Order of Service – 10 January 2021

The Lord Appears to Samuel 

(words for hymns can be found below the order of service)

Welcome
Call to Worship
MP50 / CH4 189: Be still for the presence
Reading : 1 Sam 3 : 1 – 10
Reflection
MP 1350 : Speak O Lord
Prayer
Hymn : CH4 721: We lay our broken world
Blessing

Call to Worship

Come Spirit of God
Take my hand and lead me where I need to go
Be my guide in the darkness
My companion when I face despair
Urge me to farthest limits
Until at last I ascend to heaven
To be held in your loving arms 

MP50 / CH4 189 : Be still for the presence

Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before him now with reverence and fear
In him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here

Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendour he is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant king of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around

Be still for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister his grace
No work too hard for him
In faith receive from him
Be still for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place 

1 Samuel 3 : 1 – 10

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So, he went and lay down.

Again the Lord called, “Samuel!”
And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said,
“Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said,
“Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy.
So, Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 

MP 1350 : Speak O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your Holy Word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility;
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of pow’r that can never fail-
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises,
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your Glory

CH4 721 : We lay our broken world

We lay our broken world
In sorrow at your feet
Haunted by hunger war and fear
Oppressed by power and hate

Here human life seems less
than profit might and pride
Though to unite us all in you
You lived and loved and died

We bring our broken selves
confused and closed and tired
Then through your gift of healing grace
new purpose is inspired

Come Spirit on us breathe
With life and strength anew
Find in us love and hope and trust
And lift us up to you