Communion, Follow the cloud!

Elders Gather 10:40 for Prayers and Preparation

Light Reflective Music

Bible Enters (Organ)

Welcome, Intimations, Funerals, Baptisms (remember to share this before Sunday Worship)

I greet you in the Name of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe - in the care of Christ Jesus.May it be that we receive mercy, peace and love.

9th of June at 12:00 will be the funeral of Jessie Denholm led by Marlynn Steele

11th of June at 19:00 will be our monthly Reflective Service in the Church hall

15th of June, Sunday, will be Fathersday

16th until the 30d of June, I wll be on leave

July the Sunday Club will be on Holiday / The Sunday Club is looking for vulenteers.

Small Communion – Eckhardt would like to have a communion service after the church service finishes for the Sunday Club teachers and anyone else who would like to join. Meet in choir room or creche.  

Testomony (Try to identify someone.)

Call to Worship: 

Minister: Have mercy on us, o Lord!

All: According to your steadfast love.

Minister: Have mercy on us, o Lord!

All: According to your abundant mercy.

Let us worship God!

Hymn: Come, now is the time to worship (lyrics below)

Declaration:

Blessed be the name of the Lord now and evermore.From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name be praised. Let us pray:

Prayer of Approach and Confession (The Lords Prayer is during Communion.)

We praise you Father God. We come before Your holy throne to worship.

Your glory shines above all creation. Your love endures through every generation.

Leader God, guide us in Your perfect will. Protector God, shield us from harm and fear.

God show Your mercy and steadfast love to us this morning. Make Your presence known in our worship today.

We confess our sins, for we have fallen short. We confess our unwillingness to adhere to Your leadership and guidance.

Forgive us for straying from Your holy path. Forgive us if we did not adhere to your guidance.

Cleans us so that we may be ready to receive communion today. Purify our hearts to draw near to You.

Thank You for Your holiness, pure and unchanging. We trust that You will guide us to goodness and kindness.

Unite us as Your people in this sacred time. Fill us with Your Spirit to honor Your name.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Hymn: Hear the call of the kingdom

(Children enter.)

Children’s Address: Follow the cloud!

Hymn: His banner over me is love (lyrics below)

(Children exit.)

Reading:  Numbers 9: 15-23

The Cloud Covering the Tabernacle 15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.

Sermon: (Rev. Bosch)

When should we act? If we do decide to act, how should we proceed? The moment we decided to act can be nerve wrecking or exciting. Some of us find it easy to proceed into action, others take longer to get to the point of doing something. Of course circumstance will determine if action will be easy or not.

The reading today tells of two actions the Israelites had to do. The one action were to set up camp the second to go on a journey. They had to prepare to settle in one place or they had to pack their belongings to move some where else. These actions was made easy by God’s initiative. The reading tells of God using a cloud to determine when they should settle or start moving. Everytime the cloud moves the Israelites knew it was time to go. When the cloud settled down, it was time to set up camp.

The theology simply states that God determind the actions of the Israelits. We may say the actions of God was inline with Israelits, and the Israelits actions was inline with God’s actions.

The teaching is act according to God’s will and his guidance.

My father always remind me to reconsider decision when experiencing sudden headwind “so to speak”. When experiencing sudden difficulty, it could mean that the course of action should be reconsiderd. The question then is: Is it good to continue or should we call it a day?

This question was made easy for the Israelites by God sending them a clear sign. God send them a clear sign to help them navigate the dessert. The guidance was simple and clear, just follow the cloud.

For us today, we do not have a cloud to follow. Knowing when to stop or go could be unclear. The reading is definatly not about waiting for God’s cloud to appear. Rather, the point we should consider inlight of our reading is to acknowledge God when making decisions. In other words, when we decide to go on a journey consider God in your plans. We can sy following the path which is determined by God, or make decisions which is inline with God.

I think the signs of the times and our pesonal circumstances does give us a sense of God’s Will. A clear sign for us in the Church of Scotland, is that we are in trouble. Our institution is buckeling with attendance and finances dropping. Clearly then we need to start focusing our prayes for God to give us guidance.

We need to follow God’s cloud to give an outcome to serious problems we are facing. Christ is the true example of followed the cloud of God. Christ followed and acted on our behalve by sacrificing himself for us. When we coming to the Lord’s table we have an opportunity to experience goodness of salvation done on our behalve. Let us start approaching the table of the Lord with an open heart.

Offering (The person at door duty brings the plate to the table.)

Hymn: Communion Hymn: Behold the lamb

Communion

The table is prepared. The meal is ready. 

Call to the table:

The Lord offers us bread. The Lord offers us wine. 

His Body was broken. His Blood was shed. For Me. For you. For us. 

The table is prepared. The meal is ready. Jesus is here!  

Action: The tablecloth is removed in silence.

The bread and wine are set apart:

As the Lord, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, I take these elements of bread and wine,

to be set apart from all common uses, to this holy use and mystery, and as our Lord gave thanks and blessed, 

let us draw near to God in prayer. 

The Table Prayer with Lord's Prayer:

Heavenly Father, With hearts full of expectation, we come before You to prepare for this sacred meal, the Supper of Your Son, Jesus Christ.

We approach this table with reverence, anticipating the grace and love poured out for us through His blood.

Fill us with hope as we partake, expecting Your presence to renew our spirits, strengthen our faith, and unite us as one body in Christ.

May this communion deepen our trust in Your promises and ignite our longing for Your kingdom. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, and with joyful expectation, we receive this holy meal.

In Jesus’ name, who tought us to pray:

Let us pray together: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Breaking of Bread

(Congregation to wait until everyone is served the elements. Eat together with Minister. )

According to the holy institution, example, and command of our Lord Jesus, and as a memorial of our Lord, we do the following:

on the night when he was betrayed, He took the bread 

(Minister takes the bread.) 

and when he had given thanks he broke it and said,

(Minister breaks the bread.)

“This is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup saying,

(Minister raises the cup.)

“This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me.”  

Communion

Take this is the body of Christ which is broken for you. Eat and tast to remembering him. 

(Action)

This cup is the new covenant sealed by Christ’s blood, which was shed so that the sins of many might be forgiven. Drink from it, all of you.

(Action)

Cover the table

Share the Peace

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. "Also with you."

Prayer for Others:

Hymn: SoF 407 - O breath of life come sweeping through us

Rethink and Blessing (Rev. Bosch)

Go and look to the Lord for guidance and leadership. Trust in Him as he will show you the path to life.

In the presence of the Holy Spirit, may the peace of God,  which is beyond all understanding,  guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen

Sing/Play Amen (Organ)

Bible Exits (Organ)