March 22: Welcome to Home Church
Welcome to St Mark’s Home Church. As you scroll down you can follow the form of the service at your own pace with space for interaction, Bible readings, song and prayer as you feel led.
So let’s pray:
Lord God, fill us with your Spirit
Encourage us with your word
Though we be in different spaces, unite us as your people,
And lead us through these strange times,
Amen
Reading: Psalm 46
After this reading, take a minute to be still before our God.
Worship
Reading: Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’[b]”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Message
Prayer
After these prayers, take a moment to pray your own prayers.
The Lord’s Prayer
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,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Collection
Given that there will not be public worship services, and our op-shop will be temporarily closed, we will be reliant upon electronic giving. This will enable us to continue to pay our staff, run our ministries, care for others, and look after our building (for when we all meet there again).
Community
You can take a photo or video of your group – or you could do some art or write a poem, song, prayer or message – and send it in to us! We’ll seek to integrate it over the coming period! Send your contributions to Lauren at: homechurch@laurenipsum.co.
Thank you!
We finish with words from Philippians:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.