The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 15th of August, 2021 Welcome On behalf of everyone at St. John’s, Toorak, a very warm welcome to this church and faith community. St. John’s welcomes everyone to all services and events, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race or background. This is a wonderful and historic church, founded in 1859, part of the Anglican Church of Australia and a member of the global Anglican Communion, comprised of 80 million people. QR code for church Regular services of worship are held each Sunday at 8am and 10am, and Wednesday at 7pm. All are welcome. Services are followed by times of fellowship over food and drinks to which everyone is also welcome. This church actively follows Jesus’ command to love God, love one’s neighbour and to care for all people. Our clergy and parishioners regularly visit the sick, home-bound, and the dying. We care for the poor and needy through service and charitable giving, through our Opportunity Shop run in partnership with the local Catholic and Uniting churches, and by supporting the work of Anglicare, The Brotherhood of St. Laurence and The Anglican Board of Mission. Our clergy regularly baptise new members of the church, preside at weddings and care for the grieving through our funeral ministry. If we can be of service to you or your family, please do not hesitate to get in touch. If you would like to give of your time and talents in the service of others, please also contact the church and we will gladly welcome your contribution. If you’re visiting for the first time please introduce yourself to a welcomer or member of the clergy, and fill out the blue ‘Welcome’ card found at the end of every pew so we can stay in touch with you. @stjohnstoorak Cover Image Jan van Eyck, Portrait of Christ, 1440 Oak panel, 33.4 x 26.8 cm, Groeninge Museum, Bruges. 2 INTRODUCTORY RITE please stand HYMN ‘How firm a foundation’ tune 143 at 8am only verses 1 & 4 are sung 1. How firm a foundation, you 4. When through fiery trials your people of God, pathway shall lie is laid for your faith in his his grace all-sufficient shall be excellent word; your supply; what more can he say than to the flame shall not hurt you, his you he has said, only design to all who for refuge to Jesus your dross to consume and your have fled? gold to refine. 2. Fear not, he is with you, and be 5. The soul that on Jesus still leans not dismayed. for repose for he is your God, and will still he will not, he cannot, desert to give you aid: its foes; he’ll strengthen you, help you, that soul, though all hell should and cause you to stand, endeavour to shake, upheld by his righteous, he never will leave, he will never omnipotent hand. forsake. 3. When through the deep waters Author ‘K –’ (?Richard Keen) in John he calls you to go, Rippon’s Selection of Hymns 1787 alt. the rivers of grief shall not you Reproduced with permission overflow; the Lord will be with you in trouble to bless, and sanctify to you your deepest distress. 3 ACCLAMATION Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever. GREETING The Lord be with you. And also with you. COLLECT FOR PURITY Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. KYRIE ELEISON said together at 8am, and sung together at 10am CONFESSION Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, with a sincere and a true heart. Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, and in what we have failed to do: we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves; we repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ABSOLUTION pronounced by the celebrant 4 GLORIA IN EXCELSIS said together at 8am, and sung together at 10am COLLECT FOR THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and also an example of godly life: give us grace that we may always thankfully receive the benefits of his sacrifice, and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. AT 10AM, THE CHILDREN’S ADDRESS At 10am, all children are invited to the chancel step THE LITURGY OF THE WORD THE FIRST READING 1 Kings 2.10-12; 3.3-14 Read at 8am by Scott Kirkland; and at 10am read by Barbara Brown 10Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. 11The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 5 12 So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. 3Solomon loved the Lord , walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ 6And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ 10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’ Hear the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE PSALM Psalm 111 said together 1 O praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart: in the company of the upright and among the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great: and studied by all who take delight in them. 3 His deeds are majestic and glorious: and his righteousness stands for ever. 6 4 His marvellous acts have won him a name to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and merciful. 5 He gives food to those that fear him: he remembers his covenant for ever. 6 He showed his people the power of his acts: in giving them the heritage of the heathen. 7 The works of his hands are faithful and just: and all his commandments are sure; 8 They stand firm for ever and ever: they are done in faithfulness and in truth. 9 He sent redemption to his people, he ordained his covenant for ever: holy is his name and worthy to be feared. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and of good understanding are those that keep his commandments: his praise shall endure for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. THE SECOND READING Ephesians 5.11-21 Read at 8am by Lindsay Hosking; and at 10am volunteer reader required 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ 15Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.