There is no gathered worship service at Tawa Baptist this Sunday 6 September 2020, due to the ban on gatherings over 100 people. We encourage you to have church at your place instead. Following is a suggested format for a ‘do it yourself’ worship service at home.
Call to Worship
You may like to light a candle as a reminder that Christ is present and read the opening verses of Psalm 105…
Give praise to the Lord,proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him,sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his facealways.
Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – just google them on YouTube or download on Spotify.
♫ I will give thanks to Thee
♫ Good, Good Father (I’ve heard a thousand stories…)
A Prayer
Father God, you are our sanctuary, our safe place. In you we find our identity and our security. May your Spirit open our hearts and minds to a fresh awareness of your goodness. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
Offering
Take this opportunity to make your financial offering to the Lord by on-line banking to your local church &/or a charitable organisation who support the poor.
Nominate someone to pray the following prayer…
Father God, we praise you for your goodness. Thank you for your long fuse, your warm kindness, your firm fairness, your deep understanding, your tender care, your strong protection, your generous provision, your thoughtful remembering, your faithful presence and your sleepless vigil over our lives. We are truly blessed to call you Abba, Father. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Read aloud the following verses from Isaiah 40:1-11. A message of hope to the exiles through all of history…
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
make straightin the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
5 And the gloryof the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withersand the flowers fall, because the breathof the Lord blowson them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
9 You who bring good newsto Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah,
“Here is your God!”
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comeswith power, and he ruleswith a mighty arm.
See, his rewardis with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
May the Lord bless the reading of His word.
Intercessory Prayer
This week’s prayer was prepared by Bruce. You may want to take turns reading paragraphs of the prayer out loud or nominate someone with you to lead the prayer…
Our Father, today, being Father’s Day, we give thanks firstly for our parents who gave us life; for our fathers and our mothers who tended and cared for us when we were helpless to help ourselves; who toiled and sacrificed to give us our chance in life; and from whose lips we first heard the name of Jesus.
We remember with fondness our fathers whom we have loved and lost awhile; we give thanks for those whom you have taken to yourself, full of years and honour. We remember those who were called home in the mid-time of life, and for those for whom the flower of life never had time to blossom. And those of us who still have their father here with them this Father’s Day, we give thanks that we still have access to their experience of life, their strength in times of need, and their support when the grind of life gets tough.
Grant to us, our Father, to walk worthily of the heritage into which we have entered, and grant to us the sure certainty that one day, in your good time, we shall be reunited in your presence with those whom we have loved.
As your children living in every corner of the world we also come before You today to intercede for all nations, almost all of which are currently affected or under threat of the COVID-19 virus. Grant to our own government, to those of other countries, and to the many national and local leaders, wisdom and understanding as they establish and implement guidelines, measures, and strategies in fighting against COVID-19.
Enable our health officials and medical personnel with your strength and power as they attend to the sick and vulnerable. Lead the medical scientists around the world who are working to find the antidote for COVID-19.
In these uncertain times, our Father, grant us your grace and peace to stay calm and to overcome fear, because the spirit of fear does not come from you. Instead, you have given us faith, hope, and love. You have given us power and a sound mind, and your Word says that you will keep in perfect peace those whose eyes are fixed on you.
We pray for those in our community who need your strength at this time. We remember… [name those you know who need our prayers]
Our Father and our God, grant that at the ending of this day you will be nearer and dearer to us. Send us back tomorrow to our duties with a greater knowledge in our minds, a greater love within our hearts, and a firmer grip upon your mighty hand, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
More Sung Worship
Listen and/or sing along to the following songs – just google them on YouTube or download on Spotify.
♫ Prodigal (The Father’s love in arms of graces) by Edge Kingsland
♫ Holy and anointed one (Jesus, Jesus…)
Sermon
You can either read the sermon notes, found on the ‘2020 Sermons’ page of this website, or listen to an audio recording of the sermon via the following link:
Communion
On the first Sunday of each month we normally share communion together. We celebrate communion to remember Jesus. We remember Jesus’ death, his resurrection and his presence with us now. We also remember that Jesus will return in glory one day. Communion reminds us we are not alone.
Song
Listen and/or sing along to the following song as you prepare for communion…
♫ How deep the Father’s love for us
Prayer of Blessing for Elements
Father God we thank you for your Son Jesus who we remember now in the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup. May you bless these elements, the bread and the wine/juice, that all who receive them would be filled afresh with your Spirit of love and truth. May our souls be nourished by a deepening awareness of your goodness, that we would grow in our love for one another and so glorify you. We ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Words of Institution
On the night when he was betrayed the Lord Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it. After he had given thanks he gave it to his disciples and said, ‘Take. Eat. This is my body which given for you. Do this to remember me.’
Eat the bread.
In the same way the Lord Jesus took the cup after supper saying. ‘This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.’
Drink some grape juice (or red wine).
To conclude someone might like to say: ‘The Lord is risen’
With the response: ‘He is risen indeed’.
Closing Song
Listen and/or sing along to the following song – just google on YouTube or download on Spotify.
♫ Your love never fails (Nothing can separate, even if I run away)
Benediction
‘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.’
Tawa Baptist 