Moving Forward in Faith – Daring to Risk
WORLD COMMUNITY DAY SERVICE 2020
'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' 2 Corinthians 5:7
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WELCOME
THIS ORDER OF SERVICE was prepared by the New South Wales Unit of Australian Church Women, with the theme for the present term being 'Moving Forward in Faith'.
This service has the subtitle 'Daring to Risk'.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND
We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia as the traditional custodians of this land.
We respect past and present Elders and are thankful for their wisdom which has sustained their people since the beginning of time.
We will support emerging and future First Nations leaders and their people.
CALL TO WORSHIP
[Where 2 or more are gathered, you may like to read these verses as a responsive reading.]
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
For we live by faith, not by sight.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Like the Heroes of Faith may we dare to risk – Moving forward in faith!
HYMN
There’s a light upon the mountains (Together in Song 276,
Australian Hymn Book 207)
[Click image arrow to sing along with the video.]
PRAYERS OF PRAISE
For that noble throng of saints of all ages and all lands who have stood steadfastly for the right against wrong
We praise you, O God
For the example of those willing to suffer that your truth may be preserved.
We praise, you, O God
For the courage of those who dare indifference to public opinion and step out in faith to declare your ways.
We praise you, O God.
For your Holy Spirit Who strengthens and empowers our faith.
We praise you, O God
Hear our prayer, O God AMEN
SCRIPTURE READINGS
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Don’t be worried on account of the wicked; don’t be jealous of those who do wrong. They will soon disappear like grass that dries up; they will die like plants that wither. Trust in the Lord and do good; live in the land and be safe. Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desire. Give yourself to the Lord; trust in him, and he will help you; he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:1–6 (Good News)
The king of Egypt told the midwives to kill Hebrew boys as soon as they were born. However they let the boys live, and when challenged as to why, replied that the Hebrew women gave birth before the midwives arrived. Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
Exodus 1:15–16
Prelude to reading of
Exodus 2:1–10–16
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
Mark 5:25–34
PRAYERS OF PETITION
Help us O God at all times to do the things we ought to do.
May we have:
Clear vision,
To know what we have to do;
Courage,
To embark upon it, without fear;
Skill,
To navigate your will;
Strength,
To resist temptations that distract us from your will;
Help us Lord, to faithfully fulfil all things in you.
AMEN
HYMN
God moves in a mysterious way (Together In Song 126,
Australian Hymn Book 54)
[Click image arrow for the words and music for this song.
This video does not have a vocal backing.]
SPEAKER: 'MOVING FORWARD IN FAITH – DARING TO RISK'
Marj Dredge, National President of Australian Church Women Inc.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
O Lord, our God, we pray for those who minister in your name,
May they boldly speak your truth.
For those who have left home and loved ones to serve you in distant places,
Keep them safely in your care.
For all those who lobby for justice where injustice reigns,
Bless their efforts with success.
For those who risk their lives in service to our communities,
Empower them by your Spirit.
AMEN
VIDEO ITEM
Faith, hope and love
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A TIME OF REFLECTION
Leader: In the Fellowship Day service earlier this year, we gave thanks for biblical characters who looked for God’s direction and made wise decisions.
Today we think of those who throughout the scriptures were used by God – people who were willing to move out of their comfort zone, willing to take risks. And we think of more contemporary risk takers who make a statement to better the lives of many in our world. Try to imagine yourself in the positions of the people we will hear about now – could you trust God to help you bear the overwhelming challenges they faced or are facing?
Reader 1: Jochebed – Mother of Moses took the extraordinary step of putting her son in a waterproof basket in the Nile. He was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as an Egyptian – but he later led the Israelites from Egypt.
Reader 2: Mary responded positively to the call to give birth to Jesus, and Joseph accepted the responsibility put on him. Both risked the flight into Egypt when boy children were being killed on Herod’s orders.
Reader 1: Joanna was wife to Chuza, Herod’s right-hand man, but she was devoted to supporting the ministry of Jesus ‘out of her own means’.
Reader 2: Sister Patricia Pak Poy was instrumental in the prohibition of the use of landmines. Born in Darwin of Chinese heritage, she became a Sister of Mercy, and in 1991 began a petition which culminated in the treaty to ban landmines.
Reader 1: Malala Yousafzai believed in the rights of education for girls and was shot by the Taliban. She dares to hope for interfaith harmony.
Reader 2: Greta Thunberg took action when she realised that lip service was achieving nothing for planet Earth with regard to climate change.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Loving God, we give thanks for all who put their personal wellbeing at risk for what they see as the greater good. We pray that you will continue to raise up risk takers despite the apathy and hostility they must face in the modern world.
As we support the Fellowship of the Least Coin, may we also strive for truth and justice so that the impoverished may be given the chance to rise above their poverty, and find meaningful employment to enrich their lives.
AMEN
FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN DEDICATION
An introduction to the Fellowship of the Least Coin from Awit Marcelino, Chair of the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin and ICFLC Representative of Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada.
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FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN RESPONSE
Dear God, accept this least coin ‘Token of Love’. Make us mindful of the miracles of these coins. Let us honour your creation with love as shown through the life, death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
GENERAL OFFERING
Today’s General Offering will be divided equally between the Asian Church Women’s Conference and our ACW Special Project: Canberra Sleepbus® Project for Women
https://www.sleepbus.org/projects/canberra
Sleepbus® provides a safe, temporary overnight accommodation service, getting people off the street by offering an immediate, first stop, cost-effective solution for our society’s most vulnerable; catching them early until they can get back on their feet.
If you are unable to present your offering at this time, please set it aside until we can meet together again or contact your state or territory ACW Unit to arrange the collection of your offering.
The General Offering will be received during the singing of the following hymn.
HYMN
Community of Christ (Together In Song 473)
[Click image arrow to sing along with the video.]
OFFERTORY PRAYER
All good gifts come from you, dear Lord, and from these riches we bring this offering. May it be used for the furtherance of your purposes, and for the benefit of those in need. AMEN
HYMN
God Gives us a Future (Together In Song 687,
Tune: At The Name of Jesus)
[Click image arrow for the words and music for this song.
This video does not have a vocal backing.]
FINAL BLESSING
Disturb us, O Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes; and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope and love.
AMEN
Attributed to Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596)
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