Morning Service Sunday 25 August 2024

Welcome and Intimations

Prayer and 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.

CH4 195 Here to the House of God We Come

1. Here to the house of God we come,
   home of the people of the Way,
   here to give thanks for all we have,
   naming our needs for every day,
   we who have roof and rent and bread,
   sure of a place to rest our head.
   

2. There is a knocking at our door,
   sound of the homeless of the world,
   voice of the frightened refugee,
   cry of the children in the cold,
   asking the least that is their right,
   safety and shelter for the night.
   

3. God who is shelter, who is home,
   in borrowed rooms you came to live,
   pleaded to save the dispossessed,
   crucified, lay in borrowed grave,
   these are no strangers in your eyes,
   this is your family who cries.
   

4. Shelter us, tenants of your love,
   gather us round a common fire,
   warm us in company with Christ,
   give us the heart to feel, to share
   table and lodging without bond,
   space in our living, in our land.
   

1992 Hope Publishing Company

1. Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
2. 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43

CH4 52 How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (Psalm 84)

1. How lovely is thy dwelling-place,
   O Lord of hosts, to me!
   The tabernacles of thy grace,
   how pleasant, Lord, they be!
   

2. My thirsty soul longs vehemently,
   yea faints, thy courts to see:
   my very heart and flesh cry out,
   O living God, for thee.
   

3. Behold, the sparrow findeth out
   an house wherein to rest;
   the swallow also for herself
   hath found her place to nest;
   

4. Even thine own altars, where she safe
   her young ones forth may bring,
   O thou almighty Lord of hosts,
   who art my God and King.
   

5. Blest are they in thy house that dwell,
   they ever give thee praise.
   And blest are they whose strength thou art,
   in whose heart are thy ways.
   

Meditation

CH4 263 God of Freedom, God of Justice

1. God of freedom, God of justice,
   You whose love is strong as death,
   You who saw the dark of prison,
   You who knew the price of faith—
   Touch our world of sad oppression
   With Your Spirit's healing breath.
   

2. Rid the earth of torture's terror,
   You whose hands were nailed to wood;
   Hear the cries of pain and protest,
   You who shed the tears and blood—
   Move in us the pow'r of pity
   Restless for the common good.
   

3. Make in us a captive conscience
   Quick to hear, to act, to plead;
   Make us truly sisters, brothers
   Of whatever race or creed—
   Teach us to be fully human,
   Open to each other's need.
   

1992 Hope Publishing Co.

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

CH4 622 We Sing a Love That Sets All People Free

1. We sing a love that sets all people free,
   that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
   enfolds like earth, springs up like water clear:
   come, living love, live in our hearts today.
   

2. We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
   that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
   a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
   come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
   

3. We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
   to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
   a love that stands alone and undismayed:
   come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
   

4. We sing a love, that, wandering, will not rest
   until it finds its way, its home, its source,
   through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
   come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.
   

5. We sing a burning, fiery, Holy Ghost
   that seeks out shades of ancient bitterness,
   transfiguring these, as Christ in every heart:
   come joyful love, live in our hearts today.
   

1993 Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Blessing