Weoley Hill Order of service Sunday 14 June 2025
Led by Ann Evans
Welcome and notices given by Elder on duty John Fletcher
Call to Worship
The kingdom of heaven is near.
Come, let us explore it together.
God the healer, the friend is calling.
Proclaim the good news.
Turn to one another and declare:
The kingdom of heaven is near.
People find wholeness, people find healing.
The kingdom of heaven is near.
Come, let us explore it together.
Lord, help us to find you in the unexpected. Enable us to listen to your call and fill us with your power. Shake us out of complacency, to see where you want us to be.
And give us courage to follow your lead.
Amen.
Hymn 42 For the fruits of all creation
Opening prayers
Jesus called the disciples and gave them a job, gave them authority to carry it out, took them out of their comfort zone. Lord God, we are here today as a fellowship, a worshipping, serving community. We are not on our own, your Holy Spirit is with us. As we gather here, make us ready to follow you, stepping out in faith, going wherever you lead us.
Lord Jesus, you had compassion on the crowds because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd. We, too, know that feeling. We bow before you now,
silently reflecting on all you mean to us, all you are to us, our glorious shepherd. We come to you, O God, to worship and adore.
Lord, sometimes we cling tightly to familiar things, too frightened to listen to your call to move forward, to trust that you will give us the strength we need.
Forgive us, and help us to trust you more.
Amen.
Assurance of forgiveness
The God who cared for the lost sheep of Israel cares for us, and will pick us up from our wretchedness, and bring us back into his loving arms. The God who encourages us to step out in faith longs for us to take the risk of trusting him with our lives. We go forth knowing we are cleansed from all our sin, ready to start anew in his marvellous life.
Amen.
Sharing Good News
LYCIG (Leading your church into growth) Prayer said together
God of Mission,
Who alone brings growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give,
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions,
Joy to our worship
And power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading(s) Genesis 18:1-15, Matthew 9:35-10:20 John Fletcher
Hymn 579 Lord, thy church on earth is seeking
Reflection
Hymn MP181 God forgave my sin (Freely, freely)
Prayers for the people
Christ who was moved with compassion, you noticed the crowds, harassed, weary and searching for rest. We bring before you now, the needs of the world you love.
We pray for all who are worn down by life’s adversities, for those living with illness or pain, for all struggling with stress or burnout, and for people carrying grief and loss. May each one be met with loving care, understanding and kindness.
We pray for all who live on the margins of society, for those who are excluded or judged, for all pushed to the edge through situation or circumstance, for people reduced to labels and hollow stereotypes. Where blame has spread like contagion, may dignity and humanity take root instead. We pray for the people of Northern Ireland after the recent problems
We pray for all who work to heal and restore, for doctors and nurses, carers and counsellors, for charity workers and volunteers, for all who quietly hold so much behind the scenes. Give strength for long days, patience when change is slow, and rest for weary bodies and hearts.
We pray for the world and all the places of conflict and disharmony. Ukraine, Sudan, Middle East and places that do not get mentioned in the media. We pray that talks towards peace may happen and bring about settlement.
And we pray for ourselves and your church, sent out not with all the answers, but with the call to notice, to be moved with compassion, and to act with care.
Help us to offer peace where we can, to tread lightly and lovingly, to trust the Spirit at work within us.
We place these prayers into your care, trusting your compassion to hold what we cannot fix or carry alone. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer by Claire & Janice
Lord God in heaven,
We worship your name
May peace come to earth, and may we be as you are.
Give us the food we eat each day.
As we forgive others, may you forgive us
Guard us against all evil and guide us through life.
Amen
Offertory prayer
Take, Lord, bless and use the offering we bring; our treasure and time, our talents and ourselves – for Christ’s sake, in the Kingdom’s cause.Loving Father, all that we have, all that we do, all that we are, we offer to you In Jesus’ name.
Hymn 574 Go forth and tell! O Church of God, awake!
Blessing
Lord, you send us out in your name. You give us your authority. You give us your power. Give us the courage to go where you send us. Go ahead to lead and guide. Follow behind to encourage and help. Lord, you send us out. And we choose to go.
Amen.