Cath James welcomed us to worship on 4th October. This was the final week of the Season of Creation. We have been focusing on what it is to love our neighbour in all sorts of ways including the more than human world. With Sesi Taunga as our preacher we focussed in on our neighbours in the Pacific. This was timely because we are in the lead up to the international meeting on climate change ‘the Pre-COP’ happening in Fiji this coming week. We also marked St Francis Day and celebrate communion together.
- Watch the service again on Youtube
- Richard offered the Acknowledgment of Country
- Sesi and Cath talked about coconuts
- Watch Sesi’s sermon
- Richard offered the Mission Spot
- We celebrated Holy Communion
- Read the Order of Service
Prayers of Adoration & Confession
Watch or 11:04
Creator God,
We come before you today in wonder and love
We praise you for your gift of life along with
the blossom as it breaks forth, then new leaves
with the blackbirds who sing and prepare their nest
with the sweet peas and broad beans who share their fruit
Christ our Saviour,
We come before you today in wonder and love
Because you love us and pour out your grace
you enable us to share that love with our neighbour
Friend, stranger, enemy, the more than human world
All precious in your sight
Holy Spirit, Comforter
We come before you today in wonder and love
Throughout the ages you have breathed life
Into places of despair
Gathering us as a community of faith
Bringing healing, wisdom and transformation
We confess we sometimes put our faith in ourselves rather than you
We make idols of things that do not ultimately satisfy
We forget that you are our Creator
We do not take time to stop and rest and marvel
We are disconnected from the elders and ways of this land
We waste meat for fast food convenience, even though a life has been taken
We long for what we do not have
We take more than our fair share of the earth
We deceive ourselves that we are better than others
We compare our deficits instead of recognizing our gifts
Help us to love you, our neighbour and ourselves with hearts of compassion
Help us see the abundance of what we have and in the world around us
Help us know both a healthy humility
and the power of being made in your image
so that we can build one another up in faith hope and love,
Amen
Word of Grace
Friends, hear these words of grace,
God forgives us, Christ renews us and the Spirit enables us to grow in love.
Thanks be to God, Amen
Rev Cath James, offered for worship 04/10/2026, Season of Creation 5
Prayers of the people
Watch or 55:52
Creator God.
We give thanks and praise for the wonders of your garden of creation, that surround us. For the food we eat, for the air we breathe, for the earth we walk upon. For the blue of the mountains and waving green of grasslands for the oceans that surround us and the and rivers running through. For the birds that sing and the insects that buzz, for our extraordinary animals. We are a part of your creation, and we pray that we learn to walk softly on the land that shelters and sustains us. For we are the carers and keepers in your garden.
We pray for the suffering we see in our world. For people living with the destruction of war, and ethnic cleansing, happening in so many countries. We pray for an end to the billions being spent to fight pointless, face-saving wars, with endless promises to cease fire, which never happens. We pray for all those who are working for peace. For doctors, teachers, politicians, peace keepers, ambulance drivers, risking their lives amidst the devastation. We pray for strength, for we are the peace makers in your garden.
We pray for the problems caused by Global Warming. For the floods caused by melting ice through China, Nepal and India. For lost homes, livelihoods and lost loved ones. For the many cities and Islands struggling with rising waters flooding homes and watching the land as it disappears. We pray for those facing changing weather patterns causing raging fires, drought, floods, We pray for the strength to speak out for we are protectors of your garden.
We pray for your church. For leaders of vision for our future throughout the world. In a time when truth is hard to find in this time of fake news and the threat of the power of AI in our world, we pray for the strength and courage to speak for the weak, the poor, the refugee, the aged, and the different, for we are the keepers of love in your garden.
We pray for ourselves here in Brunswick. We pray for each one of us, here in the Church and watching online, for we are your garden, and we pray that we create a place of love and welcome for all who come searching for you. For we are your chosen, keepers of your word, your love, your peace and your hope.
In the name of
The Creator, God of this great land,
Renewing Jesus,
And Transforming Spirit
Amen.
Helen Burnham, offered for worship 04/10/2026, Season of Creation 5
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