WS Online – 19 April 2020
Interactive service outline for Church at Home
Welcome
Welcome to WS Online! As we worship together, we’ll have the opportunity to sing, pray, and hear God’s Word read and explained as our pastor Rev. Andrew Bardsley kicks off a new series in the book of Ephesians.
This service is designed in such a way to accommodate for both families and groups worshipping together but also for those who wish to follow along by themselves. Our online Sunday School materials are available here: https://wsccc.org.au/children-strathfield/
We encourage you to set aside 1 hour to worship through this service. We want you to interact with this service as much as possible as we sing, pray, read Scripture, partake in offering and hear God’s Word explained to us. If you are in a group, ways to engage in active worship of our God include taking turns reading His Word together, singing songs out loud and praying the prayer points together.
Service Video
Interactive Service Outline
Our call to worship
As we begin today’s service please read with us from Psalm 36:7-9,
How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
Opening prayer
Dear God our Heavenly Father,
You are a God of amazing patience and love for us. Thank you for the gift of Jesus and what he achieved on the cross. As we dedicate this time now in worship, calm our hearts and minds so we can receive your Word and worship you without distraction.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Opening songs
Let’s sing our opening song that celebrates God’s love for us. I Stand Amazed (How Marvellous)
Our second song focuses on the sufficency of Jesus. Christ is Enough
Announcements
While we currently exist in part as an online community, we remain a local community that desires to meet together, serve each other, and carry out Christ’s Great Commission. Here are some items of news for us as a church family.
- Online Giving – We give thanks for the continued generosity of our members in supporting the work of the church and our missionaries. If you would like to find out more about how you can give online during this time, please visit our website: https://wsccc.org.au/giving/
- Special Offering for CDP – While we plan to reassess the situation in August, the church is still committed to going ahead with the CDP at Croydon Park. Next Sunday, 26th April, we continue our bi-monthly special offering for the CDP. Feel free to contribute via bank transfers online giving at the website above.
- Diaconate Newsletter – The latest newsletter from the Diaconate is now available on our church website. Please see the newsletter for latest updates regarding the church’s response to the COVID-19 situation, the CDP, missions, and encouragements for us as a church during this time.
- We encourage everyone to continue to take the COVID-19 virus situation seriously and to take necessary precautions to limit the spread of the virus. As a church, we continue to follow the guidelines set by our government. The latest updates from the Diaconate are available here: https://wsccc.org.au/covid-19-updates/.
Congregational Prayer
Prayer is simply talking to God, and as Christians it is amazing, we can do it alone or as a family of God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the ability to have church as a family online. Thank you for the technology and the skills of those who make this possible. Lord we come before you as fallen people not deserving of your grace or love however through the death of your son Jesus you have opened the way for a relationship with you and forgiveness.
Lord we pray for the ever-changing situation of the Coronavirus. Give the leaders of Australia continued wisdom to act and keep us safe. Lord help us adjust to an isolated lifestyle for a period of time. Help us to find contentment in the simple things of life that you have given. Help us to reach out to those around us who may be feeling more lonely than usual, help us to be proactive in our relationships.
Lord we pray for the economy. Many businesses have closed and individuals lost jobs. We pray that those impacted will find security and comfort in you and you alone. Help us as a community to look out for our neighbours and those around us who are in need.
In Matthew 6 you tell us how the birds of the air do not reap or store away in barns yet you look after their needs. Lord you know our needs, let us seek you out in all things and commit our worries to you.
Lord thank you for the growth the church. Thank you that church is now more accessible to those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend. We pray that this opportunity is used to further glorify your kingdom and your people.
We pray for continued unity of the church during this time apart from one another. We pray for the ongoing ministry of the gospel. Let us continue to be loving to those around us and to be mindful of each other’s needs during this time.
We also pray for the church’s financial needs as we continue to work towards the church development program of our Croydon Park church.
Lord we pray for the missionaries who are overseas during this time. We pray for safety and wisdom in how to best continue to support their physical and spiritual needs. We praise you in that Taiwan has been doing so well to curb the spread of infections of COVIDI-19 however our missionaries have had plans changed, or cancelled. We pray you will continue to strengthen their ministries and grow their faith.
Lord we acknowledge we can plan and worry but we know you are in control of all things. You are a merciful God full of grace help us to continue to trust in you in all that we do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Bible reading
The first reading for today comes from Ephesians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second reading for today comes from Acts 9:1-19 (NIV)
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Sermon
Today we’ll hear from Rev. Andrew Bardsley, as he speaks on the topic of “Ephesians: The Gift of Life in Christ.”
Please listen here to the recording: https://wsccc.org.au/s9/sermons/
Offering Song
We come to a time in the service when we have the opportunity to worship God through offering, in giving back to the Lord a portion of what he has given to us. Even though we cannot all meet together in one building, we have still made our commitment to financially support our pastors, missionaries, and ongoing church expenses.
Because an offering bag cannot be passed around, please make your electronic offerings to church via these accounts.
- General fund: BSB 082 080. Acc 48 243 6244. Name: WSCCC.
- Mission fund: BSB 082 080. Acc 52 856 0495. Name: WSCCC.
- Building fund: BSB 082 451. Acc 73 932 0475. Name: WSCCC.
You can also give online through this link: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1291374
Our offering song is – All Glory Be to Christ
Offering Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your daily provision for us. Make our hearts more like your own generous heart and we ask that the money collected would be used to grow your kingdom and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing prayer and benediction
Please continue to contemplate all you have heard from Scripture today, and please take the opportunity this week to share with your family and friends.
As we approach the coming week, let’s finish with Paul’s blessing from 2 Corinthians 13:14
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all evermore.
Connect with us!If you’d like to get in touch with us, join a small group online, or find out more about Christianity, fill out a response card here: Response Form.