Moving Forward in Faith
FELLOWSHIP DAY SERVICE 2020
Joy for the Journey: Making wise decisions
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WELCOME
THIS ORDER OF SERVICE was prepared by the Western Australia Unit of Australian Church Women, with the theme for the present term being 'Moving Forward in Faith'.
This service has the subtitle 'Joy for the Journey: Making wise decisions'.
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
Psalm 105:1–4
[Where 2 or more are gathered, you may like to read this psalm as a responsive reading.]
1 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 face always.
HYMN
Joyful, Joyful We Adore You (Together In Song 152)
[Click on image arrow to sing along with the video.]
PRAYERS OF PRAISE AND PETITION
We praise you Father God for your enduring love and for the guidance, strength and joy you bring to our lives as we journey with you. We come with confidence to ask that you keep us sensitive to your voice and ready to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We seek your Wisdom to make the best decisions in the challenges we face. May your light shine through us for the blessing of others. AMEN
SCRIPTURE READINGS
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For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8–10
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13–16
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.
He said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:1–10
READER: This is the Word of the Lord
ALL: Thanks be to God.
HYMN
Christ is the World’s Light (Together In Song 246)
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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
O God of grace and mercy, we bring to you our land Australia and the people of all nations.
We pray for all who have been affected by drought, bushfires, floods and the Coronavirus Pandemic.
For those who have died, for those who mourn the loss of loved ones, for those who are ill, for those injured in mind and body.
Bring comfort and healing and peace.
For Australian Church women impacted by these disasters.
Be their strength and support.
For those who have lost homes, jobs, farms, properties and businesses.
Bring courage and help as they struggle to rebuild their lives and businesses.
We grieve for the impact on economies of these disasters and pray that wisdom will be given to decision makers at all levels, to researchers working on finding a vaccine to protect against coronavirus, and to us all so that our lands, wildlife, peoples and economies will be safe, protected and renewed.
We thank you loving God for the emergency workers, the firefighters, health workers and all essential services workers who risk their own lives to protect, serve and care for others.
Bless, protect and comfort them as they face death, fear and constant danger.
Give them courage and the resources they need to care for the land and wildlife, for one another and those they are helping in so many ways.
Refresh us in our faith and help us to bring refreshment to others because we know that nothing can separate us from your love.
We pray this in Jesus’ name, our creator, sustainer and redeemer.
AMEN
HYMN
Where Wide Sky Rolls Down (Together In Song 188)
[Click on image arrow to sing along with the video]
SPEAKER: 'MAKING WISE DECISIONS'
Marj Dredge, National President of Australian Church Women Inc.
REPORT ON WINIFRED KIEK SCHOLAR FOR 2020
Hetty Widowaty
In light of the coronavirus, Hetty’s study plans have changed. Hetty has registered with a Christian University to commence her Master of Theology degree, and she was to have sat her entrance exam on the 28 April. Due to the lockdown, the exam was postponed twice. It will now be undertaken online, however, she is unsure when her course work will commence. Hetty and her family are keeping well.
HYMN
Great is Your Faithfulness (Together In Song 154)
Your offering will be received for the work of the Winfred Kiek Trust during the singing of this hymn.
If you are unable to forward your offering to your local ACW Unit, please put it aside until we can meet together again.
[Click on image arrow to sing along with the video]
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
We thank you God for the inspiration and encouragement we receive when we consider those who sought your direction in the wise decisions they made.
We thank you for Bible people such as Daniel, Paul and Mary, sister of Martha, who put doing your will first.
We thank you for the stories Jesus told of wise decisions made by characters such as the Wise Virgins and the Good Samaritan.
We thank you for those who have influenced us in our walk of faith.
We thank you for the Rev. Winifred Kiek and her wise leadership.
We thank you for all Winifred Kiek Scholars and for their continued contribution to church and community.
We thank you for our 2020 Winifred Kiek Scholar, Hetty Widowaty.
Bless her in her studies, ministry and family life.
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
HYMN
In Heavenly Love Abiding (Together In Song 588)
[Click on image arrow to sing along with the video]
FINAL BLESSING
Go on in joy knowing that the God of Love who sent Jesus into the world to give us life will surround you with His Love.
Go on with courage knowing that the God of Light and Infinite Wisdom will be your strength and guide in all the challenges of life.
Go forward in faith knowing that the Eternal, Unchanging, Ever Faithful God will be with you every step of your journey.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
AMEN
Winifred Kiek Scholarship
The offerings presented at Fellowship Day Services throughout Australia go towards the Winifred Kiek Scholarship to honour Winifred Kiek, the first woman to be ordained in Australia.
This scholarship is offered to Christian women of member countries of the Asian Church Women’s Conference, multicultural Australia, and Pacific Island Nations. The scholarship is used for supplementary training or further studies in theology and related fields.
Copyright
This Order of Service is copyright ©2020 Australian Church Women Inc. The liturgy is specially prepared and may be freely reproduced as a whole for the purposes of Worship.