(From website "5 best spring flowering bulbs")

This worship service is now live-streaming on YouTube.

You may google 'Boronia Park Sunday Worship' in search.

OR you are invited to join the worship via Zoom.

Preparing for Worship

Welcome to Boronia Park Uniting Church and our weekly worship resources. The worship resources are prepared faithfully by Robyn Harvey, one of our lay preachers. Also this Sunday morning 9.30am the service will be livestreamed on YouTube so that you may search ‘Boronia Park Sunday Worship’ in Google. For more information, please contact the Minister.

We are all gathered apart in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do forget that we are Church always, no matter where we worship God at this time.

Acknowledgement for the First Peoples

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Wallumedegal people the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples everywhere.                               

Joseph Lycett’s painting of Natives and the North Shore 

of Sydney Harbour (huntershillmuseum.org.au)

Call to Worship

The response is in bold font.

If it had not been for the LORD – let Israel assert –

If it had not been for the LORD,

who was on our side

when others rose up against us,

then they would have swallowed us alive:

their anger was like a raging bushfire.

They would have swept us away,

like floodwaters sweeping over our necks,

and like an avalanche, a frozen flood,

swallowed our lives.

Blessed is the LORD

who did not give us as prey to their teeth.

Our lives have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s net;

the trap is broken and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD

who made heaven and earth.

Let us worship God.

Hymn              

Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessèd, most glorious the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, your great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light

nor wanting, nor wasting, but ruling in might;

your justice like mountains high soaring above,

your clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

You give life to all, Lord, to both great and small,

in all life now living, the true life of all;

we blossom and flourish as leaves on a tree,

then wither: but ever unchanged you will be.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

your angels adore you, all veiling their sight;

of all your rich graces this grace, Lord impart –

take the veil from our faces, the veil from our heart.

All praise we would render: reveal to our sight

what hides you is only the splendour of light;

and so let your glory, Almighty, impart,

through Christ in the story, your Christ to the heart.

Walter Chalmers Smith

CCLI Licence # 260394

Prayers for the Day

Let us pray:

Lord, send your spirit in this place.

Lord, listen to your children praying and send us love,

send us power and send us grace.

Loving God,

you who can bring forth water from rocks in the wilderness

and give flesh and sinew to dry bones and make them live,

we thank you for watching over us and for calling us to you.

We thank you that in Jesus,

your word made flesh and then broken for us,

you redeem all who give themselves to you. 

Lord, take us and transform us as we pray. 

May our suffering, like Christ’s bring healing to others. 

May our weakness be filled with your strength

as a testimony to your power. 

May the virtue you give us bring praise to your name.

Take our thoughts and our feelings and remake them

so that they are like your Son’s and fill us with your wisdom

so that we may be able to know and approve your good,

pleasing and perfect will.

Lord hear our prayer.

Amen.

Kid's Talk    Daniel and Heather Yeon

The Parable of the Strong Foundation

Daniel and Heather lead the kid's talk. You may watch it on YouTube now or later on. 

Song                

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus

all our sins and griefs to bear,

what a privilege to carry

everything to God in prayer:

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry.

everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations,

is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged:

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness:

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden

cumbered with a load of care?

Jesus is our only refuge:

take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

in his arms he’ll take and shield you,

you will find a solace there.

Joseph Medlicott Scriven

CCLI Licence # 260394

Bible Reading        Romans 12:1-8 (NRSV)

Joshua Yeon leads the Bible reading. You may watch it on YouTube now or later on. 

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance you’re your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

This is the Word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

Message    Robyn Harvey    

As Living Sacrifices

Robyn Harvey

O Lord, we pray, speak in the calming of our minds

and in the longings of our hearts,

by the words of my lips and in the thoughts that we form.

Speak, O Lord, for your servants listen. Amen.

I remember very vividly the first time I had accidentally washed a twenty dollar note, and this was before the new plastic notes.  I found it’s remains balled up inside my freshly washed jeans pockets – it was balled up and in a lot worse condition than the five dollar note that I showed you all earlier.  In fact in unwrapping the soggy mess from itself I tore it into about four pieces.  Twenty dollars then was a lot more money than it is now and I was in tears wondering if I could still use it – if it was worth anything.  Some bits of the bill were simply missing – turned to mush I suppose – but as the paper dried out I got our some sticky tape, smoothed out the pieces as best as I could and put the whole thing back together again and took it off to my bank – where the clerk examined it, shook her head and with a smile put it in her cash drawer and handed back to me a nice new twenty dollar note.  What a relief it was.  And what a lesson.  It amazes me how often we leave coins or notes in our pants pockets!!

In his letter to the Romans Paul writes to the church about how God, through Jesus Christ acted to bring salvation to the whole world – starting with the people of Israel and extending out to all who name him aloud as their Lord and believe in their hearts that he is risen from the dead.

In the chapters prior to the reading we heard today Paul speaks of judgement that we all deserve from God and of God’s love for us and God’s desire that we turn to him in faith so that we might live.  And then he writes what we heard today.  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters. In view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”  

That is very interesting statement – especially in a world where so many of us look at our own bodies and find them – well, how should I say this – somewhat imperfect!!

What does it mean to offer to God as living sacrifice this somewhat pudgy body?  This body that has been through some events which have left it somewhat wrinkled and torn, or perhaps filled with pain or disfigured in some manner?  Perhaps unable to do what those with bodies in better shape are able to do?

Do we need to go on a diet to please God? 

Do we need to enrol in the gym across the street to be an acceptable living sacrifice? 

Do we need to have all our limbs attached and have everything in perfect working order to be ‘Holy”?

What about those of us – who through no fault of our own – are a bit less than the super models that grace the pages of our fashion magazine?  What about those of us who have been a bit careless during our life – and have been as a result – soaked, agitated, rinsed and spun?  Are we without hope?  Are we acceptable at the table of God’s presence? At his holy altar?

Clearly it is not some form of bodily perfection that matters to God. Clearly this talk of responding to God’s mercy by offering our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, must mean something more than being able to meet some standard of good looks, health and vitality that only a very few of us ever attain.

Something less physical – something more spiritual – must be in Paul’s mind and indeed that is indicated in the test when Paul says – our offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, is our ‘spiritual act of worship’.  So think for a minute about our spiritual bodies.  What kind of shape are they in?  Are they pure and unblemished?  Are they up to tasks that they are meant to perform?  Or are they limping along – full of aches and pains, full of doubts and confusions and worries and hatreds, even as they also contain faith and truth and trust and love?  I suspect that when we look at ourselves we don’t see ourselves as perfect in every way or even in many ways.  We may regard ourselves as having a good heart, as being loving and kind – but we especially as we grow in faith are also aware of the arrhythmia of the little irregularities that occasionally come along.

Sometimes it seems a- even among the healthiest spirits there is a little shortness of breath, a little reluctance to go out and climb the highest mountains or even to go for a walk around the block.  Indeed as we push at this metaphor, I think you will all agree that not all parts of our spiritual body are fully presentable at least not now – not yet.  And if we are really honest about it all it is really rather hard to see how they ever will be.  There are so many others who have so much more to offer God than we do, so many others who are in much better shape – much more acceptable than we both physically and spiritually.

Friends – the message today from Paul is that God doesn’t want the best of us, God wants all of us.

Just as the Government of Australia will take a crumpled and torn note and value it as highly as one in perfect condition, so God will take us – when we offer to him whatever condition our spiritual and physical bodies are in – and value us as highly as the greatest saint in our midst – indeed God values each one of us as highly as he values his own Son Jesus Christ.

That is what the Gospel is all about.

Through Christ’s offering of his own body to God upon the cross for us, through his offering up his whole life in obedience and in love – even when it meant his own suffering and death, God was pleased.  And God honoured him and honoured his word, the word that said that all who were his would be the Father’s and all that was the Father’s was his.

And so says the gospel, when we join ourselves to him, when we offer ourselves to him, when we offer ourselves to him completely – body, heart, soul and mind – God will accept us and God will take that which is now imperfect and make it perfect.

That is what spiritual worship is all about.  The offering of all we are- of everything – good and bad – perfect and imperfect – to God so that God can take it and do what he wills with it.  So that God can accept it and transform it into what it was meant to be when Adam and Eve where first created.  Christ takes our offering, our bodies, and perfects them – hallows then – in the offering of his own body – his body which was blessed and broken and given for us so that we might be made whole.

A few days ago, I was watching a program on TV some of you will remember.  The entertaining British comedy, Keeping up Appearances with the unstoppable Hyacinth Bucket or as she insisted on being called Mrs. Bouquet and her hapless husband Richard.  Hyacinth’s passion was as the program’s name suggest – looking good, being seen at all the right places, having connections with all the right people.  Everything, but everything had to be just right when she was entertaining visitors.  The neighbours, finding her too overbearing, did everything they could to avoid being invited to one of her candlelit dinners with the blue willow pattern china!!   She was constantly frustrated by her out of shape bogan brother in law Onslow and his wife Daisy.  Onslow in total contrast to Hyacinth couldn’t care less who he was with and what anyone thought of him.  No keeping up appearances for him!!   It made for entertaining and sometimes hilarious viewing which I still watch occasionally.  On reflection we can see that Hyacinth was holding up a mirror to us all.  We live in a society where keeping up appearance takes a great deal of our time, financial, emotional and other resources.  In a culture like ours we can all be sucked up into the world of image and appearance and so easily lose touch with the things in life that matter most.

Look at this note again.

If the government will take that which is bent, spindled, folded and mutilated and return it whole, how much will God take you and make you over in the image in which you were first created – the image of the one in whose name we gather today.

God wants us to remember that he loves us as we are not as some of us may wish to keep appearing.

Amen.

Prayers of the People       Jenny Keast

Jenny Keast leads the Prayers of the People. You may watch it on YouTube now or later on. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you once again to acknowledge the world you have given us is in so much need of healing and compassion and love and forgiveness. These are the qualities Jesus showed us yet so much of life reflects none of these.

Even as Christians, we struggle to be the people you need in this world. Thank you that there are so many selfless people who rise above the negative aspects of life to serve others.

It is with relief that we have more freedom to enjoy the company of others and visit places near and further away. Help us not to be complacent in our dealings with others so that our country remains so much less impacted than others by the Corona Virus. Thank you for leaders who have made sensible and wise decisions to keep us safe.

We continue to pray for the economic plight of many who need assistance with finances. Thank you for the way many homeless people have been provided with accommodation even leading to long term solutions. We pray that this will continue. Please give our leaders wisdom to deal with these situations.

We pray for those known to us who are suffering from continued isolation and loneliness, those who are missing loved ones or burdened with too much responsibility. Comfort them and let them know your presence and peace.

We continue to give thanks for Seungjae and all those who have provided meaningful and helpful worship services for us. We are grateful for this connection to others.

We pray also for our local churches: Uniting Church congregations, faith communities, chaplains in the City of Ryde Zone that their ministry and witness is continuing at this time. 

Clockwise from top right: 

One Heat, Ryde, Epping people & building, 

Uniting Thomas Bowden Village, Sam Il Korean, 

Carlingford Marsden Rd., North Ryde and Eastwood

Our overseas neighbours in Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal need our prayers for protection from the ravages of Corvid 19 and strength for Christians in these places.

Father, hear our prayers and continue to strengthen and sustain us as we walk with you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

The 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.

Hymn                        

The Power of Your Love

Verse 1

Lord I come to you,

let my heart be changed, renewed

Flowing from the grace that I found in you

And Lord I’ve come to know the weaknesses

I see in me will be stripped away

by the power of your love

Refrain

Hold me close, let your love surround me.

Bring me near draw me to your side

And as I wait I’ll rise up like the eagle

And I will soar with you,

Your spirit leads me on in the power of your love.

Verse 2

Lord unveil my eyes

let me see you face to face

The knowledge of your love as you live in me

Lord renew my mind

As your will unfolds in my life

In living every day in the power of your love.

Refrain

Geoffrey W Bullock

CCLI #260394

Offering and Prayer

Robyn says,

I would like to say a HUGE Thank You to everyone in our congregation who have continued their offerings to our church during this Covid time.

It has been so encouraging to see that you understand the necessity of continued offerings to keep our obligations to Seungjae as our tireless Pastor, to our Presbytery and Synod for support to the wider church and also to the upkeep of our buildings.

We have been eligible to receive the JobKeeper payment each month which has also been a big help as a number of our regular hall hirers have not restarted for various reasons.

May God be with you all and keep you well in spirit and in body.

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.

Blessing

This is a Celtic Blessing for Taking Time by Iain Tweedale.

Let us pray:

Take this time

to journey around yourself

and discover who you truly are.

Take this time

to consider life’s changes

and to find a new way to be.

Take this time

to connect with something bigger

and experience a new reality. Amen.

Journeying Facebook page