Order of Service 31 July 2016

Living richly towards God

WELCOME TO KNOX

Knox Church is a congregation within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. We aim to create Christian community in which people of all

ages, sexual orientations, cultural backgrounds and socio-economic situations are included as equally valued participants in our congregational life. We cherish our diversity, offering a safe place of belonging to any who wish to

explore their beliefs in an atmosphere promoting discussion, the development of healthy relationships and spiritual growth. We strive to be open to dialogue and shared experiences with people of other faiths. We enjoy worshipping the God made known in Jesus, endeavouring to do so in ways that are relevant to our daily lives, respect the integrity of creation, and make a positive difference

to our wider world.

A loop system for hearing aids operates at Knox.

Toilets are available through the door on the lectern side of the sanctuary. The Call to Worship:

We light a candle in the name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.

JESUS WHO TOLD PARABLES OF MERE THINGS AND GENUINE RICHES; JESUS, WHOSE LIFE WAS GENEROUS AND BEAUTIFUL; JESUS IN WHOSE RICH PRESENCE WE LIVE.

Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou. God be with you. MA IHOWA KOE E MANAAKI. GOD BLESS YOU. Hymn: Kremser Netherlands folk melody (17th century)

1. Sing praise and thanksgiving, let all creatures living now worship their maker with gladness and song; all glory and honour we bring to God, singing: O praise to the Almighty, sing praise to our God!

2. Our lives of God’s making Christ brings to their waking in darkness we’ve been held in deep, gracious care, now into the light we are called from our sleeping: O praise to the Almighty, sing praise to our God!

3. God, frame our desiring to do your requiring, that unto your glory be all that we do; and here, as we worship, give faith and give healing: O praise to the Almighty, sing praise to our God!

Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), tr. Margaret Barclay (b. 1923), adapted by Colin Gibson, then again by Matthew Jack.

Prayer of Approach

Praise and thanksgiving to the God who gave life to the world. SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING! Praise and thanksgiving to the God who painted the beauty of the earth, who scattered the stars across the sky, who gives us only what is good. SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING! Praise and thanksgiving to the God who gives daily bread, who lives in the hearts of the generous, who rescues the poor. SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING! Praise and thanksgiving to the One we have seen in Jesus, living his life for others, calling us to be sisters and brothers, enabling human beings to love one another. SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING!

Praise and thanksgiving to the Spirit of God, working patiently with humanity, opening hands, emptying pockets, extending embraces. SING PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING! Yet confession and sorrow TO THE GOD WE HAVE FAILED TO SERVE.

Confession and sorrow TO THE GOD WHOSE PEOPLE WE HAVE TURNED AWAY.

Confession and sorrow TO THE GOD OF MISERS AND FOOLS.

. . . Lord have mercy. CHRIST HAVE MERCY. Lord have mercy.

Assurance and Response

. . . In the name of Christ I say to you: You are forgiven and you are free. THANKS BE TO GOD.

Prayer of Supplication:

Generous God, in whose love and blessing Jesus told his parables of challenge, open our ears to his speaking.

As we hear him speak of riches, GIVE US POVERTY OF SPIRIT.

As we hear him speak of fools, GIVE US OPENNESS TO WISDOM.

As we hear him speak of selfishness, ENABLE US, BY YOUR SPIRIT, TO LIVE RICHLY TOWARDS YOU AND THOSE AROUND US. We pray this in Jesus’ name, and even as he taught us, so together we say:

. . . OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IN HEAVEN. GIVE US TODAY OUR DAILY BREAD. FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. SAVE US FROM THE TIME OF TRIAL AND DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOR EVER. AMEN.

The Passing of the Peace

Kia tau tonu te rangimarie o te Ariki ki a koutou. The peace of Christ be with you all.

A KI A KOE ANO HOKI; AND ALSO WITH YOU. We exchange a sign of peace with one another.

If there are younger ones present A Conversation with the Younger Ones Young People’s Blessing:

Young ones, go to your worship with our blessing. TAKE OUR FAITH AND HOPE; MAKE NEW THINGS WITH WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN. MAY GOD BLESS AND GROW YOU. AMEN.

Young ones are welcome to move through to the Sala del Sol (upstairs in the Knox Centre) for well supervised, faith-based youth activities. The First Lesson: Psalm 49: 1-11

In this is the Word of God. THANKS BE TO GOD. Knox Singers: Magnificat in C Major Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)

Gospel Lesson: Luke 12: 13-21

This is the gospel of Christ. PRAISE TO CHRIST THE WORD. Hymn: Slane Irish traditional melody

1. Be now my vision, O God of my heart, nothing surpasses the love you impart - you my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, your presence my light. 2. Be now my wisdom, and be my true word; ever within me, my soul is assured; Mother and Father, you are both to me; now and forever your child I will be. 3. Riches I need not, nor life’s empty praise, you my inheritance, now and always: you and you only are first in my heart, great God, my treasure, may we never part. 4. Sovereign of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all. Irish hymn dating from c. 8th cent Translated: Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931) Versified: Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935), adapt.

Sermon: The ring on my finger

Generally, sermons are posted on our website shortly after the service at: http://www.knoxchurch.co.nz/sermons.html

Hard copies of the sermons are available before and after the service – ask the person at the door.

Music for Reflection: Prière César Franck (1822-1890) Hymn: Savannah German melody, c. 1740

1. Take my life, God, let it be consecrated faithfully. Take my moments and my days;

let them flow in ceaseless praise. 2. Take my silver and my gold;

not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect and use all its powers as you may choose.

3. Take my will; your will be done! Make your will and mine be one. Take my heart, and by your grace make of it your dwelling place. 4. Take my love and help it grow; let my loving overflow. Take me now, and help be be part of Christ’s community. Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879),

alt.

Prayers for Others and Ourselves

led by Madeleine Church

The Offering and Dedication

We stand for the dedication of the Offering Take the lives that we live AND MAKE IT ONE LIFE THAT BLESSES.

Take our silver and gold, AND USE THEM TO FEED THE WORLD.

Take our love; ENABLE IT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR LOVE.

Bless what we offer here, TO YOUR GLORY AND PRAISE, AMEN. Notices Hymn: Nun Danket Later form of melody by Johann Crüger (1598-1662)

1. Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things has done, in whom the world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2. O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us. God, keep us in your grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all harm in this world and the next. 3. All praise and thanks to God our Maker now be given, to Christ and Spirit too, our help in highest heaven: the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be ever more. Martin Rinkart (1586-1649), tr. Catherine Winkworth

(1827-1878), alt Benediction and Sung Amen Postlude: Fantasia on ‘A Mighty Fortress’, Movement 4 Jan Zwart (1877-1937)

Tea and coffee are served in the Knox Centre Lounge following the morning service

Music printed in this order of service is covered under a music copyright licence agreement:

LicenSing #604802

Knox Café: Vincent van Gogh, Jesus and Me

Jesus, the artist of all artists,

“works with the flesh and the spirit to make real men and not statues”.

Vincent van Gogh

Peter Majendie offers a reflection exploring rejection, loneliness and failure, paralleled within the lives of these two great artists. He explores the life of Vincent van Gogh from the perspective of his spirituality and its relation to its art.

As van Gogh struggled with failure and depression, his paintings and letters opened a different window to God, and offers hope to all of us who struggle with somewhat less than successful lives.

Pete says: “This presentation will explore the life of Vincent van Gogh from the perspective of his spirituality and its relation to his art. As we follow his life through his paintings and brief quotes from his extensive letters to his brother, a different window to God is opened. Vincent, throughout his life, regarded Jesus as the artist of all artists, for "He works with the flesh and the spirit to make real men and not statues". Jesus talked about the people that Vincent painted and used the imagery of nature to express spiritual truths. Vincent is seen by the world as a failure, not selling many paintings, unable to sustain relationships, descending into madness and eventually killing himself. I think his life and art have something to say to those who struggle in the areas of failure and depression, and hope that all who attend will leave with a greater appreciation of not only Vincent, but all of us who struggle with somewhat less than successful lives.

This presentation is not as depressingly serious as it sounds and there is humour involved.” Sunday 7 August, 7:00pm, in the Knox Centre Lounge. BYO nibbles and drinks. Tea and coffee provided. All welcome

NOTICES

This Week: 31 July 2016 - 6 August 2016 Sunday 10.00 am Morning Worship 11.30 pm Parish Lunch Wednesday 10.00 am Bible Study in committee room 7.00 pm Concert Chinese Choir – see below Next Week: 7 August 2016 - 13 August 2016 Sunday 10.00 am Morning Worship Wednesday 10.00 am Bible Study in committee room

Wednesday 3rd August 7pm. Concert of Chinese choir with Burnside High School choirs, in the church. Entry $5.

Sunday 14 August 4 pm. Faith, film and fiction in the lounge: the film The Matrix.

Knox church values the support of all who are involved in our community’s life. For those who wish to contribute financially, charitable donations are eligible for a tax rebate of 33%. Options are available for giving; for information please contact our Donation SecretaryJanet Wilson ph 338 7203 email janetwilson@clear.net.nz

Bible reading for next week

The reading for next week’s service is likely to be:

• Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16

Knox Directory

28 Bealey Ave, Christchurch 8013 ph. (03) 379 2456, fax (03) 379 2466

office@knoxchurch.co.nz Office hours: Mon-Fri 9.00am-noon

Secretary: Diane Harrington, ph. (03) 379 2456

Visit our website

www.knoxchurch.co.nz

Minister: Rev. Dr Matthew Jack

ph. (03) 3570 111, minister@knoxchurch.co.nz

Session Clerk: Janet Wilson, ph. (03) 338 7203

Director of Music: Daniel Cooper, organist@knoxchurch.co.nz

Pastoral Assistant: Jan Harland ph. 0273560215

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Keeping in Touch

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