 Welcome, Cheviot churches! We worship together on this Sanctuary Sunday, when our focus is on refugees.
Notices:
Call to Worship We are gathered for worship today in the name of God who takes care of every creature as a father and as a mother; Who in Jesus Christ is on the side of the weak; Who in his Holy Spirit gives us the capacity to give solidarity to those who suffer and welcome the vulnerable. We believe that our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth for that we bless His name forever. Hymn 195 – Here to the house of God we come (1,2,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession Holy and gracious God, We live in a world of wonder, conceived by your divine imagination. The universe is your creation born out of love and generosity. Hallowed by your name. Through centuries of thought and searching, through law and wisdom, insight and experience, your will and purpose were gradually glimpsed until, in Jesus, all that was hidden was revealed, and you let earth be touched by heaven. Hallowed by your name. In the beauty of the earth; in the silence of our hearts; in the community of the church and in our worship we offer, may your name be hallowed. God of Wholeness, we come before you as your children needing your forgiveness and your help. If we have desired comfort more than devotion. Forgive us. If we have worshipped lesser gods and gone for an easier gospel. Forgive us If we have limited our company to those like ourselves and restricted our conversation to matters of no consequence. If we have compromised our integrity. Forgive us and make us whole. You are beloved children of God. There is nothing you can do, no place you can go, where God cannot find you, comfort you, heal and love you. Live in God’s forgiveness and grace. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Job 38: 1-11 Mark 4: 35-41 Hymn 259 – Beauty for brokenness (1,3,5) Weekly Prayer Gracious God, help us to know that the one who calmed the waves on the Sea of Galilee is present with us day by day and that He cares for us and can speak to us out of the storms that engulf our lives from time to time. Help us to trust Him more fully and listen to His voice in the days and weeks ahead. Amen. Reflection A question. What do these people all have in common? Freddie Mercury, Olivia Newton-John, Madeleine Albright, David Miliband, Jesus, Albert Einstein, Ncuti Gatwa, Marlene Dietrich and Victor Hugo? The answer - all of them were refugees or born to refugees. Yet all of them have made an impact on society through politics, literature, the arts – or by redeeming the world in Jesus’ case! Throughout history many people have had to leave their homeland to live in other lands. For some it has been economic reasons, and they have gone to work or because they were in the army. For some it was faith, and so many missionaries went abroad, often realising they would never see their homeland again. Others were forced out. The Highland clearances meant whole communities leaving for North America to make way for sheep – or the potato famine in Ireland led to many sailing the Atlantic. Yet they lamented their forced departure and would keep alive the traditions of the homeland. Today, apparently more than at any other time of history, so many have had to become migrants and refugees. Many forced to leave their homeland for economic reasons or because of climate change – their land is no longer productive. For many, it is because of war or oppression or torture. They fear for their lives, and so they make often hazardous journeys, seeking a safe place. Today is Sanctuary Sunday. A sanctuary is a safe place. The Old Testament has sanctuary cities, places to go if you were in trouble of any kind, and there you would be safe. No-one could touch you. Similarly, churches or monasteries often provided sanctuary, and today in Cairo, when refugees entered the gates of St Andrew’s Church, they felt they were in a safe place away from discrimination and insult. Sanctuary Sunday is a time to reflect on those seeking a safe place away from violence and fear. One of the abiding images of refugees in recent times is of a small boat packed to the gunnels with refugees in orange lifejackets, crossing the Mediterranean - or seeking to cross, as often they did not make it! It is appropriate that our Gospel reading focussed on the storm. Jesus and the disciples had got into a boat to cross to the other side of the Lake, and we are told there were several other boats with them. A flotilla. At least some of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, used to the vagaries of the weather. But even they were worried, when a terrible storm was unleashed. Waves pounding, gales howling. They feared for their lives. But meanwhile, Jesus was asleep. ‘Do you not care that we die’, they asked, as they shook him awake. But Jesus rose and speaking with an amazing authority, he said ‘Be still’, and the wind and waves obeyed him. In our first reading we read how Job wanted an answer to why he had suffered so much, but was put firmly in his place by God, who said, ‘Where were you when I made the earth, when I made the sea and set its bounds?’ Jesus certainly puts the sea in its place and tells it, ‘Here and no further’. Afterwards they continued their journey to the other side and safety. People long for a safe place. One of my friends is Ghiath, who is a Syrian living in Egypt. His mother, brother and sister are still in Damascus, while another brother is in Sudan. His father died last year, and he might not see his mother again, though he speaks to her every day by phone. But he has found a job and a place to live in Cairo, and he has friends there. It is, just now, a safe place. The Bible from beginning to end tells us to welcome the stranger and alien and to offer hospitality. We have to recognise our common humanity and seek to provide places where all caught in the storms of life can feel safe, but also work to make a world where so many are not forced to leave their homes. Litany of Justice Reader: Jesus said,” I was hungry and you gave me food.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “I was naked and you gave me clothing.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “I was sick and you took care of me.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “I was in prison and you visited me.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. Reader: Jesus said, “In as much as you did to one of those considered to the least important, you did it to me.” Made in the Image of God, All: We see the face of Christ in all. We go from here to see and serve Christ in all. Amen. Hymn 623 – Here in this place (1,2) Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Gracious and merciful God, we pray for all families and individuals who have left or fled their country, their land, their homes, seeking safer and better lives. We lift up to You their hopes and dreams, their fears and anxieties, and all their needs and necessities, that they may be protected on their journeys, their dignity and rights may be fostered, honoured and upheld, and they may be welcomed with open arms into generous and compassionate communities. God of family, we bring before You the parents who are weeping and lamenting, who are waiting for their children, whose trace is lost in the sea, in the desert, on railway tracks, in shipping containers and uncertainty: men, women and children who had escaped from the war zones, the famine and poverty of this world , with the hope for a better, safer life. God of justice, we bring before You political leaders, advisers and decision-makers who hold the fate of others in their hands. May they be aware of the causes of migration and flight and may their decisions be guided by solidarity and compassion. We remember in prayer today: those whose businesses are sinking... those drowning in debt... those going under with stress... We pray for those embroiled in stormy and violent relationships, among and within nations, communities, and families... those played out on the world's stage... those hidden behind closed doors… Silence Amen Hymn 547 – What a friend (1,3) Benediction May God who is light shine in our darkness. May God who is love be the love between us. May God who is life be our life everlasting. And the blessing of God, Creator, Christ and Holy Spirit be with you and with all people, now and always. Amen.
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 Welcome, Cheviot churches! We worship together on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost.
Notices
Call to Worship We meet in the name of God, the Holy Trinity of Love who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain, and heals our wounds. God is our light and our salvation. May our hearts be open to you, O God, now and always Hymn 192 – All my hope on God is founded Prayers of Adoration and Confession Living God,from you comes vitality, love and joy.Your peace is our companion, your love is our strength, your Son is our hope.In even our darkest moments, your presence brings comfort.Hidden deep in the soil of life, your Spirit nurtures tiny seeds of purpose and potentialto surprise us with new life.Like the earth beginning to bloom around us, so your kingdom unfolds to surprise us with new possibilities.We bring you our prayers and praise this day and we adore you But we confess that we do not always follow your guidance, we do not always listen to what Jesus told us and we do not use the gifts from the Spirit. We leave our gifts unopened, unexplored, unused because of selfishness and fear. When our thoughts are muddied, help us find the still small voice that is yours so that we can better listen and act. Help us face our fears, so that we can fully utilise the gifts you have bestowed upon us, so that we become more fully the people you have called us to be. Enable us to unpack the gifts so that they and we can benefit the whole of humanity and creation. Forgive us and help us to be more open to you and others. Declaration of Forgiveness The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and of love. God forgives all who humbly repent and trust in God’s Son as Saviour and Lord. God has forgiven us, and we are one in Christ. Lord’s Prayer Readings - 1 Samuel 15:34–16:13 Mark 4:26–34 Hymn 535 – Who would true valour see Weekly Prayer Gracious God, we ask you to lead us into the coming week. Help us to believe that you are close by us, and keep us from making mistakes. May we never disappoint you and may the seeds that are being planted in our Churches each week grow into branches that reach out into every part of our community. Amen Reflection The Galilee Consultant Agency had a thriving business in the 1st Century Capernaum. They could help you find a market for your fish or olives in Rome, find a position for your son in the Temple establishment or even on the tentmaking course the Romans had just introduced. But then a young rabbi came to them, asking them to assess his leadership team and see who had the potential to take over when the time came for him to step aside. When the report came back, it made depressing reading. Matthew had previously been a tax collector collaborating with the Romans, so was unlikely to be popular with the locals. Thomas couldn’t stop asking question and expressed doubts over the vision of the enterprise. James and John were over-ambitious, reliant on their mother and not team-players. Andrew was a good middle man but deferred to his brother too much. Mary Magdalene had too much history and as a woman would not be a popular choice to head such a project. Simon Peter was impulsive and too ready to rush headlong into projects without critical analysis. But there was one name that the Galilee Consultant Agency could recommend. Judas Iscariot had contacts in high places, had good financial acumen and was able to plan ahead. He would make, in their view, an ideal successor to the young rabbi. I think Jesus would have simply filed it away and forgot about it! It is interesting who Jesus chose to be his followers. He could have chosen better, but this ragtag group with all their flaws managed to turn the world upside down. God is certainly a God of surprises. We found that in the Old Testament reading. The Israelites had wanted a king, and Saul had been chosen. But Saul had disappointed, and Samuel the prophet (with God doing the prodding!) went behind his back to anoint someone else. He was playing a dangerous game, as his life wouldn’t be worth living if Saul found out. The sons of Jesse were duly paraded before him, and each time he thought, ‘This must be the one’. Tall, handsome, charismatic, the Galilee Consultant Agency would have snapped them up in an instance. But God said NO. There was still one son out in the fields, young and ruddy. Not the first choice, but that is the very one God chose, and he would go on to make such an impact, he would be the king by whom all other kings would be measured, would be compared. Like the disciples, he was not without his flaws, and he had major ones, but even when this warrior-dancer- lover-psalmist king fell short, God still provided for Israel. God chooses the unexpected. In the Gospels, we read the parable of the mustard seed, the smallest seed of all. Looking at it, you would not expect too much, yet it grew into a bush, where birds would even make their nests. God makes use of the unlikely. In Cornwall the G7 are meeting – and they are not small, not mustard seeds, and the decisions they will take will not be small, but perhaps they will be unexpected. Maybe they will not look inwards, but look outwards. Maybe they will work for a greater global equality. Maybe they will ensure the Covid vaccine is made available to all in the world. Maybe they will lay the groundwork for COP 26 and tackle the effects of climate change in the Global South. And we can be involved to, making small steps, for small steps make bigger journeys. God has a tendency to use the unlikely - youngest sons like Joseph or the Moabite migrant called Ruth or Samaritans or Ethiopian eunuchs to fulfil his purpose. Paul says God takes the weak and foolish to shame the wise. We are all part of that history too. None of us are perfect, but we come just as we are, and God can use us to build the Kingdom. We have to be open to the Spirit’s leading and be surprised by God. Hymn 615 – Holy Spirit, ever living Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of small seeds and secret growth, we bring our gifts to you, trusting that you will bless them. Use them as seeds of new life in our community and in your world. Grow results we cannot even imagine—within us, among us, because of us and beyond us, for the sake of Christ, our Living Lord. God of the rich and the poor, of the powerful and the vulnerable, we pray for the leaders of the G7 nations meeting in Cornwall, for the people they govern, for the people of other nations they can support, and for the world they can protect through their decisions. May wisdom be planted, generosity grow, and co-operation flourish. We pray for a growth in resilience, awareness and togetherness across all the nations of the world as they continue to tackle the covid pandemic, as they confront environmental issues. and as they reach out to communities crippled by need, war and natural disasters. May integrity be planted, urgency grow and healing flourish. We pray for the church in this place and around the world as we seek to serve those around us, to reach out to those in trouble, and to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. May faith be planted, compassion grow and hope flourish. We bring before you the poor, hungry and neglected, both here in the U.K. and around the world. Prick the consciousness of the privileged and legislators so that they hear the cries and feel compelled to bring about real change. May faith be planted, compassion grow and hope flourish. We hold before you O God, those who are sick, injured and dying. We thank you for giving knowledge to doctors, nurses, medical staff and scientists so that disease and illness can be tackled. We hold before you those who mourn the loss of loved ones. Silence Amen Hymn 352 – O for a thousand tongues to sing Benediction Now go in peace, Go with eyes of faith Go with hearts filled with compassion and love Go with hands ready to help lift up the broken and the blessing of God Almighty, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with you, now and forevermore Amen  Welcome, Cheviot churches and also to those joining us from elsewhere. This week's service will be led by Stuart Kelly.
Intimations
Opening words 2 Corinthians 5: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” Collect Almighty and merciful God, you have assured the human family of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Deliver us from the death of sin, and raise us to new life in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Hymn 519 Love divine, all loves excelling Joy of heaven, to earth come down Fix in us thy humble dwelling All thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou are all compassion, Pure, unbounded love thou art; Visit us with thy salvation Enter every trembling heart. Finish then thy new creation Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see they great salvation Perfectly restored in thee, Changed from glory into glory Till in heaven we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder love and grace. Prayers of Adoration and Confession Lord, we approach you in humility and wonder. You are the creator, the redeemer and the consoler. You are the start and the finish, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. In your creation you have left signs and symbols in the most commonplace ways. We have seen, as we move into summer, the glorious yellow of the dandelion, as it turns its to dying grey of a chimney-sweeper, and as it then is blown as seeds to make creation new once more. You blessed us with creation, and we adore you, though words and images are insufficient. You are mystery and majesty and the amelioration of our meagre lives. Because we are meagre. You are profound and we are shallow. You offered us your love in the Son, and we were amongst the rabble who sent you to death. We are liars, the worshippers of the false idols of wealth and glamour, the fornicators, the sly, the envious and we all know all this. We are not what you meant us to be and for that we offer our true confession. Lord, you have always loved us and we ask this knowing you will not condemn a sinner who is truly repentant. Now, pardoned, we are humble enough to say the prayer that you taught us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. They kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen Readings 1 Samuel, 8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges for Israel. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do." Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day." But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." Mark 3. 20-35 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit." Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." Hymn 87 Lord from the depths to thee I cried. My voice, Lord, do thou hear: Unto my supplication’s voice Give an attentive ear. And plenteous redemption Is ever found in him. And from all their iniquities He Israel shall redeem. Weekly Prayer Almighty God, may your presence be seen clearly in what we do each day. Help us to unite with all those who worship your Son our Saviour as we recall his words “that a house divided against its self cannot stand”. We pray that your joy and your love will flow freely in and through us as we acknowledge his Kingship and follow were you lead us”. Amen. Sermon I do love a theological paradox, so here is one. Does Jesus break the fifth Commandment, to honour thy mother and father, in the Gospel reading we have just heard? It’s an idea I want to come back to, but beforehand, and to put it in context, I want to look at our Old Testament reading. It makes for uneasy reading. The prophet Samuel is in a bit of a quandary, as the Israelites are beseeching for a king. God makes it very clear to them through Samuel: yes, but on your own head be it. They are warned, and the warning comes true. Israel does get a king – the mad and murderous Saul, the adulterous sneak David, the ostentatious and lascivious Solomon and many more. In a strange way there is a parallel in the Old Testament reading with a fable by Aesop which some of you may know: number 44, “The Frogs Who Wanted A King”. In it, the frogs ask Zeus for a king and he sends a log. They are happy at first, but take to jumping on it and mocking it. So they ask for another king, and Zeus sends – the sources vary – either a snake or a heron or a stork who promptly gobbles them up. Martin Luther, writing in 1523, cites this fable. “The frogs need their stork”, he wrote, meaning that when we give up our liberties – and I do not mean singing in church or going to the pub – our democracy becomes tyranny. Imagine if your right to vote, or dissent, or protest were to be taken away by a lecherous buffoon. I am, of course, referring to Charles II. The first thing to note in the passage is that God gives fair warning. The second thing is that Israel asks twice to be “like other nations”. They were not like other nations. They had been blessed and covenanted as an exemplar to the nations. They had a king already – God – but wanted to be like others, and wanted to engage in warfare. But God allows it, as God sees the whole of the future as well. Israel will suffer, and Israel will be redeemed. When we turn to the Gospel reading, we have a strange rhyme. I am sure we all know the end of the passage, where Jesus asks “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Again, it is uneasy reading. Jesus seems almost petulant and dismissive if we skim read it. But we can sometimes forget about the opening. Jesus has shown himself to be not like others, and his family intervenes. I suppose, to use an anachronism, they basically try to have him sectioned under the Mental Health Act. This they did out of love. They were concerned. But they did not understand. As some of you may know I am currently working on a book about the Virgin Mary . I wonder if as she went to try and have her Son restrained she remembered the words of Simeon. “A sword shall pierce your heart too”. Maybe she thought – this is it, this is what I was warned about. Little did she know how tragic a path she would face. But what I want to leave you with is the sense that Jesus does not break the Fifth Commandment. He does not dishonour his Mother, and he always, always honours the Father. Instead we have one of the most moving examples of how extensive is the love of Jesus. Yes, his family is there, but he looks out to the wider crowd and says “And you. And you. And you”. The King does not need a dynasty, but he does need a family; and that family is here and now and forever. When we heard last week the famous words from John at 3:16, it states “God so loved the world”. Not just Israel. Not just Christians. He so loved the world that we are all adopted by him. As much as I love a paradox, I like a challenge. If Jesus invites us to be as his parents or siblings, it means, categorically, that we have a difficult obligation to love. Therefore we must love one another as he loved us. As my hero, G K Chesterton, once wrote “the Bible tells us to love our neighbours, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people”. Hymn 694 Brother, sister, let me serve you Let me be as Christ to you; Pray that I may have the grace to Let you be my servant too. Prayers of intercession Lord, we pray for your world. We have not been dutiful custodians of creation. Give us the courage to do what must be done to stem the corruption and neglect of the world; to ensure that generations yet to be inherit a place of safety and beauty, Lord, we pray for the Church. As we undergo change which will be painful, be always behind us as we face an uncertain future. We commend to you all those who work for the Church in whatever capacity, and ask you to give them strength. Lord, we pray for all those who wield power. Give them wisdom, give them grace, give them the hardness of honesty. We pray also for our Queen, who has been an example of public duty. Lord, we pray for all who are sick, both physically and mentally, that your kindness might be upon them. We pray for all who work in healing, whether in hospitals, general surgeries, care homes or in their own homes, for all those who face what we cannot face. We pray for all who find themselves in need; the poor, the refugee, the scorned, the unloved, the lonely. We pray for the dead, who are with you, and the communion of saints, that they rejoice in your nearer presence. Finally, we pray for every person we dislike. We are fallen creatures, but let us glimpse what we could be rather than what we are. Hymn 399 My song is love unknown, My Saviour’s love to me Love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. Oh, who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die? Here might I stand and sing: No story so divine; Never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine! This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend. Benediction Go now in peace to love and serve the Lord, and may the blessing of our Lord God, Father, Son and Spirit, rest with us and remain with us now, and forever. Amen.  Welcome, Cheviot churches. I trust everyone is keeping well. We worship together on this Trinity Sunday
Notices:
Call to Worship Let us worship God, who spoke in the beginning and created something out of nothing. Let us worship God who took on the clothing of humanity to set those who were oppressed free. Let us worship God whose Spirit rests continually upon us, calling us to bright new beginnings Let us worship the Triune God. Hymn 111 – Holy, holy, holy Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of Mystery and Mercy, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we meet you in wonder as the Blessed Trinity. You are the Ancient of Days, eternal and unchanging; yet you are the Source of each new day, renewing all things. In Christ, you encounter us in whatever each day brings with a heart that beats in love for us. Through the Spirit, you breathe life into what is growing older, energizing us to serve you in good times and hard times. In the mystery of the Trinity, you are always with us and so we bring you our worship and praise to join in your dance of life and love, Holy One and Holy Three, now and ever more. Holy and Healing God, slow to anger and swift to forgive, you have shown us the depth of your love day by day, yet we are reluctant to love others even a little. You have shown us compassion and forgiveness, yet we turn away from one another for even small slights. We save our concern for those most like us. Forgive us. Create in us clean hearts and a desire to begin again with you and with one another. Give us the courage to forgive each other and know your healing grace. In repentance and in faith, receive the promise of grace and the assurance of pardon: To all who turn to him, Jesus says: ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Thanks be to God. Amen Readings – Isaiah 6: 1-8 John 3: 1-17 Hymn 251 -I, the Lord of sea and sky Weekly Prayer Father God, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray for our Cheviot churches and our role in the community. We remember before you all those who live, work and visit here as the restrictions are lifted. Speak your word of peace in our midst, and help us to serve one another as Christ has served us. Thank you, that you so loved the world that you gave your one and only son Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection we now celebrate in our communion. Amen. Reflection In Egypt there are apparently many Muslims who believe in Jesus, but who keep their faith secret. For to say that they were Christian would be to be ostracised from their family and their community. It can be hard to be a Christian in many countries. I am reminded of them when hearing again the story of Nicodemus, who came by night to see Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, the supreme council of the Jews. He was part of the establishment. But something in the radical message of Jesus attracted him, so he came secretly, away from the public gaze, to meet him. But this learned, theologically-aware leader felt out of his depth by what Jesus said, as Jesus talked about being born again and the Spirit blowing where it will. Today is Trinity Sunday, the only Sunday named after a church doctrine. We will affirm the Trinity later when we say the Apostle’s Creed, but it is a doctrine over which many church councils agonised and over which many church leaders have felt out of depth. Yet it presents a wonderful picture of God in community, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet one God. The idea of God that Nicodemus would have held would have been one who created the world and led the Israelites from oppression to freedom; the God whom Isaiah described in our reading today. In the Temple, Isaiah was filled with an overwhelming sense of God’s holiness and, in contrast, his own unworthiness. He fell to his knees in sheer awe. Yet God still reached out to call him, and Isaiah answered, ‘Here I am. Send me’. I think we often lack a sense of awe in God’s presence. Yet this is the God who became personal, who, we are told in the famous verses of John 3: 16/17, loved the world so much that God wanted to save it, and so Jesus was born as a human to show us God’s love in action. He didn’t come to condemn, but to love and redeem us. Through the Spirit, God still is working with and through us today. Nicodemus is tentative at first though curious, coming secretly to Jesus. However, we meet him twice more in John’s Gospel, beginning to speak out for Jesus and latterly helping Joseph of Arimathea to bury him. His faith seems to grow as we continue through the Gospel. For some of us faith doesn’t come easily, but like Nicodemus, two steps forward and one step back. But in the end Nicodemus seems to get there. This week, the General Assembly of the Church has been meeting and tackling important issues. Issues like climate change, but also the future shape of the church, and some of these discussions were quite bruising. We are all affected. We will be part of bigger presbyteries, the number of ministries will drop, there will be an emphasis on being more missional. But that can be something positive, as it will involve enabling all God’s people. Yet the overwhelming impression of the Assembly is a sense of together ness with people from all over the country and indeed over the world. It is that sense of togetherness we celebrate at Trinity Sunday. As God’s people we are enfolded in the love of the triune God, and so we come at communion, in awe at God’s holiness that we cry ‘have mercy on us’, but redeemed by the Son who out of love came into this world and sustained by the Spirit, who leads us on, so we cry out ‘Here am I. Send me’. Prayers of Dedication & Intercession Lord God, we bring to you the ordinary things of life – food and drink and money – and with them we bring ourselves. Take us, and our gifts of money, to do your work in the world. Take this bread and wine and feed us from your table with your love. Accept our sacrifice of praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank you for the small steps of recovery from Covid in our land, but continue to remember those suffering still – from the affects of the Indian variant and long Covid, for the many throughout the world with Covid and with little chance of the vaccine. We pray for the Church throughout the world, that we might be faithful, but pray especially for our Church of Scotland, as we face the challenges of the day. Be with those who mourn the loss of loved ones, for the sick in hospital and at home. For those who struggle and those who are downcast and those who are ostracized. Silence Amen Apostles’ Creed Hymn 666 – Let all mortal flesh Communion As we come to share in Holy Communion, we bring the bread and wine that we prepared earlier and pause as we prepare to share in this meal with one another. Invitation: In our own homes, at our own tables, we meet with Jesus. At our own tables, Jesus calls us to meet him. He welcomes us without the need for show, without the need to be what others expect us to be, without any baggage that might be weighing us down. Narrative: We hear again the story of that night: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body’. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I tell you, I will never again drink the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ (Mark 14: 22-24) Let us pray: The Lord be with you And also with you Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord Let us give thanks to the lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise Thank you, loving God, for these gifts which we share and for the love that you give to us. We meet with you here filled with your promise of welcome and community. So, we gather here as we are, as you need us to be and as you have called. Long ago, you welcomed your people to you and made known your greatness and glory; you sought out the outcast, you welcomed the stranger, you reached outside society’s expectations and beyond tradition. Therefore with all your people, past present and to come, and with the whole company of heaven we sing the hymn of your unending glory: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit To bless us and these your gifts of bread and wine, That in communion with Christ our Lord We may receive his life and remain his glad and faithful people until we feast with him in glory. As we share in the body and blood of Christ, may we become a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for your acceptance, through Jesus Christ our Lord Lord’s Prayer Breaking of bread The Lord Jesus on the night that he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said, ‘this is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me’. In the same way he took the cup, saying ‘ This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink of it, do so in memory of me’ Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us. Jesus, redeemer of the world: grant us your peace. As we follow the example of Jesus, I invite you to hold the bread. This is the Christ’s body, broken for you. Take and eat in memory of him. I invite you to take the wine. This is the blood of Christ poured out for each one of us. Take and drink in memory of him. Peace The disciples were together behind locked doors, and Jesus came and stood among them and he said. Peace be with you. And so I say to you, The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Prayer Loving God, we praise you for what you have given and for what you have promised us here today. You have made us one with all your people in heaven and in earth. You have fed us with the bread of life and renewed us for your service. Now we give ourselves to you and ask that our daily living may be part of the life of your kingdom and that our love may be your love reaching out into the life of the world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Hymn 622 – We sing a love that sets all people free Benediction Just as God’s Word was sent into the world to heal and redeem, so God sends you into the world this day to be light and love, healing and hope. Go now to be light for the world! And may the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you and those whom you love, now and forevermore. Amen.  Welcome, Cheviot churches and also to those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together at Pentecost
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Call to Worship God of fire and beauty WARM US God of peace and justice DISTURB US God of wind and wonder AMAZE US God of Pentecost KINDLE YOUR LOVE IN OUR LIVES Hymn 584 – Like fireworks in the night Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of power and possibility, With the flame of your Spirit, you give us energy to move into the world in Jesus’ name. With the breath of your Spirit, you refresh us to engage life in its complexity. Your Spirit embraces us in our diversity and invites us to find unity in your love. We honour you for the gift of creation in all its beauty and bounty. We praise you for your presence with us in every time and place. In this time of worship, send us the Holy Spirit once again, and renew us to serve you in the world, the world that aches for the healing and wholeness you offer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. God of mystery and mercy, We confess that we have not always paid attention to the urging of your Spirit, calling us to follow your will and your way. Too often we claim to belong to Jesus, but choose instead to ignore his teaching. You created us to love you and one another, but we fail to offer your love to those who differ from us. Stir in our hearts and in our lives with your Holy Spirit. Transform who we are, and direct who we shall become through Christ’s redeeming love. In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 2:1–21 John 16:4b–15 Hymn 586 – Come, Holy Ghost Weekly Prayer Faithful God, as we go out into the world, we pray that this Pentecost may bring our Cheviot Church community a renewed sense of unity with all Christians around our troubled world. May we use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us to spread the good news and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen Reflection One year at university I shared a flat with someone from Lossiemouth, up in Moray. We are still good friends today. But I always remember how one weekend his brother came to visit, and he spoke as he would speak at home, and I didn’t understand a word. It was awful when he asked questions, and you just had to give a frantic smile and non-committal grunt and hope his brother came to the rescue. It is always difficult when you can’t communicate. Those of you who have lived abroad or even travelled abroad will recognise that things will just pass you by, because you don’t speak the language – or even when you do. For communication is more than the language, it is about the culture too, and that can take years to learn. I am reading a book just now about someone walking along Hadrian’s Wall, and the author mentions how there is evidence that the soldiers on the Wall came from many parts of the Roman Empire. There was cavalry from what is now Romania; there were people from North Africa and from Syria, as well as from Europe, and even traders from Mesopotamia. It was quite a cosmopolitan set up. They would no doubt be comfortable with those from the same area, but probably had some rudimentary Latin or Greek to get by. But certainly there was some degree of communication, and they got the job done of keeping these barbarians from the Borders at bay!! The Roman world was a cosmopolitan world, and it was into that world that the Church was born. The disciples had been told by Jesus at the Ascension to stay in Jerusalem and wait, and they did so. They were probably still a little fearful of the authorities and wary of creating trouble. They were gathered together in one place, we are told: safety in numbers. It was the feast of Pentecost, Shavuot, when the Jews remembered the giving of the Law at Mt Sinai, but also celebrated the harvest. Jews had gathered in Jerusalem from the Diaspora, from all over the Empire and beyond, because they had settled in many places, and while they would have had a common purpose and religion and could speak Greek, if not Aramaic, there would be cultural differences. We have a list in Acts of some of the places, and they would have felt a certain disconnect. Jerusalem would have been busy, but suddenly there was noise, and a mighty wind, pushed the disciples out of the house where they had been skulking and into the streets. They had to go public. Flames danced above their heads, their tongues began to loosen and speak, and suddenly all barriers of gender and age, language and culture were blown down by the wind of Pentecost. The Spirit had come, and the Church started with a bang. Communication barriers came crashing down, and everyone felt included, felt they belonged – because they heard their own language spoken. We still live in a world where there are barriers of communication. In the Middle East Israeli and Palestinian speak a different, and I am not just talking about Hebrew and Arabic. They mean different things when they talk of peace. In homes here we can have communication breakdowns, and families don’t speak because of something that happened years before. In the Church as it meets for the General Assembly this week, there can be communication issues because of where we come from or how we interpret Scripture. But the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost gives us the model of breaking down barriers, so that Paul was able to write later that there was no Roman or Greek, no male or female, no slave or free, because all one in Christ. Pentecost encourages us to communicate to one another and in the language which is love and compassion. So let us celebrate the Church’s birthday and be ever open to the leading of the Spirit. Hymn 600 – Spirit of God, unseen as the wind Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Spirit of grace and power, bless the gifts we offer so that they accomplish surprising things in Jesus’ name. Bless our lives, too, so that our words and actions may bear witness to Jesus’ love and mercy each and every day God of love, as Covid-19 continues to impact our world, we pray for those around the globe who don’t have the resources of the richer nations, for those countries struggling to afford vaccinations and basic health care. We think in particular of people in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. May those who have the power to bring relief to others use their influence to ensure help and vaccines are directed to the people who need it most. May conversations and negotiations be filled with generosity and concern for the poor and powerless. God of love, we pray for those who mourn. With the battles continuing to rage in the Middle East and the death toll rising, we pray for everyone who has lost friends and loved ones. It’s difficult to imagine how scared people must be living with bombs and violence. We pray for those caught in the middle of the chaos. Please bring an end to this war. God of love, we pray for the poor in spirit. With so many people experiencing mental health issues we think of those we know who are struggling. Help us to be compassionate listeners and good friends to people who need us. We also think of the steep rise in teenage anxiety and issues such as anorexia; please help families trying to deal with young people who are suffering. Give the agencies and professionals working in mental health good judgement as they work with their patients. We pray for the Church of Scotland meeting in General Assembly and tackling big issues. Guide the commissioners, that all that is decided may be to God’s glory. God of love, we pray for the peacemakers. On this Pentecost Sunday thank you for the work of your Spirit bringing hope, joy and peace to us and to your world. On this Pentecost Sunday renew us in our faith, remind us of the outpouring of your Spirit and help us to be the agents of hope, joy and peace in our world. Amen Hymn 594 – Come, Holy Spirit, come Benediction As you go forth from this place, may the wind of the Spirit startle your senses and blow through your life; may the fire of the Spirit scorch your complacency and light your way. And may the blessing of the Holy One-- Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer-- rest with you now and forevermore. Amen  Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together on this Ascension Sunday
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Clap your hands, all you peoples; We will shout to God with loud songs of joy. For God, the Most High, is awesome Reigning over all the earth. Let us worship God with all we have to offer! We will offer God our love – heart, body, mind and soul! Hymn 439 – Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of promise and purpose, we greet you this day with thankful hearts. As flowers open and buds unfurl around us, the beauty of your world lifts our hearts in praise. You lifted up Jesus to be by your side, and so we know he is always by our side as the future opens before us. Draw close to us in this time of worship and show us the promise and purpose in our own lives-- how we can unfurl with new life and move into the future with the energy of your Holy Spirit and the abiding love of Christ our Lord. Lord Jesus Christ, you have called all your followers to carry the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth. Yet we confess we cannot always find the words to tell others of our faith. We are often silent when others criticize the church. We try to act out your love, but it’s hard to tell others why we do what we do for you. Forgive our hesitation to share the gift you have given us, and renew our courage to speak of our commitment to you. Paul says that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Let us rejoice that, no matter what is happening around us, no matter what we have done, God’s deep love will never let us go. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 1:1–11 Luke 24:44–53 Hymn 438 – The head that once was crowned … Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, you made the world and everything in it. We pray with one voice, proclaiming your presence to all the earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you and give thanks for all wonders of your marvellous creation. As with the disciples at the ascension of Jesus we worship Him and look forward to His promised return. Amen Reflection Today is Ascension Sunday, and the Ascension is somewhat different from the other high days in the Christian year. At Christmas, for example, we celebrate Jesus born in a stable, God with us. At Easter we celebrate Jesus risen from the dead, coming back to the disciples, God with us. At Pentecost next week we will celebrate the Holy Spirit, coming upon the disciples, God with us. But at the Ascension, there is a sense of absence, for Jesus leaves the disciples and ascends to heaven. Why celebrate someone leaving? Who wants a day to remind us of God seemingly leaving us behind? And yet the Ascension was a vital day in empowering the disciples -and us – to be witnesses to Christ in the world. Jesus had risen from the tomb and for these 40 days (for the Ascension is exactly 40 days after the resurrection) Jesus has been with the disciples, taking the opportunity further to equip and strengthen them. They must have been getting used to Jesus being with them again. It must have seemed like old times and that things were back to normal again. We long for things to be back to normal again after Covid, to have our coffee mornings and even plan holidays. The disciples had grown used to having Jesus around them again. It was back to normal, and it would go on and on… But it couldn’t be. There had to be the break. The disciples had been disciples – learning from their Master, following his words, learning from his example. Now it was time to be on their own and put all that they had learned into practice. Just like a chick in a nest has to learn to fly and at the appropriate moment jump from the nest and fly, so the disciples had to take the risk of living life and starting to give rather than just receive. One minute the disciples were laughing with Jesus, then the next he was away, with the disciples left gawping up at the sky. But then two men appear and chivvy them along. ‘Why are you standing here? You heard what he said. There is work to do, a world to be woken up!’. The disciples had to learn to live without the Jesus as they knew him physically and learn to live on their own feet, with their own mistakes, but always in and by Christ’s light. And, vitally, with the Holy Spirit. That is why, Luke tells us in the Gospel, they went home rejoicing They had to be Jesus’ witnesses, and that meant seeing the world through Christ’s eyes and loving the world with Christ’s compassion. As Jesus had fed the hungry and healed the sick, as he had embraced the world in love and persuaded people that God loved them passionately, so he was saying to the disciples – and to us ‘Over to you. Now it is your turn. Be my witnesses’. Like the disciples, we have been nourished and nurtured. We have received so many blessings. Now it is our turn to give, by being his witnesses in the world and do as he did. In other words: love one another, as Jesus did; Forgive one another, as Jesus did; Work for justice - as Jesus did; Challenge the hypocrites, as Jesus did; Live with integrity, as Jesus did; Embrace the stranger, as Jesus did; Make God the centre of your life, as Jesus did. At this Ascension Sunday let us look at each other in Christ’s light and begin to repair the world through gifts of kindness and compassion, embracing the breadth and depth of God’s vision for the whole of creation. Hymn 436 – Christ triumphant Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Eternal and ever-present God bless the gifts we offer you today. Use them and us to witness to your love and bring healing and hope to the world in Jesus’ name. In uncertain times we thank you Lord for the relationships and friendships that have carried us through: for those who have made us laugh, for those who have listened, for those who have stood by us. Thank you for the love, care and attention of others. Help us to learn to pray as Jesus did. As we move through this week and encounter our friends help us to pray for their needs and that they would know your peace in their lives O God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all life, You have begun the work of creating a new world, a world where justice is known, where freedom and healing are available to all people. We pray for the places in the world that are caught up in violence, We especially think of Israel and Palestine and Gaza and all living in fear. We pray for the peacemakers in that area. Hold them from despair, give them the energy and vision for a better future that will keep them going during these difficult times. Help the local politicians and those in the international community who are trying to mediate and resolve this crisis. Equip them with the skills they need, give them the words that will speak into this situation and help those who need to hear listen to their words and cease their fire. You have begun the work of creating a new community, a community where love is shared, and all find a sense of belonging. We pray for groups who are made to feel like they don’t belong, for families that caught up in tension or strife, and for those who feel isolated or desperate because no one seems to care. Grant them all courage and comfort through your Spirit. May people everywhere find the fullness of life you intend for us all. Silence Amen Hymn 441 – Blessing and honour Benediction Go in peace, and in your rising, in your resting, in your walking, in your speaking, in your praying, in your striving, in your giving, in your crying, may you know the Spirit of the Lord upon you. May the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with you and be with all you love this day and even forevermore. Amen  Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together on this Christian Aid Sunday
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Call to Worship (from Amazon area) Come and celebrate our common home we gather with the family of humanity. With the mountains, islands and deserts we honour the glory of God in creation. With the lakes, rivers and seas we come to the source of living water. With the land, its soil, seeds and sustenance we give thanks for God’s generous provision. With the forests of great trees, the lungs of the planet we will sing with joy and clap our hands. We join with the whole of creation, inspired by those who have gone before and the prophetic voices of today. We dare to praise and pray for another possible world. To the glory of God Amen Hymn 172 – Sing for God’s glory Prayers of Adoration and Confession Loving Father, As we look around at our beautiful Border countryside bursting with new life, we sometimes fail to see the desecration of pollution, the carelessly discarded plastic bottles and crisp packets, the wasted food; forgive us for our lack of care and our selfishness and short-term behaviour. As we celebrate the joy of human love and we look towards being with friends and family and welcoming them with loving arms, forgive us for forgetting those who circumstances prevent such reunions; those separated by bereavement, by forced migration, by natural disasters and failure of crops, help us remember that some of this is caused by our behaviour and forgive us our unintended actions. God you know us and know that we can be loving and kind but that we often get things wrong. Forgive when we hurt others and when we fail to care for your world. May Jesus bless us and God’s spirit help to grow in love. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 10: 44-48 John 15:9-17 Hymn Sea Shanty (Yetholm) / 798 – May the peace of the earth (Morebattle) There was a farmer on the land hoping we could make a stand. The rains hadn’t come and the crops were dead; You can’t farm land like this. No! Soon may the fossil fuels go for they pollute the land you know. Let’s invest in solar and wind and buy climate justice for all. Climate change is making life hard for those whose livelihoods are marred by erratic rain or howling gale. You can’t farm land like this. No! Chorus Weekly Prayer Faithful God, your son Jesus said “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” In our worship today, we testify to God’s love shown perfectly in Christ and we re-commit ourselves to love one another as a community of faith by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. Amen Reflection Those who live in Yetholm will be aware of the work that has been going on to alter the course of the Bowmont Water. The water has over the years eroded the ground and, if not checked, would have threatened to bridge and road between the two villages. It shows the often-devastating power of water. Today is Christian Aid Sunday and for 75 years Christian Aid has been responding to crises and seeking to empower the marginalised. They now work in 26 countries, but today we focus on only one of them, Kenya, where water, or the lack of it, has become an issue. We need only to read our bibles to know that floods (Noah) and droughts (Ruth and Naomi) have always been with us. However, in recent years we have seen extremes in weather all over the world. Even snow and frost in May! Rose knows about extremes in weather. Growing up, the rain came at the right time, and there was always enough to eat and drink. But now the rains are unreliable, and her part of Kenya is subject to drought. Crops wither and die. Rivers run dry, and people struggle to survive. In order to collect water for her family, Rose has to walk a long distance, often on an empty stomach. She dreams of having water close at hand to grow vegetables. If there was only a pool close at hand, that would give her and her grandchildren hope for the future. In our Acts reading, Peter asks the question, ‘Can anyone withhold water?’. He is actually talking about water for baptism, but it is a relevant question when we think of Rose and those like her. Peter is in the house of Cornelius, the Roman centurion. Peter has had a vision of a tablecloth full of the animals deemed to be taboo for Jews to eat, not kosher, yet a voice from heaven tells him to eat. At that moment, people come to his door inviting him to Cornelius’ home. As a Jew, Peter could not enter a Gentile’s house, but after the vision, he accepts the invitation. While there, the Holy Spirit falls upon everyone, Jew and Gentile alike, and that is when Peter asks the question ‘Who can withhold water to baptise?’, for the Holy Spirit has already taken the initiative. Rose has her troubles, but Florence on the other hand is so cheerful. She is a larger-than-life character, who is smiling and singing. I am sure that she has her hardships too, for her husband died a few years ago, but she is a survivor. Like Rose, she too had to walk for miles to collect water for her family, but fortunately Christian Aid and its partners helped Florence’s community to build a dam, so that water is now on their doorstep, allowing their vegetables to grow and be sold at the market. She grows tomatoes and onion, but also keeps bees, so sells honey. No wonder she is full of joy and laughter. Her children have a future. In our Gospel reading, Jesus is saying farewell to his disciples and telling them to abide in him and his love, and in verse 11, he says ‘I have said these things so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete’. He was facing the horror and pain of Good Friday and crucifixion, yet talked of joy. He was facing the silence of Holy Saturday, but believed that Easter Sunday would come. There is always hope. As Christians we believe that there is hope and that everyone is entitled to life in all its fullness in the here and now. We thank God for the work of Christian Aid over the past 75 years, but continue to work and give and pray that people like Rose may have water nearby and, like Florence, have a smile on her face and hope for the future. Hymn – Canticle of the Turning 1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great, And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn, So from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn? My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn! 3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone. Let the king beware for your justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne. The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn; There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn. Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Generous God, bless our offering of worship and the gifts of talent and money that we share. Bless those who will go out into our community this week with the red envelopes and may the money that will be given this week in support of our disadvantaged neighbours around the world be doubly blessed in the service of your kingdom. Merciful God, as we think of our communities and family and friends farther afield we are mindful of the suffering caused by the Covid virus around the world. Our hearts go out to the people of India and to all those places where facilities and equipment are lacking and it is a struggle to treat and care for all the sick. Give all those involved the strength and courage to prevail. Comfort those who mourn for they are many and often do so alone. Help us to be an encouragement and support to our young people as they face an evermore uncertain future but do so in hope and expectation of a better, fairer world. Give determination for those striving for the health of our planet and the well being of all your children. May those who hold the power be given a listening ear and act with wisdom and compassion. We would see the lusts for power and of greed banished that all may live a meaningful life in harmony and peace, rejoicing in our individuality and unique talents knowing we are loved by you. This we ask n the name of the Prince of Peace, Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen The Christian Aid week prayer (from Kenya) Great God, Who makes the sun to rise, and opens the heavens, Hear the cry of the people who sow in hope for rain but reap only in despair. Hear the cry of the people seeking shelter from the storm, their hopes and homes submerged’ Hear the cry of the people when creation is hitting back, with rage and resistance. Give us hope, grant us salvation, Give us a new relationship with creation with reverence to tend this gift from you and say once again of the earth and all you created, it is GOOD. Amen Hymn 804 – You shall go out with joy Benediction May the raindrops fall lightly on your brow. May the soft winds freshen your spirit. May the sunshine brighten your heart. May the burdens of the day rest lightly upon you and may God enfold you in the mantle of His love.  Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together on this 5th Sunday of Easter.
Notices: • Yetholm (10am) and Morebattle (11.15) are now open for worship every Sunday. • The podcast of this service can be accessed on the Podcast page of the website, or by clicking HERE • A video of the service will be posted on Gordon McInally’s YouTube page by Sunday early afternoon (Gordon's page can be accessed by clicking HERE), or via the Video page of the website. • The moderator has a service - HERE • Christian Aid Week is from 9-16th May. Anyone willing to distribute envelopes, please contact Trish Gentry. There will be a quiz on Saturday 8th and an online service to mark 75 years of Christian Aid on Sunday 9th May at 6.30pm. Details on the Christian Aid Scotland website - HERE • Colin is enormously grateful to everybody who sponsored him in the Kiltwalk. He has raised £1,445 (which will be topped up buy the Hunter Foundation). • We are encouraged to light candles every Sunday evening at 7pm. Prayers are to be found on the Church of Scotland website. Call to Worship Come apart from your busyness. Come and reconnect with God. Remain in him and grow. Grow closer, grow deeper. Grow and be fruitful. Come and glorify God! Hymn 154 – O Lord, my God Prayers of Adoration and Confession Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, you are the vine, and we are the branches. Your love is our strength. Your energy is our joy. Your attentiveness is our hope. Your power can transform even the most difficult situations. You nourish our faith and imaginations so that we can bear fruit in many ways. You promise we can dwell in you because you are dwelling in us. We gather today to offer our praise to you, and bring glory to God the Father, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Fill us with love, so that our love will honour you each and every day. Merciful God, We confess there are so many ways we fail to love you fully. Forgive us for our lack of reverence for the earth and for using up more than our share of its resources. Forgive us for ignoring the cries of others who know pain or discrimination. Forgive us for seeking praise from others yet failing to encourage them in their endeavours. Forgive us, O God, and root our lives more deeply in your love. Jesus died and rose again for you. In humble penitence receive his pardon, receive his peace. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 8:26–40 John 15:1–8 Hymn 463 – Fairest Lord Jesus Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, we ask that you would bless us here at Cheviot Churches with vision for the future and reverence for the past. Help us to remain in You the true vine, so that You can remain in us. Help to bear much fruit and guide us each day as we minister to one another and to our community; always mindful of your amazing love for us. Amen Reflection As many of you may be aware, I spent several years working in the Holy Land. Part of my remit was to interact with local groups and especially the Palestinian Christians. But I also was involved with pilgrims, people coming from many lands to visit sites associated with the Bible, with Christ. It was a different type of ministry, because often the pilgrims were just passing through - there for a few days or even a few hours or even just a few minutes, and you had to make the most of the little time you had. But it was amazing how often we found connections. People we knew or places or situations we shared. It was a special time. I was thinking about it when I read the passages for today. In Acts 8 we read the story of the Ethiopian, whom Philip met on the road to Gaza. They only spent a short time together, but in that short time the Ethiopian’s life was completely turned around and he was baptised. Then they both went their separate ways. Philip was one of the disciples. Like Andrew, he had a Greek name and that seems to give a clue, for in preaching the Good News, he went beyond the local Jewish population in Jerusalem. Just before this passage in Acts, Philip had been evangelising among the Samaritans, and we know the Samaritans were regarded with suspicion. What the rest of his friends thought of Philip’s activities we can only guess. But then suddenly the Spirit seems to inspire Philip to head for Gaza, and there he came across a wealthy man in his chariot, reading a scroll – he must have been wealthy to own a scroll, especially of Scripture. Just by looking he would have guessed the man was a foreigner, and indeed he turned out to be a high-ranking official, the treasurer no less, of the Ethiopian Queen. But he was also a eunuch, and the book of Deuteronomy was quite clear, that eunuchs were excluded from worship in the Temple and being part of the community. Later, after the Exile, Isaiah had a more inclusive approach and in chapter 56 said that both foreigners and eunuchs were welcome, if they loved God and sought to keep the commandments. Philip took Isaiah’s approach and saw that God’s love was not confined to one particular group of people but embraced everyone. He took time with the Ethiopian, talked about the Scripture that he was reading, where Isaiah talks about the Suffering Servant, and Philip links it with Jesus. Philip’s words make an impact, and the Eunuch asks, ‘What is to stop me from being baptised?’. Philip didn’t say that he had to go through so many weeks of special classes, but immediately baptised him in a pool of water. Then the eunuch proceeded on his way back to Ethiopia, where tradition has it that he was an evangelist. Certainly, Ethiopia was one of the first countries to become Christian and has remained a strongly Christian country, and indeed the Ark of the Covenant is claimed to be kept in one of the churches in the North. By his baptism, the Ethiopian became part of the Christian family, he bore the name of Christ. He was connected to people of different races, who spoke different languages. Just like the intertwining branches of a vine, he was connected to Christ and to Christ’s family. But he had to continue to be rooted in Christ to be nourished and nurtured. So it is with us, we are part of the family, but we too need to be nourished by the Word and by our interaction with our fellow Christians, so that we can bear good fruit. Hymn 550 – As a deer pants for the water Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Jesus Christ, the true vine, in our need we come to You, in weakness, needing Your strength for we too easily become dry and lifeless without Your life-giving spirit. Jesus Christ, the true vine, teach us to remain in You and so to find Your life flowing in us giving strength and vigour to our discipleship. And as we come closer to You our lives are drawn closer to others. Our minds turn to images of violence we have seen on the news in places of fear and terror, to where people are at loggerheads, over race, religion, land, power. Our thoughts turn to Christians living with persecution, who face danger, simply for being linked to You. Father, prune back all that stands in the way of peace. Our thoughts turn to people in leadership and power – who have decisions to make over the economy and people whose jobs and livelihood will be affected. We pray for our nation, and its leaders. May changes and choices be shaped by the values of the kingdom. On our hearts are people in need in our church and community. Wherever hearts are breaking … bodies are failing … minds are confused … families are ruptured … Lord, come with Your help and healing. We pray for the situation in India where the surge in Covid cases is causing so much suffering. We also think of those involved in the disaster at the religious festival in Israel. Here, too, as Your church gathered today, we give thanks for the saints of the past and the fruit they have borne in our community and beyond. Like them, help us to remain in You that we may be fruitful and bring glory to Your name. Through Jesus Christ, the true vine. Amen Hymn 470 – Jesus shall reign Benediction Go in peace to love and to serve the Lord and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always. Amen  Our minister Colin put on his kilt (a tasteful, muted Johnston tartan) and walked round the 5 churches in the parish on the 23/24th of April as part of Kiltwalk 21. He started at Hownam (see photo above) and walked in the glorious sunshine to Morebattle on the Friday. On the Saturday he started off for Linton, then to Hoselaw, meeting sheep, cattle and horses on the way. At Hoselaw he was joined by Carol Butler to walk across the hills to Yetholm where he was met by a finishing line and a group of church members (below). He has raised £1,245 to date, with the prospect of another £100 to come. The Hunter Foundation has pledged to give an extra 50% of anything raised. Many thanks to all who have contributed - and, of course, to Colin.   Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. We worship together on this 4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday.
Notices:
Call to Worship Jesus the Christ said, I am the Good Shepherd. We have come to follow him. We gather in the name of the One who leads us by still waters. We have come to be restored in him. We gather in the name of the One who prepares a banquet for us. We have come to be fed by his love, so let us worship God. Hymn 14 – The Lord’s my shepherd Prayers of Adoration and Confession Lord God, our good and loving shepherd, You nourish our lives and lead us into green pastures. You restore our souls with rest and peace. You give us true joy so our cup overflows with goodness. You walk with us through the darkest valleys, offering us courage and compassion. At all times and in all circumstances, you are with us, Creator, Redeemer and Guiding Spirit, we praise you, Holy One, now and always. Amen. Patient God, whose mercy is abundant and your love endless, we confess that often we have not shown your love to others, even though we claim it for ourselves. You have called us to show compassion, but too often we are quick to judge others. You have been called to follow Jesus, yet we are distracted by our own plans and desires. Forgive us for falling short of your hopes for us and renew a right spirit within us. The mercy of our God is from everlasting to everlasting. Friends, hear the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, God’s generous love reaches out to embrace us. We are forgiven and set free to begin again. Thanks be to God Lord’s Prayer Readings – Acts 4: 5-12 John 10: 11-18 Hymn 624 – In Christ there is no east or west Weekly Prayer Loving God we pray for all our leaders that, using Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd as the ultimate model of leadership, they would lead and care for their own flocks in such a way that peace might abound, righteousness flourish and injustice be eradicated. Amen. Reflection Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, and every year at this time we focus on a portion of John 10, when Jesus says that he is the Good Shepherd. This is of course sheep country, and a number of our members have been shepherds in the surrounding hills. In 1st Century Palestine, however, shepherds were regarded with some suspicion, for they were out in the fields and so could never get to synagogue, so there is a certain irony when Jesus says he is the Good Shepherd. But it became one of the most loved images of Christ in the Early Church, with so many statues of Jesus with a lamb over his shoulder. And not just the early church, for certainly growing up I was very used to seeing pictures in church halls of Jesus as the shepherd. One of our favourite psalms is, ‘The Lord’s my shepherd’, and it takes us on a journey. The Lord’s my shepherd. I shall not need a thing. He leads me by green pastures and finds quiet pools. Here the psalmist is talking about the daily life of shepherding. Making sure the sheep are cared for and provided with grazing and water, which in the arid conditions of Palestine was not always easy. You had to be knowledgeable if you were a shepherd and really know the sheep and their needs. That is where Jesus in the Gospel says that he knows the sheep and the sheep recognise his voice. It is more than ‘head’ knowledge, but is an intimacy that comes from the heart. We are the flock of Christ, and we rejoice that he does know us through and through, just as a shepherd knows the sheep. But life is not always easy, and for the shepherd there were dangers. The Psalmist talks of the dark valley, the valley of the shadow of death, a place of dangers, where the sheep were encouraged by the strong presence of the shepherd. Your rod and staff they comfort me. Jesus in John’s Gospel talks of the dangers of wild predators and of thieves, and the shepherd had to be prepared to defend the vulnerable sheep, even lying across the entrance to the fold at night. The shepherd had to be prepared to lay down their life for the sheep, and this is mentioned three times in our passage. This was complete commitment and self-giving. We are in the ‘afterglow’ of Easter, and we know that Jesus did indeed give his life for his sheep on the cross of Calvary, showing his commitment to us. When Jesus said he was the Good Shepherd, he would have been aware that the leaders and monarchs in the Old Testament were called shepherds of their people, but too often had let them down. We have the elections for the Scottish Parliament coming up and are being bombarded with leaflets and manifestos from politicians claiming that they will do the best for us and for the country. But leaders need to stand up to scrutiny. In a week where the greed of the big football teams has been exposed and there have been accusations of sleaze, it is so important for politicians to show that their integrity and their commitment to the good of all. I talked of Psalm 23 being a journey, for shepherds and their flocks were always on the move. We have had the daily routine and the dangers, and the psalm finishes with a homecoming, where goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The flock has gone through all the ups and down, but is sustained by the love and commitment of the shepherd. The longed-for destination is reached. God is with us in the ordinary and the extraordinary and waits with arms outstretched to welcome us home. Hymn 462 – The King of love Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession Living God accept these our offerings. Grant that they may go where we can’t go, that they may reach where we cannot reach, that they may do what we cannot do. Use them to strengthen Your Church and advance Your kingdom here where we are and far beyond for Jesus’ sake. We pray for our world. We pray for those of faith and those of no faith, for those with purpose and those with no purpose in life. For those who have a clear direction and those who flounder uncertain for life in all its complexities. For those whose mental health causes them pain, anguish, confusion and loneliness, for those who feel abandoned, unwanted, unloved and un-helped. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. For countries at war with other countries and within themselves, for their leaders that they may good and responsible shepherds and for people who fear for their lives and stability, for those made homeless and jobless and offered nothing but an uncertain future. We remember countries at war where their people are damaged, isolated, abused, for Myanmar, Ethiopia, Mozambique. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. God, who has sheep in other folds, we pray for Christians trying to work out the best way to live out their lives, true to their faith, to the Gospel, to their calling. Remind us to look beyond the present to the future, beyond our immediate neighbourhood to the world-wide family, for we are all God’s children. Help us to catch a wider more inclusive vision of the needs of the world and its people for unless we are all fed no one is satisfied, unless we are all inoculated no one is safe. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. For countries with surging Covid cases, for those with poor infrastructure and resources, for countries with little PPE and no vaccines and no realistic prospect of national immunisation any time soon. For those engaged in trying to resolve such issues no matter what faith, colour, creed. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. For all who grieve for the loss of loved ones, family or friends, near or far away. Especially those who are bereaved a long way from family, who can’t travel to be with them to offer comfort and support. In their loss, in their grief, in their solitude may they find a calm centre and be upheld by their faith, their friendship and their neighbours. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. For ourselves we pray that our ears may be used to hear the cries of the needy, that our eyes be used to see the needs around us, that our voices be used to speak up for the marginalised and the poor, that our hands be used to reach out in comfort and that our lives be used to improve the lives of others. For the world and its people, Lord, we pray. Amen. Hymn 355 – You Lord are both lamb and shepherd Benediction Go in peace to love and to serve Jesus, the good shepherd of us all, and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all, now and always. Amen |
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