Great is the Lord and worthy of all praise. Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom,

1. Great is the Lord and worthy of all praise. Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour, power and might, be to our God for ever and ever! Amen. Blessed are You, Creator God, to You be glory and praise for ever! Pour out Your Spirit on us this day, that we may walk as children of light and by Your grace reveal Your presence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; Blessed be God for ever!

2. HYMN : Tshollela Tshollela moya wa hao, Jesu (repeat) Di pelong tsa rona, Jesu Tshollela moya wa hao, Jesu Pour out your Spirit, Jesus In our hearts, Jesus Pour out your Spirit, Jesus

3. CONFESSION We have been given life, but we have not lived. We have been called to freedom, but we have found the burden heavy, the anxiety painful, and have returned to our illusions about life, and our deceits about ourselves. Let us, therefore, acknowledge our continued denial of life and our need for that Power which is beyond our reach, yet ever-present to us. O Lord, we confess our slowness to see the good in our brothers and sisters, and in ourselves. We confess our blindness to the sufferings of others and our slowness to be taught by our own suffering. We confess our failure to apply to ourselves the standards of conduct we demand of others. We confess our complacency toward wrongs that do not touch us and our over-sensitiveness to those that do.

4. We have been gifted with life, but we often renounce our hope and murmur against our ‘fate’, abusing the world around us and all therein. Knowing that life is given to us only in the present, we desperately cling to our false images about the past and our imagined fantasies concerning the future. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Silent confession ABSOLUTION Jesus said, “Those who save their life shall lose it, but those who lose their life for my sake shall find it.” In dying to our false imaginations and vain strivings and centering our lives in that power beyond ourselves we are given new possibilities for living. We are accepted by that which is greater than we. Which means that whatever we have done or will do, nothing can change the fact that we are received in this world, and that even now we can dare to be who we are. We are valued as we are. Life is good as it is given. The future is open. And this is the one objective and everlasting truth – in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven – may we receive this gift and live. Amen.

5. THE FIRST LESSON : Acts 15: 22-31 (read in isiZulu by Gloria Mokwatle) The apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose delegates from among themselves to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas, known as Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them: “The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of gentile birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some people coming from here, but acting without any authority from ourselves, have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with our well-beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have committed their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from illicit marriages. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.” The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them. Judas and Silas, being themselves prophets, spoke for a long time, encouraging and strengthening the brothers. These two spent some time there, and then the brothers wished them peace and they went back to those who had sent them. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God.

6. THE PSALM : Ps 57: 6 – 12 (from Psalms for Praying Nan Merrill) My fears have woven a web; like a spider they seek to entrap me. They live within me, gnawing at my bones, they bring only suffering and despair. Yet in my heart I know, Beloved, that Love is the healing balm for fear. I will sing and make melody! Awaken, my soul! Awaken to Love’s song! I will awaken the dawn!

7. I will give thanks to You among the peoples, O Heart of my heart; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For your steadfast love fills the universe and makes a home in my heart! Be exalted, O Holy One, Creator of the galaxies! For your Glory reigns over all the earth! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

8. THE SECOND LESSON : John 15: 12 – 17 (read in Afrikaans by Sharon van der Merwe) This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know the master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father. You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name. My command to you is to love one another. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. HYMN : Ukuthula

9. UKUTHULA Ukuthula, ukuthula Peace, peace kulo mhlaba wezono in this world of sin Alleluia, Alleluia igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ ukuthula the blood of Jesus whispers peace Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ usindiso redemption Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ ukubonga praise Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ ukukholwa faith

10. Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ ukunqoba victory Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ induduzo comfort Ukuthula, ukuthula kulo mhlaba wezono Alleluia, igazi likaJesu linyenyez’ ukuthula peace

11. Let us pray the Our Father in our preferred language. PRAYERS CONTINUE (facilitated by Gift Chanza, using words, thoughts, silence and gesture) As you stretch your arms above your head … In your heart offer the Creator praise and gratitude … We thank You, Holy God, for the gift of another day of life. As you slowly bring your arms down next to you, slightly away from the sides of your body, hands open and relaxed, slowly pivot to your right and left a few times … Now, be intentionally aware of our spiritual bond with all of creation … Ons strek uit in deernis na al ons susters en broers oor die hele kosmos.

12. As we gently lift our arms in front of us, with bent elbows, arms slightly apart, with our palm up and our hands open … Let us offer our lives to the Holy Trinity … Nkulunkulu, Sinikela kuwe konke esiyikho kanye nalokho esinakho (“Lord, we give all that we are and all that we have”) As we gradually bring our hands together and form a “cup” out of our hands … Let us open ourselves to accept what the Holy One offers us today in this Synod …

13. that You have waiting for us in this new day and in this Synod. Now, softly cross your hands over your heart and bow at your waist … Become aware of the indwelling Presence of Jesus Christ … Unga ungasihlanganisa, usiqamangele kuwe Yesu ngale mini yanamhlanje, sibe banye, sibotshwe yingxawuka yo – thando lwakho. (“May we be united with You throughout this day, aware of Your love strengthening us and shining through us.”) Creating, Redeeming and Sustaining God, may we be mindful that Your grace is sufficient for us, that Your power working through us can do more than we can ever ask or imagine. Amen. (Adaptation of a prayer from Out of the Ordinary by Joyce Rupp)

14. COLLECT FOR SYNOD Gracious and loving God, Pour Your Spirit upon this Diocese And grant us a new vision of Your glory, A new experience of Your power, A new faithfulness to Your word, And a new consecration to Your service, So that Your love may grow among us And Your kingdom come: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTION We have worshipped the Lord. Let us now move into this Synod as a people of service, discernment, humility and wisdom. May we be receptive to God’s Spirit to hear what we are called to be and do. Let us be at peace in the Name of our One, Triune God. Amen. CONCLUDING Hymn : Lord, the light of Your love is shining … Shine, Jesus Shine

15. LORD, THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE [Graham Kendrick – Songs of Fellowship #362] Lord, the light of Your love is shining, In the midst of the darkness, shining; Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us, Set us free by the truth You now bring us, Shine on me, shine on me. Shine, Jesus, shine, Fill this land with the Father’s glory; Blaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy; Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light

16. Lord, I come to Your awesome presence, From the shadows into Your radiance; By the blood I may enter Your brightness, Search me, try me, consume all my darkness. Shine on me, shine on me. Shine, Jesus, shine, Fill this land with the Father’s glory; Blaze, Spirit, blaze, Set our hearts on fire. Flow, river, flow, Flood the nations with grace and mercy; Send forth Your word, Lord, and let there be light As we gaze on Your kingly brightness So our faces display Your likeness. Ever changing from glory to glory, Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story. Shine on me, shine on me.