WS Online – 3 May 2020
Interactive service outline for Church at Home
Welcome
Welcome to WS Online! We’re glad that you can join us at WS Online today, as we worship together. In this service, there will be opportunities for us to sing, to pray, hear God’s Word read and explained.
If you’re new here today, welcome! We’d love to connect with you and get to know you more. There is a link below to fill in your contact detail if you’d like to connect with us and find out more.
Today, we’re going to continue our series on the book of Ephesians: God’s Masterplan. Last week we’ve heard from Pastor Wayne about the spiritual blessings we receive in Christ, and what God has done for us. Today we’re going to find out more about the power of God in Christ from Pastor Andrew.
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 Joshua 1:7-9,
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Opening prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the privilege of worshipping together as your people. Even though we cannot meet physically, we know that in Christ we are united, are one body, one church.
We pray that as we gather to worship and as we hear your Word preached, that we might meditate on it, we might be careful to obey it, and that we may find our strength and courage in you.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Opening songs
Let’s sing our opening song that celebrates God’s grace for us.
This is Amazing Grace
Our second song focuses on the sufficency of Jesus. Come thou Fount
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.
- Mother’s Day Video – Our children’s ministry will be putting together a special video for Mother’s Day next Sunday. Parents should have received details from Zion regarding the arrangements for the video. Today is the last day to make your submission to Zion, if you haven’t done so already.
- 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/
- 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/news/
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.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for this opportunity to gather to worship you. For many of us perhaps we’re tired of doing things online, or over Zoom, but we pray that you may encourage each one of us to not give up meeting together, especially when it is difficult. Help us treasure this opportunity to worship, and also to long for the day when we can gather in person again.
We pray for our church. We especially remember those in our church family who are going through difficulties in the current circumstances. Those who have lost employment, those who are struggling with emotional challenges with isolation, those who have increased responsibilities and burdens during this time. We ask for your provision for them in the ways they need. Grant them strength to trust in you and rely on you during this difficult time. And we ask that you may help us as a church to care for those who are in need at this time.
We pray for our small groups and care groups who are meeting online during this time. We ask that these might be times of encouragement of support as we gather around your Word and in prayer. Help us to be reminded of timely truths from your Word. Help us to continue to encourage one another and to build each other up.
We also pray for our missionaries, particularly for those who are involved in children’s ministry. We thank you that our missionary in Singapore was able to adapt over two hundred lessons for each age group. We pray also for those who teach children, that they may have the energy and enthusiasm to instruct, and for the children to be receptive and to crave spiritual milk.
Finally, we pray for Pastor Andrew as he speaks to us from your Word. Help us to understand and receive your Word to us, not just with our minds but also with our hearts.
We pray this in Jesus name.
Amen.
Bible reading
The first reading for today comes from Ephesians 1:15-23 (NIV)
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Sermon
Today we’ll hear from Pastor Andrew Bardsley, as he speaks on the topic of “The Power of God 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 – King of Kings
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 Jude 1:24-25
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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.