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THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUSICAL PRELUDE

HYMN ‘All are welcome’ [3 verses]

Let us build a house where love can dwell And all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell How hearts learn to forgive.

[stand]

Built of hopes and dreams and visions;
Rock of faith and vault of grace;
Here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where love is found In water, wine and wheat;
A banquet hall on holy ground,
Where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,
Is revealed in time and space,
As we share in Christ the feast that feeds us; All are welcome, all are welcome,
All are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named, Their songs and visions heard
And loved and treasured, taught and claimed As words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,
Prayers of faith and songs of grace;
Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
All are welcome, all are welcome, All are welcome in this place

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CALL TO WORSHIP

This is Lent: a journey;
a wilderness; a grounding; a calling;

a presence; a silence;
a pilgrimage; a revelation; a hillside;

a tomb-side;
a resurrection.
Come, let us journey into Lent.
We are journeying with the Lord.

Lenten Candles

Jesus said, “As long as it is day we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world I am the light of the world.”
Day and night, step by step, we continue our Lenten journey in the footsteps of Jesus.

We often feel we are walking in the darkness. We are afraid we are not doing the work God has planned for us.
Jesus reminds us he is the light of the world. He will guide us in our journey.

Do you waste a lot of time on things that don’t matter? Do you give way to addictions and habits?
Are you slaving in the darkness or working in the light? What work does God want you to do?

[silent reflection]

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Our Lenten journey invites us to embrace the vulnerable people in our community and to share their darkness, to become familiar with the challenges they face and to work towards bringing light into their lives.

The light of the fourth Lenten candle goes out and we let the growing Lenten shadow draw us into prayer.

(Extinguish a purple candle)

Let us pray

Our Lord and our Shepherd, you know
and care for all your children.
You set your eyes on our hearts,
looking beyond our attributes and our achievements, and seeing past our failings and our infirmities. Liberate us from the darkness of self-interest,

and lead us forward in the light
that enables us to see you at work in the lives of others. May our experience of being included in your family, enthuse us to support the people in need
to gain resources and opportunities to build their lives. For Christ’s sake. Amen

HYMN 463 ‘May this Lenten discipline’ [stand]

Old Testament Reading:
The Old Testament reading comes from

Listen now for the Word of God.

For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God.

1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13.

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Epistle Reading:
Epistle reading comes from Ephesians 5:8-14 Listen now for the Word of God.

For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
For those times when we have been too blind to see what is going on around us,
forgive us.
For those times when we have turned away, preferring not to see realities that we are uncertain about,
forgive us.
For those times when we have wrung our hands, wishing things would change, without taking the steps we could have to help them change,
forgive us.
For those times when we discounted others ’stories rather than confront truths that made us uncomfortable,
forgive us.
Open our eyes and our hearts, loving God, and enable us to see the realities you place before us.
Amen.

Words of affirmation

Hear these words from scripture:

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“God doesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but God sees into the heart.” So, know that God sees into your heart, and knows that it is good. God forgives you all that weighs upon you, and sets you free to new and everlasting life.
Thanks be to God!

† Taizé music: Bless the Lord, my soul

THE SERVICE OF THE WORD Gospel Reading: John 9:1-41

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

MUSIC FOR REFLECTION

HOMILY Rev Colin Blayney HYMN 143 ‘Immortal, invisible, God only wise’ [3 verses] [stand]

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Loving God, we look around us and see war, hunger, disease, and poverty.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.
‘Help us repair our broken world’.

We see broken families, relationships that do not work, and leaders who have broken trust.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.
‘Help us repair our broken world’.

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We see communities devastated by natural disasters, refugees displaced after international conflicts.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.
‘Help us repair our broken world’.

We see systems that oppress, structures that marginalise others, and boundaries that make people outsiders.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.
‘Help us repair our broken world’.

We hear the cries of the homeless, the orphans, the widows, the prisoners, and yet, we remain silent.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.
‘Help us repair our broken world’.

We struggle with indifference, racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, and other feelings that keep us from loving our neighbours.
‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’.

‘Help us repair our broken world’.

God, you have shown us how to love, how to forgive, how to be compassionate. Show us the ways we can be instruments of peace and reconciliation. May your church be faithful to be salt and light in and for this world.

‘God, open our eyes to see your healing spirit’. ‘Help us repair our broken world’.

We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray,
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.

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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.

THE SENDING FORTH OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD

HYMN 129 ‘Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

[stand]

God’s goodness and mercy will follow us day after day.
We leave this place of worship trusting in God.
Christ’s light shines ahead of us to show us the way.
We leave this place of worship with lives open to God.
The Spirit of God is always with us, knows our hearts, and loves us.

We leave this place of worship with lives open to each other.

Go in peace, in the love of God who is creating, God who bears our pain,
and God who comforts and guides, now and always. Amen.

MISSIONING SONG 749 (vs 1 & 4)

Send me, Jesus; send me, Jesus; Send me, Jesus; send me, Lord. I will go, Lord; I will go, Lord; in your name, Lord, I will go.

MUSICAL POSTLUDE

Acknowledgement: Prayers of Confession, and Prayers of the People based on Seasons of the Spirit, Organist: Kyung-Hee Jung
Ministers: Rev Thomas Alackakunnel, Rev Colin Blayney,
Rev Chris Goringe, Rev Christian Hohl, Rev Yangrae Son.