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Sea Sunday Studio Service July 9^th 2O23

Introduction Music Amazing Grace (3.00) Under the white ensign

Good morning to you and a warm welcome to our studio service on this the 2^nd Sunday in July, a Sunday which is kept by many different denominations as Sea Sunday, a time when the people of God give thanks for those who go to sea and those who minister to them.

Let us listen to our first hymn.

HYMN: God is working his purpose out (NEH 495) music Benson

OPENING PRAYER.

We come together as the family of God in our Father’s presence to offer him praise and thanksgiving for the ministry of the church among seafarers; to hear and receive his holy word; to bring before him the needs of the world, the missionary work of his church and to pray for seafarers and their families of every nation; to ask his forgiveness for our sins and to seek his grace, through his Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

In Hong Kong mission and ministry to seafarers is provided by 4 Seafarers’ missions, working together to serve seafarers who are visiting Hong Kong. The Mission to Seafarers, The Apostleship of the Sea, the Danish Seamen’s Church and the German Seamen’s Mission.

I am the Revd Canon Stephen Miller, Senior Chaplain of The Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong. And joining us this morning for this service today are Revd Kim Kee Lee from the Mission to Seafarers, Revd Rebecca Holm from the Danish Seamen’s Church and Sam Tudor intern with The Mission to Seafarers.

So we begin our worship this morning as we call to mind our sins and ask God for his forgiveness:

Confession

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored your teachings and wisdom. Help us to listen to your word and live by it each day.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored those in need around us. Help us to become more aware of the needs of others.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored your will for our lives. Help us to trust you and follow you more each day.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored the needs of seafarers and have taken them for granted. Help us to remember the vital work they do in ensuring that we have our daily needs.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

God our loving Father, forgive us our sins, keep your word alive in us and help us to know your peace and forgiveness in our lives each day. Help us to be a people who trust and follow you wholeheartedly as we live for you each day.

All: Amen

Hymn: Be Still for the presence of the Lord Evans

Collect

Almighty God on this Sea Sunday we pray for all who go

down to the sea in ships, that you will protect them as they sail, keep them safe from all the dangers of the sea and give them courage when they face storms. May they know your blessing on the families that they leave behind. We ask this in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All: Amen

Our First Reading comes from the Old Testament from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Chapter 43 verses 1-7.

But now thus says the Lord,
   he who created you, O Jacob,
   he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
   and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in my sight,
   and honoured, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I am with you;
   I will bring your offspring from the east,
   and from the west I will gather you;

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,
   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;
bring my sons from far away
   and my daughters from the end of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.’

The word of the Lord…

All: Thanks be to God.

Melanie Waldman | Praise the Name - Psalm 107

The Gospel

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew, Chapter 14, verses 22-33.

All: Glory to you Lord Christ.

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 towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, 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 towards 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 worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Hymn: Here I Am Lord (I the Lord of Sea and Sky ) - Schutte

Address (Mr Sam Tudor) 10 mins

Song: You are my hiding place (Selah) Psalm 32

Intercessions

Let us thank God who has brought us together to this day, who sustains us by his power, strengthens us by his Spirit and nourishes us with his word. May we worship him in spirit and in truth.

Lord hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Today we pray for the work of Seafarers’ Missions, their

chaplains and ship visitors around the world as they care

for and welcome seafarers. We pray that you will help

them in their work of caring for and supporting seafarers.

Lord hear us Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for seafarers as they work on ships, often many

miles from home, missing their families and facing dangers

and hardships such as piracy and storms with little time in port and dealing with

isolation and loneliness.

Help them to keep safe and well waiting for their time when they will be reunited

with their families.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for the families of seafarers who are left at home.

We pray for wives and husbands as they miss their partners and care for their families,

for children as they miss a parent and for others as they miss a boy or girl friend,

grandparent or son or daughter. Bless those who remain at home whilst a

loved one is away at sea.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for all ship owners and ship managers that they will take their

responsibility seriously to care for those who crew their ships.

We pray that all ships may be properly maintained and kept in a

seaworthy condition.

Lord Hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for ourselves that we may have grateful hearts

for all the food and other necessities of daily life that we so easily take for granted.

Help us to remember the seafarers who work so hard so that we can enjoy

the fruits and commodities of the world.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Let us join together in the words that our Lord Jesus himself taught us:

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.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Creator and Father of all, we pray for those who go down to the sea in ships and on whom we depend. Bless them and those who long for their safe return and bring us all to your kingdom, where there is no sorrow, no tears, but joy and life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: Eternal Father strong to save Melita

The Blessing.

May the love of the Lord Jesus

Draw us to himself.

May the power of the Lord Jesus

Strengthen us in his service;

May the joy of the Lord Jesus

Fill our souls.

May the blessing of God Almighty,

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen

Thank you for joining us for our worship this Sea Sunday, please remember in your prayers all Seafarers who go down to the sea, all who serve in the merchant marine, all who bring us the commodities we depend upon from around the world. May God bless them and be close to their families and love ones now and always. Amen

Finale Deep Peace a Gaelic Blessing Libera (John Rutter)