Boronia Park Uniting Church

Sunday 22^nd August, 2021

 

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Leader: Alan Keast                                   Prayers: Jenny Warren

Bible Reading; Carmen Lam                      Children’s talk: Robyn Harvey

Music: Grace Song                                   Computer technology: Seungjae Yeon

 

THEME: OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S PROMISES

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READINGS

* 1 Kings (NLT)                                       * 1 Chronicles 28:20 (RSV)

 

MUSIC:

TiS 703                As the deer pants for the water so my soul longs after you

Don Moen           There is none like you

TiS 726               I will give thanks to you, O Lord among the people

TiS 658                I, the lord of sea and sky

TiS 519 v 1           And now, O Father mindful of the love

 

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ORDER OF SERVICE

 

WELCOME

Good morning, my name is Alan Keast and I am one of the congregation members at the Boronia Park Uniting Church. Our service is being conducted today, and no doubt for many weeks to come, through electronic media and technically without personal contact, due to COVID restrictions.

If you are a member of our church community and seek advice or support please do not hesitate to contact your elder who would love to talk with you. If you are a guest to this site or wish to talk with our minister Rev Seungjae Yeon (Mobile: 0413 837 721, Desk: 02 9809 2215)

Due to COVID restrictions, the church office is not open.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Lord as we come to worship you today from our homes scattered around the Boronia Park Uniting Church, we want to come expecting, we want to come with anticipation of a blessing from you today and for this coming week. Lord God, many of us have had tough times in the last week or two and we are facing periods of lockdown for some time to come.

Dear Loving God, we pray that we may be encouraged by your Word and your Love that each day is a new day of your creation. Help us to look forward eagerly to the day and the fellowship we have with others in your name.

Let us sing our introductory song.

 

AS THE DEER PANTS FOR THE WATER. TiS 703

As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after you
You are all that my heart desire
And I long to worship You

 

You alone are my strength my shield
To you alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You

 

You're my friend
And You are my brother
Even though you are the King
I love you more than any other
So much more than anything

 

You alone are my strength my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You.

 

PRAYER

 

Please join me in this prayer by reading the lines in bold text.

 

My heart is filled with adoration

when I lift my eyes to you

For you are Lord of all creation,

you make everything new.

 

My soul is filled with everlasting peace

when I close my eyes to sleep

For you O Lord, you are right beside me,

I’m safe within your keep.

 

My mind is filled with inspiration

when I open my eyes anew

For you are hope and love outspoken,

Your words are full of truth.

 

My life is full of aspiration

when I see through eyes that weep

For you are Lord of both

grand and broken,

may I be your hands and feet. AMEN.

 

Our second hymn reminds us that no matter where we are or how we feel or whatever state we are in, God knows all about us and cares for us. If you would like to join in singing we might not hear you but God will as you sing this prayer.

 

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU. (Don Moen)

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
And I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none like You

 

Your mercy flows like a river so wide
And healing comes from Your hand
And suffering children are safe in Your arms
There is none like You

 

There is none like You
No one else can touch my heart like You do
And I could search
I could search for all eternity, Lord
And find, there is none like You.

 

Children and young people address – Robyn HARVEY

 

David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed; for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” Now David was the King and Solomon his son. What do you think he is saying here??

 

Be strong and courageous. Are you strong. I have two hand weights here that I use to exercise with. They are 2 kgs each so that makes it 4 kgs I am lifting – as I do my squats!! Can you lift 4 kgs? Go and ask Mum for two 2 kg bag of flour or rice and see if you can lift them?? I will wait a few seconds while you find it!!

Now I know that Joshua and Daniel and possibly Seungjae have been using a gym set which is on their back patio – so they must be really strong from all their workouts they have been doing during this period of COVID restrictions. Do any of you have any equipment you are using to keep strong at the moment???

 

I have some questions for you: Do you think that God is really talking about our physical strength – do you – I don’t ?? Is he asking Solomon to build a house for God?  No I don’t think so. Is he asking Solomon to help him build a house for God?  No I don’t think so.

 

I think he is saying that God will be with Solomon forever, that God will not fail us or leave us. And because he is always with us we are strong in our faith and we are able to give service to our Lord because of this strength.  I think we also get lots of strength from reading our Bible. Another verse that talks of being strong and courageous is found in Joshua 1: 9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

So just remember this next time you don’t feel that strong go and read some verses in your Bible and God will give you all the strength you need.

 

Let us pray:

 

Dear God,

Help me to be

strong and courageous for you

and to always know

that I will find this strength in reading your Bible. AMEN.

 

Bible Readings: Carmen LAM

 

1 Kings 8: 1,6,10-11,22-30,41-43 (New Living Translation)

 

¹ Solomon then summoned to Jerusalem the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes—the leaders of the ancestral families of the Israelites. They were to bring the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the Temple from its location in the City of David, also known as Zion.

 

⁶ Then the priests carried the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant into the inner sanctuary of the Temple—the Most Holy Place—and placed it beneath the wings of the cherubim. 

 

¹⁰ When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. ¹¹ The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of the Lord.

²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire community of Israel. He lifted his hands toward heaven, ²³ and he prayed,

“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. ²⁴ You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and with your own hands you have fulfilled it today.

²⁵ “And now, O Lord, God of Israel, carry out the additional promise you made to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behaviour and faithfully follow me as you have done, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ ²⁶ Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father. ²⁷ “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! ²⁸ Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. ²⁹ May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. ³⁰ May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.

⁴¹ “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, ⁴² for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, ⁴³ then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honours your name.

 

1 Chronicles 28:20 (Revised Standard Version)

 

²⁰ Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.”

 

Hymn I WILL Give thanks to you TiS 726

 

I will give thanks to Thee
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations

For Thy steadfast love is great
It is great to the Heavens
And Thy faithfulness
Thy faithfulness to the clouds

 

Be exalted, O God
Above the Heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the Earth

 

Be exalted, O God
Above the Heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the Earth

 

Sermon THEME: OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S PROMISES.

 

It is funny that usually at this point I know exactly where I am going with a service and what God wants us to learn from His word and the music and stories told. Today is different and if you find some gems or messages for you today please share them with others, to encourage them in their walk of faith.

I have titled this message as OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S PROMISES and will put the King Solomon reading into perspective as a faith story of a wise King.

Initially I felt like the message was like joggers with the laces untied, not really connected.

BUT if you listen carefully to Seungjae’s sermon from last week you might see his message ties up the laces with what I am going to talk about today. He did not know really what I was going to say and I did not know what he had planned to say, yet the Master Jig saw Puzzle maker from Heaven chose to blend these two talks and so the laces are tied together. AND if you really look hard, you will know that the laces that are tied are really just one piece of lace. We could say God is tying up the loose ends with these two messages.

SO, let’s get started.

How did God’s people get to this point with King Solomon and the temple?

Let’s go back to Jacob and his twelve sons (how many tribes of Israel you ask).  The ten older brothers captured Joseph (remember his amazing coloured coat?) and sold him into slavery in Egypt. Note on the map these places. Joseph continued explaining dreams and told Pharaoh about the seven good years and seven bad years and as such was placed in charge of the agricultural economy. During the bad years his brothers came to Egypt seeking food, he forgave them and all of his father’s family came to live in Egypt. After many years and changes in Egyptian leadership they changed from guests to slaves. God heard their cries and chose Moses to lead them out of Egypt. 

After a range of plagues and promises by Pharaoh, Moses finally led the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses was shown the Promised Land by God but did not enter and so God’s people arrived “home”.

God’s people decided they wanted a king (like everyone else) and despite warnings and advice kept up their demands. God chose Saul as king but after a promising start King Saul struggled with the difference between his own agenda and the agenda of his God.

God chose David (remember David and Goliath, David the shepherd boy?) to succeeded King Saul and so we have a new King for God’s people. King David was a great king but more importantly he was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14)

Through a range of issues and trials and tribulations Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba, became king of God’s people and took over from his father. David had decided to build God a temple to house the Ark of the Covenant (remember what Seungjae talked about last week?) . Remember this Ark of the Covenant had travelled with them throughout their journeys.

Like Moses before him who saw the Promised Land but did not enter, David was not to see the construction of the temple. That task was left to his son, Solomon.

And so we come to Solomon, the wise king, a king of peace after years of fighting and bloodshed, and a king who built the temple. When asked by God what he had wanted, he asked for wisdom, and God granted that request but added wealth. The temple was ornate with gold and precious items and had been built to the glory of God.

Solomon’s prayers, from our readings today, thank you Carmen, reflect that King Solomon had his heart in the right place; the temple was not built for his glory or to reflect how great he himself was. In verse 23 of 1 Kings 8 he prays

²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven ²³ and said:

“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. ²⁴ You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.

Remember our first song – There is none like you.

But he goes on from there – although this was written before Jesus and before the Holy Spirit, Solomon reflects on his understanding of God in verse 27.

“But will God really live on earth? Why even the highest mountain cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.”

So we have hindsight from the New Testament and all of the lives of Christian men and women throughout the ages, God does not live in the Boronia Park Uniting church – it would be lonely there at the moment. Despite the best efforts of Annette and Rosemary and Robyn and all the others to build us a great worship centre and the excitement of worship we have with all our family and friends, God does not live there. We only need to look through the New Testament to understand what Solomon told the people so many years ago. God certainly did not live in the temple and He doesn’t live in our church at Boronia Park. Here are just four verses to remind us that God lives in our hearts.

2 Corinthians 13:5 – Or do you not realise about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you ?

Romans 8:10 – But if Christ is in you…

Galatians 2:20 – … it is Christ who lives in me

Ephesians 3:17 – That Christ may make his home in your hearts

 

So how do we claim, respond and live by the promises I mentioned?

• We need to listen to others, to take advice, to read up on God’s Word and to come to Him in a state of worship and eagerness to seek him.
• Our first hymn said that our soul longs after God as the deer pants for the water.
• Another song reminded us “There is none like you”
• Our minister always reminds us of God’s Word and how we might take it into our hearts and meditate upon it.

Before I look briefly at the promise David made to his son Solomon on behalf of God, let’s just look at a couple of other promises from parents to their children.

My mother, who passed away in 1968, used to quote Adam Lindsay Gordon’s poem to us and write it in autograph books. It is good advice and worthy of your mindfulness.

Life is mostly froth and bubble, two things stand like stone; kindness in another’s trouble, courage in your own.

 

From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and I wrote this always in the books of children as they left my classes, Polonius gave advice to his son Laertes, in the speech about “neither a borrower or a lender be”

This above all, to thine ownself be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not them be false to any man.

But my pick of fatherly advice comes from David to his son Solomon, from 1 Chronicles 28:20.

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of Israel is finished. “

So today I call upon you to claim and respond to God’s promises to you.

Maybe you have a promise you have stored in your heart and if you would like to share that with us I am sure we would love that.

If there is no specific promise you hold dear, try reading again David’s promise, on God’s behalf to his son Solomon.

So let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we are mindful of the promises made to each of us and to your people through both the Old and New Testaments. Encourage us in this time of lockdown, to claim these promises, to stand firm in the promise that you will not forsake us and to give us a love and compassion for others despite the difficulties of our lockdown period. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word, your love and your promises. AMEN.

 

Prayers of the People     Jenny WARREN

 

Heavenly Father,

thank you for all your love and blessings every day.

 

Thank you for coming and showing us who you are through Jesus Christ and for being here and inviting all to have a loving relationship with you.

 

Thank you for answering whenever we call out for you.  

 

Please keep your children safe and close to you always.

Please send the Holy Spirit to dwell with those true to you.

 

Today Father, we pray for peace and healing.

Peace where there is conflict and healing where there is sickness.

 

We pray for all to come to know that by following Jesus we can have peace on earth. We pray for those who are scared to turn to you and know that with you father they are safe. We pray for you to comfort those who are mourning.

 

There is so much uncertainty and injustice in the world that we need you Father to fill us with peace until the time of Jesus return.

 

We pray Heavenly Father to please protect the minds of our children through this confusing time and fill them with joy, calm and reassurance in you.

 

We pray Father for the leaders of countries to be filled with the Spirit of truth and wisdom from you to make the decisions that are your will and not the will of the enemy.

 

We pray that love will never be lost or stolen by the enemy and that love will grow and always remain stronger than hate.

 

We pray for the forgiveness of our sins and that you will continue to love us. We pray for the strength to always turn our hearts, minds and eyes completely to you lord and not to worldly things.

 

We pray for the local church St Charles Borromeo and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish that you will bless them for all their devotion and charity to spread your word.

 

We pray for blessings for Liberia and Sierra Leone in the world cycle of prayer.

 

And we pray for the teachings of Jesus to be paramount in every person everywhere.

 

We love you Lord. AMEN.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

我們在天上的父, 願人都尊祢的名為聖,

하늘에 계신 우리 아버지, 아버지의 이름을 거룩하게 하시며,

 

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

願祢的國降臨, 願祢的旨意行在地上, 如同行在天上.

아버지의 나라가 오게 하시며, 아버지의 뜻이 하늘에서와 같이 

땅에서도 이루어지게 하소서.

 

Give us today our daily bread.

我們日用的飲食 今日賜給我們,

오늘 우리에게 일용할 양식을 주시고,

 

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

免我們的債 如同我們免了人的債

우리가 우리에게 잘못한 사람을 용서하여 준 것같이 

우리 죄를 용서하여 주시고,

 

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.   

不叫我們遇見試探, 救我們脫離兇惡,

우리를 시험에 빠지지 않게 하시고 악에서 구하소서.

 

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours now and for ever.

因為國度, 權柄, 榮耀, 全是祢的, 直到永遠.

나라와 권능과 영광이 영원히 아버지의 것입니다.

 

Amen.

 

OFFERING

Offering prayer

Dear Loving Heavenly Father, we come before you today aware of your greatness among the nations and yet humility in that you have chosen to love us. Lord today we commit back to you a little of the blessings you have given us for the service of your kingdom in Boronia Park and beyond. We thank you that we can support your ministries here and pray that you will bless these gifts as you blessed the five loaves and two fish so many years ago.

 

The offering will be used for the congregation’s continuing mission and ministry in these changing 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.

 

As we have offered of our resources, so let us offer of ourselves, as we sing a hymn of OFFERING.

 

HYMN I THE LORD OF SEA AND SKY   TiS 658

 

I, the Lord of sea and sky

I have heard my people cry

All who dwell in dark and sin

My hand will save

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night

I will go, Lord, if you lead me

I will hold your people in my heart

I, who made the stars of night

I will make their darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them?

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord …

 

I will break their hearts of stone

Give them hearts for love alone

I will speak my words to them

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord …

 

Finest bread I will provide

'Til their hearts be satisfied

I will give my life to them

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord …

 

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you

and be gracious unto you;

the Lord turn his face toward you

and give you peace. (Numbers 6:22-26)

 

This song is to go out although maybe we are not going out of church but arising from our living room or study to go out into the world, well not quite with COVID restrictions in place.

But let us go spiritually out into the world, not restricted by lockdowns or movement limits.

Amen.

 

AND NOW O FATHER MINDFUL OF THE LOVE TiS 519

And now, O Father, mindful of the love
That bought us, once for all, on Calvary's tree,
And having with us him that pleads above,
We here present, we here spread forth to thee
That only offering perfect in thine eyes,
The one true, pure, immortal sacrifice.

 

  

 

The Boronia Park Uniting Church communications team who recorded and edited the videos, ensured all the videos ran as they should and designed the invitation and order of service.   All music reproduced and streamed with permission. CCLI Copyright and Streaming Licence: 260394, 33617.   All English scripture readings in this service are from Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved AND Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.