 Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together on this 3rd Sunday of Easter.
Notices:
Call to Worship We gather with joy, for Easter brings us new life. The Risen Christ is with us wherever we go. Love breaks all bonds and unites us in hope. Christ has defeated death. Let us rejoice and be glad! Hymn 427 – Alleluia, Alleluia Prayers of Adoration and Confession Loving God, we rejoice in new life around us. For daffodils and tulips in the garden, for lambs and calves in our fields. The whole world rejoices in Spring. We praise you for the Easter message of Jesus rising from the dead, a glorious new beginning for the world. We can never be the same. Help us to show forth the new life you give us and greet each new day as an occasion to discover Christ in our midst, making all things new with the springtime of your Spirit. Loving Creator, as your children we are given a place within Your heart. You know our inner workings, and are able to name what is right and wrong in the lives we lead. Lord have mercy, As Your children, we recognise the upset and hurt we cause to those we love the most, with the harsh words we use and our selfish ambition Christ have mercy, As Your children, we are invited to share in the stewardship of creation, and sometimes we fail to care. Tempted by what is easy to use and readily available, we ignore the need to sustain all of life. Lord have mercy upon us and forgive us. Hear the words of the risen Christ: Peace be with you. Receive the peace and forgiveness of Christ, and rejoice in his gift of new life this day and every day. Thanks be to God. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 3:12–19 Luke 24:36b–48 Hymn 405 – We sing the praise Weekly Prayer Creator God, you gave us a beautiful world to live in and to care for especially here in the parish of our Cheviot Churches. We pray that you will open our minds so that we may understand the scriptures, and that by faith in the name of Jesus, times of refreshing may come to us again. In faith we hear the Lord's voice speaking to us over the ages " Peace be with you". Amen Reflection What are you looking forward to do, once we fully come out of lockdown? For many people it will be visiting family or even going a holiday. Some people may be looking forward to going out for a coffee or to shop. I actually quite miss going to museums. In Cairo I was lucky, because the Egyptian Museum was nearby with mummies and the wonderful treasure found in the tomb of Tutankhamen. When it is taken on tour, there are queues a mile long to see it, but in Cairo you just walk in and there are cases of the most wonderful exhibitions, with only one security guard looking at their mobile phone. You feel you can reach out and touch the mask, but of course there is glass in the way. Quite flimsy glass, if truth be told, but they are opening a new museum soon, and maybe the security will be better. We are still in the aftermath of Easter and still looking at the resurrection stories, and today we are looking at Luke. The two disciples, Cleopas and most probably his wife, have walked to Emmaus and have been accompanied by a stranger, who shares a meal with them. In breaking bread, they recognise that it is the Risen Lord, who has been accompanying them, setting their hearts on fire with his words. They hurry back to Jerusalem to share the good news with the other disciples, and that is when we start our reading today. They are in the process in recounting what had happened, when Jesus appears to them all. The risen Jesus stands among them and says Peace be with you. It is almost like a rerun of the story we read last week about Thomas from John’s gospel. The disciples seem at first confused and anxious, taking him to be a ghost and treating him like an exhibit. But there was no glass to separate him from them, and here in Luke they are able to touch him. Indeed, he invites them to do so. What’s more, he asks for something to eat and eats some fish. The Road to Emmaus story is one of my favourite in Scripture, but I always feel what we read today has been tacked on. Luke is trying to address concerns over whether Jesus actually rose from the dead or whether the disciples had visions. In this story Luke is stressing the physicality of the resurrection, for ghosts can’t be touched, ghosts cannot eat. Maybe it would have helped if Jesus came down a glitzy staircase from heaven and dazzled the disciples with resurrection power, but that wasn’t his way. He came still bearing the wounds from the cross. That is something that comes across so strongly. Jesus came to the disciples. They didn’t search out him. He came to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; he came to the disciples on the lakeshore; he came to them in the Upper room, as in our reading today. He came to them in familiar places, and he offered peace and forgiveness. He came to a group of bewildered people and offered new hope and new life. But then God comes to us in our familiar places, and embraces us as we are, loves us as we are and redeems us as we are. The disciples were made witnesses to say what they had heard and what they had seen and what they had experienced, and they testified to the flesh and blood Christ who rose from the dead, about how he had changed their lives. They went from that Upper Room and turned the world upside down, that group of ordinary people. We too are witnesses to Christ and empowered by the Spirit, we too have to share the wonders of God and the new life offered and so be an Easter people in our world. Hymn SGP 51 – On the hill of Calvary Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God our Maker, Source of Easter power and hope, You have walked with your faithful people through many generations, people facing challenge and uncertainty, people seeking your purpose and promise. We still face challenges and uncertainty, even with Easter in our hearts. Walk with us and with those for whom we pray for this day, so that your resurrecting power may lead us in lives of faithfulness. In the name of Christ our Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. We pray for children and young people who must think about the future in these uncertain times, facing threats new to this generation like the pandemic and climate change. Give them hope rooted in the knowledge that their lives matter to you. Show them how to make a difference in the world, whatever threats they face as they grow. In the name of Christ our Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. We pray for people for whom age or experience, illness or disability create barriers to full participation in your world. Surround each one in pain or despair with your comfort and renew in each one a sense of dignity and purpose. Show them how much they matter to you and to us. In the name of Christ our Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. We pray for all those facing grief and loss in these difficult days when it is still so hard to gather for support. Stay with those who must rearrange their lives without their beloved. Give them strength and comfort through your promise of resurrection. We continue to remember the Queen and the royal family at this time and all others who are mourning. We pray for communities challenged by forces beyond their control-- natural disaster, volcano eruption, political strife and the economic consequence of the pandemic. Give courage to those facing challenges, and wisdom to those who lead, so that well-being may be restored soon and hope for the future prevail. In the name of Christ our Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. As Earth Day approaches this week, we remember before you the struggles within your creation, creatures losing habitat, unique species dying out, oceans filled with plastic, the climate warming and the havoc that results for all of us. Jesus, you are the firstborn of all creation; Help us to honour you by caring for the earth and its fragile balances in the ways we live and the priorities we set. Amen Hymn 409 – Jesus is risen. Alleluia Benediction May God who is light shine in your darkness May God who is love be the love among you May God who is life be your life everlasting And may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always. Amen
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 Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this 2nd Sunday of Easter, what is traditionally been called ‘Low Sunday’, after the highs of Easter Day, and we focus on Thomas’ encounter with the risen Christ. Rev Ian Clark, assisted by Graeme and Elizabeth Watson, will lead the services on Sunday, so the service below will not correspond to their service.
Notices:
Call to Worship In worship and in prayers Jesus stands among us In the telling of stories and in signs Jesus stands among us In this place and in this moment Jesus stands among us in joy Hymn 415 – This joyful Eastertide Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of new life, we come to you, rejoicing in the mystery of the Risen Christ, present among us always, even when we least expect him. We marvel at your constant love, your victory over evil and death, and your resurrecting hope which embraces us in every circumstance. Trusting in these gifts, we seek to live as Easter people in every place and time. Strengthen us with the gift of your Holy Spirit in this time of worship, and bless us with your peace through Christ, our Risen Lord. Yet even as we delight in Easter’s promise, let us confess the ways we fail to live it out: Merciful God, we confess there are times when our trust in you weakens, and we become anxious about many things. We talk about love, but we are gripped by fear of those who differ from us. We cling to our personal agendas and forget you call us to live as a community of believers. Forgive us for seeking our own interests before the needs of others. Open our eyes to the many signs of your love for us. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, rekindle our passion for you, so we can work together to witness to your love. Hear the words of the risen Christ: Peace be with you. Receive the peace and forgiveness of Christ, and rejoice in his gift of new life this day and every day. Thanks be to God. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 4:32–35 John 20:19–31 Hymn SGP 7 – Alleluia, Alleluia Weekly Prayer Faithful God, we praise you for the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ from the dead. As Jesus stands among us now, we see the bodily marks of His saving love. May we live as those who believe in the triumph of the cross and that believing, we have life in His name. Amen Reflection Maybe it is an occupational hazard, but I like graveyards. I find it fascinating to go round and look at the old stones. Some have marvellous carvings on them, of angels or cross bones, and the inscriptions can tell us a lot about the history of the area. But as time goes on the inscriptions can be eroded, and so I was happy to find that a few of my members had gone round the churchyards in Roxburgh and Berwickshire, painstakingly cataloguing the graves. Easter is a time we think of graves, as Jesus was buried in a tomb, but the tomb couldn’t hold Jesus, and the stone blocking it was rolled away. Jesus had risen, and of course we celebrated that last Sunday on Easter Day. Mary encountered her risen Lord and ran to tell the disciples, He is risen! What would your reaction be? If you had been one of the disciples, you would have thought that the death of Jesus had affected Mary’s mind, that she was imagining things, though she seemed to speak with such conviction. Just as Jesus had been closed in the tomb, so the disciples had hidden themselves away and locked the door. They were terrified, probably justifiably, that they would be next, that they would be arrested. Mary’s assertion that she had met Jesus just added to the mix of their jumbled emotions. But in our reading today, Jesus suddenly stood among them. Locked doors or not, he was there. He spoke words of peace and he spoke words of forgiveness. They would have needed that, for they had deserted him and ran away; they had let him down when he needed them most. In their confusion, in their grief, with their whole world topsy-turvey, Jesus spoke words of peace. Just as we have been isolated and shut in our homes, Jesus still speaks his words of peace to us. Peace which is comforting, yes, but also the peace which is liberating. But one of the disciples was missing when Jesus appeared. Thomas wasn’t there. Maybe he was braver than his friends and had gone out for the shopping or to see the lie of the land, hear if they were liable to be arrested. We don’t know, but he wasn’t there. And when he was told that Jesus had appeared to his friends, he pooh-poohed the idea. Thomas the doubter, we call him, rather unfairly. I prefer to think of him as ‘Questioning Thomas’ and the patron saint of all the researchers carrying out work on the coronavirus, asking the questions to find ultimately a vaccine. We live in a world of fake news and social media, where we need to sift through to see what is true. Thomas can be our patron saint too, for I think that our faith is always strengthened by asking questions about what we believe. Jesus did appear again, though a week later. He shows Thomas the marks of the nails on his hands, the mark of the spear in his side. He still has the scars that speak of sacrifice and was the same Jesus who had been nailed to the cross, who was willing to die to show us the height and breadth and depth of God’s love. That means Christ can still speak to our wounded, suffering world today. Christ can still speak to us in our pain. Christ showed Thomas his wounds, and Thomas said ‘my Lord and my God’, one of the most heartfelt affirmations of faith we find in the Gospels. And from there the disciples became transformed into an Easter people, ready to turn the world upside down with their belief in the Risen Christ. We too are an Easter people ready with our questioning and with our faith to be as Christ to those around us at this challenging time. Hymn 432 – How often we like Thomas Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Generous God, we thank you for the hope and joy we find in your resurrecting power. Bless the gifts we bring so they may spread that hope and joy in the world you love. Thank you, loving God, for your renewing presence in our lives, and for all the many blessings we have in life. For family and for friendship, for shelter and for food. For medical care and local services. All the things we take for granted, but we are so grateful for them. We pray for those who are feeling fearful, worried or overwhelmed, especially as the months of pandemic restrictions stretch on. We pray for those who face violence and unrest each day, in countries around the world and at home in our own community, and we think of the unrest in Northern Ireland. We pray for our national and local leaders, especially at election time for the Scottish parliament. Be with all as they work for our communities to recover from the pandemic. We pray for our congregation, for churches in our community, and for Christians around the world, especially those who face persecution. We pray for our neighbours, especially for those who live in poverty and those who know rejection and discrimination. We pray for those who are ill, in pain or in grief. We remember before you, silently or aloud, those on our hearts today: (silence) Bring them comfort and strength, Lord Jesus, Reveal to them your risen presence. God our Maker, hear our prayers, and use us in ways we may not yet even imagine to respond to those around us with the love we see in Jesus Christ and the confidence we draw from his resurrection. Amen Hymn 404 – I danced in the morning Benediction Risen Christ, no tomb could hold you and no door could shut you out. Bless us with your presence and fill us with your peace. And may the blessing of God Almighty, the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and with those whom you love, wherever they may be, now and always. Amen  The Lord is risen.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. Come, people of God, let us worship together this Easter Day Notices:
Call to Worship Jesus was dead, laid in a tomb. But the stone is rolled away. Hallelujah Morning has broken, the tomb now empty. Hallelujah! Christ is risen! A new day has come, life not undone Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Come and worship, the Lord is here! Hymn 410 – Jesus Christ is risen today Prayers of Adoration and Confession Risen Lord, we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. We are the Easter people come to worship, released from tombs of pain and doubt and fear and death into the freedom of this new day, and its promise of hope fulfilled. We are the Easter people, Emerging into the brightness of faith, Blinking, questioning, wondering, hoping. Come to us, into the garden of our lives, and touch all that is barren, and wasted and dried with Your healing hand. Forgive our half-lived lives, our broken promises, and our failed kindness. Call to us by our name, that we might turn from all that limits and burdens us, and lift us up into forgiveness and freedom. Open the gateways of our hearts and minds, and call us out into Your world to be embraced by Your unfailing and renewing mercy. Today, in silence, prayer and song, may we encounter Jesus and His grace. For we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. Lord’s Prayer Talk – Fairtrade Easter Eggs Readings – Acts 10:34–43 John 20:1–18 Hymn 416 – Christ is alive Weekly Prayer Hallelujah Christ is Risen, and the power of His resurrection fills the world today with new life, hope and expectation and so we bring to Him our praise and worship. Faithful God, we join with your universal church celebrating the resurrection and unite with all believers trusting in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. May the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, be made known throughout our world. Amen Reflection Such is the scale of consumerism that enormous ships sail the seas to bring us goods and commodities from afar. But a gigantic ship skews itself in the Suez Canal, and world trade almost grinds to a halt. I am sure you were watching this story. Apparently a sandstorm, and probably human error too, played its part in the ship running aground and blocking the canal, stopping all the other ship from passing. Every day, with bated breath, we wondered what would happen, as experts arrived from round the world. Then at last on Monday evening, we heard the ship had been freed. Back to normal again, and there was a sense of relief. Certainly, after these long months of lockdown we need good news. But the vaccination programme is good news; restrictions seem to be easing, and that has brought smiles to the faces of TV presenters; and daffodils and forsythia are blooming, and it has given everyone a bit of a lift. And we have Easter – and Easter is the Good News story par excellence. For, as Peter told Cornelius and his family in our Acts reading, it is right at the heart of the Gospel message, and Gospel of course, means Good news. Going through the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, our emotions are wrung ragged, but think of the disciples, for them to see Jesus dying on the cross, they were absolutely devastated. But it is the women who go back to the tomb to anoint the body; and in John’s Gospel it is Mary Magdalene alone, who goes – maybe simply to be at the tomb, to feel the comfort of being close to the body. So Imagine how she must have felt to see the tomb gaping open, the stone blocking the entrance dislodged. Recently some of the stones in our cemeteries were pulled down to the upset of the villages. There is a similar thing here, and Mary in her distress runs to tell the disciples, and we have this strange race between Peter and John, to see who could get to the tomb first. But it is Mary who remains, who lingers at the tomb. There is a place in Jerusalem today called the Garden Tomb. Many pilgrims find it a deeply meaningful place, as there is a 1st century tomb there, like the one Jesus would have been laid in. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, and even though it is bang next to a bus station, it is a place of peace. The tomb would have been in a garden area, and when Mary hears someone behind her, she thinks it is the gardener, and it is only when he says her name, Mary, she realises with joy that it is Jesus. My Teacher, she says. There are two points here: firstly, the story of Adam and Eve was set in a garden, with humanity disobeying and falling away from God. But here in a garden, humanity rans to God and encounters the Risen Jesus, redeeming the world. But secondly, Jesus is standing behind Mary, waiting to be noticed. How long has Jesus been standing in our lives, in our churches, in our world, just waiting to be noticed? Jesus sees Mary in her distress and reassures her. Might it not be that Jesus, standing, is also seeing us this Easter Day? Then He says her name. Might it not be that Jesus, standing, and seeing us, might also say our name this Easter Day? The hymn we just heard has the verse, ‘Christ is alive, no longer bound to distant years in Palestine, but saving healing, here and now…’ The Risen Jesus is with us in the here and now, still ready to address our needs. Mary returns to the disciples and announces ‘I have seen the Lord!’ We take up her cry of faith and proclaim the one who has triumphed over death and sin and who offers good news to the world. We are an Easter people, and our song is Alleluia. Hymn 417 – Now the green blade riseth Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of Resurrecting Hope, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ, and what his gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. God of new beginnings, Break into your church with resurrecting power. Where congregations have drifted apart through months of distancing, re-energize the connections and commitment needed for ministry. Bless the Church throughout the world this Easter Day, and especially where your people are persecuted. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new possibilities, Break into our relationships with resurrecting power. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture and sustain them. Where they are marked by memories of hurt or current misunderstanding, refresh them with forgiveness and reconciliation. Where they are neglected or taken for granted, open eyes to the great gift we offer each other. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new opportunity, Break into the governance of your world with resurrecting power. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for justice, understanding and the equitable sharing of resources. Where the pandemic presents new problems and complicated decisions, bring wisdom, compassion and cooperation to all in authority. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new life, Break into situations of illness, pain, grief and loss with resurrecting power. Where there is sickness of body, mind, or spirit, bring healing and hope. Where people mourn the loss of relationships or dreams, bring comfort and courage to go on. Where those who serve and care and maintain our common life are exhausted, bring rest and renewal. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of Easter Day, In silence we bring before you the prayers of our hearts. Silence Resurrect, renew and revive our spirits. Hear our prayer. Amen Hymn 419 – Thine be the glory Benediction Go in peace to be the Easter people in the world and may the blessing of God, Creator, Son and Spirit, be with you, and among you, and go with you wherever you go, now and always. Amen  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. Come, people of God, let us worship together this Palm Sunday
Notices:
Good Friday – Yetholm at 2.30pm Easter Day – Yetholm at 10am and Morebattle at 11.15 Short podcasts for every day of Holy Week will be on the podcast page of the website, including the Maundy Thursday service. The exception will be Good Friday, when there a video of the actual service will be online in late afternoon.
Call to Worship This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Let palms wave, in high ‘hosannas.’ Let coats and cloaks create a path: the unloosed colt and untamed Rabbi ride, to usher in the coming kingdom. Hosanna, hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Let us worship God! Hymn 367 – Hosanna, loud hosanna (1,2) Prayers of Adoration and Confession Living God, how good it is to be in your house, how good it is to join with our sisters and brothers to worship you, especially on this holy day. As we step into Holy Week, open our hearts and minds to your love. May this coming week be holy for us. May we live this time, expecting that in some way you will meet us.In whatever way we live this week, give us the times and spaces to ponder again, that you know us and understand our suffering, especially our struggles over this past year of pandemic. Lord Jesus, you enter our lives humbly, Riding on a donkey, staying at our level, inviting our response. Circle our hearts, centre our minds, still our bodies. Be present to us now. God of compassion,we confess that like that crowd on the first Palm Sunday, we can be fickle and sometimes unintentionally allow ourselves to be dragged along by the views and thoughts of others without noticing the consequences that lead to death and not life.Forgive our fleeting enthusiasms and shallow commitments.As we witness again the story of Jesus confronting his enemies, strengthen our desire to follow him and serve you with courage like his. Jesus says, ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. Jesus brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. We are a forgiven people. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Psalm 118: 19–29 Mark 11:1–11 Blessing of Palm Crosses We thank you Lord for these palm crosses, A simple reminder of the love you showed for us. As we take them into our homes, May they remind us through this special week That you gave your life for us upon the cross. May they remind us of how deep and wide and high Is the love you have for us. As we take them into our homes, So may we take your love into our hearts And worship you as Saviour and King. And like the people on that first Palm Sunday, May we also cry ‘Hosanna, Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord’. Hymn MP 167 – Give me joy in my heart (3,4) Weekly Prayer Loving God as we remember the first Palm Sunday, we see Jesus who embodied meekness and majesty and we join with those exclaiming "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!" You are our God, and we give thanks again this day for your goodness, in the certain knowledge that your love endures forever. Amen Reflection How good it is to be back in church. I feel as if we should be having a party, a celebration, but of course, we can’t. Tuesday saw the anniversary of lockdown, and we have missed out on a lot over the year. Weddings, christenings, the various ridings and festivals. Who knows when they will take place again? But today is Palm Sunday, and we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem on the donkey to great acclaim. There was a carnival atmosphere to Palm Sunday, with shouts of Hosanna and the waving of branches, as the crowd gathered to see what was happening and to welcome one who, according to some, was the Messiah. It was Passover time, and pilgrims had gathered to celebrate the festival, a festival which reminded the Jews how their ancestors had been liberated from the oppressive rule of Pharaoh. The Romans were the power in charge of Palestine now, so they sent troops to ‘keep the peace’ and make sure the locals didn’t get any fresh ideas of liberation from the oppressive Romans. They didn’t like the idea of crowds! And so on Palm Sunday, there were probably two processions. The first, from the Roman capital of Caesarea on the coast: a cavalry of elite troops, with war horses and weapons and banners, riding to Jerusalem as a show of strength. And the other procession – well, it was the ragtag group, with a man on a donkey, and the crowd waving palms and laying out their cloaks. Two parades – one of military might: the other a mere protest. But of course, it was more. It was drama. Jesus was enacting a prophecy from Zechariah and alluding to Psalm 118. By riding on a donkey, he was making a statement, that his way was not one power and oppression, but one of peace and compassion. And so, this was a clash of two kingdoms – the kingdom of Caesar or the kingdom of God, and the people had to make their choice. Palm Sunday is the beginning of the final confrontation, and we have to ask ourselves which parade do we want to be part of. If we align ourselves with Jesus, then we have to be prepared to travel with him through this week. We have to join him in the Upper Room, where he talks of betrayal and denial and humble service, as he shares a meal, he points to a broken body and shed blood. We have to join him in the garden of Gethsemane, as he prays that the cup is taken away from him and watch as he is arrested and led away. We have to join him at the trial where the cries of Hosanna will be drowned out by the cries of Crucify. We will follow to the cross, where the same crowd who witnessed the procession, will now witness an execution. It is so easy to jump from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, ‘Hosanna’ to ‘He is Risen’, but if we follow Jesus, we have to go through all of Holy Week. Do we align ourselves with the one who makes himself known in vulnerability rather than might, who rides a donkey and not a war-horse, whose greatest victory is not on the battlefield but on the Cross and empty tomb? So, let us choose which parade we follow. Palm Sunday reminds us that suffering and hope travel together. We place our hope in Jesus, the one who walks alongside us, who has walked the way of the cross and who moves us from suffering to salvation, from death to life everlasting. Hymn 399 – My song is love unknown (1,3,7) Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of justice, in a world that continues to tell the tired old story that might is right, we give you thanks that, in Jesus, you have shown a new and different way— that real strength is found in vulnerability and through self-giving acts of humble service. We pray for those in positions of power— for heads of state, and for those who serve in government at local and national level, that they govern wisely and well, and with integrity, putting the needs of constituents and country above their own desires. We pray for people who live under the heel of oppressive regimes, for countries where lawlessness has replaced the rule of law, for places where human wrongs are the order of the day, not human rights. We remember the ones forced to flee their homelands for daring to speak truth to power, or who are discriminated against because of their faith, gender, orientation, or the colour of their skin. Lord, may your kingdom come where justice is mixed with mercy. God of compassion, in a world that is riddled with compassion fatigue we give you thanks that you take us by the hand and keep us. We pray for the most vulnerable in our communities, those who have been bruised by life, those for whom hope has gone, who see only darkness and despair. We pray for those who are ill and especially we bring before you those affected by the COVID-19 virus, and those who tend to them. Give comfort to all who wait and watch, to those who are weary and overwhelmed, and to those who are walking the way of grief. Lord, may your kingdom come where compassion is a by-word, and no-one is left without care. In a moment of quiet prayer, we bring before you all who are on our minds and in our hearts at this time, and we pray for our own particular needs God, who makes all things new, we offer you these, our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen Hymn 365 - Ride on, ride on in majesty Benediction Go into Holy Week, walking in the footsteps of Christ and may the blessing of God, Creator, Guide and Inspirer, rest and remain with you, now and forevermore. Amen  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Fifth Sunday of Lent, sometimes called Passion Sunday or, in the North East of England, Carling Sunday.
Notices:
Call to Worship We’ve come to worship God, who loved us before we were yet born, who knows us even better than we know ourselves, whose presence never leaves us, and whose love for us never ceases. This is our God. Let’s worship together! Hymn 184 – Sing to the Lord a joyful song Prayers of Adoration and Confession Creating God, With springtime sun and the promise of new life, you wake us from our slumbers. We glorify your name for you are faithful to us through every season of the year and every season of life. We are grateful for your patience and persistence, drawing near to us even through the times we cannot draw near each other. You promise us hope in Jesus Christ, drawing life out of the grip of death. Even as his cross looms on the horizon in this season of Lent, we praise you for Jesus’ courage and compassion which bring renewal to us in the midst of our challenges. We praise you for the love that never lets us go. Jesus, our friend and Saviour, As we ponder your sacrifice, we recognize the self-centred ways in which we lead our lives. You entrust us with the task of sharing your love in this world, yet we often we fall short. We get lost in our own plans and worries and neglect to show love, even to those right beside us. Forgive us, Lord Jesus. Renew a right spirit within us, so that we find the courage to go on and the compassion to reach out in your name. Jesus said, come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Friends, trust that peace and forgiveness are God’s gifts to you this day. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Jeremiah 31:31–34 John 12:20–33 Hymn 224 – The Spring has come Weekly Prayer Loving God, we ask you to put your law in our minds and write it on our hearts as we join in our worship together. Help us remember that you do infinitely more for us than we can ask or imagine. Hear our prayers for all your creation and gather us in the embrace of your abundant and life-giving Spirit. Help us to serve and follow you. Amen Reflection Having returned from living abroad for so many years, I was aware that some things in British culture had just passed me by. One of them was just how many people had tattoos. Sportspeople in particular seem to have the most wonderful designs on their arms and legs, a lot of which seems to be Maori in origin. A friend of mine in Israel, a young Palestinian, had his back tattooed with a cross; it was part of his identity as a Christian. But it was in Egypt that I became most aware of tattoos, as all the Christians were expected to have a cross tattooed onto their wrist as young children. It was a sign of identity, though it also marked them out, and they faced discrimination over education and jobs. I was very tempted to have a small cross tattooed on the base of my thumb, but it didn’t happen. In Isaiah 49, The prophet speaks of God never being able to forget us and having our names written on the palm of God’s hands. Some divine body art! But it is incredibly comforting to us. However, in Jeremiah, we read of the new covenant which would be inscribed, not on tablets of stone, but on our hearts. God had made the covenant with the people on Mount Sinai and had given them the way to live as a community of God’s people, but again and again they had broken the rules and turned their backs on the covenant. They kept saying that they would mend their ways, but their promises were hollow. But at the crisis through which Jeremiah lived, when Babylon had captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, the prophet said, ‘Enough is enough’. He said that God was making a radical new covenant, which would be written in the people’s hearts, so that living out God’s commandments would be natural. As Christians we see the fulfilment of this promise in Jesus. In our Gospel reading today from John, events are coming to a head. It is Passover time, a very spiritual, emotional time, and many pilgrims had come to Jerusalem, from within the country but also from overseas, including some Greeks. Maybe they were attracted to Judaism because of its morality and its worship of one God, maybe they were tourists. But they had heard of Jesus and wanted to meet this celebrity who had turned water into wine, healed the sick and was even reported to have brought his friend Lazarus from the dead. They approached the two disciples with Greek sounding names, Philip and Andrew, and got their entry. I don’t know what they expected, but Jesus launched into a theological discourse, saying that a seed has first to die in the ground before it can grow stronger than ever. Jesus was saying that he would need to be lifted up on the cross and die in order to be glorified, but also in order to bring new life to all. We too have to let old ways of doing things die in order to move on and progress. This Covid crisis will force us to do things differently in the future, a ‘new normal’, but that is not something to dread, but a positive, like Jeremiah at a crisis time moving the people forward with his talk of the new covenant. Like the disciples, who would have been happy keeping the status quo with Jesus for ever, but through his death and resurrection they were given the gift of the Spirit and moved on to bring the church to birth. Like the disciples we have to let go of our prejudices or even our old way of thinking, in order to be allowed to grow and be re-energised and continue the building of the kingdom. Hymn 356 – Meekness and majesty Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of growth and new life, with our gifts we offer you our thanks and praise for the promise of spring and the promise of resurrection in Christ Jesus. Bless our gifts and through them, accomplish more than we can ask or imagine, as they bear fruit in the world you love, through Christ, our Lord. We pray for the world and remember those who are vulnerable and frightened to leave their homes for fear of street crimes, and we pray for the time to come when violence will be no more and all will live in security and safety. Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven. We remember those who have suffered abuse at the hands of friend or stranger, and who bear the scars physical, mental and emotional, we pray for the time when all women and all men will respect each other, and where children will not fear violence or abuse. Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven. We remember those whose human rights are ignored, those used as political pawns in disputes between nations, those who live in constant fear of the bomb or the bullet, and we especially remember for the people of Myanmar and Yemen and Syria on the 10th anniversary of the start of the unrest there. We pray for the time when peace will reign throughout the world. Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven. We remember those who are alone and isolated, those who mourn, those who are ill and those who look after loved ones, and as we especially remember… we pray for the time when there will be no more pain or tears and when all will live in full community. Your kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Loving Lord, as we look upon each other may we see your image which we all share; may we love as we are loved, and may we welcome as we have been welcomed by you. In your name we pray. Amen Hymn 555 – Amazing Grace Benediction Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. With that confidence and in that hope, let us go in peace to love and to serve the Lord all the days of our lives. And so may the grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of God and the companionship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always, Amen  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday.
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Call to Worship Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good God’s love endures forever God gathers the people from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south Let us thank the Lord for such all-embracing love. Hymn 118 – Womb of life Prayers of Adoration and Confession Gracious God,Great and wonderful are your works!Where there is darkness, you bring light.Where there is sadness, you speak words of hope.Where there is despair, you bring new possibilities.Stir us with your Spirit, O God, in this time of worship.Awaken a sense of joy and reverence within usas we offer you our songs and our silence, our prayers and praises, for you are our God. Mothering God, embrace us in your fierce love,Enfold us in your protective care, Calm our anxious worrying and quieten our teeming minds. Still us, body, mind and spirit, to rest in you. Merciful God,Even as we praise you, we are aware of our failures as your disciples.We take your love and acceptance of us for granted.We are often careless with our relationships,more focused on ourselves than on you or those around us.Forgive us.Awaken our spirit of commitment and compassion,so we may serve you more faithfully, day by day. Friends in Christ, by grace we have been saved through faith. Know that God forgives you, and forgive one another. So may the peace of Christ be with you Lord’s Prayer Readings – Numbers 21:4–9 John 3:14–21 Hymn 597 – Loving Spirit Weekly Prayer Father God, on this Mothering Sunday we remember that from the cross your only Son Jesus entrusted Mary his mother and John his disciple to each other’s care. As we look again at the cross help us to see Jesus lifted up encouraging us all to "Look and Live". Help us also to care for one another and fill our homes with the spirit of your love. Amen Reflection There is one thing everyone has been talking about this week – THE Interview. Oprah Winfrey interviewing Harry and Meghan. We will all have our different opinions about it, but I found it so tremendously sad, for it was about family tensions being exposed, a family being torn apart, and that is never nice to see. Today is Mothering Sunday, when we celebrate family life, and especially our mothers. We thank God for their nurture of us, as they fed and clothed us and left their mark on us, though we are also conscious that some may have lost their mothers too early. But Mothering Sunday also invites us to reflect upon the place of the Church as our mother, as the church nurtures us in the faith. It is life long journey, but my mind goes to my time in Zambia, when an important stage of the Church’s nurture was the ‘catechumen class’, the communicant class, when people joined the church. In Zambia these classes were big and long, often lasting 6 months, for there were 36 lessons to cover, and each lesson had a ‘memory verse’ to memorise for the following week. The ‘verse’ could be to learn the 66 books of the Bible in order or in most cases could be just a verse, but the favourite verse was John 3: 16 – ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have life everlasting’. Everyone in Zambia, whatever their denomination, could quote that verse. It is a wonderful verse and tells of a God who loves and cherishes the world so much and is willing to sacrifice that we might know God and have eternal life. It is talking of a God who is a parent, who is both Father and Mother to us In Hosea 11, the prophet speaks of God’s love for Israel. ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him. It was I who taught them to walk, who took them in my arms, who drew them with bands of love and raised them to my cheek’. It is God who is talking and we can hear the maternal and paternal imagery, like a mother embracing a child, a father raising them up on shoulders. But the child Israel goes their own way, makes their own choices. But God as parent is waiting and says in Hosea, ‘How can I give you up. My heart is overwhelmed’. Regardless of what Israel had done, God’s love was boundless. It speaks of our situation, for too often we rely on our own strength and think we know best. Like the prodigal son, we go our own way, but God as parent is waiting for us and still loves us – and is willing to sacrifice for us. As we continue through Lent and draw closer to Holy Week, we remember the sacrifice God made for us in Jesus and how he took up the cross and died out of love for us at Calvary, raised high on the cross and, like the bronze serpent in that strange story in Numbers, heals and saves us. We pray that all unhappy families may be healed and reconciled, but today celebrate a mother’s love and celebrate God’s love for us which embraces us. Let us respond in a life of service and care. Hymn 465 – Be thou my vision Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Creator God, on this Mothering Sunday we give thanks for all mothers and for the gift of life. We pause for a moment and hold our own mothers or those who mothered us before you….. We thank you for the loving gift of mothers. All shall be well, all shall be well And all manner of thing shall be well We pray for all orphans or those who have lost their mothers or a parent too soon. We pray for all who are parenting children and who feel overwhelmed or who are struggling to cope: For those who find today a difficult day; For families which have separated; For adoptive or foster parents and step-parents and those seeking to build up new relationships; For those who have longed for a child. All shall be well, all shall be well And all manner of thing shall be well We pray for parents struggling to feed their families, for those who live with conflict, violence or fear and those who have had to flee their homes. We thank God for families where children are well and happy and full of life. On this Mothering Sunday, we give thanks for our Mother Church; for our experience of being loved by a family that is as wide and broad as the human race. Creator God we thank you for always holding us in the palm of your hand. Silence All shall be well, all shall be well And all manner of thing shall be well Amen Hymn 644 – O Jesus, I have promised Benediction May the Lord whose steadfast love is constant as a mother's care send us out to live and work for others and may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and those whom you love and those we are called to love, for evermore. Amen.  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Third Sunday of Lent.
Notices:
Passcode: 914288
Call to Worship The heavens are telling out the glory of God The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork. The law of the Lord revives the soul May God’s teaching bring wisdom in our worship Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord You are our rock and redeemer, and we praise you. Hymn 198 – Let us build a house Prayers of Adoration and Confession Almighty God, you have set the whirling cosmos in motion and called all creatures into being. All that exists speaks of your majesty, yet no detail misses your care and attention. You know each of us by name, and make yourself known to those who seek you. Your wisdom delights the heart and purifies the soul. We gather to enjoy your presence with us, and to listen for your Word for our times and our lives. God, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, to you alone all worship, honour and glory are due, this day and every day, now and always. God of majesty and mercy, we are aware that you are present here and everywhere, drawing near to us. Yet we confess we are often distracted from your presence. Many things compete for our attention. We are tempted to seek things that cannot truly satisfy. We envy those who are successful in the world’s terms, and so pursue our own desires, without questioning the cost to the earth or those in need. Forgive us, O God. Brothers and sisters in Christ, here is the good news: God loves and values us and forgives what is past. Trust in your hearts the promise of new life and proclaim with your lips the goodness of God. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Exodus 20:1–17 John 2:13–22 Hymn 253 – Inspired by love and anger Weekly Prayer Holy God, during this period of Lent, please give us a new awareness of your presence in our Cheviot Church community and help us to live by the values of the Ten Commandments; not forgetting Jesus' commandment to love one another, and hold sacred our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Amen Reflection Over this last year, we have had a new set of rules to keep. Rules relating to the Covid pandemic: keeping a distance, washing our hands, wearing a face mask, how many people we can meet. These rules have changed over the months; some of us have kept them very strictly, while others have maybe had little lapses, but they have been very much there for our safety. Yes, many of us long to meet up with family or go on holiday, but we realise the rules are there for the good of everyone. In our first reading today we read about another set of rules – the 10 commandments. The Israelites had just escaped from Egypt, and God is setting the boundaries and providing the framework of how they would live as a society. In Egypt they would have been used to lots of different gods. If you were wanting good weather for your garden, for example, you would go to one god; if having a baby, you would go to another. But in the 10 commandments, God starts by stating quite categorically that there is only one God and one alone. Then there are rules for how to relate to God – not to make idols, and so on- and how to relate to one another – don’t kill, don’t steal and so on. They were giving a vision of what society should be like and how to shape our relationships with God and with one another, and as such they were life-giving, they were something positive and for the good of all. The Israelites would use them as a basis to build their society, as they are the basis for our society today. Of course, over the years these 10 commandments were developed to cover all sort of situations the Israelites might find themselves in, and the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy contain many more laws. In time, as the Israelites settled, the worship of God became centred on the temple in Jerusalem, where sacrifices were made, and there were rules about what to sacrifice and when. The Temple should have been a place where people could feel close to God; so often in travelling round the country pre-Covid, I loved to drop into churches, and they sanctuaries of peace and tranquillity. But in our Gospel reading, we find that this was not the case when Jesus went to the Temple in John’s Gospel. It was like a market place, full of the clamour of buying and selling. There were various booths, changing money into Temple currency and selling animals and birds for the various sacrifices. In seeing it, Jesus was filled with righteous anger, that God’s house should be defiled in this way, and he proceeded to overturn their tables and drive them out. It always strikes me as out of character with the picture we have of Jesus, but he felt strongly that God was being dishonoured. Similarly, there are so many injustices in our world, and over the centuries and indeed today many Christians have channelled their frustration with injustice to reform society and keep it more in line with the vision of Christ’s kingdom. In our opening hymn we sang of building a house where love can dwell, where peace and justice meet and where there is an end to fear and danger, where all are welcome. So let us live our lives, seeking to live out Christ’s commandments and build a society where love and respect and compassion hold sway. Hymn 755 – Be still and know that I am God Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Receive our gifts, Generous God, as an expression of our commitment to you and your ministry. Bless them, and use all that we can give to offer hope and healing in the world you love. Loving God, we thank you for the world you created and the opportunities we have to enjoy its beauty and its life sustaining promise. When we find occasions to breathe in fresh air and exercise outdoors, remind us of our partnership with you to care for creation. As spring comes closer and the sun shines longer each day, reawaken our hope in your promise of new life to sustain us as the weeks of the pandemic stretch on. Ever present God, we thank you for walking with us through days of uncertainty as well as times of pleasure and satisfaction. In times of risk and stress, you provide a still point of calm. In times of challenge, you are the source of courage and confidence for us. This day we pray for those who are struggling with the isolation and frustration the pandemic means for so many. Bring them peace and patience with your love. We pray for churches whose common life has been changed so much by months of pandemic rules. Keep us strong in faith and fellowship, so that we may serve as agents of healing and hope in our communities. We pray for our nation and the nations of this world. May leaders confront the challenges of this time with courage, wisdom and compassion. We pray for the Scottish parliament at this time of political tensions. We also pray for Vanuatu in the Pacific, featured in the World Day of Prayer and pray for the people in Myanmar and Yemen and the Uighurs in China. Grant them peace and security. And we pray for all those who are enduring pain and illness, those who are facing grief and loss. Be their comfort and encouragement day by day. Lord of all in need, we bring to you the prayers of our hearts. We commend to you those about whom we are especially concerned, praying for… Silence Amen Hymn 510 – Jesus calls us here to meet him Benediction May the peace of God, which is beyond our utmost understanding keep your hearts and thoughts in the knowledge and love of Christ, and may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and those whom you love and those we are called to love, for evermore. Amen  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Second Sunday of Lent.
Notices: As we are all aware, we are in lockdown, and all churches are closed, though we have had a glimmer of hope this week. The podcast and video are available online. If anyone needs a printed copy of the service, please get in touch with Susan or Colin.
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Call to Worship We gather to worship the Lord our God, the maker of the stars, the one who calls us to follow. We gather united in our love for God and offer this time of worship. Hymn 482 – Come, let us to the Lord our God Prayers of Adoration and Confession Loving and holy God, Our Creator, Christ, and Guide, you speak the words of life to us. In you we find our hearts’ desire; by your grace we are saved. When the way forward is unclear, you shed light. When we are troubled, you give peace. When times are difficult, you stir courage and hope. Our deepest longing is to know you, and to be known by you. In these difficult days, we praise you for your faithfulness to us. Draw near to us in our time of worship, O God, and open the way before us, so that we may follow Jesus without wavering, trusting him to lead us. Although following you brings joy, O God, we confess the way is sometimes hard for us. There are times we get tired and would eagerly settle for an easier road. Some days we find the task of loving others hard. Sometimes we choose anger over forgiveness, or ignore the needs of our neighbours. Forgive us when our commitment to you wavers. Forgive us when we take that easier path. Stir the embers of our devotion and kindle a brighter flame. Strengthen our determination to follow where you lead and renew our energy to serve in Jesus’ name. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. By grace, we are forgiven and set free to find new life in Christ. Thanks be to God! Lord’s Prayer Readings – Genesis 17: 1-7.15-16 Mark 8: 31-8 Hymn 402 – Take up thy cross Weekly Prayer Loving God as you revealed yourself to Abraham in ancient days, reveal yourself to us in this present age. Make us into a faithful people ready to believe your promises. May we never be ashamed to take up our cross and follow you wherever you will lead us. Amen Reflection As you might expect, I have a number of crosses in my house. There is a Palm cross from the cathedral in Alexandria, which I bought just hours before it was bombed. I also have a wooden cross made by a refugee from Eritrea and a more decorative cross from a monastery in Egypt. I did have an Iona Cross, but must have given it away at some point. Some people have crosses they can hold in their hand; others have crosses they can wear round their necks. In fact, it rather became a fashion statement to wear a cross or even have a cross tattooed on your arm, and not necessarily for any religious significance. Of course, the cross has immense significance for us as Christians – Jesus died on the cross. But for people like the disciples living in 1st century Palestine, the cross was something to be feared. It was a gruesome symbol of execution; a thing of pain and shame and torture, a thing of death. And so when Jesus told the disciples to take up their cross and follow him, he was saying something profoundly shocking. Peter had been having his day in the sun. Jesus had asked them who people said he was, and Peter had replied, ‘the Messiah’ – the right answer. He was pleased with himself, top of the class! But it didn’t last, for when Jesus told them that, as the Messiah, he must suffer and die, Peter remonstrated with him. ‘Everything is fine, the people love you. What is all this talk of death?’ But Jesus put him firmly in his place and said that whoever wanted to follow him, must deny themselves and take up their cross. In other words, to be a follower of Christ would not always be easy, for it means a life of total service, as the Queen talked about earlier this week. There are no half-hearted measures. There would be many challenges but the disciples needed to learn to trust in God. ‘We all have our crosses to bear’ is a common phrase. Sometimes it refers to a long-term illness or to a neighbour or even a family member. It should be said quite strongly, however, that God doesn’t want any of us to suffer or be in abusive situations. But as human beings we can find ourselves in such situations, but can be given the inner resources to cope and even be strengthened. Earlier in the week I read an article about one of the Chibok girls. 270 mainly Christian students were kidnapped from Chibok boarding school in Nigeria by Boko Haram. Many are still held captive, but over the years, others escaped or were freed. Many were forced to convert to Islam, but the one I read about had refused and with her friends continued to pray and resist where she could, until ultimately she was released. In a difficult situation, she was given strength to cope – and to prevail. In our Genesis reading, Abram and Sarai had wealth and status, but what they didn’t have was a child. God had called them to leave their home town, promising that they would be parents of a great nation. God kept repeating this promise, but nothing seemed to happen. They were getting older, and took matters into their own hands, and Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by Sarai’s maid. In Chapter 17 God repeats the promise, and as a sign the promise would be kept, their names were changed to Sarah and Abraham. They had to learn to trust in God – and with the birth of Isaac, God fulfilled the promise. We are called into God’s service. It is a high privilege, but it is never an easy ride— and that is something to remember as the church finds itself in a new phase of its collective life, as restrictions are hopefully eased. But in all things, we put our trust in God and in God’s promises. Hymn 180 – Give thanks Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Lord Jesus, you challenge all your followers to give like you did, without counting the cost. Receive our gifts and bless them so that they may continue your ministry of healing in this hurting world. Bless us with your courage, so our lives speak to others of our love for you and for them. Loving God, we thank you for the vision you have for our lives, the promises you have made to us, and the journey you open before us. Today we remember with gratitude: The ways our lives are held secure in uncertain times by our trust in you; Moments in these months of pandemic that made us laugh or smile; Moments when we felt your gifts of courage and patience; The people who love us and give us encouragement; Gracious God, we are grateful for all these signs of your love in our lives. Thank you for the hope they bring us. Show us how to share this hope and love with others who are struggling in these difficult days. Faithful God, we pray for healing and restoration in the world We pray for people, places and situations deeply in need of your grace, especially as they face the fears and frustrations of coping with COVID-19; We pray for those who struggle to feed, clothe or house themselves and their families, and all those who worry about their economic future. We pray for the earth and its well-being, that areas and species under threat will be cared for; We pray for peace with justice in regions of the world facing turmoil: And we pray for all those offering leadership and service in these times of hope and anxiety; for those planning how to offer vaccines in our community, and for those uncertain about vaccination. May we be mindful of countries yet to begin vaccination, and countries who cannot afford the vaccines, and we ask that governments would enable fair distribution. When we begin to emerge from crisis, may we work to build a better world where the poorest are protected. O Christ, the Master Carpenter, who at the last through wood and nails purchased our whole salvation; wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your work bench may be fashioned to a truer beauty by your hand. Amen. Hymn 167 – Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Benediction Go in peace to walk the Way of Christ, sharing the Messiah’s good news, prepared to take up your cross, and to be God’s people, and may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and those whom you love and those we are called to love, for evermore. Amen  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this First Sunday of Lent.
Notices:
Call to Worship We begin our journey through Lent. Aware of God’s presence with us on the way. We come to find light in the shadows And strength in our weakness. We seek God’s mercy step by step, day by day. So let us worship God with grateful hearts! Hymn 153 – Great is thy faithfulness Prayers of Adoration and Confession Good and gracious God,Creator of storms and sunshine,of the sun and moon and stars,Maker of rainbows and raindrops,of all that is in the heavens and the earth,we praise you for the beauty of the created world,and for the hope of life with you now and always.We praise you for your faithfulness and loving kindness throughout all generations,for your compassion and redemption revealed to us in Christ Jesus.Receive our prayer and praise this day and teach us how to live by your love. O God, you made a covenant with us in faithfulness,but we confess we are not always so faithful to you.We grow tired and restless when things don’t go our way. We lose patience with others.We lack compassion for our neighbours in need,and even forget to express our love for those closest to us.Forgive us, gracious God.Lead us in the way we should go.Make us prisms of your love, making rainbows of your light, creating beauty and deepening hope wherever we go. Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid. I love you. You are forgiven. Go sin no more’ Lord’s Prayer Readings – Genesis 9: 8-17 Mark 1: 9-15 Hymn 5 – O Lord, O Lord (Psalm 10) Weekly Prayer Gracious God, help us to see this time of Lent as an opportunity to develop our discipleship and discipline. As your Son Jesus showed us how to reject temptation, fill us with grace to be faithful to his example. His baptism brought you pleasure and may you be pleased with us too as we seek to serve you and each other. Thank you for the rainbow reminding us of your promise. Amen Reflection One image associated with this pandemic, especially the first lockdown, has been the rainbow. You saw paintings of rainbows were everywhere -on windows, even on buses - as both a sign of support for the NHS, but also as a sign of hope that all would not be lost and that healing would come. The rainbow has always been an incredibly positive image and, with its different colours merging into each other, has been a sign of inclusion and welcome, and it was never a surprise that South Africans were called a ‘rainbow people’, as they came together after the horrors of apartheid. We read today the conclusion of the Flood story from Genesis. It is a story loved by children with its rainbow and all the animals going into the ark two by two. But it is a horror story really, as God realises just how flawed humanity is and decides to destroy the earth – But God sees that Noah is a righteous man, so he and his family and all the various animals escape the flood, safely in the ark. But when the floods abate, and they come out of the ark to make a new beginning, God makes a covenant, never again to destroy the earth. It was an agreement made, not just with Noah but with all creation; it was universal and unconditional, no strings attached. The rainbow was a sign of this covenant. It is a sign of a new beginning, a sign of hope and also of commitment. The commitment that God remembers us and is on our side. Even though Noah and his family were to prove to be as flawed as the others, God was still on our side, on the earth’s side, and nothing would change it, for the covenant was made. God is on our side, and that is the message from the Gospel as well. This is the first Sunday in Lent, and traditionally we look at the story of the temptations in the desert. Matthew and Luke go to town and give us a lot of detail of Jesus’ struggle with Satan. But Mark’s account is so spare – just a couple of sentences. The desert was a hostile environment, where nothing grew, where there was hardly any water; you wouldn’t volunteer to go there. But also, there were no distractions. Today we find it difficult to go anywhere without distractions. We become so used to having a mobile phone with messages pinging, even from the other side of the world. It was a good place, therefore, for Jesus to go to wrestle with what lay ahead, to prepare himself for his ministry. That involved a lot of inward struggle, but Mark tells us two things: Firstly, that the wild animals were with him. If a wild animal was near us, we would be very wary, if not terrified. But we don’t get that impression here; it is as if the vision of Isaiah is restored, with the lion lying down with the lamb. In fact, in several of the monasteries of the Middle east there are traditions of monks befriending lions by plucking a thorn from their paw, and the lions not leaving their side. But the other thing Mark tells us is that the angels were also with Jesus, ministering to him. Jesus was in this very hostile environment, but he wasn’t alone. We certainly have our trials and tribulations at present time, but just as Jesus was supported in the desert, so we are not alone, but God is a God who is committed to us and who always remembers us and wants the best for us – and the rainbow is the sign of that. Hymn 191 – Do not be afraid Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession As we enter into this holy season, Lord God, we give you thanks for your promise of new life that sustains us, especially as these months of pandemic stretch on. We thank you: For tiny signs of hope, even in a bleak landscape or on challenging day; For glimpses of beauty in a smile or a ray of sunshine; For scientific achievements that ease suffering in this time of pandemic; For the people who support and serve others in times of weakness or loss; For the chance to recover from mistakes, to begin again. Lord of life, sustain us with your presence and give us patience and perseverance as we await the future with you. Trusting your promise of new life, it is with hope that we pray: For anyone we have hurt by harsh words or careless deeds; (Hold a silence) For those known to us who are carrying heavy burdens; (Hold a silence) For those we work with or see daily; (Hold a silence) For all who are seeking employment or worry about their businesses; (Hold a silence) For teachers, students and school heads managing so many challenges this year; (Hold a silence) For troubled places in our world and those who work for reconciliation and understanding; (Hold a silence) For countries yet to begin vaccination, and countries who cannot afford the vaccines (Hold silence) For our congregation and all churches seeking new ways to minister in these months of distancing from each other; (Hold a silence) For the sick and those who mourn (Hold a silence) Renew our health and hope for the future you will bring us through the courage and compassion of Christ our Lord, Amen Hymn 513 – Courage brother Benediction May the mystery of God enfold us, may the wisdom of God uphold us, may the fragrance of God be around us, may the brightness of God surround us, may the wonder of God renew us, may the loving of God flow through us, may the peace of God deeply move us, may the moving of God bring us peace  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Transfiguration Sunday
Notices:
Call to Worship God said, “Let light shine in the darkness!” Lord, shine your light into our lives. We see the glory of God in the face of Christ. The light of Christ is with us day by day. Let us follow the light of Christ together. Let us worship God with thanks and praise. Hymn 35 – O send thy light forth and thy truth Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of grace and glory, to this worried world, you reveal your presence in radiant glory and in gentle whispers, on mountain tops and in shadowed valleys, in classrooms and hospital beds, in homes and churches, in the quiet of nature and on busy streets. Yours is the presence that pushes past our fear to calm us; yours is the love that transforms our doubt with reassurance. We come to dwell in your goodness and offer you the praise you deserve. God of mercy and forgiveness, we confess that many things keep us from trusting fully in your love. We are often distracted by our own desires and disappointments. We cling to anger and resentment. We fear for the future rather than seek signs of hope. Forgive us. Shine your love upon us so that your glory may be seen in us, and give us courage to follow Jesus wherever he leads, for we pray in his name. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God. in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – 2 Kings 2: 1-12 Mark 9: 2-9 Hymn 557 – O love that wilt not let me go Weekly Prayer Almighty God, at the Transfiguration you showed Jesus in a new state of glory. In our worship together help us to get a glimpse of your heavenly kingdom as well as a deeper understanding of how your son, Jesus, can transfigure our broken and unfulfilled lives. Be with us as we move into the coming week, with our eyes fixed on Jesus only. Amen Reflection It has been marvellous this week to look out at the hills covered in snow, though maybe it was more difficult for those needing to make essential journeys, like going to be vaccinated. We live in a beautiful part of the world. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are reputed to have gone for a hike in such countryside and come the evening, they took out their tent and camped. At some point during the night, Holmes woke Watson and said, ‘Look up. What do you see?’ ‘Millions of stars’, Watson replied. ‘What do you deduce from that?’, Holmes asked. Watson answered, ‘If there are so many planets, perhaps there is one like Earth and there could be life’. Holmes looked at him in exasperation and said ‘Watson…it means somebody stole our tent!’ Sometimes we just don’t see what is in front of us, though I must admit a sympathy with Watson. Like him, the disciples in our reading from Mark failed to understand fully what was before them, when Jesus took them up the mountain. But then the story of the Transfiguration is a difficult one for us too, with talk of Jesus’ clothes becoming dazzling white and with the appearance of the two heroes from the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses and Elijah. Like Moses at the Burning bush or Elijah and the Chariot of Fire, the Transfiguration is beyond our normal experience, but then it maybe speak to us of times when we are taken out of ourselves, when we are up a mountain or in a great cathedral or beside the sea, and we have the wow factor, or we simply feel close to God. The Transfiguration was a turning point. Just before it, Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, but then when Jesus had explained that he had to suffer, the disciples just couldn’t get their heads around it. They needed to have the mountaintop experience, to see Jesus in glory with Moses and Elijah beside him, representing the Law and the Prophets; they needed to hear the voice from heaven affirming Jesus as the beloved son. It was so much to take in, and perhaps that is why Peter suggests they build shelters and stay forever. When we have that ‘wow’ moment, we want to make it last, but often it is too fleeting. So it was with the disciples. The disciples needed that time on the mountain and maybe Jesus did too, knowing that the way ahead meant suffering and even death. But Jesus chose to come down the mountain: down to the crowds and their demands for healing; down to the religious problems of the day, the rivalries and jealousies; down to where the other disciples were and down to where we are; down to the discouragements; down to the frustrations of pandemic. Down to the way that led to the Cross. Jesus came down the mountain. That is at the heart of Christian faith, for God in Christ came down to be with us and for us, to walk alongside us, that we might know God and have life in abundance. It is always good to have the wow moments, but we too need to come down the mountain, but we find ourselves in the company of Christ, who cares for us, all our ups and downs, hopes and dreams – and, as the hymn says, doesn’t let us go. Hymn 448 – Lord the light of your love is shining Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession God of life and love, receive our gifts as tokens of our love. Bless them so they strengthen the service of love we undertake in Jesus’ name. May our lives shine with hope in these difficult days of wintertime, as we wait for healing and renewal. Ever loving God, we pray today for your church. As Christian communities all across Scotland and the World, face new challenges, pain and an uncertain future, we pray for the wisdom to see new opportunities for growth and renewal, even in these difficult times. We pray for the Church, as it continues to work for your kingdom, and to carry out your mission. God of glory, we thank you for the tireless effort of nurses, doctors and consultants, caring for patients, especially those who are suffering from Covid-19. We ask that you would give all medical staff peace as they care for the sick, and peace as many of them wait at the bedside of those who are at the end of life. We remember the work of hospital chaplains. We pray for all who have been kept apart from those they love; for those who have not been able to mourn for friends and family who have died, and we pray especially for relatives of people in care homes – surround them all with your healing presence. We remember people in our own communities who are suffering asking that you would lighten the pain and distress of daily life. Amen Hymn 519 – Love Divine Benediction May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Hymn786 – May the God of peace |
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