Good morning and welcome to you all today as we come together as the family of God to worship the risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father we do indeed come to worship you today. Although not able to be together in the church, may you, by your Spirit’s power come upon us wherever we are and help us to sing your praises, hear and receive your word, and bring our prayers to you today. Amen.
King of Kings, Majesty (J Cooper)
Let’s come before the Lord in prayer.
We pray Lord for those who are sick and infected with Covid 19: God heal and help, sustain bodies and spirits. For the young and the strong: God give them the necessary caution to keep them from spreading this disease, inspire them to help.
For those who govern: God give the knowledge, wisdom and voice.
For those with mental health challenges who feel isolated, anxious and helpless: God provide them with every necessary support.
For the homeless, unable to practice the protocols of social distancing in the shelter system; protect them from disease.
For Christian missionaries throughout the world, especially in areas with high rates of infection: God, provide them with words of hope, and equip them to love and serve those around them.
For workers in a variety of industries facing layoffs and financial hardship: God keep them from panic and inspire your church to generously support them.
For families with young children at home for the foreseeable future: God help mothers and fathers to partner together creatively for the care and flourishing of their children.
For single mothers and fathers, grow their networks of support.
For parents who cannot stay home from work but must find care for their children: God present them with creative solutions.
For those in need of regular therapies and treatments that must now be postponed: God, help them to stay patient and positive.
For business leaders making decisions that affect their employees: God, give them wisdom, and help them to lead self-sacrificially.
For Pastors and Church leaders faced with the challenges of social distancing: God, help them to creatively imagine how to pastor their congregations and love their cities well.
For college and university students, whose courses of study are changing, whose placements are cancelled, whose graduation is uncertain: God, show them that while life is uncertain, their trust is in you.
For Christians in every neighbourhood, community and city: May your Holy Spirit inspire us to pray, to give, to love, to serve, and to proclaim the gospel, that the name of Jesus Christ might be glorified around the world.
And lastly, but not least, we pray for front line health workers, we thank you for their vocational call to serve: God keep them and their families safe and healthy. give them knowledge to deal with different treatments and changing protocols. Deliver them from anxiety for their own loved ones. Give them compassion for every patient in their care. Provide for them financially, especially if they fall ill. Help Christians in health care to exhibit extraordinary peace, so that many would ask about the reason for their hope. Give them opportunities to proclaim the gospel. Amen
The MAF family is deeply saddened by the loss of their colleague and friend, Joyce Lin.
She departed the Sentani, Papua, Indonesia airport early in the morning of 12 May, piloting an MAF Kodiak aircraft. Joyce was responding to the needs of the village of Mamit in the Papua highlands, and cargo on the plane included coronavirus rapid test kits for the local clinic. Within minutes of takeoff, she reported an emergency and the aircraft descended into Lake Sentani. Joyce was the only person on the plane.
Joyce was a light reflecting Jesus, and she will be deeply missed.
Please pray
- Joyce’s family and friends who will be grieving their loss at this time. May the Lord draw close to them and bring them unexplainable peace.
- The MAF Papua team as they also mourn the loss of their dear colleague who has gone to be with the Lord.
Please turn to Psalm 27. I felt David’s great Psalm of praise to God was fitting as we’ve just read of the sad loss of Joyce Lin, and as we continue to think of others who have lost their lives today, I pray many, if not all may share both David’s and Joyce’s confidence in the Lord v 13 that they would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Amen.
Father; this morning as we marvel at how you went before your nation as they crossed the river Jordan on dry land. We pray you will go before us as we come to your word this morning. Lead us we pray, guide us by your spirits power to receive the truth of your word. Amen
Please turn to Joshua Ch 5, as we come to this mornings sermon.
Merv's Talk
Father; thank you for being with us, and going before us by your spirit today. Thank you for feeding us with your word, and always delighting in hearing our prayers. Amen.
Today we wish our brother John Seale a very Happy Birthday.
Even with all the restrictions on meeting up with family and friends, may you have a blessed day today John.
Closing Prayer.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Amen Col 2 v 6-7.7
Please join us again this evening.