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Dear Friends,

Thank you to those who joined me via Facebook live last Sunday morning.  We will again be broadcasting via this medium on Sunday 31st May at 9:30am.

With Covid-19 restrictions easing a little, we are allowed 5 people (in addition to those involved in the service) to join us at the church on Sunday morning.  If you would like to come along, please phone Debbie on 3358 6945 or email to office@mruca.org.au to reserve your place.  


Here is the "Service from home" which can guide you in prayer and reflection.  You can use this to follow along on our Facebook live service or in private prayer at home. 

We'll continue to send out a "Service from home" each week whilst the restrictions on gatherings are in place.  If you would prefer not to receive this service, please contact Debbie at office@mruca.org.au or phone 3358 6945.

In Christ,
Murray Fysh
Minister

Service at home - Sunday 31st May 2020

CALL TO WORSHIP
The God of all calls us together.
We gather in this place,
at this time,
and set it apart for worship
not because God needs us to worship
but because we come to respond
to God’s life amongst us.
We gather to give glory to God
and to celebrate God’s presence in all the earth. Let us worship!


The following prayer invites the Holy Spirit to be a part of our devotions
PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
Spirit of wonder,
you move in our hearts
as we gather today.
Where we are closed, open us.
Where we are in need, heal us.
Where we are anxious, give us peace.
Lead us in our worship, we pray.  Amen.

 
A Prayer of Confession, where we reflect on our sinful nature and beg God to forgive us as God has promised to do.  Reflect on the following as we become aware of God’s forgiveness
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Gracious God,
we confess that we have been like the disciples,
locked in a room, filled with fear.
 
Our fears have grown from ignorance,
but also, from our wilful disbelief of your promises.
Too often we are willing to be swayed by the ways of this world
and to follow the distorted thinking of protection by division,
sustenance through stockpiling
and peace that comes from violence.
Turn our hearts and minds away from these falsities.
Instead, turn us to your ways of unity, abundance and love.
 
We confess we have been locked in a room, filled with fear:
fear of not being relevant or enough,
fear of not being popular or relevant.
Help us to see that when we follow in your ways,
that these fears are irrelevant
and they distract us from the call to love.
Turn our eyes that we might see your wounds
and know the paths of discipleship.


WORDS OF ASSURANCE:
Jesus breaks through the barriers of our making
and those that the world puts up as well.
He stands among us and offers peace.
The peace of forgiveness be yours today.
May this peace give you new life.
Amen.


THE GREETING OF PEACE


The readings for you to read before your reflection
Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.  4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.  6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.  7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?  8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?  9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”  12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.  15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.  16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.  19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.  20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.  21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
 
This is a word from our God,
Thanks be to God!
 
You are invited to use the following practice to process the scripture.

  1. What are you hearing in this scripture?
  • Don’t try to figure it out, rather try to find a word or phrase that resonates for you
  • Are there words or phrases that stand out? 
  1. Reflect of the Scripture
  • Read a second time reflecting on the way your life is touched by this reading.
  • What is it in my life that needs to hear this reading now? 
  1. Respond to message given to you.
  • What difference will this make to my life?
  • Has this scripture touched my life?
  • Have I been motivated to react or act differently?

Do I need to reflect further on this scripture?


GOSPEL READING
John 20:19-31
Jesus appears to His disciples
19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
 
Jesus and Thomas
24Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.  25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
 
26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
 
The Purpose of This Book
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
 
This is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Praise to You Lord Christ!
 
You are invited to use the following practice to process the scripture.

  1. What are you hearing in this scripture?
  • Don’t try to figure it out, rather try to find a word or phrase that resonates for you
  • Are there words or phrases that stand out? 
  1. Reflect of the Scripture
  • Read a second time reflecting on the way your life is touched by this reading.
  • What is it in my life that needs to hear this reading now? 
  1. Respond to message given to you.
  • What difference will this make to my life?
  • Has this scripture touched my life?
  • Have I been motivated to react or act differently?
  • Do I need to reflect further on this scripture?

  
REFLECTION
In John’s account of Pentecost, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit with a word of peace.  Or rather, a breath of peace.  They had encountered the risen Christ, recognised him by his wounds and now received the peace.  I wonder if they saw this as the end.  They could now sit back having received the peace and just be.  But this is impossible, for with the peace also comes a sending.  And how could it be otherwise.  The mission of the disciples, to go out and forgive, is in response to the very peace they have received.  These two are inextricably linked.  The disciples do not earn their peace through good works, but it is good works that flow from the gift of peace they already received.


OFFERTORY PRAYER
Loving God,
may the gifts of our hearts and hands give you glory.
Receive them, we pray.
Use these gifts and our lives
to give peace to the world. Amen.


Please pray for those known to you who are sick and have asked for prayer.
You might like to pray for health workers and all those working in the lives of those who are sick.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
You give us the gift of your peace.
Help us to be instruments of peace in your world.
 
In places of violence and hatred:
where countries are at war;
where people are divided;
or where children are uncertain,
give us the gift of your peace,
Help us to be instruments of peace in your world.
 
In places of fear and pain:
in the loneliness of depression;
in the anxiety of the waiting;
in the suffering of poverty;
give us the gift of your peace,
Help us to be instruments of peace in your world.
 
In our daily living:
in our families, in our communities,
in our homes and our workplaces,
teach us to love as you love,
give us the gift of your peace,
Help us to be instruments of peace in your world.
 
The peace that we receive and offer is not our own,
it comes from the breath of God
who brings us renewal and new life.
For this gift we give thanks.
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
Now and forever.  Amen.
 

BENEDICTION
God breaks in and offers peace
even when we are afraid or unsure about life.
 
God sends us out to offer peace and forgiveness,
instruments of grace and love.
May we go and let this be our life’s calling and our life’s way.
 
Go in the peace of Christ, the love of God,
and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord.

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Merthyr Road Uniting Church · 52 Merthyr Road · New Farm, Qld 4300 · Australia

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