PREPARING FOR WORSHIP

 

Welcome to our online worship service today! In 2021, you may worship wherever you are with the people of God at Boronia Park UC together in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. This worship resources are prepared by the people of Boronia Park UC.

 

Again, we are now challenged by the increasing number of COVID-19 confirmed cases nearby. This may cause us not to dream or vision for the year 2021, though the New Year has started. I would like to say this: “It is so hard to believe Jesus Christ as the Saviour and the Master of our life in this difficult time. But we may deepen a meaning of life we live today and enlighten this life with Jesus, the Life and the Light Holder. Let us come before God who be with and among us now, suffering and groaning with the Creation. Be still and do not be afraid in Him. Calm yourself and commit to listen for his voice speaking through others and each other. Now we are with him as we gather around the presence of the Spirit.

 

Click to download the pdf version to print out 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FOR THE FIRST PEOPLES

 

Before we begin the service, 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

 

We gather around the table,

God-given, world-defying, soul-saving.

We gather around Christ the Lord, who says to us,

“Don’t be anxious about your life.”

 

We gather around the table, a miracle in the midst of

human deeds and misdeeds, chaos, and questions.

We gather around Christ the Lord,

whose very presence brings us to singing.

 

Come then, let us worship.

 

Let us pray:

 

Everlasting God,

you brilliantly created,

and yet more wonderfully restored,

the dignity of human nature.

 

In your mercy,

help us share the divine life of Jesus the Christ

who shared our humanity.

 

Help us to understand more fully

what it means that you are with us,

Emmanuel.

 

We love you, and we praise you.

 

Amen.

 

 

HYMN - Eternal Life (John 3:16)

 

 

John three sixteen,

For God so loved the world

That He gave His one and only Son.

 

That whoever believes in Him

Should not perish but have eternal life.

 

Seeds Family worship

CCLI Licence # 260394

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Friends,

as we come to this time of confession,

may we leave behind our limitations,

and venture into the vast,

unknown reaches of God’s love.

 

Together,

may we open and reveal our hearts,

so that we will find forgiveness

amidst the community that God intends.

 

Let us say this pray together in one voice:

 

God of perfect light,

lead us as we journey through life.

 

Forgive us

when selfish ambition makes us

willing to hurt and destroy others.

 

Forgive us

when we refuse to follow the light

you give us.

 

Shine in our lives

through the light of your Christ,

in whose name we pray.

 

Amen.

 

 

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

 

With light, truth, and grace,

God surrounds us with a love

that will not let us go.

 

 

Today God calls us each by name,

welcomes us to the manger and into the family of faith,

and grants us a peace that the world cannot give.

Thanks be to God.

 

 

HYMN - Lord I Need You                     

 

 

Lord I come I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

And without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

 

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

 

Lord I need You oh I need You

Ev'ry hour I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness

Oh God how I need You

 

Matt Maher

CCLI Licence # 260394

 

 

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 25:31-46

led by CHRISTY JIHYE KIM                 

 

 

Click to read Chinese and Korean version of the passage

The Final Judgement

³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² All the nationswill be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. ³⁶ I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

³⁷ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹ When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

⁴⁰ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ⁴² For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³ I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

⁴⁴ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

⁴⁵ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

 

REFLECTION - “Gift of Jesus” written by the Minister

 

 

 

Let us close eyes and imagine this: There is a wrapped gift on a table. I wonder how you felt when you saw the imagination. I wonder whether you would make difference if you are able to do something with it. If you received the gift, what did this gift mean to you and how did you feel when you open it? Did you feel special when the gift is given? I also wonder how you would feel when the gift is unpacked.

 

In our daily life, every day foods, like vegetables and bread, are not wrapped up like gift. Yes, of course they are wrapped up in a piece of vinyl or packed, not wrapped like your Christmas presents. We sincerely wrap up a special thing for the beloved and friends. We are able to imagine that they would be glad when they unpack the gifts. Bring your memories of them receiving and opening gifts you presented.  

 

What did you receive last Christmas or in the New Year? Are those still left unopened? I have no doubt that you already unpacked them all and had the joyous moment of holding them by your hands.

 

We, Christian, particularly here at Boronia Park Uniting Church, have received many gifts from God. We also have enormous blessing from God. Jesus Christ. He is the most precious gift. By his name we live and believe in him. By the power of his name, we become who we are. Our Saviour and the Redeemer is the number one. Jesus Christ was born to the human beings and world history as God’s present. Jesus unwrapped eternal life  for those who believe in him on a cross. Jesus Christ is the unwrapped gift of God in our lives here and beyond. What would you have in him this moment? Are you desperate for him today?

 

In the gospel of John, chapter 1:14, it says;

 

“The Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory,

the glory of the one and only Son,

who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.”

 

The Word was unwrapped and then opened for us, which means that it became flesh. The Word became the most glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, he became poor like us. He became marginalised like us.  He became suffered like us. He became captured and crucified because of us. And he became a daily bread for us and for many, sustaining all humanity in whatever circumstance they would live this day.

 

Due to his dwelling among us, we became rich and saved. We received the great gift of Jesus. We, as a people who received the great gift through the work of salvation, have to help others in simple things. The things that Jesus picks out are; giving a hungry man a meal, or a thirsty man a drink, welcoming a stranger, cheering the sick, and visiting the prisoner.

Those are what anyone can do. Those are things that we can do, giving things simply to the people we meet every day.

 

The parable opens for us the way to the gift of Jesus to the littlest brothers and sisters near us. No one, absolutely no one can say, “I give you the gift of Christ” because he already gave away himself to human beings and all creatures. What we do is to open up the gifts of Jesus for the littlest brothers and sisters and to help them open up the gift.

 

Today’s Bible reading teaches us God will judge us on what we do reaction to human need. Not the knowledge that we have, not the fame that we have, not the fortune that we have but the help that we might have for the littlest brother and sister. As we help, we don’t think that we are helping Christ and piling up heavenly award. We just help because we couldn’t stop ourselves helping those in need. It is natural reaction of the loving heart that we have. The others in this parable who were judged, and their attitude were failed. Their attitude was: ‘If we had known it was you we would gladly have helped; but we thought it was only some ordinary man who was not worth helping.’ They failed because of their knowledge, the fame and the fortune, which stop themselves helping the littlest brothers and sisters.

 

 

In the New Year, though it seems to be another difficult year, it’s good time for us to those who we might care for and look after. Because there would be more people who seek helps and hopes in life. Sisters and brothers in Christ! I believe that we know what generosity means literally. We have learned that members in our congregation have been touched by each other during their challenging times. We, Boronia Park Uniting Church, may go another year with each other, living out the generosity of Christ and showing it to each other and the neighbourhood where we live. This is the reason why we are here, and you are there. We’ve already had the gift of Jesus Christ, the eternal life and the joy of salvation. Let us unpack them wherever we are.

 

It’s privilege. It’s so special. It has to share with our family, friend and neighbour. We are not an organisation to provide need of others like other community services or help aids. However, we are an organisation of God to deliver the gift of Christ throughout our giving and caring everyday life. That’s because we already know how the love of God makes the way. The way of eternal life may open our eyes to see others and heart to love each other.

 

The gift of Jesus is given to us and placed in our hand. Let the gift of Jesus wrapped unwrap. Let us open the gift of Christ among us. The year 2021 is another year that we might know the joy of helping Jesus Christ Himself and our neighbour as Church. We all need the gift of Jesus unwrapped. Please show each other if you already unwrapped the gift of Jesus in your life. 

 

Thanks be to God.

 

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE led by Phoebe Kim

 

Heavenly father,

 

We gather online together, the first Sunday of the year in worship of you. Whilst we can’t gather in person, we gather in heart with love, thanks and praise even in online worship.

 

Thank you for this new year.

 

Thank you that you make all things new.

 

Thank you for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every day.

 

We pray for your spirit to lead us each step of this New Year.

We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else.

We ask that you will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight.

We ask that you will help us release our grip on the things to which you’ve say “no”, “not yet”, or “wait”. We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire you’ve put within our hearts.

 

We ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us.

 

We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you.

 

We ask for your help over the pandemic which we have seen increase again in NSW. As we enter the new year, please keep us safe and healthy. Please watch over the front-line workers, those more vulnerable. And we pray for world leaders to guide their citizens into safety.

 

This week, we especially remember Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine. Father, you know better than we do of all the suffering and torment that still plagues the people in these countries. Be with those with power and influence. Guide them so they make decisions based on love and goodwill, not greed and hunger for power.

 

We remember and uphold the congregations at Uniting Church congregations, Faith Communities, chaplains in the City of Ryde Zone. As they also enter the new year with you, keep them in your safe hands and show them guidance so that they continue your work in the community.

 

We pray father, for our own congregation here at Boronia Park Uniting Church. We thank you for those who are here. We remember those who are not with us and ask for your safekeeping. We thank you for another blessed year and for our Minister Seungjae and his family.

 

May your blessings be upon us all as we venture in to the new year with you.

 

In your name we pray,

Amen.

  

 

THE SERVICE OF HOLY SACRAMENT

 

 

 

 

THE PEACE

 

The Peace of the Lord Jesus be with you all.

And also with you.

 

 

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

 

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

 

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,

always and everywhere to give thanks to you,

Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

 

You created light out of darkness

and brought forth life on the earth.

You formed us in your image

and breathed into us the breath of life.

When we turned away, and our love failed,

your love remained steadfast.

You delivered us from captivity,

made covenant to be our sovereign God,

and spoke to us through your prophets.

You loved the world so much

you gave your only Son Jesus Christ

to be our Saviour.

 

As the angels sang glory to you in the highest

and peace to your people on earth,

so with your people on earth

and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed, the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you,

and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

As Mary and Joseph went from Galilee to Bethlehem

and there found no room,

so Jesus went from Galilee to Jerusalem

and was despised and rejected.

 

As in the poverty of a stable Jesus was born,

so by the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection

you gave birth to your church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant

by water and the Spirit.

 

As your Word became flesh, born of woman,

on that night long ago,

so on the night

in which he gave himself up for us

he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,

gave it to his disciples, and said:

 

“Take, eat;

this is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

 

When the supper was over, he took the cup.

gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples,

and said;

 

“Drink from this, all of you;

this is my blood of the new covenant,

poured out for you and for many,

for the forgiveness of sins.

Do this, as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of me.”

 

And so,

in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ’s offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Christ has died,

Christ is risen,

Christ will come again.

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us,

gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.

Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,

that we may be for the world the body of Christ,

redeemed by his blood.

 

By your Spirit make us one with Christ,

one with each other,

and one in ministry to all the world,

until Christ comes in final victory

and we feast at his heavenly meal.

Through your Son Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit in you, holy church,

all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father,

now and for ever.

 

Amen.

 

 

BREAKING OF BREAD AND PRESENTING THE CUP

 

The bread we break

is a sharing in the body of Christ

 

The cup we take

is a sharing in the blood of Christ.

 

The gifts of God for the people of God

The body of Christ.

 

 

COMMUNION

 

Please come before the presence of Jesus Christ

and celebrate communion wherever we are gathered.

 

 

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 for ever.

 

Amen.

 

 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

 

We give you thanks,

most gracious God,

for allowing us

to share in this feast as your family

and to be fed with the bread of heaven;

give us grace that we all may grow in love,

glorifying you in all things,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Amen.

 

 

SONG – By Gentle Powers

 

 

Surrounded by such true and gentle powers.

So wondrously consoled and without fear,

Thus will I spend with you these final hours

And then together enter a new year

 

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,

With patience we'll endure, let come what may.

God is with us at night and in the morning

And certainly on every future day.

 

 

The worries of the old year still torment us,

We're troubled still by long and wicked days.

Oh Lord give our frightened souls the healing,

For which you've chased us in many ways.

 

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,

With patience we'll endure, let come what may.

God is with us at night and in the morning

And certainly on every future day.

 

And though you offer us the cup so heavy,

So painful, it's the most that we can stand.

Not faltering, with thanks we will accept it

And take it as a gift from your good hand

 

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,

With patience we'll endure, let come what may.

God is with us at night and in the morning

And certainly on every future day.

 

And should it be your will once more to grand us,

To see the world and to enjoy the sun.

Then we will all the past events remember

And finally our life with you is one.

 

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,

With patience we'll endure, let come what may.

God is with us at night and in the morning

And certainly on every future day.

 

By gentle powers lovingly surrounded,

With patience we'll endure, let come what may.

God is with us at night and in the morning

And certainly on every future day.

 

Siegfried Fietz

CCLI Licence # 260394

 

 

OFFERING AND DEDICATION

 

Let us pray:

 

Gather up our love,

       our praise, our hopes, our fears,

       even our best miracles.

God, we give it all to you.

And we feel you reflecting that love back to us,

       more than we can imagine.

In the name of Christ Jesus,we pray.    

Amen.

 

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.

 

 

BENEDICTION AND DISMISSAL

 

God, your power and love are ancient,

yet ever new.

 

Launch us into your world to see afresh the love

born into the world at each moment.

 

May it be so.

 

Amen.