Call to worship
We remember those who lost their lives and those affected by the holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur in Sudan.
Let us Pray
Loving God, you are just, kind, and holy.
When I am unsure of the next step.
When I am unable to find my way, and voices are too many and loud, you invite me to slow down, and pay attention to your invitation.
Amen
STF 654- The love of God comes
The love of God comes close
Where stands an open door
To let the stranger in, to mingle rich and poor:
The love of God is here to stay
Embracing those who walk his way.
The peace of God comes close
To those caught in the storm,
Foregoing lives of ease; to ease the lives forlorn: The peace of God is here to stay
Embracing those who walk his way.
The joy of God comes close
Where faith encounters fears,
Where heights and depths of life
Are found through smiles and tears:
The joy of God is here to stay
Embracing those who walk his way.
The grace of God comes close
To those whose grace is spent,
When hearts are tired or sore
And hope is bruised or bent:
The grace of God is here to stay
Embracing those who walk his way.
The Son of God comes close
Where people praise his name,
Where bread and wine are blest
And shared, as when he came:
The Son of God is here to stay
Embracing those who walk his way.
Prayer of Repentance and Pardon
Loving God, I am troubled at times; about mistakes made, opportunities missed, words that hurt. I am truly sorry. Forgive me. Heal my regrets and help me to forgive any wrongs done to me, so that I may find peace of mind and rediscover a life of joy and freedom. To all who are truly sorry, and repent, your blood washes from all sin and we have fellowship with you and each other. Amen.
Bible Reading
Micah 6:1-8
The Lord’s case against Israel
6 Listen to what the Lord says:
‘Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 ‘Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 ‘My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab plotted
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.’
6 With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Reflecting on the Book of Micah 6 : 1-8
Micah prophecies are addressed to rulers and priests in Jerusalem and Samaria as the prophet declares in the following verse.
‘’The city’s rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money—and they all claim that the Lord is with them. “No harm will come to us,” they say. “The Lord is with us.” (Micah 3:11).
In this text, Micah presents his prophetic observation of violence and injustice in the Judean society during the 8th C. He paints to his readers, a picture of spiritual manipulations, abuse of ministerial gifts, political oppression and economic exploitation by the powerful privileged class against the weak and oppressed (6:12), do you think if Micah was preaching to us in our current context today, do you think his prophetic preaching would be of relevance in our present society?
In this passage, the prophet Micah implores that Israel openly demonstrated poverty of spirituality and tired of God, thus chosen to go its own way at any cost, putting efforts in worship that seem not to correspond to the expectation of Yahweh. Prophet Micah’s courage would not withstand such a messy and mockery of God. We should note keenly that the Prophet Micah held special convictions and courage, a person of a rare personal faith under such irreligious circumstances. The following verses in Micah Chapter six, our focus today, declares.
‘’ 6 Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousand of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? ‘’
The task for the Prophet was to invite the people of Israel to restore and reconcile the broken relationship with God and with their neighbours.
Some people want to imagine that God has abandoned them and mistreated them. They use this to justify their ungodly lifestyle. While others are quite honest with themselves and take the responsibility for their existing poor relationship with God. People quite often, when they encounter trials and problems in life, there are always temptation to want to question God’s involvement. They feel that God has been unfaithful and unkind, and as such they are under no obligation to serve Him.
Can you identify any form of violence and injustice in your own context? Does your mission/ministry reflect Micah’s question, “What does God expect of you?” in the transformation of the world reflecting in your own contexts?
Prayers of intercession.
Fill us with the reflections of your character, help us to extend mercy, to show love, to walk humbly, to act in ways that are just and right in this world. Help us to hear your voice, May the Holy Spirit, be upon me to see things as you see them, to truly reflect the character of Christ in our daily lives. Empower me to be salt and light in a mysterious world.
May we choose to see others as more important than ourselves? May we long to help serve those who have suffered so greatly and to be a voice for those who have been oppressed or silenced. May we choose to love mercy, to show kindness, to a world that would seek to build walls and barriers instead of bridges and unity? May we choose to walk in humility with you, instead of looking out for ourselves first.
We ask that you unite believers everywhere to pray for our nation and world, that you would help us to set aside our differences and focus on the bond in you that holds us all together, as there is a great power in how we choose to live our lives. Shine on us Lord, bless us with your peace and presence. Even when surrounded by the hardest of irreconcilable hearts. We are yielded to you, and choose to do justice, to love mercy, to walk humbly with you all the days of our lives.
Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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.
(StF 702) I will speak out for those who have no voices.
I will speak out for those who have no voices
I will stand up for the rights of all the oppressed.
I will speak truth and justice;
I will defend the poor and the needy;
I will lift up the weak in Jesus’ name.
I will speak out for those who have no choices
I will cry out for those who live without love;
I will show God’s compassion
to the crushed and broken in spirit;
I will lift up the weak in Jesus’ name.
Final prayer and blessing
For loving the world and knowing our names
Thank you, God.
For your strength that fills us and your love that heals us.
Thank you, God.
For your presence with us and for your hand that leads us.
Thank you, God.
May God give to you and all whom you love his comfort and his peace, his light and his
joy, in this world and the next; and the blessing of God the Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you, and remain with you this day and for ever.
The Grace
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, remain with us now and forever.
Amen.
