Sunday 25 MAY 2025

Liturgy Based off John 14:23-29

Neutral Bay Uniting

Creative Service

Order of Service

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

L:                        When Christ left the disciples in bodily form

                           he left the Advocate to bring God’s electricity 

                           to worship. 

All:                 Holy Spirit, guide us, teach us and fill us with 

                      joy 

L:                        The Advocate is in our corner this morning. 

                           Come and be united to Christ and each other

                           through the bonds the Holy Spirit forges 

All:                 Holy Spirit, guide us, teach us and fill us with 

              joy

L:                        May God find you where you are in worship.

                           May the Advocate transform your faith. May 

                           Christ teach you to walk in love, hope and

                           justice.

All:                 Holy Spirit, guide us, teach us and fill us with 

              joy. Amen 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

L: The Cammeraygal people are the original custodians of the land on which our church stands. The Cammeraygals were spiritual leaders amongst the Indigenous clans of Sydney. 

All: We pay our respects to their Elders: past and present. 

We commit to walking respectfully in this country, and to journeying with them in their quest for justice and reconciliation.

SONG – BLESS THE LORD MY SOUL 

Bless the Lord, my soul 

And Bless God’s Holy name 

Bless the Lord, my soul

Who leads me into light 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION –

God who is with us every day. We confess that we lose sight of You. 

Because we need constant reassurance we lose faith that you are with us in every moment. 

We confess that when we lose hope we are likely to sin against others, You and ourselves. 

As we confess to You we pray for the strength of the advocate to be our Holy Spirit companion through all things. 

In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

One:                  Hear the Good News: When we admit that 

                           we are in over our heads the Advocate steps in. 

                           Forgiving and empowering us. 

All:                 Thanks be to God. Amen  

SONG – VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS 

Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come Holy Spirit) 

Veni Sancte Spiritus 

GOSPEL READING 

John 14:23-29

²³ Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.

²⁵ “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 

²⁸ You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 

²⁹ And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe.

For the word of God in scripture 

For the Word of God among us 

For the Word of God within us 

We say, Thanks be to God!

MESSAGE 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

Join with me in the prayers of the people. When I say Lord in Your mercy, you are invited to respond hear our prayer. 

Let us pray 

Holy Spirit, You poured yourself out on the people of the early church. 

Pour yourself out on us now. 

Lord in Your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

Jesus,

you said you had to go away 

so that the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the counselor would come 

and it was so.

Come once again Holy Spirit as the advocate that we all need, 

as the counselor we all need, 

and as the helper we all need.

Lord in Your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

Come Holy Spirit, 

fan your flames of love and empowerment, 

set us on fire for you once again. 

Bring life to each of our dry bones.

Lord in Your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

We pray for all those who need advocates. For the people who slip in the cracks of our welfare system, battling a huge and slow moving bureaucracy. For the people struggling with health problems. For the people of Gaza facing starvation and bombs. 

Lord in Your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

We pray for our church. That the Advocate would move through us to be a voice for the voiceless. To bring the lost sheep home under Christ’s care. 

Lord in Your mercy 

Hear our prayer 

We ask these things as we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us in the language of our hearts. 

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 

   and deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours 

   now and for ever. Amen.

OFFERING –

BLESSING – 

L:           Go now to love and forgive,

             for as God sent Christ,

              so now Christ is sending you.

All:       We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, 

           In the name of Christ. Amen.   

SONG – CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT Refrain