 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
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 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.
Passcode: 848548
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  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 5th Sunday after Epiphany.
Notices:
Call to Worship God has invited us to come. So we gather. God has spoken to the world. So we listen. God has given us glimpses of grace and mercy. So we wait, longing for healing, eager for hope. Hymn 103 – Fill your hearts with joy and gladness (1,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession Creator God, Source of all life,in you all creatures are connectedand all creation redeemed and made new.Day by day you make yourself known to your people.In the beauty of the heavens we see your glory.In the bounty of the earth we know your generosity.In strength for our bodies and minds we experience your energy.Delighting in all that we have seen, and heard, we worship you, one God, Creator, Christ, and Spirit. Holy One, along with our praise, we offer you our confession.We have sinned against you and our neighbour in thought, word and deed. Consumed by anxiety, we forget to trust you.Discouragement seeps into our hearts in the cold of winter and we do not serve you with eagerness.Forgive us.Renew our energy for your purposes.Raise us up on wings of faith.May we walk by your light and not grow weary.May we run and not faint.In Jesus’ name we pray, 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 – Isaiah 40:21–31 Mark 1:29–39 Hymn 162 – The God of Abraham praise (1,3,5) Weekly Prayer Ever living God, our Creator and Redeemer, you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. With a word you created all things and so we pray as those whose hope is in the Lord, that you will renew our strength. Help us to soar on wings like eagles; to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. Amen Reflection Captain Sir Tom Moore died this week at the age of 100. At an age where he was entitled to sit back and rest, he suddenly shot to fame last Spring, when he started to raise money for the NHS by slowly walking round his garden each day. He raised a colossal sum, but far more than that, raised the spirits of the nation. At a time when so many were down and tired and confused by the pandemic, he was an inspiration, and he was knighted for his efforts. There were others: one lady in a care home played the piano each day for charity, but somehow it was Captain Tom Moore who inspired and helped a lot of people to face the future with hope. The Israelites didn’t have Covid to face: they had exile. They had been transported away from their home in Jerusalem to Babylon, and faced with years, decades in another country, another culture with temples to alien gods all around them, and they had grown tired and discouraged. The prophet Isaiah was one who inspired them. He encouraged them to rise above their troubles with the picture he painted of God. In fact, it was a gigantic canvas, for this God was huge, cosmic, universal; the maker of heaven and earth, the God who was in control of everything. Yet also a God who still cared for his people. And in the final few verses, the prophet reassures the people that God would revitalise the weary, that even though the young may falter and faint, ‘those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength and rise up with wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint’. The Israelites in their long exile were given hope and inspiration. Earlier this week, I listened to a lecture on Zoom by John McCarthy. I don’t know whether that name means anything to you, but he was a young journalist sent to Beirut in 1986, and he had only been there a couple of months when he was kidnapped by a Palestinian group. It made headlines, as Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s envoy, was kidnapped at the same time. He was held hostage for over five years, during which time his mother died. It was like the Israelites in exile; he must have been so discouraged. He would somehow have to motivate himself to get through the days. How do you survive an experience like that? Well, he did. He wrote books, he presented programmes on radio and television and he returned to the Middle East and especially to Palestine. He rose above his dreadful experience and has been able to inspire people. We have been reading the first chapter of Mark’s gospel over the last few weeks, and in today’s passage we are not given the big canvas as in Isaiah 40, but rather 4 little vignettes, 4 snapshots of how Jesus brought hope to a dispirited people. Simon Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever, which is interesting because it shows at least some of the disciples were married. Jesus healed her, and immediately word got out and by sunset people were at the door, wanting to be healed, wanting peace and hope in their lives. Jesus could have stayed in Capernaum and had a successful ministry, but his message was not for one town alone, but for all people, and so he forewent the allure of popularity and went round Galilee bringing hope and healing. We are living through difficult times, when we can feel lethargic in body and spirit, but like the exiles in Babylon and the people of the Galilee, hope is there for us, and as the snowdrops break through the earth, so we wait for and trust in God, and truly Spring will come. Hymn SGP 72 – Lord Jesus Christ (1,4) Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Jesus touched so many lives in so many different ways. We ask that these gifts will touch many lives, too, with your healing and hope in these difficult days. Holy and loving God, we thank you for the story of Christ’s life among us, a pattern for the way we live. We give you thanks for moments of quiet and contemplation that restore us. Teach us to trust in your strength, so that we can live with confidence and courage even in the midst of stress and anxiety during these difficult pandemic days. God of love, you give power to the faint and strength to the powerless. Many of us are exhausted, juggling with school at the kitchen table, responding to demands of work or family life or dealing with isolation, joblessness and fear. Renew us, we pray. We pray for all church leaders. Encourage and strengthen them in their work, and give us all fresh vision for the future of church and renew our Imagination, creativity and wisdom. God of love, you restore what is broken and you bring together what has been split apart. Today we pray for Myanmar in the aftermath of a military coup. We ask for peace in a dangerous and fragile situation, where streets are once again full of fear. We pray that peace and prosperity will begin to flourish in all places facing war, famine, and disaster… God of all creation, you restore the face of the earth: stir us up to action to protect our planet. May our feet tread lightly on the earth and our actions and priorities bring healing to our battered world. God of love, you heal the broken hearted and you gather in all who are lost. We pray for all who are mourning the loss of family members or friends. We place before you all who are suffering in mind or body… asking for peace, and for your healing presence in their need. Send your blessing on all who are afraid or alone or hungry, on those whose lives are being destroyed by abuse or violence and on all for whom home is not a safe place. Amen Hymn 694 – Brother, sister, let me serve you (1,2,3) Benediction May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make His face to shine upon you, And be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. And the blessing of God Almighty, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Be among you and remain with you, Now and forever more. 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 4th Sunday after Epiphany.
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Call to Worship God’s praise endures forever, and eternity meets us in fleeting moments. God’s praise endures forever, and glory bursts into the ordinary God’s praise endures forever, and faith is steadfast even in the midst of change and challenge. Hymn 112 – God whose almighty word (1,2,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession Loving God, you are the wisdom behind all mystery,the glory hidden in all that makes us wonder,the strength in all that nourishes.When our eyes are open and our spirits alert,we experience your glory around us.Scattered throughout the earth,smouldering deep inside us,radiating in acts of love,sparks of your glory reside.Deep is our joy each time we encounter you.So we gather in worship to express our reverence and praise. Together we celebrate the good we have experienced, knowing it all comes from your hand. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class, Father, forgive. The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, Father, forgive. The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth, Father, forgive. Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others, Father, forgive. Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee, Father, forgive. The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children, Father, forgive. The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God, Father, forgive. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (From Litany of Reconciliation Coventry Cathedral) Lord’s Prayer Readings – Deuteronomy 18:15–20 Mark 1: 21-28 Hymn 74 – Not to us be glory given (Psalm 115) Weekly Prayer Lord God we pray for ourselves as we start the week ahead. We ask that in all we do, we may walk more closely with you at our side, safe in the knowledge that your Fatherly love and care knows no bounds. We too stand amazed at your teachings, and pray that we will cherish your words in our hearts. Amen Reflection When I was working in Israel, a new hotel was being built up the road, just on the shores of the Sea of Galilee at Migdal, where Mary Magdalene came from. Buildings had started to take shape – and then everything stopped. They had discovered ruins, and so it became an archaeological site. For several years the hotel was put on hold, no doubt to the annoyance of the developers, as the ruins of a whole town was uncovered, and in the middle was a 1st Century synagogue. It was so exciting to be in a place where Jesus had in all probability worshipped and even taught. While the Gospels don’t mention Jesus preaching in Migdal – or Magdala as it was called then, but they do mention him leading the worship at Capernaum just round the coast. He had just called the disciples; it was Sabbath, so they went to the synagogue. Jesus seemed to be known, and he was asked to preach. For the worshippers, it was just any other Sabbath; they went along, expecting to pray and hear Scriptures read and someone expounding them. But they would also meet friends, chat about the price of fish or who was new in the area. They didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary to happen. Little did they know! It is like us, coming to church week after week and expecting everything to be the same as usual. Maybe our worship can be a little tame. Two things happened in Capernaum. Firstly, the young man interpreting the Scriptures spoke with such authority. They couldn’t daydream or let their minds drift to what’s for dinner. He was offering something new; the Scripture came alive when he spoke. But the other thing that happened was that a man in the congregation started to shout out. Well, people just didn’t know where to look. How embarrassing. Mark tells us it was evil spirits, calling out Jesus, challenging Jesus, trying to get the upper hand over him. But Jesus confronted the spirits and spoke with authority, telling them to leave the man. And they did. It was the first healing. It may seem strange to us, something which happened 2000 years ago in Palestine, but not here in the Borders, not today. But think again. Jesus was confronting evil, and there is much that is bad, there is much that is evil in our society and in our world, all of which is opposed to God’s dream of what the world should be. In Scotland drug abuse causes so much suffering, and numbers are rising to the extent that we are number 1 in Europe. We need to confront it. We can talk about the evils of war and genocide, discrimination and racism; we need to confront them. But we must also think environmental damage and climate change, which has to be uppermost in our minds as we approach Cop 26 in Glasgow at the end of the year. And in a week that recorded the 100,000th death from Covid, we need to confront the various conspiracy theories floating around. There is so much seeking to undermine us; let us put our trust in the one who spoke with authority and liberates and heals the broken. Let us challenge the evils in our society in the small ways we can and speak ever of God’s love. In the words of Amanda Gorman, who spoke so meaningfully at Joe Biden’s inauguration: ‘For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it’. Hymn 782 – Lord of life Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Lord Jesus, we bring our gifts to you, asking that you bless them so that they may accomplish more than we can ask or imagine in your name. We thank you for the simple pleasures of each day, and for the strength to meet the challenges that arise. When it feels like we have come to the end of our own resources, replenish us with the energy of your Spirit, so that we know you are there for us and with us. In these strange times of isolation and distancing, we are grateful for prayer in its many forms, for the intimate ways we can find communion with you: in word and in silence, in music and movement, in the Spirit’s breath within us. We pray for those who feel overwhelmed by the additional pressures of home schooling, for those whose relationships are at breaking point. We pray too for those whose lives are blighted by anxiety and stress. We pray for the health services and charities trying to support them. Hear us now as we pray for the earth, this precious and fragile home to all living things: For declining species of plant and animal life, For the earth’s climate, For the oceans and the rainforests. Teach us how to be more faithful stewards of your earth and live more respectfully in your creation. We pray for our own circle of family and friends. Heal, bless, lead and encourage them. We pray this week, when the figure of deaths has reached 100,000, for all who have lost loved ones to Covid. Remind us that we belong to each other and to you and help us respond to one another with compassion and kindness. Finally, in silence, we pray for all those on our hearts and for all those who have no one to name them in prayer. Amen Hymn 360 – Jesus Christ is waiting (1,3,5) Benediction The blessing of God be upon you, the One who loves us, the Christ who calls us, the Spirit who sends us into the world, today and always. 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 3rd Sunday after Epiphany.
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Call to Worship God alone is our rock and our salvation. We will not be shaken! Trust in God at all times, O people. We will pour out our hearts to God, our refuge. In this time of worship, let us turn our lives to God and accept the good news. We will listen for Christ’s call and follow him. Hymn 104 – The Lord of heav’n confess Prayers of Adoration and Confession O God of Life and Hope In these still early weeks of this year we gather in our different places, and yet mysteriously together, to worship you. We are here to be renewed by you, O God, so that we may be able to renew others; to hear in the quiet places of our beings that word of love and divine friendship; to gain fresh vision so that we may help draw others into that circle of truth, life and service that is your Kingdom. Our longings after you are deeply true, O God but they are not always wholly pure. We are dusty with sin; we have compromised when we ought not to have and in those things where love said “give way” we have instead held fast. Forgive us, and restore us in the many dimensions of our lives. Make our longings for you and for the life of your Kingdom, the truth of our lives. Make the words of our hearts and mouths, the actions of our hands, more nearly match our true hearts. The God of mercy, who forgives all sin, forgives us. May this God also strengthen in us all goodness, by the power of the Holy Spirit. So be at peace with God, with yourself and with each other, in the name of Christ our Lord Lord’s Prayer Readings – Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 Mark 1: 14-20 Hymn 340 – When Jesus saw the fishermen Weekly Prayer Almighty God, today finds us in the midst of the Week of Prayer for Christian unity; help us to listen to your voice still calling us to unity in our diversity. Help us to repent and believe the good news, and to follow Jesus as He calls us again today. Amen Reflection Remember the time when libraries were open? You could go in and choose from fiction or biography, the children’s section or so many different types of non-fiction from travel to gardening. The Bible is often called a library of 66 books and has history and poetry, biography collection of letters and far more beside - even, I would suggest, comedy. Comedy? Or maybe, gentle humour. Certainly, whenever I read the book of Jonah, I have a smile on my face. Now, today we are remembering Christian Unity, but also the 25th marks the birthday of Rabbie Burns, Scotland’s national poet. Burns had an uncomfortable relationship with the Church, though many friends were ministers. He lambasts the ‘unco guid’, those who had a high conceit of themselves. Jonah was one of the unco guid, who no doubt enjoyed being a prophet; it had a certain status in society. But then God drops a bombshell and wants Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach. Now, Nineveh was not just up the road; it was thousands of miles away in what is now Northern Iraq and was the capital of Israel’s dreaded enemy, Assyria. That was the last place Jonah wanted to go, so he went down to the harbour and caught a boat going to Tarshish, near Gibraltar, the ends of the earth at that time, entirely the opposite direction from Nineveh. He thought he could escape God, that he could leave God behind in Israel. On the boat he must have been smiling to himself thinking he has won, when there was suddenly a storm, when there was suddenly a great fish – which swallowed Jonah and which ultimately dumped Jonah right on the doorstep of Nineveh. He learned that there was no escaping God. In the passage we read today Jonah is given the same task – to call Nineveh to repentance. The humour goes on, for in a feat to make Billy Graham green with envy, he gives a 30 second sermon and becomes a preaching sensation: today, he would have millions of followers on Twitter. All the inhabitants of the city repent, even the animals wear sackcloth. You would think that would have made Jonah happy, but he is livid – he wanted God to destroy Nineveh. He doesn’t want them to be forgiven, he doesn’t want them to know God’s love. Many scholars think that Jonah was written at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when some of the exiles had returned from Babylon to Jerusalem and found that people had intermarried with the other nations around. But some of the returning exiles were quite fanatical and wanted a stricter interpretation of the Law. They wanted people to send away their foreign wives. They felt that God only belonged to them and no-one else. The writer of Jonah was making a plea for greater tolerance. For them, the exile proved that God wasn’t confined to Jerusalem, but was with those exiled in Babylon too. God was far bigger than they imagined, and the book of Jonah is suggesting that God’s love is universal and that all nations are within God’s embrace. People may be very different from us, but that doesn’t exclude them from God’s love. It is an appropriate message for the week when we remember Christian Unity. People may worship in different ways, and that should be something to rejoice about. Yes, there are issues which still divide the churches, and we need to be honest about them. But there is so much which unites. We should rather focus on the call to show God’s love to others. Jonah was a reluctant prophet, but fortunately in our Gospel the fishermen accepted the call to follow Christ – and the world was turned upside down. Hymn 533 – Will you come and follow me Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession God of wisdom and integrity, you call your people to live together in joy and in justice. Hear us as we pray for the needs of the world. We pray for those whose faces and stories we have seen on the news this week; For those who live in places of fear and war, For those whose decisions affect the lives of nations, and we remember those making hard decisions about Covid, but also thank you for all involved in the vaccination programme. For Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, as they take over leadership of the United States, where there are so many divisions. In this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we ask you to help us to see clearly the divisions in our churches and be willing to engage in honest dialogue with those whose ideas and traditions differ from our own. We pray for the unity of your Church. Help us to see ourselves as rays from one sun, branches of a single tree and streams flowing from one river. May we remain united to you and to each other, because you are our common source of life. We pray for the leaders of our churches. As a church may we be faithful to your call to work together and share our resources with those in need. We pray for those who are sick or sad or in trouble and for those who care for them. We pray for those who have died and their families and friends who miss them so much. And in a moment of silence, we pray for our own needs and hopes and dreams. Amen Hymn 516 – We are marching.. Benediction May you know God’s peace in your heart and in your home. May you find God’s strength in the moments of your need. May the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, the friendship of the Spirit be yours today, and for every day to come. 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 2nd Sunday after Epiphany.
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Call to Worship Before we were born, God knew us. God knit us together in the womb. God searches out our paths and tracks our way. So we praise God, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made. There’s nowhere we can go where God is not with us. How wonderful are all God’s works! Let us worship God together. Hymn 52 – How lovely is thy dwelling place Prayers of Adoration and Confession God ever creating, ever loving, ever leading,You are stillness when we are frantic;You are truth when we are confused and perplexed.You give us freedom when we are paralyzed by fear;You send us light when we stumble in the darkness.You are love when we feel lonely and empty.For all that you are, all that you have been, and all that you will be for us,we praise you, Creator, Christ, Spirit.We turn to you in worship, to listen for your voice and seek your way for us. Merciful God, you call us to fullness of life but we have settled for much less.We have wandered from your ways and wasted your gifts. We ignore the pain of others, and turn our faces from injustice.Forgive us our small faith.Give us courage to listen and respond when you call. There is nothing on earth or beyond death that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are forgiven. You are loved. You are reconciled to God. Go and live with the love of God. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Readings – 1 Samuel 3:1–10 John 1:43–51 Hymn 251 – I, the Lord of sea and sky Weekly Prayer Father God, you spoke to awaken Samuel with Your call, and as we listen to your voice again today help us to believe your message. Unite us with the Church worldwide, as we declare with Nathanael that you are indeed the Son of God. We rejoice in the call to belong to your Church. Send us out into the coming week ready to demonstrate our calling in all that we do and say. Amen Reflection Whenever we went to Edinburgh, when I was a child, we always drove from Ayrshire to Douglas and up what was called the ‘Lang Whang’. We passed a little village called Glespin – just a few houses in the middle of the moor, in what seemed the middle of nowhere. But I always thought that it must be the most dreadful place to live on the planet. I was reminded of it when reading the passage from John today. Philip has met Jesus and is enthusiastic for his friend Nathanael to meet him too. But when he mentions where Jesus comes from, Nathanael is contemptuous, is dismissive, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth’. Nathanael was from the lakeside, and Nazareth was up in the hills, hillbilly country. But to his credit, Philip persists and says, ‘Come and See’. Nathanael did ‘go and see’ and his prejudices immediately disappeared, as he discovered that Jesus truly lived up to Philip’s billing. If I had discovered more about Glespin, I may have found out that it was the most wonderful place where people were incredibly neighbourly. How important it is not to rush into judgements, because of where a person comes from or their background, but to ‘go and see’. Jesus had been baptised and immediately starts to gather around him a group of disciples. Andrew was the first; he had called Jesus ‘Rabbi’, teacher, and asked him where he lived. Jesus replied, Come and See. He did, and they spent the day together, at the end of which Andrew was not calling Jesus ‘rabbi’, but rather ‘Messiah’ and immediately sharing the news with his brother Simon. We see this again and again in John’s gospel – Jesus engages with people, letting them ‘come and see’ and offering them a new way of living. Niocodemus, the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, Martha and Mary. He offered them life in all its fullness. ‘Come and see’ meant discovering who Jesus was, but also who they were themselves, especially in their relationship to God. Our reading from Samuel is also about discovering God. It is one so familiar from Sunday School days, the boy Samuel hearing the voice in the dark and mistaking it for the High Priest Eli. Eli ultimately realises it was God calling to Samuel and tells him to respond. It is a story about discerning the voice of God, of being open to God speaking to us where we don’t expect. But also it was about Samuel taking the first steps in discovering more about God and learning to serve. Often we stop there at verse 10, It is not enough to say "here I am". We need to be ready to follow through as well. If we read on, God’s message to Samuel was actually a condemnation of Eli and his sons, whose shocking abuse of power was damaging the reputation of the priesthood. I suppose it was about accountability, and those in high office are always to be held accountable for their actions, especially when they do abuse power – that is something in the news just now over in the States, and nearer to home too, but equally we have to look at ourselves and ask whether we live up to God’s calling to be light in the world. For Philip, he had something good to share with his friend Nathanael and said Come and see. Jesus told Nathanael that he had seen him sit under the fig tree, and Nathanael was amazed, maybe by the fact that he had been noticed and valued. I am sure Jesus could have muttered under his breathe- ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’! This is a challenge to us today to share the good news that we have and to invite our friends to come to church / watch the video/ listen to the podcast and let them discover something about this Jesus for themselves. Hymn 602 – Is it spooky, is it weird? Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession God of new possibilities, receive our gifts. Use them and us to create new possibilities in the world for those who are uncertain about what the future holds. We remember before you today people living face to face with so much economic uncertainty, for those who have lost their jobs or worry what may happen as this year unfolds: God, speak to us a word of reassurance: Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today people living face to face with discrimination and social prejudice, for those who are bullied at school, at work or at home, for those who are made ashamed of who they are: God, speak to us a word of dignity: Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today people living face to face with illness and suffering, for those struggling with disability, made more complex these days, and for those who know grief or anxiety, especially those cut off from comfort or support by months of pandemic isolation: God, speak to us a word of healing: Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today people divided by differences of race or creed, of culture, gender or generation: and we pray for all those who seek to build bridges of understanding and co-operation across differences: God, speak to us a word of reconciliation: Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today your whole creation and its many vulnerable facets and faces. Teach us how to care for the rips and tears in the fabric of the world you love so we may live together wisely: God, speak to us a word of wisdom: Embrace us with your love. Amen Hymn 530 – One more step Benediction God bless us today that we may be a blessing -in our seeing, In our hearing, In our speaking, in our thinking, In our feeling, In our loving: and may God’s blessing from Father Son and Holy Spirit be with you, now and forever 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 1st Sunday after Epiphany.
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Call to Worship This the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. We are the family of God. And are called by God’s name. We are heirs of Christ’s kingdom. And born of the Spirit. Let us, therefore, come together in worship Hymn 327 – Brightest and best (vv 1,3,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession On this first day of the week, you began your new creation, raising Christ out of the darkness of deathand breathing new life into your world and your people.On this first day of the week, you call us to waken from our slumbers and come together in your holy name. We gather, wherever we are, to listen and wonder, sing, pray, and be fed.You call us to be your instruments of hope in a hurting world, and so we come to answer your call and bring you our prayer and praise. Trusting in God’s steadfast love, we offer our prayers of confession:God of majesty and mercy, forgive our wrongdoing:things we have done knowingly…things we have left undone…hurts we have inflicted unintentionally…and hurts we have tried to disguise.Forgive our acts of selfishness,harmful things we have done to please others,and those done to please ourselves.In the week ahead and the year ahead, help us choose a better way. Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Believe the good news of the Gospel! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free to make a new start Lord’s Prayer Readings – Genesis 1: 1-5 Mark 1: 4-11 Hymn 334 – On Jordan’s bank (vv 1,2,5) Weekly Prayer Creator God, we thank you for the light of your love which shines upon us dispelling our darkness. Help us to be like the seed that fell on good soil producing much fruit, and thank you for the promise that you listen to our supplications and answer our requests. Amen. Reflection During the week I received a video of one friend and the photo of another, being vaccinated. Both live in Israel, where they seem to be quite forward in their vaccination programme. There was almost a party atmosphere, a sense of a new start after the long months of the pandemic. Here we too are excited by the roll out of the vaccine, but also face a stricter lockdown again. Some of us cope better than others, but all would agree that it can be quite oppressive. The people of Palestine at the time of Christ were feeling oppressed and longed for a new start. They were under Roman occupation and had to endure the daily humiliations that occupation brings. So, when John started to preach in the wilderness about repentance and a new start, people began to flock to him. He was somehow speaking their language and giving voice to their hopes and yearnings, especially when he talked of the Messiah to come. They came from all over and queued to be baptised in the River Jordan. And Jesus came from Galilee and joined the queue. Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the Jesus’ birth. But Mark doesn’t focus on that at all. Mark dives straight in and tells us about the baptism. There are a lot of years between his birth and the baptism that we know very little about, but for Mark the baptism was the beginning, the new start, where his ministry all began by Jesus joining the queue to be baptised. Queuing has become a way of life for us, especially during this pandemic. We wait patiently till it is our turn to go into the shop or wherever. What would Jesus’ thoughts be as he joined the queue? He didn’t need to be there. We see Jesus as being without sin, so he had no need to repent. But for Jesus, being there was so important. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with the people; people who were not particularly religious, but were aware of their shortcomings, and so it was an act of solidarity with humanity. Although the Son of God, he stood alongside us – and still stands alongside us today in all the trials and tribulations that life throws at us. For Mark and the other Gospel writers the baptism was vitally important. Jesus goes into the waters and is baptised, and the heavens are torn open and the dove descends, the sign of the Spirit, the same spirit who was there in Genesis at Creation. And the voice comes from heaven, saying ‘This is my beloved son; marked by my love’. These words showed identity – Jesus was God’s son, God’s pride and joy. But it was also affirmation and acceptance, and with these words Jesus was able to start his ministry, strengthening, encouraging, showing the people that they are accepted by God. All of us need to be affirmed, to know that we are valued. The baptism of Christ was a celebration, where he was affirmed, but he went from there to affirm others in God’s love. The baptism was the start of Christ’s ministry; but every day can be a new start for us, as we ever seek to live our lives more like Christ. Hymn 336 – Christ is our light (vv1,2) Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession God our Maker, we bring our gifts to you in thanksgiving for your gifts to us in Christ and in creation. Bless what we bring and who we are, so that our gifts will bless the world you love in Christ’s name. We thank you for the work of your church and for all we are able to do to bring your love, healing and justice into the world. We pray for churches that are struggling financially, for churches enmeshed in conflict, for those that are tired and in need of renewal; and for congregations that have found a new sense of purpose. Give them all wisdom and strength. As the pandemic still haunts lives and nations, we pray for those struggling with COVID-19 and its lingering effects, for those whose emotions are raw from fear or isolation, and for those exhausted by caring for others and serving the public day by day. We bring all who work in the NHS before you. We pray for children and young adults as their schooling is disrupted; for parents and teachers, forced to adjust schedules. We pray for our brothers and sisters across the world who are striving for unity in places of division; for justice in the face of oppression; for peace where violence has broken out; We pray especially for the United States at this time of division and transition and pray for the Biden administration as they prepare to take over. Give them hope and courage as they face many challenges. We pray for one another, our families, our communities, our church. May we support those who are unwell or grieving. May we bring fresh hope to those who feel forgotten and are vulnerable, and may we – both practically and prayerfully – share our faith in your Son Jesus in whose name we entrust these prayers to you. Amen Hymn 331 – Unto us is born a boy (1,2,5) Benediction Go in peace; love and care for one another in the name of Christ; and may the Spirit of God which filled John and Jesus, fill your hearts, souls and minds; may the power of God which upheld them, strengthen you for each day; and may the love of God which directed their every action be your guiding light and your shining star, both now and forevermore. Amen  The Lord be with you! Christmas greetings, Cheviot Churches and also to those elsewhere! You are all very welcome. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Epiphany Sunday.
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Call to Worship In the beginning was darkness And God made the earth and the heavens and set the stars in the sky In the beginning was chaos And God created order and beauty and gave each star its name In the beginning was discord And all the stars sang together and the angels shouted for joy Carol 323 – The first Nowell Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of light and of life,we praise you for your creation,and for the Word made flesh in the child born in Bethlehem.Open our hearts and minds in this time of worship.Just as you led the Magi by the star, lead us by your Spirit beyond the limits of this world’s expectations, to the life where you make all things new through Christ, our Morning Star God of mercy and loving kindness,you sent Christ among us to be the light of the worldand to reveal your love to all people.We confess that our sins hide the brightness of your light.We waste our gifts,we ignore cries for justice,we harm the earth and we do not strive for peace in the world or with each other.In your mercy, cleanse us and make us new. Be assured of God’s love and forgiveness that shine for us in Christ Jesus. As a new year unfolds, make a new beginning with God and with one another. May the peace of Christ be with you all. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2: 1-12 Carol 326 – As with gladness Weekly Prayer Heavenly Father, you sent your Son to guide your people, just as you sent a star to guide the Wise Men to worship Him. We bring our gifts, praying that we may be used in your service and asking your Holy Spirit to guide our Cheviot Churches as we begin a New Year. We pray that you will always be present as we take one more step along the journey of faith. Amen. Reflection In Greek mythology Jason and his Argonauts had a quest – they had to find the Golden Fleece and went through all sorts of adventures and dangers to do so. Indiana Jones had a number of quests, searching out the ark of the covenant or some other archaeological treasure, and again overcame many obstacles to succeed. But as we reach Epiphany, we think of another quest – that of the Magi following the star, believing that it would lead them to a child who would change the world. Over the centuries they have fascinated us. We call them the three kings from the Orient, though the Bible doesn’t mention any number nor does it mention that they were in any way regal. The Venerable Bede in the 8th Century reputedly suggested they represented the whole world and came from Africa, Asia and Europe. Certainly they were wise, they studied the stars and probably came from Iran. Today we might call them astrologers, and in their studies they came to the conclusion that something momentous, something earth-transforming was going to happen, and so they set out on what would be a long and arduous journey. They were wealthy, they could have sent someone and waited for their report, but they didn’t. They weren’t armchair observers: they wanted to see for themselves. We often picture the Magi at the stable presenting their gifts – at least that is how our Christmas cards show it. We forget about the journey. T.S. Eliot wrote the poem, ‘The Journey of the Magi’ and talks of the hardships and the regrets – how they remembered the summer palaces and the servants bringing sherbet. They had given up that life of ease to follow the star. It would have been hard, but they persevered and as often happens, just when they had almost reached their goal, they had a strange lapse. After following the star for so long, this 1st Century GPS, they reached Jerusalem and decided to seek advice from King Herod, and with remarkable folly rather than wisdom, asked the whereabouts of the new-born king, with enormous consequences for the children of Bethlehem. They did eventually reach the stable and presented their gifts – gold, frankincense and myrrh, but also their time and the many sacrifices they had made on their journey. They gave of themselves, and that is what true giving is. Then, we are told, they went home by another route. The Magi had succeeded with their quest; they had reached their goal, and had worshipped the baby. But they were not the same people that had started out on the journey. The journey and especially their time at the stable transformed them. Any encounter with Christ changes us. We are not the same afterwards. The Magi had to go by a different route to avoid the paranoid Herod, but at the same time, their whole lives had taken a new turn. As we go into this new year of 2021, we hope our lives will take a new turn and for the better. We have lessons to learn and cannot go back to what it was like before. But at this new year, let us also follow a different route, one that follows the dedication, sacrifice and commitment that inspired the Magi in their journey and ever seek to live out the kingdom values of the Christ child that they came to worship. Carol – We three kings We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light Creed We believe in God the maker, who created heaven and earth, star-maker, singer, source of life. We believe in Jesus the storyteller, who walked the roads of Galilee, befriender, questioner, source of truth. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is as close to us as our heartbeat, challenger, comforter, source of joy. We believe that God is in our midst, calling us to care for one another and to work for justice and peace. We look for the light of God to shine on us and in us through all the adventures of our nights and days. Amen (Ruth Burgess) Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of majesty and mystery, we bring our gifts to you, grateful that you are with us in good times and in hard times. We do not know what the year ahead will hold but your love shines like a star to guide us. Bless these gifts that they may keep the light of Christ shining through the church to guide and embrace the world you love. God of all time and space, as we gather in prayer, we recognize that our lives are but small details in the vast expanse of your universe. So we thank you for attending to the details of our lives. We thank you for the year just past, for walking through the hard days and uncertainties with us, and for the gifts of encouragement and friendship that cheered us. The year just ending has held so many sorrows and challenges for so many. We remember dear ones who have died and pray for those who look ahead in loneliness or sadness… God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who have faced challenges in health, in their families or at work… God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for the earth, that we may live on it responsibly. Teach us to recognise and respect you in the wonders you have made. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who help us to wonder – for scientists, astronomers, designers of telescopes and planetariums, artists, poets and storytellers. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for those who will sleep under the stars tonight – for travellers, refugees, explorers, for those fleeing danger. God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER We pray for ourselves, that you will give us dreams and the courage to follow them … God, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER God of beauty and mystery, you love each one of us and we are wonderfully and intricately made. Be close to us in our tears and our laughter. Keep us loving and just and full of wonder. Fill us with life. AMEN Carol 324 – Angels from the realms of glory Benediction Lead us on, to learn willingly, to love well and to live in trust. May the blessing of God, loving Father, newborn Son, and living Spirit, go with us, and to all those we are given to love, this day, in 2021 and always, Amen |
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