 Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship When Israel was a child I loved him Out of Egypt I called my son I taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms I led them with cords of kindness, with bands of love I was like those who lift infants to their cheeks I bent down to them and fed them Hymn 172 – Sing for God’s glory Prayer Gracious God, As a mother loves her child, so you love us. You have watched over us from our birth, Tenderly nurturing us, showering us with love. You have given us strength in times of need, comfort in times of distress, guidance in times of uncertainty. Whatever we have faced, you have been with us. For that great truth, we praise and thank you. God of love and mercy, We confess that we have not always appreciated your love. We have ignored what you would teach us and disobeyed your instructions. We have taken you for granted and wandered far from your side. Forgive us. Yet through all this, you are constant, caring for us and ready to sacrifice your all for our sakes and loving us with an unquenchable love. We thank you that we are your forgiven children. Mothering God, Embrace us in your fierce love, enfold us in your protective care, calm our anxious worrying and still us, body, mind and spirit, to rest in you. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Amos 5: 13-5, 21-4 (pg 920 ) Luke 4: 14-21 (pg 1031) Hymn 253 – Inspired by love and anger (vv 1,2,4,6) Weekly Prayer Father God, today we especially thank you for all that our mothers gave us, from the moment we were born into this amazing life. The news constantly reminds us of the brokenness of our world and for many families, life is more dangerous than ever before. We pray for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; and that your love may bring peace to all your children. Amen Sermon Last weekend the BBC found itself in crisis, all because the presenter Gary Lineker reacted against Government policy about immigration in a tweet. He said what he thought, but as a presenter should he have remained impartial? Arguments were made for and against. Over the last few weeks the three candidates to be leader of the Scottish National Party have been debating issues, and while they may all be for independence, they differ greatly on a lot of other issues and as one of them might be First Minister, that affects us all. Politics! We have our own opinions, some of which we hold very strongly, and even as Christians and as the Church we hold very differing views. Before devolution in 1999, the General Assembly was often seen as the nearest we could get to a Scottish parliament, and one of the most eagerly awaited days was when the Church & Nation committee presented their report. I remember as students we would go there early to secure a seat, as the assembly debated issues such as nuclear disarmament or medical ethics or debt cancellation or when the Guild reported on the motherhood of God, which maybe deserves a mention on Mothering Sunday! There were passionate speeches and some very close votes, because the Church was often divided over these issues. Some motions were defeated, only to be accepted several years later. It is amazing how views change over the years Even today the church debates important issues, because they impact on everyday life. The Church can’t separate itself from politics. Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the marks of mission, and today we get to the 4th mark, which calls on the church to ‘transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation’. It ties in with what we talked about last week, when we looked at the 3rd mark, loving service, when we reach out to the sick and disadvantaged. The 4th mark is really asking the question WHY people are going hungry or suffering and calling on the church to address it. It is what Christians have been doing down the centuries. The Wilberforces and indeed David Livingstone challenged the slave trade. Elizabeth Fry sought prison reform. Mary Slessor in Calabar challenging the practice of killing newly-born twins. So many have led the calls for freedom from oppression. In Nazi Germany, while some Christians colluded, there were others like Bonhoeffer who spoke out against the evil they saw, to the point of being executed themselves. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was of course at the forefront of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and he talked about the Europeans coming to Africa. They had the Bible, and the Africans had the land. They said Let us pray, and when the Africans opened their eyes at the amen, the Africans had the Bible and the Europeans the land. But the Bible is explosive. Tutu talked of the danger of giving someone the Bible, because the Bible was filled with stories of fighting oppression; it was about a God who wasn’t neutral, but biased towards the poor and downtrodden and despised. We see it from the Hebrews being enslaved by Pharaoh, and God hearing their cries and calling Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead the people to freedom. God was on their side, and the laws given to the Israelites reflected that. About not coveting what didn’t belong to you. About looking out for the widow and orphan and stranger in their midst. About treating people fairly and with respect. When the Israelites settled, God kept them to account through the prophets, people like Amos. Amos lived at a time of relative prosperity in Israel, when those with the means could live very comfortably and enjoy some luxuries . The problem was that not everyone had the means, and the prophet was forthright in his condemnation of those who lived a good life while not having a care that many others lived in abject poverty. It was complacency or maybe even indifference. They just didn’t care. But Amos looked around and saw corruption and cheating with measures and abuse and called the people to account, saying let justice roll down like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream. The prophets kept Israel in check. And in the Gospels we read how Jesus gave his manifesto at the start of his ministry, quoting from the prophet Isaiah and saying he would announce good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom to the prisoner and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed and declare the year of jubilee, when wrongs would be righted. This was radical stuff, and he would confront the religious and political powers of the day with an alternative way, which was the Kingdom of God. As the church we are called to a radical way of living and to shape a just and fairer society, where all can be valued and respected for who they are. Pie in the sky? The saints down the ages didn’t think so and made a difference where they were. Augustine, one of the great theologians of the early Church, said that Hope has two daughters – Anger, at the way things are, and Courage, to put them right. We are a people of hope, who seek to advance Christ’s kingdom on earth. We bear Christ’s name, so we can’t ignore the ways of Christ. So as the Church we are called to shape our society with the kingdom values and to confront evil with good and work that peace and justice might prevail. Hymn 473 – Thy kingdom come Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Merciful God, the gifts we bring are so small in comparison to the vast needs in our world— nowhere near enough. Yet we bring what we can. As You once multiplied the five small loaves and two fish, multiply these gifts as well, so that we can reach out with love and justice. On this Mothering Sunday, we celebrate and give thanks for the achievements of mothers and remember the women who have played a part in our lives. Those who have nurtured us, taught us, inspired us, loved us. As we acknowledge the challenges women still face, we pray that all women may know equality of healthcare, of education, of wealth, of prospects. We pray that all women may know themselves to be respected, safe, included, empowered. But we also know that for some people this is a difficult day holding hurt, grief and perhaps anger. We pray that you will draw alongside those who are hurting today to comfort them and surround them with your tender care. We pray: · for women and indeed men who grieve because they are unable to have the children they long for; · for mother and fathers who grieve because, like Mary, they have had to see their child die too soon. · for those who are cut off from their children by disappointment, anger or bitterness. · for mothers who are worried or afraid for their child’s well-being or safety. We ask you, heavenly Parent, to bring healing, comfort, forgiveness and peace into the hearts and minds of hurting mothers. We remember today all who are denied their basic human rights. For all who risk their lives to protest against totalitarianism and dictatorship. For those who are discriminated against because of their race or colour of skin, their religion, or their gender. Let justice roll like a river and righteousness like an ever-rolling stream. Be with the sick and those recovering from operations. With all who have lost loved ones and with the lonely, as in a moment of silence we bring those on our hearts before you. Amen Hymn 710 – I have a dream, a man once said Benediction
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 Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We gather in this place to worship Yearning for the Holy Spirit to fill us We come among our fellow believers Trusting that God will touch our hearts That we might serve others And bring hope and healing to the world Hymn 112 – God whose almighty word Prayer Creator, Christ and Spirit you provide what we need to live, from the bounty of creation. God of mercy, you know us through and through and you love us. God of hope, you have an everlasting purpose for us. God of wisdom, you open our minds and teach and guide us. So we come to worship you, Source of Wisdom, Son of Mercy, Spirit of Hope, offering you our prayers and our praise, trusting you to offer us the gifts we need to thrive and to serve you in the world you love. O God, our great shepherd, tenderly you gather us as lambs, carrying us with your all-embracing love. Yet, like sheep, we wander from you; often following our own ways, sometimes ignoring your voice, at times distrusting your provisions. Forgive our wrongdoing, our hardened hearts, our lack of trust. Refresh us once again by your quiet waters of mercy and restore our souls by your redeeming love. Guide our paths, that we might follow you more closely Through Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, we pray. Receive the good news of the gospel: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Lord’s Prayer Readings –Philippians 2: 1-11 (pg 1179 ) Mark 10: 46-52 (pg 1015) Hymn 557 – O love that wilt not let me go Weekly Prayer Father God, in many ways you have taught us that we can always trust you, even when it might seem that you are far from us. Give us spiritual sight and help us to remember your humility, even to death on the cross for our salvation. May we feel your loving presence as we go from this time of worship, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen Sermon A graduation is a big day, a celebration of years of study. Family and friends are dressed up to support the graduate. For Ryan it was such an achievement, but he reflected on his whole life and said, ‘If it hadn’t been for Rainbow House I wouldn’t be here today. I have got my family back, I have got my life back’. Ryan had been in a bad place. He lives in one of the housing estates on the periphery of Glasgow and had got involved with drugs big time. He became estranged from his family, as he spent everything to get his next fix. Fortunately the local church had a café providing cheap meals, which also doubled as a foodbank. The staff there had got to know Ryan and suggested he try to turn his life around and they mentioned Rainbow House which a Crossreach residential home in Glasgow for those suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Coming off any addiction can be a nightmare (Halterburn). It wasn’t easy for Ryan and there were setbacks, but somehow he came through it. To the extent that he decided he wanted to help others in a similar situation, so he went through training and now he was graduating. His life had turned around and now he works at Rainbow House. Crossreach is the social arm of the Church of Scotland and has been around for 150 years. It is the largest non-statutory care provider in Scotland and does tremendous work, yet as a Church we don’t know enough about it. It offers such a range of services. The most well-known are perhaps the care homes for the elderly, which are all around Scotland, though I don’t think there are any in the Borders. However, Crossreach is involved in more than that, providing counselling services like the Tom Allan centre or supporting those coming out of prison or those with learning difficulties or those with dementia – such as an art project. The list goes on...! But it all stems from the Church reaching out to the vulnerable in society, to those on the margins. It is faith in action. We have been looking at the marks of mission, the five marks that the Church is using to define mission in the 21st Century, and today we are onto the 3rd mark which is Loving Service. Right from the earliest days the Church saw a need to tend the less fortunate. In the book of Acts, the Church quickly appointed deacons to take care of the practical side of church life, and that included helping the poor and sick. It was there right from the beginning – and why? Because wherever Jesus went, he was filled with compassion when he saw those on the margins of society crying for help, crying to be heard. Those with leprosy, the paralysed, the blind, those wracked with guilt. So often they were just ignored, just like today, but Jesus noticed and Jesus did something about it. The name Jesus is short for Joshua and means ‘he saves’. He certainly saved Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was blind and begged from passers-by on the road to Jericho. But he wasn’t content with his lot. He had heard of Jesus and the miracles he had performed, and so when Jesus passed by, he shouted out. People told him to be quiet, but this was his one chance and he was taking it. ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ He couldn’t see what the reaction was, apart from being told to stay in the margins, stay silent. Then Jesus spoke to him and asked what he wanted. Quick as a flash, he grabbed the opportunity and asked for his sight. He followed Jesus. Jesus saw people in need and responded. In the early church there was a hymn to Jesus, which we read in Philippians: how Jesus’ nature was to empty himself and give of himself to the world, even to the point of death. He gave of himself to all who came seeking his mercy, right up to walking the road to the cross at Calvary, where he gave himself for the life of the world, saving humanity, even though it was we by our sins that nailed him to the cross. Paul encourages the congregation at Philippi to have the same mind as was in Christ, looking to the interests of others rather than their own self-interest. He has a vision of the life of the Christian community being formed by the spirit of humility and servanthood and self-giving that Jesus embodied and so reach out to serve others. We are called to show that loving service and reach out to others who are hurting – and there are those who are hurting because of the Church and abuse they have suffered. In missions abroad the first things to be built were schools and hospitals; only after that were churches built. We show loving service through foodbanks and breakfast clubs and providing space for people to come together; through offering hospitality and giving lifts. The Guild does magnificently raising hundreds of thousands nationally for projects at home and abroad, while we raise money for Christian Aid and disaster appeals. As the Church we have to look beyond ourselves and to be part of our community and be part of our hurting world. As Jesus healed so many in body, mind and spirit, so we too are agents of healing and hope. Hymn 718 – We cannot measure how you heal Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious God, you have given us each a unique set of gifts: physical health and strength to some; to others wit and cleverness. Some of us are born leaders; some prefer to follow; some of us are good with words; others speak through our actions. Help us to use our gifts for good and not for ill. May we use our strength to help other people, not to hurt them; our minds to enlighten, not deceive; our words to serve the truth and not distort it, to heal and not to harm. We give back to you the gifts that you have given us. Help us to use them well. Living God, we turn to you now with our concerns for people, for places and for situations which are on our hearts today. As we long for your Kingdom to come and for fulness of life for all, we ask you to renew our trust and our hope and to show us how we can begin to answer some of our own prayers. We hold up to you those whose needs are most basic. Those who do not have clean water to drink or enough food to eat. Those who lack proper shelter or have no access to education, or health care. Those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by war, by natural disaster, or by the violence, power plays and greed of others. Those who do not have a safe place to call home or a stable family and friends with which to share their lives. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We thank you for the cool clear water that flows in mountain streams. We are conscious of the many ways in which humanity has polluted water courses, through overflows from industry, waste and treatment plants. Through plastic, chemicals, and rubbish. We know that many people have no clean water in which to bathe or even to drink and that pollution is destroying habitats and wildlife and choking the life from rivers, lakes and seas. We ask for a renewal of our habits leading to a renewal of habitats across our world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We ask your blessing on all who are involved with Fairtrade, lifting before you the producers as they grow their crops and craft their works. Bless them in their endeavours and grant them wisdom and discernment as they make decisions about how to use the benefits of Fairtrade. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We pray for the Church, that your Spirit may bring us close to Christ and closer to each other. We ask your blessing on the work of Crossreach, for the staff of all the various centres as they give care to so many. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer Be with all who are on the margins of society, all who struggle to have a voice and make themselves heard. Be with all who are sick in body or mind or spirit. Be with all waiting for operations. Bless all who have lost loved ones and are feeling lost themselves. We pray in silence for those whose names are on our hearts. Amen. Hymn 458 – At the name of Jesus Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We open our hearts to receive God’s welcome We open our hands to greet one another. We open our lives to God’s invitation To live in love and freedom. Let us worship God With heart and soul and mind Hymn 645 – I am not ashamed to own my Lord Prayer Holy One, we enter this holy space in awe of all that you are and all that we have yet to discover of you. We bow humbly before you and acknowledge our gratitude to you for the life we are given. You have created a universe for us to explore and to care for, a community to be part of and an unconditional love revealed in your son, Jesus. In this special season of Lent, we are reminded of how small a part we play in your bigger story. Each one of us is special and unique, no matter what we think, we are loved by you and given a wealth of people and gifts to help us on our journey in life. We rejoice that as part of the body of Christ we work together building your kingdom; as individuals we each have our part to play. No matter what part of the journey we are on we are meant to work together to encourage and teach each other. The gift of free will allows us to make choices that sometimes we regret, we come before you to confess our sins, for times when we have made poor choices for the times we have hurt anyone. Help us to be humble enough to apologise for our faults and failings and receive your forgiveness. Keep us humble, Lord, help us to be open to those who would guide us wisely, that we may grow daily into the people we were created to be. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 (pg 189 ) Matthew 28: 16-20 (pg 1001) Hymn 527 – Lord, make us servants Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, help us to love you with all our heart, soul and strength. May we show and share our love and our trust for you wholeheartedly today and throughout our Lenten journey. Amen Sermon In Matthew’s gospel, the risen Jesus addresses the disciples and gives what is called The Great Commission – Go and make disciples of all nations and baptise them and teach them to obey all I commanded. And there is the 2nd Mark of mission – to teach, baptise and nurture. During this season of Lent we are looking at the 5 marks of mission, which the Church of Scotland has adopted as a means to define what mission is all about in the 21st Century. Last week we looked at the first mark – to proclaim the gospel. This week we have the 2nd mark, which is really about discipleship. For a disciple is a student or follower, someone who over a period of time learns from his or her teacher. So we are followers of Christ, listening to his words, looking at his example, following the path he laid, living as he wants us to live. Jesus challenges us to live by a different set of priorities, one which requires us to love the lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind, as we read from Deuteronomy today. It is called the Shema, and often you do find it on doorposts to remember to love God. Jesus adds to that, to love our neighbours as ourselves, even the ones we don’t particularly like. That is radical. To be a disciple of Jesus means continually learning to be more Christlike and being disciplined in our choices. The good news is that we don’t have to do it by ourselves. We live our discipleship in a community, which is the Church. We do discipleship together, supporting one another, encouraging one another, rejoicing together. Those with more experience help those who are newer in the community. That is nurture. There was an interview on the radio earlier this week, and it was claimed that the secret to good health and well-being lay in having friends, people to relate to, people you can meet for coffee, people you could phone up in the middle of the night in an emergency. The point being made was that there are so many who don’t, and it affects their health. We all need to belong. That is the importance of village shops – people have someone to talk to. As the church we are a community of believers. We can rub each other up the wrong way at times, we have different backgrounds, different views, but so much in common and as a community of believers, we are there to support and encourage. That is why it is so important to welcome and to get involved. In the Early Church, people were attracted to the message of Jesus, and the apostles had to have a way of teaching people to be good disciples of the Jesus. People coming from Judaism knew the Law, such as the Deuteronomy passage we read earlier. They had heard the Old Testament stories and could find from them pointers to Jesus. They already knew the moral law and what was required of a believer and so the journey into Christianity was somewhat easier. For a Gentile, however, it was different, and they had to disassociate oneself from pagan faith and practice, with emperor worship and different moral standard. It was a bit of a battle in the early church over this, with some wishing to restrict membership of the Church to those from a Jewish background, but those like Paul who opposed this eventually prevailed with their message that all were one in Christ, be they Jew or Gentile, slave or free. All belonged. In the early church, those coming for baptism were adults and there was a long period of preparation. I have mentioned before that in Zambia there were 36 lessons before baptism or confirmation for adults. We are quicker in Scotland! But as we grow in faith, and we are always growing in faith, there is no retirement, we have to centre ourselves on God. That is what Jesus did. In the wilderness when he was being tempted, it would have been easy to succumb, but he was centred on God and on God’s word, and that helped him to resist. At the Garden of Gethsemane, he wrestled with what lay ahead, the way of the cross, but said, Your will, not my will be done. As disciples we keep God as our centre and have the community of believers to support us. We are invited, encouraged, challenged, and called to join a band of disciples going back centuries, who for 2000 years have boldly shared God’s vision for the world. May God give us the boldness and the wisdom to share the vision, the hope and the possibility of God’s reign of love here in this place in 2023. Be bold! Let love shine for all the world to see! Go make a difference in our community and in our world. Hymn 513 - Courage brother, do not stumble Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Generous God, giver of all things, receive our offerings today. As you poured out your love for us by sending Jesus, may we pour out our love for you by continuing to build the kingdom of which he spoke and taught, loving and serving, locally and globally. Eternal One, Majesty, Word, Spirit, we bring to You the needs of our world, of our nations, of our church and of our own lives, knowing You hear our prayers, give us grace and inspire us to make a difference. O God, ancient, yet ever young, we remember before you the places of pain in our world, countries at war, nations in chaos, leaders usurping power, the poor and the earth itself groaning with pain. We think of Israel and Palestine, of Yemen, of Nigeria. Bless with your wisdom those who work for peace. In particular we pray for those on the move this day, families fleeing war, terror and famine; youngsters fleeing repression and oppression, women seeking new lives for themselves and their children; open our hearts, our wallets and our borders to Your bedraggled people. (pause) O God, embodied in Jesus, flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone, we bring to you own nations, those who can’t afford to pay their bills, workers no longer earning enough to live, NHS staff who are exhausted and feel devalued. We pray for the governments in London and Edinburgh as hard decisions are taken. Grant wisdom. In this Fairtrade Fortnight, we pray for just and equitable trade between peoples, and that all may earn a fair wage for their work. We pray for the sick and those awaiting operations. For the anxious, the lonely and the bereaved. We pray now for those whose needs you have placed on our hearts at this time. We thank you for the saints who have gone before us, who are now with you in heaven. May they ever inspire us. Amen Hymn 644 – O Jesus I have promised Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We are ambassadors for Christ Fill is with your love We are ambassadors for Christ Fill us with your joy We are ambassadors for Christ Fill us with your peace Hymn 159 – Lord for the years Prayer Almighty God, you spoke and the world came into being, putting chaos and darkness to flight. You have continued to speak through all the centuries, offering a lamp for our path and a faith to live by. We thank you for the ways you speak to us, stirring our imagination, kindling and nurturing our faith, confronting and questioning, yet also renewing and uplifting. Ever open our minds to what you would say to us and help us to listen. Merciful God, we are aware of all that you offer us and we see ourselves as we are: a mixture - of hope and despair, - of joy and sadness, - of love and hatred, - of self-giving and self-seeking. Forgive us when we have neglected your gift of creation. Forgive us when we have gone astray and not let your love flourish within us. Forgive us when we have given into temptation rather than wrestling with it. Forgive us for when we avoid difficult issues or forget to love our enemies. Forgive us when we fail to listen for your word to us. Forgive us and restore us to be the people you want us to be. Hear and believe the Good News: anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone, the new life has come. Know that you are forgiven and so, in Christ, forgive one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 55: 1-13 (pg 742) Luke 10: 1-12 (pg 1041) Hymn 97- O God, you search me and you know me Weekly Prayer Merciful Lord, as we begin this season of Lent, help us to aim high as we seek to renew the discipline of our discipleship. Send us out with joy, and lead us as your people, like the disciples of old, to share your peace with all we meet. Amen Sermon For our bible readings we usually follow the lectionary, but through this season of Lent we are going to look at the 5 marks of Mission. These have been discussed in the ecumenical setting, in various denominations, as an attempt to define what mission is all about in the 21st century. The 5 marks are evangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, social justice and care of creation. Or, as some churches abbreviate them: Tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure. As Church of Scotland moves forward, we are encouraged to use these 5 marks as we look at how best to be the Church where we are. The first mark is to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, to tell, to gossip the Gospel. But if we are called to tell we need to know what to talk about. We need to know the Word of God and, as Paul says in Colossians, let the Word dwell in us richly. Thus we are able to talk from experience we talk about Christ as a friend. For many centuries that Word was in Latin, and only a few could understand it. That’s why stained glass developed, so people could look at the bible stories in picture form. But that changed in the build up to the reformation., when Luther translated the bible into the vernacular, in his case, into German, and with the development of the printing press, it was able to be widely distributed. Influenced by Luther, William Tynedale translated the New Testament into English, but if you had a copy in your possession, you would likely be tortured or even killed and copies would be burned. But Tynedale famously wanted a simple ploughboy to know Scriptures better than the priests and for everyone to have the bible at their fingertips. He used easy-to-remember phrases that rolled off the tongue. It is estimated that 70% or more of the King James Bible, printed 75 years later, was taken from Tynedale. Phrases like ‘the writing on the wall, salt of the earth, thorn in the flesh, fight the good fight, the blind leading the blind, the powers-that-be’ are all from Tynedale and have enriched our language. Tynedale was caught and burned at the stake and most copies of his bibles were burned, but the power-that-be changed their mind, and soon there would be a Bible in the vernacular in every parish and people would be able to read it for themselves and treasure it. It is sad that today so few people read the bible and know the stories, given that so many fought and died for the chance to read scripture in their own tongue. We all have our different approaches to the Bible and its interpretation, but it is a rich treasure house of 66 books and can be our tool to share the good news. For this first mark of mission reminds us that what we are about is sharing Good News. In a world accustomed to bad news, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by all the negatives. Ukraine, earthquake, strikes, Covid, falling numbers at church. But the Gospel means Good news, and that is always something to share – by word and by action. In Isaiah we read that instead of the thornbush there will grow a pine and instead of the briars myrtle, and there is a sense of joy as the prophet invites the thirsty to come and drink and those without money, the poorest, the marginalised, to come and experience the good things of life, for God is the giver of life and wants us to live it to the fullest. In Luke, the disciples were sent out, 72 of them, and their task was to proclaim the Kingdom – the place where God’s reign is experienced, where earth becomes a little more like heaven, where people are affirmed and welcomed, where God’s justice takes root and love and peace, fairness and kindness flourish. They go out unsure and come back brimming with excitement. We are more reluctant to give the hard sell, more embarrassed to share our faith, because we live in a country where Christianity has become a minority and often viewed as somehow outmoded, but our first mark of mission is to proclaim the Kingdom, and we do that as we can. Maybe that means finding other and creative ways to get the Kingdom message across, which may mean going out of our comfort zones. But most of all, living it out in our lives. As a church we are conscious of falling numbers and ageing congregations. Yet there is so much good going on in the church, and we need to share it. The Church of Scotland website or Life & Work magazine are full of stories about what is happening. It is good to share what is good in our congregation with our friends elsewhere and to learn from them. But most of all, let Christ be in our hearts and inspire us to live out the kingdom values in our lives. Hymn 363- We have a Gospel to proclaim Prayers of Dedication and Intercession We offer to you ourselves and all that we have. We dedicate these gifts of money as a token of the dedication of our lives. Receive what we offer and all that we have, and bless us in your service We pray for places of pain and danger in our world, places where the dominion of death seems to reign. We remember the people of Turkey and Syria dealing with the ground moving beneath their feet, causing destruction and misery and finding ways to care for the survivors. Bless those digging, clearing, feeding and nursing. Give wisdom to those who govern and those who investigate why so many homes were built without real care. We remember the people of Ukraine, living with war, destruction, and danger, yet also with hope, determination and dedication. We thank You for audacious leadership, for alliances against aggression and for those who seek peace, even in the midst of war. We pray too, Loving God, for our own nation -that those who can’t afford to heat their homes will find relief, that those who feel they have no option but to strike find productive ways to negotiate. We pray for those in government in Edinburgh and in London that you may guide them, especially as the Scottish Government seek to appoint a new First minister. In this joyful season of Lent we pray for the Church; that we might be bold in proclaiming your kingdom ; that ways will be found to live in peace and unity with justice and loving obedience to Your call. May we delight in being your people. We bring before you all in need of your help -the sick and the anxious, those having operations, families who worry. The bereaved. Amen Hymn 249 – We have heard a joyful sound! Benediction Go and be bold in proclaiming the Gospel, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship Come as eyewitnesses of God’s majesty! We come and worship. Come and give honour to God in your praise and song We come and worship. Come and praise the one who rises in our hearts like a morning star. We come and worship. Hymn 510 – Jesus calls us here (1,3,4) Prayer Source of light and glory, we worship You. As angels adore You, veiling their eyes to Your presence, we bring You our praise. We yearn for Your justice to come, Your glory to fill the earth, and Your light to shine upon us. You cause the planets to spin around the sun, and the moon to spin around the earth. Time and seasons are marked by you, our rock and redeemer. Yet as we worship we are afraid. As we praise Your holiness we are aware of our sin. As we yearn for justice, we become conscious of the injustice we mete out to others. We long for the light but prefer the dark. You call us to see justice but we are afraid of your judgement. God, the true life of all, give to us, who both blossom and flourish, yet wither and decay, your love, grace, and peace; forgive us our love of the darkness and hatred of the light, our cravings for pleasure coming with the pain of the poor. Give us time, Ancient of Days, to repent. Give us time, Timeless One, to turn our lives around. Give us grace, Fountain of Love, to live in Your light. God is slow to anger and full of compassion. The Most High forgives all who humbly repent and trust in Christ’s faithfulness. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We are a forgiven people! Amen. Readings – Exodus 24: 12-18 (pg 82) Matthew 17: 1-9 (pg 984) Hymn 448 – Shine, Jesus, shine Weekly Prayer Everlasting God help us, not to keep the secret, but to proclaim to all that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the week ahead may we reflect your love in our families, church and community, so that the world can see that we are transformed by Christ and thereby draw others into Jesus’ loving care. Amen Sermon ‘I have been to the mountaintop – I have seen the promised land’, so said Martin Luther King, the day before he was assassinated. There is something about mountain tops, especially on crystal clear days like we had at the beginning of the week. Maybe we climb up the mountain – sometimes we can drive up to a vantage point or even get a cable car up, but there are times when we look at the view and our breath is taken away. We are transported out of ourselves. A mountain top experience when we seem to see things anew. On the mountaintop we gain another perspective. Today is transfiguration Sunday when we remember how some of the disciples accompanied Jesus up a mountain and had this strange, weird, breathtaking, mind-blowing, certainly incredible experience, when Jesus was transfigured, became radiant with light. It had not been an easy time for Jesus and the disciples. They had been bombarded at every turn by people seeking healing or help, and also had begun to be questioned by the religious leaders. There was no place for rest or retreat. Into the midst of this crucible of questions and exhaustion, Jesus had asked his disciples who they believed he was. Peter had said that Jesus was the Messiah. The Lord. But even though Peter had used all the right words, it turned out he still hadn’t really understood what they meant. Because when Jesus began to talk about a cross, Peter crumbled. No longer a cornerstone but a stumbling block. How could someone save and liberate God’s people if he was killed? Peter wondered. It just didn’t make sense. Then Jesus had told his followers that the road to Jerusalem would be a difficult one. And that it would end in a cross. If they wanted to follow him, they too would have crosses to bear. He had been trying to tell his disciples who he really was and why he had come. He had been trying to tell them what it would mean to be the Messiah. But all Peter had wanted was for Jesus to stop talking. He had felt as if the Jesus he had known and loved was slipping through his fingers. Still, when Jesus began to make his way up the mountain in our text for today, Peter, James, and John followed him. It was while they were there, on that mountain, that everything changed. The three disciples had expected an intermission, a pause in the action, but instead they were thrown into a terrifying, mystical experience they could have never predicted and could never fully explain. All through Scripture, prophets and leaders meet God on the mountains. Moses, enveloped in clouds, is given the tablets of the law on Mount Sinai. Elijah hears God in the still, small voice, as powerful as a thundering silence there on a mountain. And here, in this story, Peter, James, and John encounter God as well. In the transfiguration, God knits together the law, the prophets, and the gospel, weaving them into a story and narrative of faith that finds its culmination in the person of Jesus. Moses and Elijah and Jesus stand together at the top of the mountain, clothed in white. It makes sense that Peter wants to stay there on that mountaintop, far away from the world below. Here on the mountaintop he isn’t distracted by the demands of other people and their needs. He didn’t have to think too hard about what Jesus might have meant when he began to talk about a cross and suffering and death. Here on the mountaintop he saw the glorified, victorious Jesus he had always wanted, shining in splendour and glory. So he says, “It would be good to stay here. Together, Jesus. Let’s pitch some tents and stay put.” But then God’s glory pulls back the veil between heaven and earth even more fully and begins to speak: “Look, here is my son. My beloved. Listen to him.” The cloud has dispersed. Moses and Elijah have disappeared. And it is almost as if everything is back to normal. But of course nothing will ever be the same. In the Gospel of Matthew, this moment of transfiguration—this revealing of God’s glory—on the mountaintop serves as a turning point. Jesus, who has been ministering throughout the countryside, now turns his face toward Jerusalem, ready to start down the road to the cross. And the disciples have a decision to make. Will they keep following him on this new leg of the journey? The transfiguration is also a turning point for us. We can look forward, seeing the rocky and winding path to Jerusalem. We can see, from this place the ways that Jesus will continue to open his arms up to the world, reaching out to each of us, until those arms are stretched out across the beams of a cross. At communion today we remember that broken body and shed blood. Like any experience of the divine, the transfiguration is shrouded in mystery—a burning bush that is not consumed; a still small voice; a cloud and pillar of fire—these are ultimately all “You had to be there” type of events. Even for Peter, James, and John, part of the story, part of the meaning eludes them. And they come back down the mountain not quite sure they know what just occurred, but they came down the mountain – somehow strengthened to get on with life. We too have our time of worship and share our communion meal, but are reminded that our journey of faith and our journey to faith are not yet over. There is still more to Jesus than we had allowed ourselves to imagine. There is an African proverb, “Beyond mountains, there are mountains.” And today that is true for us as well. For Jesus is already on his way back down the trail. Back into the crush of people waiting for healing, for vision, and for hope. Back into the middle of all that need and all those questions. Moving forward to what lies ahead. He has put his hand out to us and invites us to come and follow him once more. Statement of Faith Prayers of Dedication and Intercession God of love that transforms lives, we offer our gifts in gratitude for all we have received in Christ, your beloved Son. Take our gifts and transform them into acts of love that will bless the world in his name. Comforting God, We know that the news coming into our homes shocks us, we have watched the rising death toll in Turkey and Syria with a sense of disbelief and pain. We thank you for those who have worked tirelessly to find and help those trapped, we pray for you solace for those who are desperate for news. May those who have died rest in your peace, may those now building lives without them be comforted. Comforting God, we pray for your love. As we pray for the things which are in the headlines, we don’t forget those places and people whose stories are now second page news. We pray for those reliant on foodbanks: especially now the school holidays are here and need has grown. We pray for those who feel unsafe in their own homes, for those who have had to flee for safety - for refugees unsafe again in this country, for those intimidated and hurt for being who they are, for what they believe, for all they long to be. God of relationships and community, we pray for a world that is fairer. We are connected to so many people, locally and far away. In these moments of quietness, we offer to you our own private prayers for people and places needing your love. silence Transforming God, accept these and all of our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen Invitation to the Table Hymn 666 – Let all mortal flesh Prayer of thanksgiving Lord’s Prayer Communion Peace Prayer Hymn 518 – Jesus calls us here to meet him Benediction We have witnessed Christ, God’s Beloved, on the mountain in glory. Now, go into the world to shine the light of his glory with grace and compassion. May God’s beauty inspire you; May Christ’s brilliance restore you; And may the joy of the Holy Spirit empower you to shine in every place you go. Amen.  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship How blessed are we when we meditate on God’s teachings; and when we desire God with our whole hearts. Let us praise God with attentive minds and eager spirits, for we are God’s servants, working and praying together. Hymn 127 – O worship the King Prayer God of all life and each life, You are the light of minds that seek to know you. You are strength for those who seek to serve you. You reveal truth to those who search for you. In worship, we pause in your presence, resting from our work and responsibilities, from our worries and distractions. We come to enjoy your presence and praise you for the gift of life in Christ and in creation. Receive our prayers and praise this day, for we open our hearts in love and loyalty to you, O God, our All in All. God who is all in all, you call us to choose life and walk in your ways, but we are tempted by short cuts and easy solutions. You ask us to turn from anger and settle our differences, but we cling to grievances and point fingers at others. You ask us to be true to our word, but we prefer not to rock the boat. Forgive us, O God; and give us courage to follow the paths you set for your people. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Readings – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (pg 1145) Matthew 5: 21-37 (pg 969) Hymn 180 – Give thanks with a grateful heart. Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, we ask you to lead us into the coming week, help us to believe that you are close by us, keep us from making mistakes and help us never to disappoint you through our words and actions. As we have been reminded, we are to plant and water the seed, but only God makes things grow. Amen. Sermon People in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria went to bed at the beginning of the week, looking forward to a good night’s sleep only for disaster to happen, and some wouldn’t see daylight. The pictures on our screens have been harrowing, as we have seen the utter devastation earthquakes have brought to that part of the world. Over a wide area, blocks of apartments have collapsed, and while some have been pulled alive, so many more have died. In Northern Syria, the worst hit area is one where so many were refugees anyway with an infrastructure and a people weakened from years of conflict. The bitter cold in that area makes it all so worse. It was maybe 20 years ago that I had travelled in Eastern Turkey and finished in Gaziantep, near the epicentre. I remember a wonderful archaeological museum, but also a bustling town. It was an area rich with biblical associations. Nearby were monasteries of the Syrian Church and also Haran, associated with Abraham, and Antioch, where Christians were first given that name. But now so many people will have to pick up the pieces and somehow begin life again. Elsewhere in the news, there have been two missing people, but also the death of a family, who seemed to have everything going for it. The mother was head of a big private school, a highflier; the husband in finance, the daughter with so much to look forward to – we don’t know the reasons behind it, but the husband seems to have killed his wife and daughter, before killing himself. Somehow our own worries and anxieties are put into perspective when we see the suffering of others. In the Gospel reading Jesus is addressing the crowd gathered on the mountainside – the sermon on the Mount. He lists a number of the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not bear false witness, but then expands on them. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is encouraging his listeners to live the best life possible. In order to live your best, he was saying, it is not enough just to empty all the bad things from life. I don’t swear; I don’t kill; I don’t wash clothes on a Sunday. But rather we need to be proactive and fill our lives with so many good things – joy, the patience, the kindness, so that there is no room for pettiness or jealousy and spite. We have to live the best life possible, thinking of others, praying for others, giving to others, for we don’t know what may be round the corner. In doing this we glorify God. I had some good news this week. Firstly I had the news that the Syrian family I visit have a new baby boy. But also another friend from Israel had been visiting Scotland, though it coincided with my holidays. But I caught up with his presentation at a church in Perth on YouTube. Jamal is in his early 40s and heads an organisation called the House of Grace, and he and his family exemplify living life to its fullest and best. His father was Palestinian and his mother Swiss, but his father had a friend, an Arab, who had been put in prison for some offence. His mother was so affected by it, that she died, and the son, blaming himself, also killed himself in prison. It was tragic, but Jamal’s father was determined to reach out to prisoners and set up a halfway house, to introduce prisoners back to society again – and House of Grace was born. Jamal and his brothers and sister grew up with released prisoners in their home. They moved into an old church, renovated it, but also built a living space where they live along with up to 10 prisoners and also office space. They run youth activities as well for the Arab population. So often when we think of Palestinians we think of Gaza and the West bank, but there are many living in Israel with Israeli passports and citizenship but who feel 2nd class citizens. The young people are given a sense of self-worth and made to feel they belong. They run the equivalent of a Food bank and 2nd hand clothes facility, and it is all the different faith groups who support it – such is the respect in which House of Grace is held in the community. Jamal and his family, have created a real community, but a community which reaches out and takes risks and opens itself up to hurt, because that is what love does. Jamal’s father died, but his Swiss mother is still alive and is the real inspiration now, but for her and Jamal, they have dedicated their lives to helping others, but at Easter and at Christmas they send cards which proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Gospels encourages his followers to have the best life possible – and that I think is one dedicated to the well-being of others. We are encouraged to keep the commandments, but more, to place others first and share the sacrificial love of Christ – and give God the glory in all that we do. Hymn 502 – Take my life and let it be Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious and generous God, we bring our gifts to you in thanksgiving. Bless them and surprise us by all the Holy Spirit can accomplish with them. Bless our lives, too, so that our choices will always honour you for Christ’s sake Dear God, in the midst of the world’s need and our hopefulness, hear the prayers we share. As the wreckage of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria reveals and hides lives lost, communities destroyed, families traumatised and the magnificence of rescuers, help all who suffer. We pray for those searching and those grieving, for those organising aid and those tending the injured. Let help come and continue, we pray. pause As war continues between Ukraine and Russia, we pray for justice and for peace. We pray for those fighting and those dying, for those fleeing and those fearing, for those aiding and those searching for an end to conflict. As conflict scars Southern Sudan, we pray for all caught up and all losing much. We pray for the pilgrimage of peace by the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. We pray for those seeking safety and those planning violence, that hearts might be held and transformed through your love. As Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran and other nations seethe with unrest and persecution, we pray for liberation and for new beginnings. Strengthen all who risk so much to stand for something better, kinder, fairer. Guide the leaders of the nations and bless the work of the United Nations and all who devote themselves to building international community and collaboration in the face of dictatorship, nationalistic arrogance and suspicion. As communities here stagger under threats from rising prices, services at breaking point, work that is undervalued and streets that are unsafe, we pray for all who care for neighbours and seek a better day. We pray for people forced to strike and for people whose lives become even harder on strike days. We pray for negotiators and politicians, for those with power in their conversations and those who feel utterly powerless. As we bring our hopes and fears for those known to us and for ourselves, we pray for all who are sick, all who face fear, all who are lonely, all who long for happiness but bear with depression. We remember those we have lost and all who mourn. In silence together, we pray the prayers of our hearts… [silence] Dear God, in the midst of the world’s need and our hopefulness, hear the prayers we share. All these thoughts, all these words, all the prayers we cannot put into words, we offer in the name of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Hymn 519 – Love divine Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We come into this space and time to meet and worship God. We bring our worries and our distractions and lay them down before our God We open our hearts and minds to the promptings of God’s Spirit We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. Let us worship together in Jesus’ name. Hymn 184 – Sing to the Lord a joyful song Prayer Amazing God, on the first day of creation you made light. A light that enables us to see the beauty of your creation. A light that enables plants to grow and flourish. A light that is part of the rhythm of our world and our lives. We thank you for light. When creation was struggling, you sent your Son Jesus, the light of the world. His light illuminated the Scriptures, defeated the powers of sin, and led us back to you. We thank you for Jesus. In the light of flames you sent your Spirit into our world. The Spirit lights our path and shows us your will. She challenges and inspires us; we thank you for your Spirit. In joy and thankfulness we bring you our praise and worship. Merciful God, we have often asked you to judge others while failing to acknowledging that we too have sinned. We have worshipped you with our lips but dishonoured you with our actions. We have prayed for you to end suffering but have not practiced compassion or generosity towards others. We have used our words to hurt and argue rather than testify to your love and grace. Forgive our self-centredness and show us how to love you and our neighbour. Bring us back into your light. O God, your heart is full of mercy. May we hear and trust your words to each of us: ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ May we forgive each other and forgive ourselves. Thanks be to God. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Hymn 213 – Every new morning Readings – 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (pg 1145) Matthew 5:13-20 (pg 969) Hymn 252 – As a fire is meant for burning Weekly Prayer Everlasting God send us out into the world, renewed by our worship and strengthened by your power to be a testament to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to let our light shine before all we meet in order to bring healing and reconciliation to our wounded world. Amen. Sermon Choir Anthem Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Generous God, We thank you for all that you have given us. Receive these tokens of our love for you, along with our time and talents. Bless our offering for the work of your kingdom in our communities, Loving and Gracious God, you call us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We give you thanks for your gifts and calling and pray that day by day we each may be renewed in your service. Help us to open our eyes to see your presence in our lives, even when we go through the most difficult times. Loving and peace-making God, we pray for the parts of the world that live in conflict and struggle, that your light of hope may come into these struggles: We pray for Ukraine and Russia. We pray for the countries of the Middle East, in particular Palestine and Israel, in the violence that has swept across their land; for the conflicts across Africa, we think of West Africa and elections in Nigeria. May the light of your peace dawn across the world. Loving and healing God, we pray for those who today are suffering stress in body, mind and spirit and find it difficult to see light in their time of darkness. We pray for children who are abused, for young people suffering from mental health issues, for those who find it difficult to find work because of their health issues. In a moment’s silence we name before God those known to us who are suffering. Loving and creator God, we give thanks for your gift of this created world, and pray for a growth in the care for the climate and the environment. We pray for those making decisions with regard to green spaces in this country. May your light open our eyes to see your earthly gifts and take due care of this planet in which we live. Loving God, you brought the Church into being to be a sign of salt and light. We pray for the Church in her struggles with the faith in these challenging times, as we hear about the decrease of the Christian faith in the West. Give us the confidence, wisdom and courage to live out your light in the communities to which you call us to live day by day. Loving and eternal God, we remember those who have died, both recently and over the years, and give thanks for the light that they cast in your world. In a moment’s silence we remember those we have know who have passed. Silence. We give thanks for the example of those who have gone on before us, and pray for those who mourn their loss. Into your hands, O God, we commend ourselves and all our prayers, both silent and spoken, in the name of Jesus Christ, who is salt and light for the world. Amen Hymn 352 – O for 1000 tongues Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship The Lord is our light and salvation. We will not be afraid. Let God’s people shout for joy! For Christ calls us and claims us as his own. Come and worship in unity and love. Hymn 198 – Let us build a house Prayer For the richness of your creation, For different colours and scents, For different birds and animals, None the same, yet part of one creation. Generous God, we praise you. For the richness of your world, For different places and peoples, For different songs and stories, No person the same, yet part of one humanity. Generous God, we praise you. For the richness of the Church, For different gifts and skills, For different songs and prayers, No congregation the same, but part of one church Generous God, we praise you. We praise you Lord for creating a world of wonder and beauty, of diversity and difference. Teach us to live in harmony with you and our world. Merciful God, you call us to follow your way of compassion but too often we criticize each other. You call us to follow your way of peace but too often we remain divided. You call us to trust you but too often our fears and doubts overwhelm us. Forgive us, O God, and strengthen our commitment to follow your ways. God calls to us in love and forgiveness, and welcomes us in with a warm embrace. Hear the good news of the Gospel. Rejoice that in Christ we are forgiven, and be at peace with God, yourself and with each other. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Readings – 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 Hymn 63 – All people that on earth do dwell Weekly Prayer Heavenly Father, like the disciples of old we thank you that the light of Christ has dawned in our lives. Help us by your power, to live as instruments of your peace in this troubled world. Amen Sermon The snow earlier this week certainly caught us by surprise. Even though it is January, and we should expect it. But suddenly plans had to be changed, as we had to decide whether we could get to work or keep that appointment. We had to decide what was essential and what could maybe wait a day or two. The countryside was of course stunning to look at, the show on the trees a picture. And on the first morning there was a stillness, and then the crunch of shoes in the snow. The roads, however, could be treacherous, and you had to make your way very carefully. But whenever there is weather like this, it is amazing how people all rally round and help one another, clearing paths and making sure everyone was ok. There is a certain levelling, as we all realise how much we need one another. Barriers came down, and everyone helped. It is location. We live in the Cheviots, so can expect some wintry weather. If we lived in Tewksbury or elsewhere in the Severn or Wye valleys, we might expect flooding. If we lived in Ullapool or Fort William we might expect more rain, snow or wind, but have extraordinary scenery on our doorstep (as we do here). Location, location, location. Maybe location mattered to Jesus. He had grown up in Nazareth, a bit of a backwater, but Matthew tells us that he moved from Nazareth to Capernaum, for maybe location mattered. Capernaum was a border town on trade routes. The lake it was situated on, the Sea of Galilee, was a busier location, with its fish dried and exported throughout the Roman Empire. The new town of Tiberias was being constructed, offering good job prospects – if you weren’t too fussy about working for the Romans. But even for a carpenter like Jesus, there would have been good work on the boats of the fishing fleet. What’s more, Nazareth could be rather parochial. He would always be known as Joseph’s son or Mary’s boy. In Capernaum he was his own person, not defined by family. Maybe he worked there to begin with, getting the lie of the land, identifying some good people – we don’t know. But certainly when the time was right, he called the fishermen, Simon and Andrew, James and John. It always seems so sudden in the Gospels – Jesus called, and the disciples dropped everything and followed, to the horror of parents and wives, for we know that at least Simon Peter was married. It is certainly dramatic. But perhaps they had seen Jesus, heard Jesus, noticed him around, come to their own assessment that they liked what they saw and heard. Whatever the case, they left what was familiar to follow Jesus, to commit themselves to him and to his message. They followed, ready to learn and to be taught – and to be empowered to teach others. It was life-changing, and their lives would be changed. From the start it involved sacrifice – the sacrifice of a career, the sacrifice of time with their families, a sacrifice of a routine, for with Jesus anything was possible. In the end there would be twelve of them, thirteen if you counted Jesus. A new family. But how do you think they got on? We had the first meeting of the new presbytery at Dalkeith. It was a whole day affair, as people travelled from Berwick and Musselburgh and West Linton and Hawick. We didn’t know everyone; in fact, I knew very few of the people there, so the important thing was to have time to interact and get to know at least a few of the others; put names to faces and faces to names. We are all coming from different backgrounds and with different experiences. I am sure there will be some I will get on with better than others, but that is life. It would be the same with the disciples. They were different. Matthew as a former tax collector would have been viewed with some suspicion, I would imagine, until he proved himself. We assume the fishermen would get on, but from the news we know how damaging sibling rivalry can sometimes be. They would have to learn to work together, play up to their strengths and support each other’s weaknesses. Be ready to forgive and to be forgiven. We see that in Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth when he addresses divisions in the congregation. Some were for Paul, some for Apollos, some for Cephas (that was Peter) and a sanctimonious few for Christ. People are all different; they appreciate different things and react favourably to different people. They have their own views, their own prejudices. We all do. We are no different from the church in Corinth, but what Paul encouraged them to do was to see what united them, for that was more than what divided. When I was in Africa I worked for the United Church of Zambia, which was made up of Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists and even French and Swiss Reformed. It had its tensions; some baptised infants while others dedicated – that had to be worked through, as did other issues of theology and practice. Others felt their tradition had been overlooked. But the motto was ‘All one in Christ’, and the church has grown. People were able to appreciate others. This is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and we focus on what unites, while being honest about our differences and just like the Corinthian Church realise the wonderful love and grace of God embraces everyone, a God who in Jesus broke down so many barriers, so that all were one in Christ. Hymn 340 – When Jesus saw the fishermen Prayers of Dedication and Intercession God of the fishers who first followed Jesus, you have called us to follow and here we are. We offer what we have and ask you to bless our gifts. Give us the courage we need to invite others to join us in following Jesus, our friend and saviour. Amen. God in whom we live and move and have our being, This week we join with Christians around the world to pray for peace and unity, and for justice and mercy in your fragile creation. We remember before you today people living face to face with war and violence, especially those places where ancient hatreds burn. (Name those places in the news where conflict is disrupting everyday life.) God, speak to us a word of peace Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today people living face to face with economic uncertainty, those struggling with rising costs of daily necessities, and those who have lost their jobs, their savings, their homes or businesses. 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, those who are bullied at school, at work or at home, and all those who have been made ashamed of who they are. God, speak to us a word of dignity Embrace us with your love. God of mercy and forgiveness, You call us to live together in peace and unity. In this Week of Prayer for Christian unity, we pray that your Spirit will create understanding and co-operation among all who bear Christ’s name. Gracious and loving God, expand our vision that it may be wide enough to recognise the beautiful complexity of the tapestry you chose to weave with each and every one of us. Gather our frayed edges, our loose ends, and bind us together for your glory. 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 and protect the future in our attitudes and actions … God, speak to us a word of wisdom Embrace us with your love. We remember before you today people living face to face with illness and suffering, those waiting for diagnosis or treatment, those struggling with disability or delay in medical attention, and those who know grief or fear… God, speak to us a word of healing Embrace us with your love. Amen Hymn 739 – The Church’s one foundation Benediction Go into the world to live out the gift of unity in Christ, eager to serve and open to learn from the Christ who calls us and sets us free. May the love of God, the peace of Christ and unity in the Holy Spirit be yours now and always. Amen  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship O Lord, open our lips, And our mouths shall declare your praise. O Lord, open our eyes, So that we may behold your presence. O Lord, open our ears, So that we may hear your call to follow. O Lord, open our hearts, So that we may offer you worship in love and joy. Hymn 132 – Immortal invisible Prayer God of light and hope, the grey days and long nights of winter are not lonely and dark to you. When the sky is cold and the curtains are closed, we may welcome your presence. Amid rain and wind, we declare your sure and steady grace. We trace your purpose in the slow turning of seasons, and we name your goodness in the waiting time. In this hour of worship, we ask for new perspective, for courage in our difficulties, fresh love for our neighbours, and a patient spirit of service, That even in trials and fears we may live as people of Jesus. God of mercy, we bring you the lives we have, far from perfect, marred by selfishness and deceit, and we ask again, humbly and confidently, to receive the forgiveness for which Jesus died, that we may go forward pardoned, clean and hopeful. Let us rejoice, for God has put a new song in our mouths! Trust in God’s enduring love and mercy, washing over us every day. Know that forgiveness is yours through the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Readings – 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42 Hymn 500 – Lord of creation Weekly Prayer Faithful God, we ask that you will keep us strong to the end of our lives. As we seek to follow Jesus, may we be the ones who radiate the Light of Christ in all that we do and in all that we say. Amen Sermon What is your prize possession? What do you value more than anything? For Jim, it was his pocket watch, something that had been passed down his family through the generations. For Della, it was her hair, long fair tresses. Della and Jim were devoted to each other, but they lived in relative poverty. Christmas was coming, and each of them wondered what to give to the other as a present. Della decided to buy Jim a chain for his precious watch, but her purse was empty. Jim decided to buy Della a tortoiseshell clasp for her hair, but again his wallet was empty, but he so wanted to give Della this clasp that he sold his pocket watch to buy it. While Della, to buy the chain, went to the wigmaker and sold her hair. When they met up on Christmas Eve, both realised what they had done. It is a rather sentimental story by the American writer O Henry, but it emphasises how both were willing to sacrifice their most precious possession for the one they loved. When you love, you want to give of your best. The story is called ‘The gift of the Magi’, and while the wise men could afford the gold, frankincense and myrrh, they also gave of their time and of themselves, faced challenges and sacrificed family life to worship the Christ child. In John’s Gospel, Jesus comes to be baptised by John, and John is so moved that he reacts by saying, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’. This is the one who was to come, the Messiah. ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’. It is an interesting thing to say. Was he referring to the lamb, slaughtered at the first Passover, whose blood was put on the lintels of the doorways, so that the angel of death would pass over and not harm those inside? Or maybe John referring to the lambs brought to the Temple as sacrifices. The lamb was to be without blemish, which meant it had to be perfect, the best. The worshippers had to offer the best to the Lord. So right at the start, at the baptism, John is recognising that Jesus faces a life of sacrifice, where he will give of himself to the point of death. He is the one who will give of his best for us. ‘Behold, the Lamb of God’. John says this to his disciples, and Andrew and a friend are so intrigued they engage with Jesus. Where are you staying?’, they ask Jesus. It is the same Greek word as John uses regarding the vines and branches in John 15 – Abide in me. So they are asking what Jesus is about, what he does, what kind of relationship he has with God. And Jesus says, ‘Come and see’. Andrew and his friend do ‘come and see’ and are so impressed that they will leave John the Baptist and follow Jesus – how John reacts to that, we don’t know, but I would like to think he would be gracious. What do they see? They see someone giving of their best, offering compassion in the face of scorn; healing in the face of illness; freedom in the face of those possessed by demons; dignity in the face of oppression; inclusion and welcome in the face of exclusion; truth in the face of lies; life in the face of death. They saw someone who would give his all for them and for the world. That is the kind of person to follow. And Andrew even recommends Jesus to his brother Simon. ‘We have found the Messiah’, he says confidently, for he has come and seen what Jesus is. When Paul wrote to the young church in Corinth, he had to deal with a lot of issues, for the church was quite divided. But even so, he addressed his letter to the ‘saints’ and recognised that, despite their problems, they were in fellowship with Christ and had their gifts and so were able to enrich and resource the fellowship. They were able to witness to Christ crucified and risen, because they too had come to see and had come to know Christ. That invitation is given to us, to come and see Jesus, the lamb of God; to come and see how much God loves us, for he gave his best and his only son for us; to come and see and like the Corinthian church be enable to use our gifts and talents to enrich the church and community around us. Come and see – and we see the Christ willing to sacrifice himself for us. Hymn 251 – I the Lord of sea and sky Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious God, we offer you our gifts with humble hearts. Each gift seems small on its own, so bless each one and those of your people throughout the Church. Through the work of your Holy Spirit, surprise us with all that our gifts can accomplish, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. God who calls us, forms us, polishes us, and gives us to the world to be light and point to your salvation, we pray to you now with our concerns for others, known and unknown. We call to mind the people of Ukraine, where winter is compounding the issues brought about by war, a war that has been going on for eleven months and does not seem to have an end in sight. We pray that the aid workers are able to help with food, medicine, warmth, and for children and all who are vulnerable. We remember too the people of Russia, those who disagree with their leaders and have been silenced, for holding opinions that threaten the leaders. We pray for those who have been forced to fight, for their families who worry about them and do not know where they are. We remember those who could not leave Afghanistan, especially women and girls who can no longer gain the education they deserve or work in the jobs they trained for. We also pray for the leaders who are operating from a point of fear; fear of losing control, fear of women, fear of free thinking. We thank you for the work and witness of your Church, bringing your Good News into many lives and situations throughout the earth. Today we pray for congregations that are struggling financially, for churches caught up in conflict, and for all those church members who are tired and need your renewing Spirit. Guide them with your grace. We thank you for the healing that comes from your hand, O God, in times of reconciliation when your forgiving love is at work, and in times when pain is eased and grief is comforted. Today we pray for those whose emotions are raw, for those whose bodies are weakened in this winter of sickness and for any whose minds are troubled in any way. Give them hope for new life with you. Amen Hymn 680 – You are called to tell the story (1,2,4) Benediction Go with strength and humility, for you are servants of Christ. And may the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the friendship of the Holy Spirit bless and sustain you, now and always. Amen.  We welcome all visitors to our services at Yetholm (10am) and Morebattle (11.15am) this Epiphany Sunday.
Call to Worship Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. The brightness of God’s light shines upon all the nations. All are welcomed to the brightness of God’s dawn. With our gifts, with our very selves, we worship God. Carol 327 – Brightest and best Prayer God of majesty and mystery, like the Magi following the star, we come to you in wonder. Your purposes are beyond our comprehension, your majesty incomparable and your love beyond imagination and your presence always with us. We praise you for your steadfast love, and offer you our trust for the days ahead as we seek to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ, our newborn King. God of justice, we confess that our actions disappoint you whenever we remain passive while others are oppressed; whenever we guard our own prosperity at the expense of those who are poor; or when we ignore the cries of those in need of help. Forgive us, we pray, for hiding in the darkness of this world more than loving the light of your righteousness made known to us in Jesus Christ. Judge us with mercy, we pray, and extend your grace to us. Strengthen our faithfulness to you and to all who are precious in your sight. We pray in the name of Christ, our Light. Friends, God is for us and not against us. For that very reason God sent the Son into the world—not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. We declare the good news of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free to live a new life in him. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Readings – Isaiah 60: 1-6 Matthew 2: 1-12 Carol – We three kings (MP 740) Weekly Prayer Creator God, we pray that the people of the world might lift up their eyes round about and come to see your light. May rulers and kings, drawn to the brightness of your truth, rule with justice and mercy as we proclaim your praise, O Lord. Amen Sermon The shepherds had it easy. They were up on the hills, looking after the sheep when the angels appeared and told them what had happened, who had been born and where to go. It would have been terrifying – I would have been scared out of my wits if an angel appeared in the middle of the night. But they had their instructions, and they went to Bethlehem and were able to bow before the Christ child. The wise men had to work it all out for themselves. They had to interpret the meaning of the new star they had seen; they had to finance a long journey, which may lead them somewhere but may lead them nowhere. There would be dangers on the way, not least encountering the suspicion of foreigners as they travelled through various countries and cultures. I think they might have needed some stout bodyguards with them. But they overcame any obstacles and occasionally getting lost, and they finally reached their destination and were able to bow before the Christ child Each of us comes to God in different ways. For some it can be easier than for others. For some it can be a revelation through reading the Bible or through a certain person. For some of us it comes from the community of faith which is the church. For some the journey to God can take a long time and there are many obstacles to overcome. But like the wise men, there is a sense of real fulfilment when the destination is reached. I like the idea of these first visitors to the baby. Luke has the shepherds, representing the poor the ordinary, those on the fringes of society of the time. Matthew has, however, the Magi. He very much emphasises Jesus’ lineage – that he is of the house of David, of Abraham’s line, BUT he has these exotic strangers, people from a different faith and outlook, as among the first to worship Christ. That challenged the complacency of Matthew’s first readers and still challenges our complacency today. They are rather mysterious figures. Matthew doesn’t say how many of them there were, though we say three simply because there were three gifts. We call them kings, we call them wise; we often associate them with Persian astrologers, though early on, they came to represent the three continents of Asia and Africa and Europe, as the early church saw this story as very much emphasising the universal mission of the church. It echoes the prophecy we read from Isaiah in many ways, where in the darkness of the world the nations of the world are attracted to God’s light, and gold and frankincense are even mentioned. The gifts had their symbolism; gold is a gift of kings, the symbol of power. Frankincense speaks of worship, and incense is still used in some churches today. The resin from a bush gives off a sweet smell when heated and represents prayers rising to heaven. For many of us it holds no particular meaning but for some of us the smell triggers both memory and spirituality. It speaks of spirituality, tradition, and mystery. Myrrh is also a resin from tree bark, but is harder to explain. It’s still used in medicine but in the ancient world was a perfume used to anoint the bodies of the dead. It’s a gift that speaks of sacrifice. It has echoes in Mary pouring ointment over Jesus, anointing him for his death. The gifts were therefore very symbolic, gives for a king, a priest and a sacrificial victim, pointing to Christ on the cross. They travelled, they worshipped, they gave their gifts – and then what? They were warned in a dream to go home by another way. In any encounter with God, in whatsoever circumstance, there is no going back the same way, no way simply to retrace our steps. The encounter means we are changed and requires us to be brave and require us to be daring in going forward into our future. One final thing as we are now past 12th Night and decorations are taken down. Now, the song of the angels is stilled, now, the star in the sky is gone, now, the kings and princes are home, now, the shepherds are back with their flock, now, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among others, and to make music in the heart. So be it. Carol 326 – As with gladness Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious and Holy God, your eternal purposes, revealed to us in Christ Jesus, show that your love extends to the ends of the earth, and stretches far beyond our own imaginings. We thank you for such expansive love and for the rich variety of ways you make yourself known among us. We pray for the Church, too often afraid of the rich diversity you have designed, too often timid in our proclamation of the Gospel before the rulers and powers of this world. Strengthen us in our witness, we pray. Fill us with the power of the Holy Spirit that we may be bold and confident through faith in Christ. Heal divisions within the Church so that we live truly as members of the same body. Cast out jealousies and suspicions until we become sharers in the gospel promise. We pray for people in positions of power in our country and throughout the world. May they govern with justice and compassion. Give to all who control economic and military might wisdom to choose the common good over personal or political gain. We pray for people who have little power according to the world’s measure of power. Defend the cause of the poor; deliver those in need, put an end to oppression; and save the lives of everyone in harm’s way this day. May all victims of violence find their lives redeemed by your love and care. We pray for people who are seeking you this day or searching for new meaning and purpose for their lives. Guide and direct them in their spiritual journey. Give them the vision to see signs of your promise, the wisdom to discern between what is false and what is true, and courage and curiosity in all their searching. May the joy of Christ surprise them and lead them to a place of welcome. We pray for those we know and love…. Finally, we pray for those overwhelmed by personal darkness today: the one bowed down in grief; the one overcome by depression; the one who is unemployed or in economic trouble; the one who is struggling with illness or recovery. We pray for those who are estranged from one another and for people undergoing stressful transitions. Send the light and peace of your presence, O God, and send us, too, that we might bear the light of Christ and so bring companionship and hope by your grace. Accept our prayers, Loving God, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray Carol 323 – The first Nowell Benediction Now, the song of the angels is stilled, now, the star in the sky is gone, now, the kings and princes are home, now, the shepherds are back with their flock, now, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace among others, and to make music in the heart. So go now and attend to the work of Christmas, and the blessing of Almighty God, Eternal Majesty, Incarnate Word, and Abiding Spirit be with you all now and always, Amen |
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