HUNTER BAILLIE MEMORIAL
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ANNANDALE
2nd August : 10 a.m.
Order of Service
Preacher : Rev. David Tsai, Interim Moderator
Organist: Ted Grantham
Interim Moderator : Rev. David Tsai, (davidtsai1@me.com
Session Clerk : Simon Fraser, (simon.fraser@cbp.com.au)
Music before the service: G.F.Handel, (1685 – 1759) Tempo di Menuetto in Concerto 1, Op.4
Welcome
Doxology
All glory be to God
The Father, and the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost,
Eternal Three-in-One
For heretofore
It was, and is,
And still shall be
For evermore. Amen.
Tune: John, William Henry Havergal, 1793 – 1870
Call to worship
Prayers of Approach and Adoration
Hymn 1
1
Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit, –
Great Jehovah, Three in One !
Glory, glory, glory, glory
While eternal ages run.
2
Glory be to Him who loved us,
Washed us from each spot and stain !
Glory be to Him who bought us,
Made us kings with Him to reign !
Glory, glory, glory, glory
To the Lamb that once was slain !
3
Glory, blessing, praise eternal !
Thus the choir of angels sings ;
Honour, riches, power, dominion !
Thus its praise creation brings ;
Glory, glory, glory, glory
Glory to the King of kings ! Amen
Horatius Bonar, 1808 – 89
Tune, Regent Square, Henry Thomas Smart, 1813 – 79
Prayer of Confession and Lord’s Prayer
Old Testament Reading – II Kings 2 : 1 – 8
Hymn 2, (Psalm 9: 7 – 10)
1
God shall endure for aye ; he doth
for judgment set his throne ;
In righteousness to judge the world,
Justice to give each one.
2
God also will a refuge be
for those that are oppress’d
A refuge will he be in times
of trouble to distres’d.
3
And they that know thy name, in thee
their confidence will place :
For thou hast not forsaken them
that truly seek thy face. Amen
Scottish Psalter, 1650
Tune, Stroudwater, A Choice Collection of Psalm Tunes,1721
New Testament Reading
II Thessalonians 3 : 1 – 5
Hymn 3
1
A safe stronghold our God is still,
A trusty shield and weapon ;
He’ll keep us safe from all the ill
That hath us now o’ertaken.
The ancient prince of hell
Hath risen with purpose fell ;
Strong mail of craft and power
He weareth in this hour ;
On earth is not his fellow.
2
With force of arms we nothing can,
Full soon were we down ridden ;
But for us fights the proper Man,
Whom God Himself hath bidden.
Ask ye, who is this same ?
Christ Jesus is His Name,
The Lord Sabaoth’s Son ;
He and no other one,
Shall conquer in the battle. Amen.
Martin Luther, 1483 – 1546,tr Thomas Carlyle, 1795 – 1881
Tune, Ein’ feste Burg, Martin Luther, arr. J.S,Bach,1685 – 1750
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Notices – Due to Covid restrictions there will be a retiring Offering
Hymn 4
1
Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart ;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art, –
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
2
Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word ;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord ;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true Son ;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Amen.
Irish 8th C., tr. Mary Byrne, 1880 – 1931, versified by Eleanor Hull , 1860 – 1935
Tune : Slane, Irish traditional melody
Sermon – Two Bears at Bethel
Summary
Fresh from the success of restoring life giving water to the residents of Jericho, Elisha’s first ACT as “The Prophet,” we expect Bethel to welcome the new hero, Elisha, to their town.Sadly NOT SO.
Bethel departed from The Lord God . 1 Kings 12: 31 Jeroboam (931 – 910 BC), the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, built pagan shrines on high places, prominent places, and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites, where they would even offer a human child as a sacrifice.
And if this religion was going to be tackled head on, the new spiritual police commissioner was coming to Bethel .Yes Elisha. And as they heard that Elisha, the man of God, was coming, to the heart of their religion, they were going to make him as uncomfortable as possible.
How do you make people feel uncomfortable ? Radicalise the youth and let them loose.
Here at Bethel, it had become the centre the stronghold of Satanic worship and only by God’s intervention and demonstration of His power, two bears to guard His prophet from the attack of the evil one.
What were the two bears doing ?
Well they were probably she bears with some cubs and when they hear and then see two hundred plus agitated youths coming down the trail. What do you think they would do ? They are not going to let this mob anywhere near their cubs .They would herd the cubs to a defendable spot. By this time the mob had reached Elisha they started to abuse and harass. Two hundred or so chanting “Go up you baldhead. Go up you baldhead.” There would have been at least two hundred youths for 42 to be mauled, injured. Many of them would have fled for their lives.
The perversity of it is that their leaders, they were the unclean ones. The Evil one, the father of lies had blinded them to their true state before God, to shut God’s word out is to shut out his grace and without grace there remains the judgment of God.
God desires to bless through His message when it is received with humility and faith .
Hymn 5
1
Courage brother ! do not stumble
Though thy path be dark as night ;
There’s a star to guide the humble
“Trust in God and do the right.”
Let the road be rough and dreary,
And the end far out of sight,
Foot it bravely ; strong or weary,
Trust in God, trust in God,
Trust in God and do the right.
2
Perish policy and cunning,
Perish al that fears the light !
Whether losing, whether winning,
Trust in God and do the right.
Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flatter, some will slight ;
Cease from man, and look above thee
Trust in God, trust in God,
Trust in God and do the right.
3
Simple rule, and safest guiding,
Inward peace and inward might,
Star upon our path abiding, –
Trust in God and do the right.
Courage brother ! do not stumble
Though thy path be dark as night ;
There’s a star to guide the humble
“Trust in God, trust in God,
Trust in God and do the right.” Amen.
Norman MacLeod, 1812 – 72
Tune : Courage Brother, Arthur Seymour Sullivan, 1842 – 1900
Benediction
Threefold Amen
Retiring Offering
Music after the Service : G.F.Handel, Allegro Organ Concert 4 (Op. 4)
Notices
Services will be held at the Church at 10 a.m. each Sunday and will also be available on line by clicking “Livestream” at www.hunterbaillie.com
The preacher next Sunday, 9th August, will be Rev David Tsai.
Covid Safe Recital, 8th August, 4.30 p.m.
The next zoom bible study will be at 8 a.m. 15th August : contact Steve, spderivan.com.au to join.
Offerings can be posted to PO box 42 Annandale 2038 or paid online to Annandale Leichhardt Presbyterian Church BSB: 032-011 Account Number: 120709. Please quote reference “Plate” or “Anonymous” as preferred. Please make cheques payable to: “Annandale Leichhardt Presbyterian Church” (not Hunter Baillie).
The next meeting of the Selection committee will be at 12 noon on 2nd August at the Church .
The Quarterly Communion Service will be held on 30th August.
Duty Elder For August, Sue Maddrell
Door Duty : 2nd August, Alan and Noel, 9th August, Thomas and Paul, 16th August, Sue W. and Allanah