A warning against hypocrisy
(words for hymns and bible readings can be found below the order of service)
Welcome & Intimations
Call to worship
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn MP 1267: Come people of the risen King
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Reading. Matthew 23 : 1 – 12
Hymn CH4 97 : O God you search me and you know me
Reflection
Prayer for others
Hymn CH4 707 : Healing river of the Spirit
Blessing
Call to Worship
Lord, open our eyes
That we may see Christ among us
Lord, open our ears
That we may hear your living word
Lord open our mouths to speak praise
And our voices to sing your glory
Lord, open our hearts to receive your love
And our minds to share with your generosity
Hymn MP 1267: Come people of the risen King
1 Come people of the risen king
Who delight to bring him praise
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the morning star of grace
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to him
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in
Chorus – Rejoice, rejoice, let every heart rejoice
One heart, one voice
O Church of Christ rejoice!
2 Come those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night
Come those who tell of battles won
And those struggling in the fight
For his perfect love will never change
And his mercies never cease
But follow us though all our days
with the certain hope of peace.
Chorus – Rejoice, rejoice, let every heart rejoice
One heart, one voice
Come church of Christ rejoice!
3 Come young and old from every land
Men and women of the faith
Come those with full or empty hands
Find the riches of his grace
Over all the world his people sing
Shore to shore we hear them call
The truth that cries though every age
Our God is all in all
Chorus – Rejoice, rejoice, let every heart rejoice
One heart, one voice
Come church of Christ rejoice!
Matthew 23:1-12
A warning against hypocrisy
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
‘The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
So, you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practise what they preach.
They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
‘Everything they do is done for people to see:
they make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honour at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
they love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and to be called “Rabbi” by others.
‘But you are not to be called “Rabbi”, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.
And do not call anyone on earth “father”, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah.
The greatest among you will be your servant.
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Hymn CH4 97 : O God you search me and you know me
1 O God, you search me and you know me.
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.
When I walk or lie down you are before me;
ever the maker and keeper of my days.
2 You know my resting and my rising.
You discern my purpose from afar,
and with love everlasting you besiege me;
in every moment of life or death, you are.
3 Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
you have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, past and future too.
4 Although your Spirit is upon me,
still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
even the darkness is radient in your sight.
5 For you created me and shaped me,
gave me life within my mother’s womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
safe in your hands, all creation is made new.
Hymn CH4 707 : Healing river of the Spirit
1 Healing river of the Spirit,
bathe the wounds that living brings.
Plunge our pain, our sin, our sadness
deep beneath your sacred springs.
Weary from the restless searching
that has lured us from your side,
we discover in your presence
peace the world cannot provde.
2 Wellspring of the healing Spirit,
stream that flows to bring release,
as we gain our selves, our senses,
may our lives reflect your peace.
Grateful for the flood that heals us,
may your Church live out your grace.
As we meet both friend and stanger,
may we see our Saviour’s face.
3 Living stream that heals the nations,
make us channels of your power.
All the world is torn by conflict;
wars are raging at this hour.
Saving Spirit, move among us;
guide our winding human course,
till we find our way together,
flowing homeward to our Source.