Weoley Hill Order of service Sunday 14 September
Led by Ann Evans
Welcome and notices given by Elder on duty Sue Beeby
Call to Worship
You are worthy, our Lord and God, we offer you glory and honour, for all things were created by you. Come, let us worship the Lord, our redeemer and sustainer. Lord, in a broken and hurting world, we come to worship you as people in need of repair. Be with us as we worship you, open our hearts and minds to your grace, love and forgiveness.
Amen.
Hymn 67 Immortal, invisible, God only wise
Opening prayers
Ever-loving Father, we come before you as children created and called by you. Humbly we bow before you, as those deemed worthy of being sought and found by you when we have become lost. May our worship be worthy of your all-redeeming love.
Almighty God, your mercy and love know no bounds, reaching from heaven to find us. Lord Jesus, your compassion and grace know no bounds, opening your arms to welcome us. Holy Spirit, your comfort and counsel know no bounds, enfolding us in the fullness of fellowship. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we worship and adore you.
Lord, so many of us feel lost these days but we are slow to admit that it is because we have strayed far from you. We feel shame that our lives are not what they should be, and so often we miss the mark. Yet you teach us, Lord, that if we are following your way, then we are enough. Today, we set our feet again on the path that leads to love and life, not death and self-destruction. And we know, loving Father, that you will welcome us, for you are always seeking our return.
Amen.
Assurance of forgiveness
Heavenly Father, who seeks us when we are lost, whose heart is ever hopeful for our return, whose arms are always open to welcome us back: we thank you for your forgiveness; your rejoicing when we are found; your love, which makes us feel worthy after all.
Amen.
Children’s slot Greatest things
Hymn MP 628 Tell me the old, old story
Sharing Good News
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) 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15: 1-10 Vida Kyerah
Hymn 695 O God be gracious to me in your love
Reflection
Hymn 552 The King of love my shepherd is
Prayers for the people
Paul described himself as the worst sinner of all. If God can change Paul’s life, he can change anyone’s. Many people today feel lost, and many more don’t even realise how lost they are. We pray, Lord God, that we will recognize your loving and almighty power to reach out to all in need.
We pray for countries facing unrest, conflict, or disasters. For those people who have risked all to flee danger. We pray for our own nation during difficult times. For our government as it wrestles with change and difficult decisions.
Wars don’t take account of the value of human life. How hard that is for us to witness. We pray for countries at war, that their leaders and allies will be instrumental in negotiating and bringing them back to peace.
We pray for people you have considered worthy of your trust and appointed to your service. They give up much for you. We pray for the church worldwide: So many expressions, so many traditions, but all trying to be faithful to you. We pray for our clergy, not forgetting their families, as they seek to live out your gospel, meeting people at their hour of need. We pray for our pastorate and the process of finding a new minister and a potential minister who feels God’s call to come to minister to us.
Lord God, we as humans are very good at putting a ‘value’ on other people. And we aren’t always kind. We pray for the people with whom we interact each day. Especially those who don’t think they are precious to anyone. May they be found by you. And loved and cherished by us.
We remember the times we have felt lost, and you found us, Lord. As you were patient with Paul, teach us to be patient whatever the situation. Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him. We think of people we may have lost touch with and hold them in our prayers. Lord God, there is so much sadness in the world today, so much loss. With you we can find our hope again.
We pray for those who are lost in illness. That healing will find them, in whatever shape that is. We pray for those who tread the path of sorrow, mourning those they have loved and lost. We pray for those who have died: the famous and well-loved and those who have died alone.
We bring our prayers together in celebration that Jesus thinks that everyone is worth finding:
I was lost, but Jesus found me, Found the sheep that went astray, Threw His loving arms around me, Drew me back into His way.
Francis H. Rowley (1886)
Thank you, Lord. Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
Offertory prayer
Giving is part of our response to God. We give our time, our talents and our treasure. We give and we thank God for the opportunity to respond to the call to make a difference. God of all that is good, we thank You for the myriad gifts You give us, bless these gifts we offer now, that we may use them wisely and always hear where you are calling us to follow. Amen.
Hymn 574 Go forth and tell! O church of God, awake
Blessing
Go in the knowledge and confidence of God’s love for you, trusting that Christ Jesus is with you.
Amen.