ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
JULY 10th, 2022

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

St. Andrew’s welcomes you to this online service of worship today, and prays that you will be richly blessed in body, mind, and spirit. We thank Rev. Shirley Cochrane for her ministry to us this day.
This month’s Loonie Offering will be going to The Cariboo House Churches. See the “Recent Posts” to the right of your screen to find out more.
There will be no videos of the Sermons for the summer as our videographer is on an extended vacation.

CALL TO WORSHIP
Turn to God with confidence and expectation.
In you, O God, we place our trust.
Ask God to show us the road to follow.
Lead us, O God, in your truth and teach us your way.
Seek hope in the Lord who is our salvation.
All day long we will put our hope in the God who saves us.
We will worship God in faith, hope and trust.

HYMN 321 – Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

1.Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, who rules all creation!
my soul, praise God who alone is thy health and salvation!
come All who hear, sisters and brothers draw near;
joining in glad adoration.
2.Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigning,
hides you with sheltering wings, ever gently sustaining
Have you not seen how your hearts wishes have been
Granted through God’s kind ordaining ?
3.Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work , who defends you;
Surely God’s merciful goodness here daily attends you;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
when in great love God befriends you
4. Praise to the Lord, and with all that is in me adoring
All who have life and breath, come with glad praises outpouring

Let the Amen sound from God’s people again,
now and forever adoring

PRAYER OF ADORATION
God of all beginnings, we come today with praise on our lips and in our
hearts.  We stand in awe of all you have created: the vast expanse of a
starry night and the tiny beauty of a raindrop together reflect your glory.
You have blessed creation with life and meaning.Your love makes a
beginning in us, too, O God, in each new life born into the world, in
each new friendship formed, in each kindling attraction, in each kind
word and act for neighbour or stranger. We praise you, O God, for your
love moving in the world around us lived out in Jesus and by the Spirit
at work in us. All praise and glory belong to you, Source, Saviour, and
Spirit of Love, one God, now and always. As we gather this morning we
confess before you …..

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of loving kindness,
Jesus called us to love you above all else,
and our neighbour as ourselves.
Yet we often fail to act in loving ways.
We are distracted by our own needs, forgetful of the needs of others.
We let differences divide us
and excuse ourselves from reaching out.
Forgive us, O God.
Create in us new hearts
so we can live and love faithfully in Jesus’ name. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends, hear and believe the good news of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ,
God’s generous love reaches out to embrace us. In Christ, we are
forgiven and set free to begin again. Let us give thanks for God’s mercy
and be at peace with God, with ourselves and each other.
THE PEACE

HYMN 648 I’m gonna live so God can use me

1. I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
2. I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
3. I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
4. I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Deuteronomy 30:8-14 page 320
9  Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work
of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock
and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make
you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors,  10  if you obey
the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written
in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your
heart and with all your soul.
11  Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or
beyond your reach.  12  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask,
“Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may
obey it?”  13  Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will
cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”  14  No, the
word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may
obey it.

Psalm 25:1-10; page 863
1 In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
2 I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, f and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.
8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.

SERMON
O God, by your Spirit, reveal your will for us in the reading of your
Word.
Stir in our hearts and minds, and strengthen us to respond in faithfulness.

It is the seventh month of the second year in the third decade of the
21 st  century after the reports of Jesus’ resurrection changed humanity’s
understanding of the world. Yet the disruption throughout creation is
immeasurable. Moments of celebration spoiled by cruelty, constitution,
or cancellation. Even the old disorders abound: war, famine, disease.
This century has been widely acclaimed the information age because of
the tremendous technological developments in this area. The Internet has
made the most extensive library in the world, accessible to everyone
from the comfort of his or her home. Communication is almost
instantaneous with the electronic mail and being informed is no longer a
problem. However all the information technology cannot be compared in
any way to God’s information process. His information process ensures

that the word is very near and readily available in our hearts and in the
world around us.
In our nonstop access to events headlining global news, the temptation is
to assert the answer, provide the principle, give the questioner the
response they seek. Thus the need for a living word is as urgent as it has
ever been. We need a way of “telling the world” that does not leave us
stuck in the chaos and confusion that haunts our existence. A telling that
does not halt our hope. A perspective that delivers on the promise of
lasting peace.
After 40 years in the desert, the Isrealites are about to enter the
promised Land . However, before they do, Moses wants to remind
them of their history and all that God has done for them.
The primary theme of Deuteronomy is covenant, a binding promise
made between God and God’s people as the Hebrews end the time of
their desert wandering. They are about to enter into the land promised to
Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants. Deuteronomy is primarily
composed of legal material, such as the Ten Commandments in chapter
5 The book of Deuteronomy sets out a lengthy set of blessings, but also
curses that would befall those who followed or violated the terms of the
covenant oath.
Chapters 28-30 of Deuteronomy are replete with curses and doom.  If a
reader is not familiar with the wholes story – or at least some of it,
they would likely think – no way do I want this divinity as my God.
The curses are described in great detail and serve a rhetorical purpose in
the book of encouraging the people to follow the commandments so as
to preserve the distinctive identity as the people of God as they enter the
land of Canaan. This identity is of a people of law and justice.
In Deuteronomy 29:10-29, Moses forewarns that the people who violate
the covenant, and follow other gods, will suffer terrible consequences:
“all the curses in this book will descend on them, and the LORD will
blot out their names from under heaven.” ( 29: 20)

Yet, against this backdrop of curse doom, verses 9-14 offer a hopeful
word of encouragement and look forward to a brighter future. Verse 8
encourages listeners that, even though the people will violate the
covenant of God, they will again turn to their Lord to observe the
commandments.
Deuteronomy 11-14 further emphasizes the conditional nature of the
blessing and emphasizes the transparency of expectations of God’s
people
In Moses’ sermon, the law is more than a list of commandments. The
“words of the law” are the expression of the covenant God made with
his people. The covenant began with God reaching out to Abraham, but
Moses begins his sermon by describing how God brought his people out
of Egypt. He tells how God has protected them, and brought them to the
place they are at, He goes on to tell them that if they are faithful to God
and his revealed will, God will bless them greatly.
Moses also states God reveals to his people that if they reject his ways,
he will punish them. He says that if they return to him in repentance, he
will be gracious and bless them. These are not secret things, but
revealed; God told them straight-up what would happen if they reject
him and his love. Yet his goal is very clear: The law is not meant to be
mysterious or unattainable, but something practical that the people can
do in ordinary life. It is meant to be implemented, it is meant to be lived
in each and every moment of the life of the people

The general feeling of verse 9 is of joyful exuberance, and blessing
beyond what is needed. This is tempered by verse 10, which reminds the
listener or reader that this promised blessing is for those who obey the
voice of God and keep the commandments. Verse 10 calls the people to
continually return to God with their heart and mind, a deliberate
reference to the Shema prayer in Deuteronomy 6 that commands the

people to love the LORD with all of one’s heart, mind, soul, and
strength
The commands are not presented as a burden to the people, but as a
source of life and prosperity in service to a God who rejoices over them.
In Deuteronomy, the law is not a source of grievance or drudgery, but a
way of ordinary life that will bring flourishing to the people and the
community as a whole when they love God and love their neighbor.
Moses repeatedly calls the people of God with heartfelt sincerity to
abide and live by the covenant: “I have set before you life and death,
blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may
live…” (30:19).
What is the way to life? In Moses’ sermon, it sounds so simple Keep
God’s law, and you will be blessed. Yet we know that it is not so simple!
After all, who can keep God’s law perfectly? When Jesus was asked
which commandment was the greatest, he echos Moses: “You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.”
Who of us can do that perfectly?
The Apostle Paul was familiar with this text, and he read it in the light of
Jesus. He understood that the Old Covenant was fulfilled in the New
Covenant, through faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. He quotes Moses
in Romans 10:6-12, saying, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth
and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning the faith that we
proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved As
Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to
shame.”
The key principle:  “ This commandment is not too hard for you, nor is it
too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to
heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’”
(30:11-12). It’s what Jesus did. This is not a promise of heaven to come,
but the presence of God’s reign experienced here and now.

God’s law is broader than the Ten Commandments; it has social
implications. When we take the time to read Exodus and Leviticus, as
well as Deuteronomy, we find commandments about how to treat
servants, balance property rights with opportunity for all, and public
health. We see that God commands his people to help the poor, and to
give the less fortunate a path out of poverty. Some of these
commandments are specific to the time in which they were given, and do
not necessarily apply to us. Yet the principles are revealed to us!
Verse 11 states that the law is not mysterious or inscrutable and has been
revealed to them in the plain sight and hearing of all . No excuse remains
for those that do not follow the law, for it has been plainly delivered to
them
The expectation of the people of God from Ancient Israel to the present-
day followers of Jesus is to live lives in such a way that others do not
experience misery. We live in a world where casualties are bound to
occur and the word points us to right actions to take – to show mercy. It
is not enough to be concerned – we need to get involved. We need to do
whatever it takes to take care of our neighbour just as we do whatever it
takes to take care of ourselves.
There are uncountable economic and political issues in the world today,
and we don’t know what the coming year will bring. God has not
revealed “the secret things”—the solutions to all of the problems in the
world. Yet he has revealed to us principles and priorities that should
guide us. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.” God has revealed that justice,
compassion, and care for those in need are not optional for God’s
people.
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed
belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the
words of this law.”

The psalmist’s prayer, like all the prayers of God’s people, is relational.
When we pray for help, we are not merely summoning God to perform a
service. Instead, we are placing our trust and hope in the relationship
that exists between the Lord and us as his people.
Waiting for the Lord to manifest his power is a matter of preparing and
being ready to act when the time of God’s deliverance comes, The
element of preparation, according to the Psalm, involves learning of the
Lord’s ways and truth, under the instruction that God gives. For the
church, this is a clear invitation to the study of Scripture as a necessary
adjunct to the life of prayer.
Waiting, in this context, is also different from merely hoping.” It is the
difference between confidence and anxiety. The difference between
waiting for the Lord to answer prayer and merely hoping that the Lord
will answer is of the same nature. It assumes confidence that God’s
intervention on behalf of his people, while not entirely predictable in its
timing, is inevitable. The classic cry of the Psalmist is not “Are you
there, Lord?” but “How long, O Lord?” According to the psalm, God’s
remembering is sufficiently powerful and effective to include
forgiveness, rescue, and victory over the schemes of the enemy. Such
remembering is well worth the wait.
Eternal life is not about what we can do for God, but rather about what
God has done for us. We know God has called us to honour and please
Him and recognize that He is all-sufficient. He has called us to keep His
Word, which He has not hidden from us or which is beyond our reach.
In the Old Testament the word came to the prophets making them the
bearers of a personal message from God to the people. The Word is the
communication of what God has in mind. To receive God’s word and
live by it is the way to find life
The word leads us to right attitudes and an attitude of love always finds
a way to demonstrate itself. A person who loves God with all their heart,
soul, mind and strength will never take God’s name in vain. They will

never place anyone or anything above God and will remember the
Lord’s Day and keep it holy.
There are many things we do not know. Our assurance is that the Lord
knows! “What we do know is that through Jesus Christ, we have a
relationship with God —the Lord who knows the secret things. “Anyone
who believes in him will never be put to shame.” If we live in obedience
and trust, the Lord will be with us, and we can face whatever comes
with confidence and hope. AMEN

HYMN 457 Now thank we all our God

1. Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done, in whom God’s world rejoices,
who from our mother’s arms has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
with everjoyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us all with grace, and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills in this world and the next.
3. All praise and thanks to God who reigns in highest heaven,
the Father and the Son and Spirit now be given,
the one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore,
for thus it was, is now and shall be evermore.

OFFERING
God sent us Jesus Christ so that we would know God’s great generosity
and compassion for us. May the gifts we offer God bear witness to the
saving power of this extravagant love in our lives.

DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below

Praise him above ye heavenly host.
Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost

OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of the Samaritan’s kindness, we offer our gifts in hope, trusting that
you will bless them to bring such kindness to others in Jesus’ name.
Make of us ‘good Samaritans’ with the courage to be generous to
neighbours and strangers for Christ’s sake. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
God of abundant growth, as summer unfolds around us, we give you
thanks for warm sunny days, for beauty in our gardens, crops growing in
our fields, life swimming in oceans and lakes. Where the abundance of
nature is at risk, we pray that your Spirit will work in and through us
to restore the air, water and soil for the good of all creation.
God of peace and reconciliation, we thank you for the peace and
freedom we enjoy and the many ways our lives are protected in this
land. We remember before you those places torn apart by violence and
hatred, those people who face discrimination daily, and anyone who
feels unsafe this day or any day. As war continues in Ukraine we pray
fro all who have suffered great losses .
Inspire leaders in every country to lead with wisdom and mercy. Guide
them in your ways of peace and justice. We pray fro the people in
Japan who are grieving the assassination of their beloved former
prime minister on Friday "Japan is one of the most peaceful, non-
violent societies on the planet,
God of creativity and community, we thank you for the many ways the
Church can serve you in Jesus’ name.T hank you for the unique voices
that sing your praise and speak your comfort, all the hands that share in
acts of service, all the prayers offered quietly for your will to be done.
We pray for the Church and its many congregations as we seek to be

faithful. Help us work together so that our unity bears witness to the
possibilities for unity among diverse peoples everywhere.
Lord we have named our joys , thanks and concerns before you
We pray for ………………..
We lift to you Lynn and her sons, Ken and David and daughters Val
and Denise and all her family. It’s only a couple of months snice the
death of her son-in-law so the grief for them is very heavy
God of every precious life, Hear our prayers as we name before you
those in need of your love and healing in the silence of our hearts…
God hope and love, draw us closer to you every day. Show us what you
desire for us and inspire our faithfulness in the example of Jesus, who
taught us to pray these words:
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. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,
and the
power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

HYMN 726 May the God of hope 2x

May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all.
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.
BENEDICTION

May God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—We
can be confident he will never give up and walk out on us. May he keep
us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared,
watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down
for our ancestors. May the grace of God, the love of Jesus and the
leading of the Holy Spirit be with you today and always

CLOIONSING SONG

Take O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be
set your seal upon my heart and live in me