Matthew 18: 21-35 (NRSV)
 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.
 
But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.
 
Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Gracious One,
you encourage us to create peace-filled relationships;
you nourish our growing hearts with your presence;
you strengthen our living so we let go of what holds us back.
We are enriched to live in your way.
Thanks be to God. Amen

Prayer of Adoration and Thanksgiving
Forgiving and accepting Jesus,
who taught, lived and walked with so many different people,
you gave us a way of being together,
in all our diversity through the whole people of God.
You offered a consistency of love
and a way of expressing it.
We thank you for this insight of how to live with grace.
We thank you that, for all our different ways of worship,
of ministering and offering mission,
we each offer the gifts that we have to all your people,
and practice the presence of God in our lives.
Through faith and with love for others, we also grow. Amen

Commissioning and Benediction
Go out with a heart that is warmed by the love of God!
Be filled by with the fire of the Pentecost Spirit
So that you are able to connect with our family of God
as diverse as the Pentecost gathering.
Let us not be afraid to walk the road with Jesus,
and to learn to love all whom cross our path.
May forgiveness grow in our hearts
and judgment fall away from our being.
Go, with this gracious sense
that we are all welcomed and welcoming as the whole people of God.
May peace and hope fill your days, this week, and beyond. Amen
 

Romans 13:8-14 (NRSV)
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

In Jesus, we hear a song that has been sung since time began.
It is heard in the laughter and delight
of God’s people sharing together.
The Spirit hums it deep in our soul
and Christ’s chorus always has a place for our voice.
For where two or three are gathered in Jesus name,
He is there in the very midst of our togetherness.

Prayer of Intercession as Churches Together
Healing Spirit, settle in our souls.
When our church has disagreements,
encourage us to listen carefully,
to hear your truth in the midst of differences.
There are many understandings and interpretations.
There are parts of the church needing adaptation and change,
and areas that need support and stability.
May we not crush an emerging ministry,
or let go of an essential expression of church.
May we listen fairly to each other,
and be witnesses to each other
in peaceful harmony and with just engagement.
Let us be honourable in loving our neighbour
And bonding ourselves to the Word of Jesus.

Romans 12:9-21
Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good. Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another. Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times. Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.
Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.
If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.” Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.” Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

When genuine love is in your heart,
compassion, peace, hospitality, understanding, and right living
come to you through the gifts of the Spirit.
We seek the Way of Christ
and the Breath of God’s Spirit
bringing winds of change into our lives.

Prayer of Adoration and Thanksgiving
We remember your miraculous love, O kindly God,
in so many ways throughout our days.
Through gentle folk across the years
who have listened and cared when we most needed it.
Through awe-inspiring wonders in creation,
and advances in science, technology, healthcare and farming practices.
Through collective groups that have actively worked for peace and justice
with inspiring courage and perseverance,
creating a better world through the ripples of what is right and true.
What a delight to have a breadth of understanding you gift to us,
O Spirit of Life.
How wonderful to learn of your Way of Living, Jesus Friend,
so that we can grow in genuine love, respect and wise thinking.
We cherish the harmony that sings through our daily life
when we are present with you, O God of all.
 

Romans 12:1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Healing Spirit,
Fill our hearts with love for those who are unloved, forgotten, disposed, alone.
Let your flame of fiery presence melt the hearts chilled with fear and distrust.
Sprout new seeds of hope in the desert places of dusty souls.
Cool the fierce hate that scars thoughts of the powerful.
Fill empty vessels of self-worth with purpose to serve victims and vulnerable.
Voice the silent cries of those who are spent, and can no longer manage alone.

Silent prayer for your local community migrants and refugees, their needs and support
Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.
Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for the state-wide communities of migrants and refugees, to be alert and responsive to the critical care and need, for the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical  wellbeing of those who come with such practical  need and who are often emotionally spent.

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.
Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for the national bodies assisting migrants and refugees, Government programs and decisions that are life changing for people who have already suffered much.h

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.
Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Silent prayer for our country’s public voice and action for migrants and refugees across the world.
 
Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.
Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.
Inflame our hearts with your unconditional love,
That our active presence makes a difference in changing values,
Approach, decisions and the living reality for these, our sisters and brothers. Amen

Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28   Intentions from the heart
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
 
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Healing Spirit,
Fill our hearts with love for those who are unloved.
Let your flame of fiery presence melt the hearts chilled with fear and distrust.
Sprout new seeds of hope in the desert places of dusty souls.
Cool the fierce hate that scars thoughts of the powerful.
Fill empty vessels of self-worth with purpose to serve victims and the vulnerable.
Voice the silent cries of those who are spent, and can no longer manage alone.
Silence prayer for others…

Healing Spirit, hear our prayers.
Healing Spirit, we lift them up to you.

Commissioning and Benediction
God is calling you
To cast aside your shallow ways,
To take to heart the teachings of your faith
And hold them deep in your soul.
There, they will be nurtured
so that all that springs forth from your mouth
and is accomplished by your hands,
will reflect the glory of our God.
God is with you.
The Spirit advocates for you.
Brother Jesus walks alongside.
Come, People of God
Let us walk forth in peace, with good intention in all that we do. Amen

Matthew 14: 22-33 (NRSV)
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Prayer of Confession
Jesus, we call to you,
In honesty and humility.
A silence is kept…

We are struggling, and often feel overwhelmed.
At times, when we are hurting most,
we do not have the words or courage to call on you.
When frightened, we often lose our way,
and feel that we are being subsumed by all the worries we are carrying.

Please call to us today,
for we are afraid, and find it hard to look to you.
In our painful times,
we do not have the courage to look away from the difficulties,
to the promises of your love.
Call to us, O gracious friend

Words of Assurance
When we are feeling overwhelmed,
Jesus says gently
‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
We are blessed, supported and loved.
Let us not be afraid to draw on this strength,
For it is Jesus who calls to us, to do so.

Prayer of Adoration and Thanksgiving
Companioning and comforting God,
What a joy it is to know of your care.
What a delight it is to call to you.
We thank you that your presence is welcoming
and your comfort lies deep in our hearts.
On hearing the gospel stories,
we are reminded of the everyday situations in which you ministered.
How gentle is your call
and how significant it is to hear.
With thanks and praise, we will walk through the stormy waters
and not be misdirected by the strong winds.
For you, Jesus, speak into our daily lives,
and we long to travel with you, always and forever more. Amen

Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-46 (GNT)
The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Jesus told them another parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants. It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches.”
The Parable of the Yeast
Jesus told them still another parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises.”
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
“The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl
 “Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl.

Prayer – Gratitude For An Unusually Fine Treasure & Blessing
Giver of life,
We pray for the wellbeing of the web of life.
Pearls of great price appear before us,
revealing small miracles and great treasures
of such unique beauty and astonishing complexity.
The multifaceted busy life of fauna, companionable and collaborative.
The indefatigable life of flora that grows in both hostile and welcoming spaces.
The deliciousness of the nutritious food and fodder,
the usefulness of the treasures we find in the earth,
minerals, clay, sands, and stones.
These in turn, bring physical and mental wellbeing to other lives.
We are nourished and supported through the great web of creation.
We thank you for these wondrous gifts of life itself.
We pray that we continue to grow in appreciation of these gifts,
And support and sustain your creation, an unusually fine treasure.

Blessing
People of God,
Go forth with eyes open.
See the unusually fine treasures and the smallest gifts.
In your daily activities,
keep God’s blessings foremost in your heart and mind.
So that our faith grows
from seeded faith to flourishing life,
nourishing our soul and being a witness to others.

Go out with the Sower of New Life!
Feast on the Bread of Life!
Be comforted by the Spirit of Life!
Be aware of all that is before you.
Go in peace to explore all that life can be with God!

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Prayer of Confession
You scatter good things before us, O God,
We know that you sow seeds into our everyday life,
but we too often let them fall away before us on our daily path.
Our inner soul knows what is right,
but we often chose to ignore that truth
and be distracted by busyness or worries or following an easier path.
Forgive our inner short sightedness,
when really, we so long to live by your Ways.

We are sorry for the times we act unjustly, are unkind and hurt others.
We wish to act with justice and be bringers of peace.
We long to love with pure hearts, and let go of our mean and angry ways.
We search for truth and yet ignore your genuineness.
We want to understand, but ignore knowledge and fact,
and choose instead what is easier to accept
or what fits with our present understanding.
Hold us as we stumble on the rocky pathway we choose.
Guide us back to your pathway,
so that we flourish and grow as your people.

Words of Assurance
God’s light is shining. Let’s look up.
God’s hand is guiding. Let’s accept it.
God’s truth is revealed in the everyday pathway. Let’s look and listen.
For God is always near.

Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
“Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other, ‘We played wedding music for you, but you wouldn’t dance! We sang funeral songs, but you wouldn’t cry!’ When John came, he fasted and drank no wine, and everyone said, ‘He has a demon in him!’ When the Son of Man came, he ate and drank, and everyone said, ‘Look at this man! He is a glutton and wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and other outcasts!’ God’s wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results.”
At that time Jesus said, “Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned. Yes, Father, this was how you were pleased to have it happen.
“My Father has given me all things. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit; and you will find rest. For the yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”

Prayer 
NB: Have a cuppa (hot Chocolate is good!), sit outside or in a quiet space, and enjoy a peace-filled moment with God

Warming Presence
Slowing in the midst of busyness, I take this time, O God,
to focus on the warming cuppa and share in this moment with you.
I give thanks for the time with you, O timeless One.
It is I who pack so much into my days that I miss you, and long for you.
You are never far away.
I give thanks for the warmth of the cup, O Warming Presence.
As I hold it, I am reminded that you hold me always.
It is I who step apart from our space together.
I give thanks for the sweet smell, rising in the steam, O Breath of Life.
I too often forget the simple joy of finding new life and sweet goodness,
in the simple act of breathing in freshness, and breathing out all that has passed.
I give thanks for sipping the comforting fluid, O Refreshing One.
Too often, I miss the precious life-giving nourishment in my quest for better or best.
This is the best, as it is now, here, present, in the sipping and savouring of the drink.
I give thanks for the life-giving energy, O Vital One.
As simply as drinking from this cup, you offer energising vitality when I most need it,
And it is there, to sip and savour every ‘mouthful ’at any moment in my day.
So, as I take time in this moment, feeling warmth,
breathing in sweetness of life,
breathing out, letting go of all that weighs me down,
I cherish the refreshing nourishment you offer,
And savour the renewing vitality, in this moment, in this cup,
with thanks, O gentle, humble Giver of Life, ever present, ever there. Amen