Welcome
Call to Worship – psalm 116:1-7
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Lord, save me!”
The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the unwary;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return to your rest, my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.
Praise the Lord!
Hymn 161 – Holy, Holy, Holy
Opening Prayer
Dear God,
silence all voices within my mind but yours.
Help me to seek and be able to follow your will.
May my prayers be joined
with those of my sisters and brothers in the faith,
that together we may glorify your name
and enjoy your fellowship forever.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reading – 1 Samuel 2:1-10
Then Hannah prayed and said:
My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my strength is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed.
The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children,
but she who has had many sons pines away.
The Lord brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave and raises up.
The Lord sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes
and has them inherit a throne of honor.
For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s;
on them he has set the world.
He will guard the feet of his faithful servants,
but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.
It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the Lord will be broken.
The Most High will thunder from heaven;
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give strength to his king
and exalt the strength of his anointed.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Children’s Story – “Hannah says ‘thank you'”
Children’s Praise – The Lord’s Prayer
Reading – Luke 11:1-10
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.“
Sermon
A prayer seeking the presence of God (Based on Psalm 27)
Almighty God,
You are my light and my salvation,
so help me not to be afraid.
Lord Jesus, be my fortress,
and protect me from danger,
cover me with your wings when I begin to tremble.
Lord, at times it can feel like I am surrounded by a mighty storm,
but the one thing I ask —
the thing I seek most—
is to live close with you all the days of my life,
to delight in your perfections and meditate on your word.
For you will conceal me when troubles comes;
you will hide me in your love.
You will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high above the waves that surround me.
In your presence I will worship with shouts of joy,
singing and praising your holy name with music.
Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say,
“Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds,
“Lord, I am coming.”
Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now;
don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
Even when I am all alone,
I know you hold me close.
Teach me how to live,
O Lord, Lead me along the right path.
Do not let me fall into temptation.
Yet I am confident I will see your goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
Help me to wait patiently for you;
To be brave and courageous.
Yes, help me to wait patiently for you.
Amen
Hymn – Speak O Lord
Final Prayer
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.
Amen.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Blackrock 