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Preparing for worship

 

Welcome to our online worship service today with the People of Boronia Park Uniting Church!

 

In our congregation, we have a number of young ones and families who are now preparing themselves to go into another year of learning from school setting. Some go into a bigger world that they never experienced before like high school and university. Also we have some people who teach, educate and support all learners in various ways such as teachers and librarian. In 2021, it can be a time to explore all knowledges of the world and an opportunity to expand their own world. Or it may be that time is taken to journey of faith either alone or with peers and family members in order to re-assess life and find spiritual renewal in life.

 

This year We, Boronia Park Uniting Church have again a great commitment to support our all learners, their parents and caregivers, and those who teach and support them with thoughts and prayers.  

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Song      I will worship You

 

 

Perfect You are my God

Righteous and Holy in all of Your ways

Revealing Your glory in all that You do

All men will worship You

 

I will worship You

I will praise Your name

For You are the only Lord and King

 

I will worship You

I will praise Your name

My desire is to honor You Lord

 

© Lee, Rose Park | CCLI # 260394

 

 

 

We gather to worship God

 

God, who created the heavens and the earth.

We praise you!

 

Jesus Christ, who is our way, Truth and Life.

We praise you!

 

Holy Spirit, who fills us with a sense of adventure.

We praise you!

 

 

Song      Jesus, we enthrone You

 

 

Jesus, we enthrone You,

we proclaim You our King.

Standing here in the midst of us,

we raise You up with our praise.

 

And as we worship, build a throne.

And as we worship, build a throne.

And as we worship, build a throne.

Come, Lord Jesus, and take Your place.

 

Words and Music by Rick Founds

CCLI #260394

 

 

We say sorry for things we have done wrong

 

We have not always worshipped God, our Creator.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

We have not always followed Christ, our Saviour.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

 

We have not always trusted in the Spirit, our Guide.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

 

 

We are forgiven

 

May God, who created a world rich in wonder

forgive us our sins and help us to amend our ways

that we may worship you with our whole hearts,

follow wherever you lead,

and learn to trust in your abiding love.

Amen.

 

 

We affirm our faith

 

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,

source of all being and life,

the one for whom we exist?

We believe and trust in him.

 

 

Do you believe and trust in God the Son,

who took our human nature,

died for us and rose again?

We believe and trust in him.

 

Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,

who gives life to the people of God

and makes Christ known in the world?

We believe and trust in him.

 

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

 

Reading        Daniel Yeon

 

[Click to read Chinese|Korean translation]

 

 

First reading comes from Jonah 3:1-5 and 10.

 

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

3 Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: ² “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”

³ This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. ⁴ On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” ⁵ The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

¹⁰ When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

 

The gospel reading is from Mark 1:16-20.

 

The First Disciples

¹⁶ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁷ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

¹⁹ A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. ²⁰ He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

 

Kids Talk - God's Story "Jonah"

 

 

 

 

Talk     God Sends Jonah. God Sends Us.          

Seung Jae Yeon

 

 

Today, I want to talk about Jonah and how God worked thru him. Jonah was sent to speak truth to the people of Ninevah. If he never did then the Ninevah’s citizens would not have had an opportunity to know God. They would have been lost forever. Yet God in His love sent Jonah to speak the truth. Jonah had to learn that lying and running away from God doesn’t work and doesn’t help anybody. But when he listened to God, when he told the men the real honest reason why the storm was happening and when he started being truthful with God and the Ninevah’s citizens, God did the miraculous through him!

 

God wants us to be truthful to people. We need to ask God to give us wisdom and boldness to speak the truth to our friends and teachers. This is sometimes difficult and often we can makes things worse by telling the truth. However, if we speak the truth then people will know that they can trust us for honest answers.

 

We need to ask God to help us to tell the truth and not to take the easy way out. We need His wisdom of when to speak truth and how to do it. One truth that people need to hear about is Jesus. This truth is the best truth that we can ever tell anyone. We need God’s strength to tell this truth. When we mess up or make mistakes, we need to be able to trust our friends to tell us that we are not doing the right thing so that we can learn to do better next time – so that we don’t keep making the same mistakes. So let’s remember, God wants us to speak to truth!

 

God sends us this new year of learning to speak truth to the people around us. You are also called to love them. Jonah was sent to the people of Ninevah. However, after he went and told the people the truth that God was willing to give them a second chance if they turn back to Him. God loved the people of Ninevah though they disobeyed. Gods wanted Jonah to bring the truth and love to the people in the city.

 

God sends us in the new semester to love our friends old and new. We need love. Nobody likes a person that always tells the truth but has no love. Truth without love is just harsh and ugly to hear. It leaves people feeling bad and sad. God wants us to speak with love because it leaves people feeling good and alive. It encourages them to keep going and reminds them of God’s love. When we speak with love then they start to understand what God’s love is, and when we tell them about God’s love they can even believe it better because they have seen it in us!

 

It’s important that we love others. But we also need to be prepared to tell them the truth when they need to hear it. Otherwise people don’t know about Jesus Christ. So, we need to speak the truth in love. That really isn’t easy. We need to ask for God’s help. We need His Holy Spirit to give us strength and confidence to speak. I’m sure Jonah was scared when he shared the message with the citizen of Ninevah. So what does speaking the truth in love REALLY look like?

 

So let us remember to pray and ask God to help us speak the truth in love to those that we meet in new class, school and university. Remember that when we remind people of the truth of Jesus, we must do so in a loving way. People matter to God and God wants them to know the truth – but He also wants them to know His love too!

 

I may bless you all now in the truth and love of God. Please impart this blessing to your new academic year and classmates and fellow teachers around you.

 

Blessings.

 

 

We share a sign of peace

 

You shall go out in joy,

and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall burst into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

 

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

 

 

 

We say our prayers

 

The Prayers of the People       Jenny Keast

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

 

The season of Advent has drawn to a close but let us not forget the themes we have recalled. Let Love, Joy, Peace and Hope be present always in our lives and especially as we start this New Year.

 

Thank you if we are able to see a new beginning that brings Hope or a new purpose that creates Love. May we all feel your Peace so that we will know you are with us and may we always feel Joy in our Christian walk.

 

Thank you Lord that once again we have some reprieve from the harsh restrictions that COVID has brought. Thank you that a vaccine is available especially in the countries that are being ravaged by this virus. Continue to uphold those who work tirelessly to help those who are sick. Remind us all to think of others in our behaviour and lifestyle.

 

We pray for the students in our congregation who are recommencing school. May they work in a safe environment and be enthusiastic to recommence their learning and see their friends.

 

We pray for our congregation and the needs they have. We bring before you those who are sick or lonely or facing family difficulties. Sustain them with your presence and strength.

 

We pray for our local churches as the holiday season ends and for enthusiasm to commence the new year with its many challenges and opportunities.

We pray for Cyprus, Greece and Turkey and thank you for the witness of the church in Asia Minor. We pray for all those who struggle because of economic and political crises in these countries and for stable governments that further the good of all.

 

Thank you Lord for the ongoing work of our Minister, our Church Council, our Worship teams, our Elders and our Congregation to continue the ministry of our church. Thank you for those who are prepared to step forward to try new things to serve you.

 

Be with us Lord as we seek to serve you in this coming year , that we will be faithful and useful to 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.

 

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

 

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,

now and for ever.

 

Amen.

 

 

Offering

 

The offering will be used for the congregation’s continuing mission and ministry including young people and youth 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.

 

 

 

Song      I, the Lord of sea and sky

 

 

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin

my hand will save.

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 have heard you calling in the night;

I will go, Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

 

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne my people’s pain;

I have wept for love of them.

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak my word to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord; is it I, Lord? …

 

I, the Lord of wind and flame.

I will tend the poor and lame,

I will set a feast for them.

My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide

till their hearts are satisfied.

I will give my life to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord; is it I, Lord? …

 

Daniel Schutte

CCLI #260394

 

 

We go out to serve God

 

May we listen to God’s encouragement to stop and rest.

May we follow Jesus’ call to journey with him.

May we be moved by the Holy Spirit to seek for adventure.

And may the blessing of the Three be with us always.

Amen.

 

As we leave this sacred moment and space

and prepare us for another year of learning and teaching,

let us walk with a lightness in our heart,

a spring in our steps,

and with the peace of Christ surrounding us.

Amen.

 

— Liturgy adopted from Creative Ideas for Whole Church Family Worship