Opening Prayer

In the name of the Lord Jesus the bread breaker, the light gatherer, the cross carrier, welcome to this time of worship.

May the love of the Lord Jesus the peace maker and the temple disturber, friend of the sinner and companion on the road, be with us all.

Let us draw close in worship to Lord Jesus the Saviour, the healer, the teacher, and ask ourselves who do we say He is?

Children’s Time

Jesus is the son of the Living God

Confession & Words of Assurance

God of peace,

Forgive us, Lord, when we are closed and locked up with negative acts, thoughts and emotions. 

Help us not to be imprisoned by fear, hatred, prejudice, unforgiveness, pride, greed, anger and selfishness, but open our hearts to the values of Your Kingdom.

Open our eyes to see Your church and help us to be an active part of it. Open our ears to those who cry for help and justice.

Our God is a God of grace and understanding. When we ask, God gives us the courage and strength to share our faith and live it in the workplace and the marketplace, as well as in the sanctuary of our homes. Amen

Scripture

Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah

Matthew 16¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Sermon

Prayers of the People

(Please add your prayers aloud and in the comment in section below)

Loving God, when you ask us “who do you say I am”, we have so many different answers. Some imagine you like Zeus, striking fear in the hearts of humanity and threatening to zap us with a lightening bolt. Some imagine you as Santa Claus, only willing to believe if they get exactly what they ask for. Some see you as a puppeteer, playing havoc with humanity on a rich yet perverse stage of a morality play. Some are lost, not knowing if any words will really say who You are.

We struggle to find a way to connect with your Spirit in our day to day lives, many giving up before they finally feel you with them. We pray for those journeys and the people trying to touch something bigger without knowing exactly who You are or where You can be found.

Help us feel our prayers, not just say the words.

Today we remember teachers and students, farmers, medical professionals, first responders, grocery clerks, school bus drivers, teaching assistants, early childhood educators, senior care providers and all those who are struggling right now in a world that keeps coming up with new challenges and restrictions.

We pray for those enduring hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, derechos, fires, drought and other environmental disasters. Your world is a beautiful place, O God, but it can also be inhospitable. Help those living in safety open their hearts and pockets to those in need. And open the hearts of governments and agencies designed to help folks in these extreme situations. We have more than enough to go around.

Gathering all these prayers together, along with those in our hearts and minds, we say the prayer tradition has taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Benediction & Commission

As you leave this time of worship

Jesus stands and asks: “Who do you say I am?” We join millions who have gone before and say: “the Messiah”

Jesus stands in front of us and tells us the realities of discipleship. We join millions who have gone before in the challenges of living as disciples.

Jesus stands before us and offers food and drink for the journey. Fed and nourished, we go out into the world to live and serve.

Jesus stands before us, shining in glory, and will be with us to the end of the age. Thanks be to God. Amen.