Welcome and Opening Prayer
Good morning and welcome everyone.
You may like to light a candle as a reminder that Christ is present.
Sung Worship
Jesus is the word of God. God reveals himself in the person of Jesus.
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – on YouTube or Spotify.
- Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
- You were the Word in the beginning (What a beautiful name)
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Bible Reading – Psalm 16
Psalm 16 is one of the lectionary readings for today. Read it aloud in your bubble. Depending on how many readers you have, you may like to read this psalm as a relay. That is, one person reads 2 or 3 verses, then the next person reads 2 or 3 verses and so on.
Protect me, O God; I trust in you for safety.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
all the good things I have come from you.”
3 How excellent are the Lord‘s faithful people!
My greatest pleasure is to be with them.
4 Those who rush to other gods
bring many troubles on themselves.
I will not take part in their sacrifices;
I will not worship their gods.
5 You, Lord, are all I have,
and you give me all I need;
my future is in your hands.
6 How wonderful are your gifts to me;
how good they are!
7 I praise the Lord, because he guides me,
and in the night my conscience warns me.
8 I am always aware of the Lord’s presence;
he is near, and nothing can shake me.
9 And so I am thankful and glad,
and I feel completely secure,
10 because you protect me from the power of death.
I have served you faithfully,
and you will not abandon me to the world of the dead.
11 You will show me the path that leads to life;
your presence fills me with joy
and brings me pleasure forever.
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.
Song
Sing / listen to the song ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands’ on YouTube or Spotify.
Centrifugal Prayer
A centrifugal prayer is one which moves outwards from yourself to the wider world. If you imagine dropping a pebble in a pond and watching the ripples move outwards in ever expanding circles, that’s what we mean by a centrifugal prayer. In the book of Acts, we see the centrifugal movement of the Holy Spirit as the apostles took the message of Jesus’ resurrection & salvation outward from Jerusalem to Judea and all Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Following is a basic framework for a centrifugal prayer. You can adapt this by adding in your own specifics as you feel led by the Spirit…
- Start by praying for yourself – that is, your own soul. (For example: tell God how you are feeling and ask him for what you need.)
- Then pray for those in your bubble or immediate family.
- Next pray for those in your local church congregation. (For example: anyone who is sick or has lost a loved one, etc.)
- Then pray for the wider community, suburb or city in which you live.
- Next pray for your country. (For example: continued wisdom for your government and health authorities as they make decisions around COVID-19.)
- Finally pray for the wider world. (For example: that Corona virus would not get into refugee camps; for protection for missionaries serving overseas; for the environment, etc.)
Finish by praying these words: Father God, we thank you that you are present in all of these situations. We thank you that nothing is too difficult for you. May your will be done in our lives and in this world that you love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
More Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs on YouTube or download on Spotify
- You are good, you are good (Forever Reign)
- In the quiet (None but Jesus)
Sermon
You can either read the sermon notes attached to this email. Or, listen to an audio recording of the sermon via the following link:
Song – As the deer pants for the water
Listen and/or sing along to ‘As the deer pants for the water’ on YouTube or Spotify.
Verse 1
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul longs after You.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You.
Chorus
You alone are my strength, my shield.
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship You.
Verse 2
I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye.
Verse 3
You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.
Benediction / Blessing
Proclaim the following blessing…
‘The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace. Amen.’
Tea & coffee
Normally after a Sunday morning worship service we have a chat over a cup of tea or coffee. As an alternative you may like to make contact with one or two people over the phone or FaceTime, etc. Just check in and see how they are getting on.
God bless you,
Will
Tawa Baptist 