PRAYER & PRAISE, 9 SEPTEMBER 2020, St. Andrew’s Church
This week we remember the events of 11 September 2001
Come God
Come walk with your people
for you alone are our strength and glory
AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Come God
Come walk behind us, beside us, before us
for you alone are our shelter and direction
AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Come God
Come seek and find and put us right
for you alone are the light in our darkness
AND WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU
Come God
We know you are near
the sound of your footsteps sets us dancing
HELP US TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP YOU
Hymn 449, Love Divine
| Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; All thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart.Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit, Into every troubled breast! Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find that promised rest. Take away our bent to sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its Beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.
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Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return and never, Never more Thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above, Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.Finish, then, Thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation Perfectly restored in Thee; Changed from glory into glory, ‘Til in heaven we take our place, ‘Til we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
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Acts 9:19b-31
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,[a] but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Matthew 4:3-48, Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Hymn 380, Jesus, stand among us, verse 1
Jesus stand among us
In thy risen power
Let this time of prayer
Be a hallowed space
Heavenly Father,
We look back on the world as it was 19 years ago, a day before the tragedy of 911. Families eating together, kissing one another hello, having conversations about the day and the people who were busy executing their plan for destruction.
We commit to you those things we cannot understand.
MEDITATION; Release the song, Kimberley and Alberto Rivera
A time for meditation to ponder that which we do not understand. Open up to Jesus in prayer, your own personal space for weeping and wailing for justice and peace and love to prevail.
We pray for the transformation and redemption of those who would kill and maim and hate particularly in the name of religion.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do
Prayer
Collect
Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Lord’s prayer
Hymn 377, Jesus, Prince and Saviour, verses 1 & 2 (Tune Onward Christian Soldiers)
Jesus Prince and Saviour
Lord of life who died;
Christ the friend of sinners,
Mocked and crucified.
For a world’s salvation
He His body gave,
Lay at last death’s victim,
Lifeless in the grave
Refrain
Lord of life triumphant
Risen now to reign
King of endless ages
Jesus lives again!
In His power and Godhead
Every victory won
Pain and passion ended
All His purpose done
Christ the Lord is risen!
Sighs and sorrows past,
Death’s dark night is over,
Morning comes at last!
Refrain
Resurrection morning!
Sinners’ bondage freed;
Christ the Lord is risen –
He is risen indeed!
Jesus, Prince and Saviour,
Lord of life who died,
Christ the King of Glory,
Now is glorified!
Refrain
Blessing
My Christ, my shield, my encircler,
each day, each night, each light, each dark,
be near me, uphold me, my treasure, my triumph.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ, Amen
