baptised, hearing the voice from the sky, and given the great mission from God. But he was not granted immunity from all substantial ingredients in life. People needed God as Jesus did. We need God and all that God does as Jesus does. I believe by the reason that Mark witnessed the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan very first in his stories of Jesus’ good news. Water was there for Him and for many as a liquid and as a symbol of what all human beings may need in life – Jesus Christ and his life with us.

 

Mark, the storyteller rapidly moved the background of Jesus’ ministry from the Jordan to the wilderness. The driest place in Palestine, no form of water as a liquid, no form of protection made by man. In there, only Jesus, the Spirit, Satan, wild animals and angels. Because of the temperature of the place, water might exist in different state as clouds or steam. But still water there. In the same way, God’s purpose and presence there too. Maybe by his faith Mark briefly mentioned the testing that Jesus faced in the wilderness just after being baptised whereas Matthew and Luke have more details of the testing done by the devil. Mark drew to the story of Jesus’ testing that could happened for forty days into only two verses. That’s it. Maybe his aim of writing the story leads us into different direction. I want us to see the following verses. Let us read together:

 

… Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Verses 14, 15)

 

As we have seen, Jesus, like any human being, suffered in the wilderness. We know how Jesus responded to the testing because he articulated it in proclaiming the kingdom of God to people in Galilee. For forty days, he lived with God who were with him through the services of the Spirit and the angels. For forty days he was full of God’s presence in different form in comparison to the previous event which is the baptism in the Jordan. Water, many people, John the Baptist and the voice from the sky. All were visible, touchable and hearable like other humans did. Here, in this story of his testing, desert, dryness, barrenness, thirsty and huger and uncertainty of what Satan might offer were only existing. However, God was there for him, sustaining him and being real in his life. So after the forty days he acted to go to Galilee immediately, without hesitation or delaying it, and then proclaimed God in the good news. God’s time counts on earth. The Kingdom is real. What they should do is to repent and believe it. How simple is that? How powerful is the word of Jesus Christ? He is the Son of God, who is God, the Amazing property of God on earth and for many lives. So we believe that we cannot live without him this life and beyond. By only the name of Jesus Christ and our faith in him, we are able to find God’s amazing grace in our daily life thought it is now challenged. As water is the only natural substance for our human beings, the good news of Jesus Christ including its implications is the only substance for all believers to continue this journey of life and faith. God be with us. And God goes before us. Wondering this moment how you are provided and lived by the good news of Jesus Christ wherever you are? What would you exactly need now if you still believe in Him?

 

Dear my brothers and sisters in Christ, as we are going into the season of Lent 2021, I may ask you to find where your spirit and faith is placed. I am asking about your spiritual coordinate in God’s purpose and reign. It is important because we are able to begin our seeking to live this life with the good news of Jesus Christ. Since Jesus proclaimed in Galilee, you and I have lived in God’s time and his Kingdom. Do you believe? If we repent and believe it, the amazing properties of God be with us and amongst us. To repent and to believe sound difficult. But in the proclamation of Jesus there we might find a way. There is Jesus. We are with Jesus. In Him, the time of God, the Kingdom of God, repentance and believing are all His. All are substance of Him. All are one in Jesus Christ. We just continue this journey with each other. Especially this Lent, we will explore the meaning of Jesus’ life of living, loving, struggling, suffering and passing toward the resurrection. Your studying, learning and living your own life will be different to previous years. New school, new system, new people and new tasks will challenge you more, pushing you harder. But don’ forget that so far, God is with us, and will be with us forever. Only thing you do remember is that you seek to find him always who makes a way for you and opens door for you to go through. He will never leave us alone. Jesus was baptised, tested and proclaimed the good news. We are called to live the Life given by Jesus and use our own experiences as Jesus did. He showed the examples in today’s passage so we can try.

 

Thanks be to God.

 

Prayers of the People       Joshua Yeon

 

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity you have given us to gather at church and worship you.

We give you praise for all the wonderful things you have done for us here at church, at home in our families, in our community and in the world. In the past year, everyone has faced troubles and fears like no one ever imagined. During these times, you helped us and gave us hope to trust in. We want to thank you for these things and especially the come down of the coronavirus. You helped us when we needed you and we thank you for it.

We would like to pray for Myanmar and its political and military injustices that are happening as we speak. They are flooding the streets with protests and the government is not doing anything in favour of them. we pray that you will give the people of Myanmar peace and the political leaders wisdom.

We would also like to pray for Africa and there recent outbreak of the Ebola disease. As they start facing the problem again, we pray that your bring protection to those who are not infected and healing to those who are. God you have the power to heal the sick and protect the healthy, please do your work among the people and give the world healing.

Lord, we have a growing number of youths here at church. They attend day-cares to primary schools to high schools and now even universities. As these youth members attend wherever they go, please assist them in their journey towards you and their goals and nurture them to be the person you visioned them to be. We pray for the teachers and caregivers of the kids here. We pray that they keep us safe and teach us the things we can use in our future lives. We have a HSC student among us today, we pray that she will gain confidence and grow a peace in her that she will use in the exam period. As the congregation prays for her, we wish her the best and hope that she gets the mark she wants.

Lord, We pray for the churches around us; Catholic parish of Villa Maria Holy Name of Mary and St. Peter Chanel. We pray for their ministry and their strength in faith. Father, even in these troubling times, we pray that they stay strong in their belief and have hope for the months to come. We pray for their preachers, Father Kevin and Father Aliki and all parishioners. We pray that they will lead by example and guide them in the right path leading to you.

In the world cycle of prayer, we pray for Germany, France and Monaco. As they face the same troubles as we do, we pray that you keep them safe and away from harm. Lord, the countries have gone through all sorts of conflicts together and in this new year, we pray for their peace and good bonding to keep the country and the people in the country safe. The churches and governments in France and Germany have decided to accept immigrants into the country and take care of them. Lord, this is such good news and we thank you that they have come up with mature and correct decisions for these things to happen.

Lord, we pray for our congregation. A lot has happened since the last time we gathered, and we would like to ask you for the same support and comfort that you have given us so far. As a part of the minister’s family, we have received numerous thoughts and prayers from members of the congregation. On behalf of my family we thank those people and I would like to pray and say thank you for those in the congregation. Lord, please pour your blessings upon our congregation and keep us safe.

We pray for all these things in your wonderful name. Amen.

 

 

Lord’s Prayer

 

Our Father in heaven,

       hallowed be your name,

       your kingdom come,

       your will be done,

       on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

       as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

       and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

       and the glory are yours

       now and forever.

Amen.

 

 

Offering

 

The offering will be used for the congregation’s continuing mission and ministry in these challenging times. Please make your offering through a Bank Deposit or a personal cheque whichever is convenient to you.

 

Account Name: Boronia Park Uniting Church

BSB: 634-634

Account: 100023784

Reference: Offering

 

Please contact Robyn Harvey, Treasurer on 0418 783 290 or robyn.49@bigpond.net.au for more information about how to make Direct Debit.

 

Song      God will make a way

 

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to his side
With love & strength for each new day
He will make a way. He will make a way

 

By a roadway in the wilderness he'll lead me
Rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven & earth will fade but his word will still remain
And He will do something new today

 

Songwriter: Don Moen

CCLI #260394

 

Benediction

 

Whatever wilderness the Spirit has brought you to:

Believe and trust that God is there for us.

 

Thus, walk in boldness, as a beloved child of God,

walk in peace, under the shelter of the Most High,

walk in faith, knowing Christ walks with you.

Amen.