 On Monday 22nd May, Cheviot Churches were visited by Lord Hodge, the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly (above, right - with the First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and the Rev. Sally Foster-Fulton, the Moderator). Lord Hodge attends the General Assembly as the personal representative of His Majesty King Charles III. On Monday 22nd Lord Hodge took time off to visit us here in the Cheviot Hills. A cavalcade of black cars accompanied by police motorcycles pulled up at the cemetery on the Morebattle Road. Lord Hodge was met there by our minister, representatives of the Churches Together St Cuthbert's Way Group and members of the congregation. Pulling on walking boots, Lord Hodge and his party walked along St Cuthbert's Way to the kirk. At the kirk there was a buffet and Lord Hodge and his wife had a chance to meet members of the Yetholm area community, including school children and this years' Bari Manushi Gemma Lister. It was nice to know that our small parish is not entirely overlooked by the General Assembly as they wrestle with the major issues that the kirk today has to face. We hope Lord Hodge took away pleasant memories of his visit to us - despite the rather grey weather - perhaps he'll be back to walk the entire route!?  On the bridge over the Bowmont Water.     
Call to Worship God is our Rock and our Fortress. In God, we find refuge and strength. God’s house has many dwelling places. We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Christ himself has gone to prepare a place for us. For us, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. So let us worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Hymn 200 – Christ is made the sure foundation Prayers of Approach and Confession Steadfast God, you are our refuge in times of trouble, our shelter when we are afraid, and our dwelling place forever. In you alone we place our trust for you set the way before in Christ Jesus and your Spirit gives us courage to follow him. And so we offer you our worship and love as the Source of life for the world, as the Son who preached the truth of grace and mercy, and the Spirit who guides us this day and always. Steadfast God, we confess Jesus as the way, the truth and the life for us, yet we often fail to follow him, we have too often gone our own way, distorted the truth and led lesser lives. Forgive us for falling short of your purpose for our lives. Give us courage to follow Jesus, who continues to show us the way. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Know that, in Christ, you are forgiven. Accept God’s grace and forgiveness this day and extend it to others for Jesus’ sake. Lord’s Prayer Readings – 1 Peter 2:2-10 (Pg 1218) John 14:1-14 (Pg 1082) Hymn SGP 45 - Majesty Weekly Prayer Risen and reigning Lord, assure our troubled hearts that you have gone to prepare a place for us, so that where you are, we may be also. You alone are the way, the truth, and the life by whom the Father comes to us, so that through you, we have seen him and know him. Amen Sermon I am sure many of you watched the Coronation yesterday and would have been impressed by the pageantry. We do it very well. There is the pomp which is so dignified; our eyes feast on the colour and finery; there is the music, which reaches the sublime; but also there are intimate moments, when oaths are taken and private prayers said. It was also an inclusive event, with different sections of the community taking part, and I liked especially the different faith communities having their role. Then there were the various pieces of regalia and indeed furnishings, each with their story. Like the Stone of Scone. I remember as a child poring over a book called ‘Scotland’s Story’, which had a chapter each on the main events of Scotland’s history. It mentioned of course the Stone of Destiny, on which the monarchs of Scotland were anointed and which the author claimed was the very stone which Jacob used as his pillow at Bethel when he had his dream of the angels, ascending and descending the ladder in the sky (Door at Linton). The stone was recently transferred to London for the coronation, though I haven’t read of the Bethel link in any of the newspaper articles. It got me thinking about stones. Stones can be used for good or for ill. They can be destructive. In Acts of the Apostles we read that Stephen was stoned to death, the first Christian martyr. We are conscious that stoning is still carried out in some countries today. But our reading from 1 Peter mentions stones in a more positive light. Jesus is referred to as the cornerstone, which was the most important stone of all. It was the stone, in the construction of a building, by which all the other stones were aligned and measured, so that the house or temple would be built properly and not fall down if the earth were ever to tremor. We are therefore encouraged to align ourselves to the ways of Christ, who is the cornerstone of our faith. Only by looking at the example of Christ can we measure our lives well. Stones! When I lived in Israel & Palestine, the local Christians called themselves the ‘living stones’. So many pilgrims would come to the Holy Land to look at all the old stones of churches and ruins but often ignored the present-day church there, which was very frustrating. But the Christians saw themselves as alive and living out the Gospel in the 21st Century. The church wasn’t fossilised but alive and with something to say. The people that Peter addressed his letter to were being viewed with suspicion and hostility. They needed to reshape their identity. Peter encourages them to look to Jesus as the cornerstone, giving foundation to the building, but also be the stones to build the church. Strangely enough, the second sermon I ever preached was on this text from 1 Peter 2: 9-10 as a student on a gap year in Israel. ‘You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation a people acceptable to God, who calls you out of the darkness into his marvellous light’. It is wonderfully affirming. They were lifted up and called chosen and holy and acceptable to God. All attributes they would doubtless have refused –‘Who? Us?- , but in Christ they are transformed and empowered to change the world, to build the church. They had been living in darkness but now lived in the light of God. We too are chosen by God who calls us from darkness into his marvellous light. We see this from the Gospel reading, where Jesus addresses the disciples. Their feet have been washed, they have shared a supper together, Judas has slipped away, and Jesus speaks intimately to them and tells them, ‘if you know me, you know my Father’. When I was in Dunkeld recently, a couple of the ministers had known my father, and they said they saw the family likeness in me. I am conscious of thinking of phrases he used to say. Often we say it of babies or children, that they look like one parent or the other, but maybe you have been told you bear the family likeness. Does King Charles bear the family likeness? Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus says that he is in the Father and the Father in him. The invisible God is embodied in Jesus. He is saying, Look at me. If you see me, you will see the Father. We should therefore look to Jesus to see how to act, how to behave, how to think and how to speak. We are encouraged to bear the family likeness to Jesus by living out his ways. That way, we can be the building blocks of which the Church is made. We too can be living stones ever building the church where we are. Hymn 642 – Ye that know the Lord is gracious Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Generous God, we bless you for life renewed through Christ’s love and through springtime growth in fields and gardens. Use the gifts we offer to bring hope and renewal to the world you love in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. Amen Lord Jesus You call us to be a holy nation, your own people, to proclaim your mighty acts. We ask your blessing on your Church and the congregation to which we belong. We hold before you the fabric of our community: schools and business, community organisations, and all people who live and work here… (brief silence) Give us eyes to see where you are, that we may be with you there, offering our lives in service in your name. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus You speak peace to troubled disciples. As we look at your world, there are many things which trouble our hearts. So we pray for the people of Sudan and Ukraine, and all who live in the shadow of war and violence. Be with all who are forced to flee their home and country and grant that they may find a safe dwelling place. Give your peace to families who have been separated because of war and those who are worried for their loved ones. Guide all who are working to find peaceful solutions to these and other conflicts and bless all who risk their own lives to bring aid, support and medical supplies. We hold before you all in our country who struggle to make ends meet and who are concerned about their future. We pray for those who work in the NHS and in other public services. Amid ongoing strike action and conversations we pray for a recognition of the dignity and value of work and for constructive discussions. (brief silence) Lord, shine your light on our society that your justice, love and compassion may be reflected in our common life and institutions. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. On this Coronation weekend, we give thanks for King Charles III and his dedication to the wellbeing of your people throughout the world and to care for the environment. Bless him and Queen Camilla with faithfulness and wisdom, that their reign may advance unity and peace among all peoples and justice and equity for the most vulnerable. Lord Jesus, You are our servant king. As Charles begins his new reign as King, we pray for all who are holding community celebrations this weekend – Lord; bring joy and a closer connection to those in our neighourhoods. We pray that the coronation will be a time for many to renew their commitment to serve you, Jesus, as their Lord and lead to a fresh commitment to serve neighbours in need. Lord, Jesus, we seek our refuge in you, trusting that you hear us when we cry out to you. We hold before you the people and the places that are on our minds today, praying for your love and peace for them. Amen Hymn 198 – Let us build a house Benediction 
Call to Worship God, our Shepherd, offers us abundant life. God, you are with us! God, our Shepherd, leads us by still waters. God, restore our souls! God, our Shepherd, walks with us through every dark valley. God, we will not be afraid! Hymn 14 – the Lord’s my shepherd Prayers of Approach and Confession Lord of love, we come trusting that your love has the power to defeat evil in the world. Jesus shows us that your love defeats even the power of death. You are with us through the darkest valleys so that we are not afraid. We worship you with glad hearts, praising you in the name of our Risen Lord, praying with the breath of your Spirit in us. Renew our strength and courage to face whatever each day holds, so our lives will bring you honour and glory now and always. God of love, we confess that too often we let the events around us shatter our trust in your love. When terror strikes and innocents fall, we wonder if love can defeat violence. When truth gets lost among misleading claims, we wonder if love can prevail over lies. Forgive us, God, when we lose our trust in the power of your love so soon after it raised Jesus from death’s grip. The Apostle Paul asked: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? No! he declared. Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let us rejoice that, no matter what is happening around us, God’s gracious and forgiving love will never let us go Lord’s Prayer Readings – 1 Peter 2: 19-25 (pg 1218) John 10: 1-10 (pg 1076) Hymn 416 – Christ is alive Weekly Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, you are our Shepherd, and we pray that you will protect us from all danger by keeping watch over us. Guide us towards green pastures, where we can be nourished by your word which stands forever and lead us to pure still waters, where we can be refreshed by your love. Amen Sermon I spent a few days this week in Dunkeld. There were about 15 of us, some serving ministers and others retired. We met in the cathedral there at 7.30 each morning for silent prayer before morning prayers. We were led in reflections during the day, but there was also lots of time for silence before evening prayers at 9.30 each night. We did also eat together, and there was lots of good talk. The cathedral in Dunkeld is right by the River Tay, a very peaceful spot. One afternoon I went across the river to Birnam, where there was a burn which was the point where the Gaelic speaking Highlands separated from the Scots speaking Lowlands. There was lots of history. On the way to Dunkeld there were roadworks on the A9, so we took a shortcut which ended up taking far longer of course, but we came across one of the drover roads, along which the sheep and cattle from the Highlands were driven to the markets in the Lowlands. The journey would take several days or more, and there would be dangers on the way. There would be thieves on the lookout for a chance to steal some animals; there would be the dangers of inclement weather or animals going lame. But the sheep and the cattle would somehow trust the drovers, experts in their job. They would be looking out for the best for the flock or for the herd. Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, and we read from the 10th chapter of John. There is a sense of danger here, the threat of robbers and thieves trying to disrupt the flock. That was a real threat at the time of the early Church. For the Christians that Peter wrote to in his letter, they faced persecution day by day, but he tells them to have hope in Christ, for he knows them, and knows us, and we are important and valued in his sight. Just as a shepherd knows the sheep in the flock, knows each one and knows their characteristics – this is a stubborn one, this one is independent, going its own way – so we are known. Because of that, the sheep are welcome to the fold. It is a place of safety, for Jesus himself in the gate, and the sheep can enter, because he knows them, and they know him. In Dunkeld I passed a school, and children were in the playground. There was a lot of noise, as the children played. There was a group of mothers nearby, and I am sure each would be attuned to their own child’s voice. If there were any danger – if one had fallen and skinned their knee – the mother would recognise their child’s voice, for they know every nuance of whether the child is happy or frightened, hungry or hopeful. Even though 100 other children are yelling, they know their own child. So John encourages us, for we are known through and through by our parent God and we are welcome to the fold. After the resurrection, the disciples went to Galilee and were fishing, and Jesus appeared on the shore. The other disciples rushed to meet him, but Peter maybe held back, for he had let Jesus down. But Jesus drew peter near and three times asked him to ‘Feed my sheep’. As he had denied Jesus three times, so he was forgiven three times and reinstated for service. He was welcome. As it says in I Peter, ‘by his wounds we are healed’. Just before this chapter, there is the story in Chapter 9 of jesus healing the man born blind, but afterwards the authorities cast him out of the synagogue because he was praising Jesus and was associated with Jesus. In Chapter 10, we are assured of a welcome, for we belong. But also in these verses we are told something else about the shepherd. The shepherd goes ahead. Goes ahead to check for dangers, does a recce, sources the good pastures and water supply, makes sure of the way. Travelling back from Dunkeld on Thursday, I was on the M90 through Fife, and signs appeared warning of a breakdown at Junction 3. You immediately think you will be held up for hours. Every couple of miles, this sign appeared. But when we reached the point, the car was at the side, and there was no traffic jam at all. Someone had gone ahead. In Hebrews, Jesus is portrayed as the trailblazer -going ahead to prepare the way. Sometimes we worry about what lies in the future – a student may worry about an exam, a householder about the next bill. We may look at the world and worry about climate change or technology outstripping us. But Jesus has gone ahead, so we put our trust in God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who knows his flock by name, who goes ahead of us – and who want the best for us. Thieves come only to steal and destroy, but Jesus comes that we may have life, and life in abundance. He wants the best for us. Sometimes we do worry about what lies ahead, but it is good to appreciate the good things in life we have and to share them if we can with those around us. We are blessed – we have a shepherd who knows our name. Hymn 641 – Seek ye first Prayers of Dedication and Intercession God with a tender heart, we thank you for the care you offer to us as our Shepherd. Bless the gifts we offer so they will spread your abundant love to lives in need of caring. Bless our lives so that we may care for the world as we follow Jesus day by day. Wise and generous God, shepherd of our lives, we are thankful this day for all you provide to sustain us. You call our weary souls to rest when the world seems busy. You bless us with the promise of new life as pastures around us turn green, announcing another spring. You gather us around tables of friendship to draw strength from one another. Thank you for signs of your goodness and mercy we can treasure each day. Loving and Listening God, shepherd of the world, we bring you our prayers for others, friends and enemies, neighbours and strangers alike. We pray for people who are struggling with illness, loneliness, grief or sadness: Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys. We pray for people in countries and communities where it is not safe to live out their faith or express their views openly. Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys. We pray for victims of discrimination and acts of hatred, and those who fear violence day by day. Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys. We pray for journalists and advocates for justice who live under threat for telling the truth. Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys. We pray for churches, local organizations and businesses that face difficulty reorganizing and the pressure of economic challenges. Walk with them through dark days and steep valleys. We pray for our families, friends and for ourselves, as well as those in the news whose situations tug at our hearts. Walk with us all through dark days and steep valleys. On this the Sunday before the Coronation of King Charles III we pray for His Majesty the King and for Camilla, the Queen Consort. May Your Spirit be with them as they are affirmed in their responsibilities; grant them joy and may many be encouraged by their interest and concern. We pray for all whose office and responsibilities affect the lives of many, for those who represent their country’s interests, that in all they do they may be mindful of the wellbeing of every child of God. Hymn 355 – You Lord are both lamb and shepherd Benediction Go in peace, sure that the Good Shepherd walks beside you. May God lead you to places of rest and renewal; May Christ give you courage on the journey; May the Holy Spirit fill your hearts with joy and generosity; And may the blessing of God, Creator, Christ and Spirit, dwell in your hearts this day and always.  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship When we are disappointed and worn down. Lord, walk with us. When we doubt what we believe. Lord, teach us. When we need a sign. Lord, break the bread. Lord, we seek your kingdom. Fill our hearts with fire. Hymn 430 – Christ is risen while earth slumbers Prayer Loving God, we gather in your Son’s name this day, united by your Spirit to your followers throughout all time and space. It is amazing to remember that the stories we hear about you today have transformed so many other lives for so many centuries. It is amazing to consider how lives not so very different from our own carried your love from one generation to another, from one church to another, from one part of the world to another. As we join together in worship, open our eyes to new opportunities to express our love for you, and share your love in the lives we touch; for we are your people and we praise God in your holy name. Week by week we open our lives before you, acknowledging we sometimes lose track of you. We are driven and feel busy, so we let other things come before you in our lives. Changes upend us and we don’t know where to turn. Forgive us when we forget that you are with us day by day. Renew us in your love, we pray. On the Emmaus road, Jesus met friends who were discouraged and distracted by his death. Yet when he spoke God’s word to them, their hearts burned within them. Hear God’s word of forgiveness today. May the fire of God’s love warm your hearts with God’s promise of peace and new life. Lord’s Prayer Readings – 1 Peter 1: 17-23 (pg 1217) Luke 24: 13-35 (pg 1061) Hymn 530 – One more step Weekly Prayer Risen Christ, walk with us as individuals, and as the Church of God on our Road to Emmaus. Open our eyes, as you did with Jesus’ companions, to the reality and truth of the resurrection. May our hearts burn within us as the scriptures speak to us again today. Amen. Sermon There was a famous violinist, whose concerts would sell out all over the world. He had multiple recordings; he had won prizes; he had been on television on numerous occasions. He was famous. But then he decided to busk in the London Underground. Those of you who have travelled to London will know that sometimes you come across a musician or group of musicians, and their music is wonderful. So it was with this famous violinist – he gave the performance of his life – but the crowds just hurried by, intent on catching the tube. Some stopped and listened for a few moments; some threw a few coins in his violin case. His sublime music brought in £30 over the 4 hours he was there. Only one person recognised him, though wasn’t sure, given the setting. It was a salutary lesson. But then maybe we have all passed by famous people. We certainly pass by so many things in our houses, in our community, which we no longer notice – we just take for granted that they are there, but if a stranger comes, they notice. We need a stranger beside us to open our eyes. This week we are focussing on one of the resurrection appearances of the risen Jesus – the road to Emmaus. Two disciples walk back home to Emmaus, Cleopas and his unnamed companion – some scholars think it may have been his wife. They had been in Jerusalem as followers of Jesus and had no doubt been with him, waving their palm branches, when he had made his entry into the city. Their hopes had been cruelly dashed when Jesus was arrested and executed on the cross. So we find them turning their backs on Jerusalem, on their fellow disciples, on their hopes and dreams and walking home to Emmaus. They are traumatised. They have seen their rabbi, their friend die a horrible death, and they trudge with heavy legs along the road, forlorn and downcast. Luke has a thing about roads. It is where encounters happen. It is Luke who writes about Jesus and the disciples walking the roads of Galilee; he writes about the man attacked on the dangerous road to Jericho and encountering the helpful Samaritan; he writes of Philip meeting the Ethiopian on the road to Gaza and setting his heart on fire to the extent of him being baptised there and then. And here on the road to the village, two disciples encounter a stranger, who notices their distress and engages with them. Asks questions about what was wrong, and they exclaim, Are you the only person not to know what has been happening, how Jesus, who we thought was the messiah, was put to death?’, and then prompted by the stranger’s concern, open their hearts up to him, as they desperately try to make sense of all that had happened. ‘We had hoped that he would be the one to redeem Israel...!’. But their disappointment somehow grew lighter, as the stranger allowed them to tell their story, then began to draw their attention to Scripture and set their hearts on fire, so much so that they begged him to stay with them when they reached home and share a meal. Like the violinist in the tube, they hadn’t recognised Jesus. They had seen him die, why should they expect to see him? But as he took on the role as host and broke bread, their eyes were opened. He disappeared, and the two disciples, having trudged so slowly the road to Emmaus, by contrast ran back to Jerusalem to share their news of their encounter with the risen Lord. There are so many people weighed down with anxiety and the cares of the day. How often do we notice and ask why? Or are we more like the priest and Levite in one of the other Road stories and pass by on the other side? Bu Jesus calls us to a culture of encounter and encourages us to listen to one another’s stories, for we all have a story to tell. Cleopas said, ‘We had hoped that he was the one’, but with Jesus’ listening ear, that voicing of their disappointment was the first step to let go their trauma. Someone last week was talking to me about to the Holy Land and how often there are more than one site claiming to be where Jesus changed water into wine or was baptised. There are several churches claiming to be built on the site of Emmaus, but the truth is we don’t know where Emmaus was, apart from being within a day’s walk from Jerusalem. But that is quite good, for Emmaus could be anywhere. As we walk the road of life, we can face easy stretches or more difficult and even dangerous distances, but as the two disciples discovered, Jesus walked beside them. What’s more, Jesus set their hearts on fire. So may we open our eyes and maybe we will see Jesus there in the form of a stranger. May we open our hearts and minds and maybe we will encounter Christ to the extent that we will want to share the news with all. Hymn 615 – Holy Spirit, ever living Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Living God, as we serve you giving our time, our money, our skills, and our energy, may we meet you on the road, and may we be aware of your presence with us, with hearts open to everyone we meet on our journey through life. God our Maker, You have walked the Emmaus Road with your faithful people in many generations, people facing challenge and uncertainty, people seeking your purpose and promise. Thank you for your faithfulness to us in all situations. Walk with us and with those for whom we pray this day, that your grace and mercy may sustain our faith and hope. We pray for children and young people who must think about the future in these uncertain times. Give them hope rooted in the knowledge that their lives matter to you. Show them how to make a difference in the world, whatever threats and challenges they face as they grow. We pray for those for whom age or experience, illness or disability create barriers to full participation in your world. Give each one a sense of dignity and purpose. Show them where their gifts are needed and how much they matter to you. We pray for communities challenged by forces beyond their control: economic uncertainty, environmental stress, natural disaster, political strife. Give courage to those facing these crises day by day, and wisdom to those who lead others through them, so that wellbeing may be restored and hope for the future prevail. We pray for our congregation, for our life together and our future in mission. That future feels so challenging. It is hard to read the signs of our times and respond wisely. Sustain our fellowship and give us courage to take new paths, so that you will find us faithful on our journey into that future. We pray for the wellbeing of those lives linked to ours who bring us both joy and heartache because they matter so much to us and to you. In silence we name them before you. Amen Hymn 694 – Brother, sister let me serve you Benediction  Notices:
Welcome and Call to Worship: Come, embrace the risen Christ. Come, embrace the prince of peace. Come, embrace his pierced hands. Come, meet your Lord and your God. Hymn --- 425 … The Saviour died but rose again. Prayers of Adoration, Confession and Lord’s Prayer: Mighty God, what an amazing gift we have received! We have been born again through the resurrection and even though we have not seen the Risen Christ we love and believe in him, rejoicing with all Christians in an indescribable and glorious joy. Gracious God, like Thomas we will still face times of doubt and uncertainty but we know that we are not alone in our doubts and that you, our Father in heaven, continue to love us whatever our state of mind or body. We give you thanks for our fellow Christians here in the Scottish Borders. The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father Which art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth As it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory. Forever. Amen Readings: John 20: 19 – 31 1 Peter 1: 3 - 9. Hymn --- 187 … There’s a wideness in God’s mercy. (Morebattle) Alternative--- 417 … Now the greenblade riseth. (Yetholm) Weekly Prayer: As the disciples in the locked room reached out and touched you, let us reach out and touch you today, living Lord Jesus. Let us feel your scarred hands and feet. Let us put our hands in your side. Let us be still and know that you are our Lord and our God. Amen. Sermon: 'Low Sunday' is probably so named because of its relative unimportance in contrast with Easter Sunday Thomas: Changed from Doubt to Faith “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” [John 20:25] We often judge people by one mistake. We never let them forget it. Further, we never let the world forget it. When we think of David, we think of his sin. We forget what a great man he was despite his failure. When we think of Jacob, we think of how he stole his brother’s birth right. When we think of Peter, we remember his denial. Shakespeare said, “The evil that men do lives after them. The good is oft interred with their bones.” This is what happened to Thomas. No doubt he showed great faith many times, but we remember him because of his doubt. Today when someone is sceptical, we call that person a doubting Thomas. In reality Thomas was one of the most steadfast and loyal apostles among the Twelve. How many times have we wrongly judged someone! We know that Thomas was sceptical by nature. Thomas believed with much difficulty. One day when Jesus was preaching far from Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, his friend Lazarus became seriously ill. In great haste Lazarus’s sisters, Mary, and Martha, sent for Jesus to come and heal him. When word of Lazarus’s sickness reached Jesus, he deliberately lingered for two days. The apostles, remembering the threat of mob action on their last trip to Jerusalem, presumed that was the reason. However, at the end of two days, Jesus surprised them by announcing that he was departing. So, then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe”. Thomas responded “let us also go, that we may die with Him.” This comment seems to reveal excessive pessimism; he could see nothing but disaster ahead. Let me hasten to add that some of the most creative people who have ever lived have been of this nature. Georgia Harkness, a theologian and author, described her personal struggle with depression in “The Dark Night of the Soul.” She told how she came through the valley to find strength and victory in her experiences. In the Scriptures we find expression of this temperament in Job, David, Elijah, and Jeremiah. If Thomas was melancholy, he had plenty of company. Again, when Jesus sought to assure the disciples of eternal life, the spirit of Thomas was revealed. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Thomas could not accept things without questioning them. He was a realist who wanted to be sure. Thomas utterly refused to believe the resurrection. Even after the other disciples told him that they had seen the Lord, Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” He had to see for himself. The last disciple to concede the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Have you doubted? Most of us have. The psalmist cried out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Thomas wanted to believe There is a difference between honest and dishonest doubters. Some people just do not want to believe. They prefer a life of unbelief. They make up excuses and blame others as a cover for their own dishonesty. This was not the spirit of Thomas. Thomas wanted to believe. Thomas found sympathy from Jesus Christ blames no one for wanting to be sure. Jesus did not condemn Thomas for his doubts. Jesus knew that once Thomas fought his way through the wilderness of his doubts, he would be the surest man in Christendom. Jesus never says, “You must have no doubts,” but rather, “You must struggle with your doubts until you reach certainty.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Jesus spoke to him as a sincere disciple whose faith was weak, not as one with an evil heart of unbelief. Thomas’s answer was immediate. He fell down prostrate at Jesus’s feet and exclaimed with a warm, passionate cry of joy, “My Lord and my God!” His doubts vanished in the presence of the living Christ like morning mist in the sunlight. Thomas has given assurance to the world. His confession was noble—the most advanced, in fact, made by any of the Twelve during the time they were with Jesus. The greatest doubter attained the fullest and firmest belief. Thomas declared his belief in the miraculous by proclaiming, “The One who was dead is alive! This One who was crucified has become my Lord!” He acknowledged Jesus as the Christ. Thomas emerged stronger because he doubted Thomas’s faith became strong and vibrant. Tradition has it that he took the gospel to India. Tertullian said about the early Christians, “No man would be willing to die unless he knew he had the truth.” They would not have died for a dream. They would not have been loyal to a figment of their imagination. Thomas emerged victorious and became faithful unto death in his witness for God. We emerge victorious as we wait on God to reveal himself to us.. Do you have doubts? Keep doing the best you know right where you are. Stay faithful. Keep trusting, following, serving, praying. God will reveal himself. He will show you the nail prints. Many times, my prayer like many others has been “Lord I believe help thou my unbelief” The contrast of our Bible Readings could not be more relevant for us to-day as we see in our second bible reading from 1 Peter 1 v 8 & 9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Jesus is the supreme example of love. Even the secular world often recognises this. TIME Magazine said this: ‘Jesus: the most persistent symbol of purity selflessness and love in the history of western humanity.’ AMEN Hymn --- 432 … How often we like Thomas, (tune 739 Aurelia) Offering prayer: You are an abundant God and out of Your great mercy you have given us so much. We give you this offering today. With it we worship You and give our whole selves to You. Please now take it and use it for Your kingdom and Your glory. Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercessions: Creator God, we pray for peace in our troubled world. Wherever nations are at war, especially in Ukraine and people are suffering, we pray for true reconciliation. Protect all Christian people in the nations of the world, and help them to influence their country for the good of all. Father God, we pray for the times when our doubts, our fears and our blinkered vision prevents us from taking care of our immediate family and household or when through our busyness, we take no part in the life of our neighbourhood or wider community. Faithful God, we hold before you, those whom life has damaged and all who find it difficult to trust in you. We pray that you will push aside their doubts and fears and bring them hope, comfort, and healing and with it an inner peace. Everlasting God, we thank you that our time of worship renews our faith and trust in you and your risen son Jesus Christ. Send us out into the coming week ready to show our gratitude and live the Good News of Easter. Hymn --- 419 … Thine be the Glory, risen, conquering Son. Benediction: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.  The Lord is risen. He is risen indeed! Alleluia Notices:
Jesus was dead, laid in a tomb. But the stone is rolled away. Hallelujah Morning has broken, the tomb now empty. Hallelujah! Christ is risen! A new day has come, life is not undone Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Come and worship, the Lord is here! Hymn 410 – Jesus Christ is risen today Prayers of Adoration and Confession Risen Lord, we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. We are the Easter people come to worship, released from tombs of pain and doubt and fear and death into the freedom of this new day, and its promise of hope fulfilled. We are the Easter people, Emerging into the brightness of faith, Blinking, questioning, wondering, hoping. Come to us, into the garden of our lives, and touch all that is barren, and wasted and dried with Your healing hand. Forgive our half-lived lives, our broken promises, and our failed kindness. Call to us by our name, that we might turn from all that limits and burdens us, and lift us up into forgiveness and freedom. Open the gateways of our hearts and minds, and call us out into Your world to be embraced by Your unfailing and renewing mercy. Today, in silence, prayer and song, may we encounter Jesus and His grace. For we are the Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. Lord’s Prayer Hymn 404 – I danced in the morning Readings – John 20:1–18 Weekly Prayer The hymns we sing echo the joy we feel today, as together we celebrate the glorious resurrection, reminding us that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name. May our Easter exhilaration continue throughout the rest of our lives and show in the way that we live it out. Amen Reflection Do you like board games? I know that scrabble is quite popular among some. When I was at secondary school, the playground could be a dangerous place if you were of a shyer disposition. Those who played in the brass band could escape to practice during the interval or lunchtime, but for those of us who didn’t play an instrument, there was only one option. The chess club. So I joined, and later the teacher who ran the club would colourfully write for my Duke of Edinburgh award that I played at county level – i.e. I jumped on the school minibus to play at schools at Ayr and Kilmarnock. I seemed to draw a lot and lose a lot, but there was always something wonderful in suddenly seeing checkmate opening up. The Persian poet Hafiz lived in the Middle Ages, but became popular in the 19th century, and Sherlock Holmes even quoted him. In one poem he wrote: What is the difference between your experience of Existence and that of a saint? The saint knows That the spiritual path Is a sublime chess game with God. And that the Beloved has just made Such a Fantastic Move That the saint is now continually tripping over with joy And saying ‘I surrender’. Whereas, my dear, I am afraid you still think You have a thousand serious moves. Hafiz wasn’t Christian, but we look at the Easter story and see that God makes such a fantastic move, catching everyone by surprise, confounding the world, with the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The game is always God’s. Sin, death, decay may think they hold sway, but can never have the last word or last move. The stone has been rolled away. We look at our world and see destruction and death in the Ukraine and Yemen; we see the morality of politicians on both sides of the Atlantic questioned. We see tensions rise in the Holy Land with suspicion and blame the name of the game. The Lutheran Bishop of the Holy Land wrote in his Easter message this week that too many people know the pain of the cross and the tomb and it causes them to turn inward to hatred rather than love, fear rather than hope. But the good news of Easter is that life conquers death, and that resurrection still happens today. God’s justice conquers all injustice, checkmates all injustice he could have said. Mary in the garden was utterly bereft, as her world was shattered, the man who had changed her life had died on the cross and his body lay in the tomb. But he calls her name, says ‘Mary’, and suddenly the garden is filled with new life. She wanted things to be the same as before, she tried to cling on, but Jesus propels her into something new- resurrection living. As he does us. We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song. The stone has been rolled from the tomb, and new life and new hope breaks out, not just once a year at Easter, but every day. For every day we are transformed by God and every day God’s new life can be renewed in us. We know ourselves loved for who we are and are empowered to live resurrection lives of love and grace, to roll back the stone, to break barriers down, to wipe tears from eyes and to live as an Easter people. Alleluia, He is risen indeed. Hymn 417 – Now the green blade riseth Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession God of Resurrecting Hope, we thank you with grateful hearts, recognizing how much you have given us in Christ, and what his gift has cost. Bless the gifts we bring so they may help spread the hope and joy we feel today in the world you love so dearly. God of new beginnings, Break into your church with resurrecting power and re-energize our commitment to you. Bless the Church throughout the world this Easter Day, and especially where your people are persecuted. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new possibilities, Break into our relationships with resurrecting power. Where they are vibrant and life-giving, nurture and sustain them. Where they are marked by memories of hurt or current misunderstanding, refresh them with forgiveness and reconciliation. Where they are neglected or taken for granted, open eyes to the great gift we offer each other. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new opportunity, Break into the governance of your world with resurrecting power. Stir the minds and hearts of leaders to work for justice, understanding and the equitable sharing of resources. We continue to pray for the world. For places at war, for tensions in the holy Land and even here in Scotland. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of new life, Break into situations of illness, pain, grief and loss with resurrecting power. Where there is sickness of body, mind, or spirit, bring healing and hope. Where people mourn the loss of relationships or dreams, bring comfort and courage to go on. Where those who serve and care and maintain our common life are exhausted, bring rest and renewal. Resurrect, renew and revive your people, O God. Hear our prayer. God of Easter Day, In silence we bring before you the prayers of our hearts. Silence Resurrect, renew and revive our spirits. Hear our prayer. Amen Hymn 419 – Thine be the glory Benediction God of new possibilities, new beginnings, new hope, Bless us now with your resurrection life! Jesus calling us each by name Bless us now with your resurrection life! Spirit equipping and energizing us, sending us out Bless us now with your resurrection life! And may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and with those whom you love, wherever they may be, now and always. Amen  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed are those who honour God! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Blessed are they who follow Jesus to Calvary Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed are we who hope to rise with Him in glory. Hosanna to the Son of David! Hymn 364 – All glory, laud and honour Prayer Lord Jesus, you enter our lives humbly, Riding on a donkey, staying at our level, inviting our response. Circle our hearts, centre our minds, still our bodies. Be present to us now. God of majesty and mercy, we worship today, as the Cross looms larger on the horizon. We praise you for Jesus, who came in humility to free us from captivity. He came in mercy to free us from the sins we recognize in ourselves, and the sins we easily overlook. He came to show us the full extent of your mercy, love and justice. So we praise you for your kindness and the strength you show to lift our burdens and shoulder them for us in Christ Jesus. Receive our worship in Christ’s name and for his sake. As we ponder your parade, we confess that we’ve failed to understand You. We’ve acclaimed you as king without thinking about what You mean by kingship. We jump from Palm Sunday to the empty tomb but skip Golgotha. We sing hosanna and hallelujah but forget your pain and passion. Forgive us O Wounded King, give us time to change, that as we follow You, we learn to count the cost of Your terrifying triumph. Jesus says, ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. Jesus brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. We are a forgiven people. Lord’s Prayer All-age talk Blessing of Palms Lord Jesus, in the fullness of time You came to show us how to live, challenged the powers, upset the religious, worried the authorities, and on this day, entered your city as its rightful king. The people acclaimed you with joyful shouts and strewn palms. May we acclaim You as our king, and follow You in Your work. Holy One, bless now these palms, let them remind us of the ways in which Jesus unsettled the status quo and showed a different way of being royal. As we keep these palms at home, remind us of the radical nature of Your call to us, now and evermore, Amen. Readings – Isaiah 50: 4-9a (pg 737) Matthew 21: 1-11 (pg 988) Hymn 367 – Hosanna, loud hosanna Weekly Prayer Sovereign Lord, as we approach Holy Week, help us to enter into the story of Christ’s passion. May we understand in some small way the sacrifice He made for us, as we join with those of old saying "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord". Amen Sermon What kind of King are you, Lord? We’ve got a king again now; and we’ve known of kings for years. Kings wear crowns, have retainers and flunkeys, command armies, live in unimaginable wealth, have stories fed to the press to keep the positive news flowing – though that doesn’t always work of course. Kings have families who we are taught to honour and respect. Kings have security – discreet agents, hidden weapons, and security vetting. Yet none of that seems to be accurate for you. You were born in a stable, not a palace. Your first years were spent in exile not private school. You didn’t wear a crown – you seemed to own nothing except your clothes. When you were crowned it was with thorns as a cruel mockery of your reign. You had disciples not flunkeys – and some of them weren’t very reliable. You had no armies to command, no weapons to rely on. No press in your day of course but I can’t imagine you having stories planted on the sly. You had heaven’s armies to protect you - but they didn’t do a good job now did they? What type of king are you. Lord? What type of priest are you. Lord? We know about priests – though we have lots of different names for them – ministers, vicars, pastors– but the job’s the same. They look holy, often wear odd clothing, tell of God’s actions, be a bit distant, mix with the right people. They have to balance being radical with being careful, navigate difficult people with tact. They have to be creative in liturgy honouring both tradition and change. Yet none of that seems to be accurate for you. We don’t know where you trained but your command of the Bible and its teachings is second to none. You didn’t seem to look that holy, you didn’t keep that professional distance that ministers are supposed to have. You really mixed with the wrong people – sex workers, collaborators, and dirty gentiles. And what about tact? You really can’t call people “white washed tombs” and get away with it! You can’t call the king a “fox”! You seemed to sit fast and loose with tradition – stretching laws to breaking points, reinventing liturgy, bringing new meanings and offering mystery not always explanation. What type of priest are you, Lord? What type of leader are you Lord? Leaders have to be slick, they need mission statements and visions for the future. They have focus groups quietly working out what’s the best way to get a hearing. Leaders now avoid saying what they really think but want, instead, to please their base. Leaders offer cheap tricks where they blame outsiders for the ills of the world and build themselves up. Leaders need to be popular – don’t you know that Lord? Yet none of this seems to be accurate for you. That nice rich guy who wanted to follow you – you told him to give away all that he had! Come on, wouldn’t a nice donation have been good enough? Your message is memorable, I’ll give you that, but would it get through a focus group. Turn the other cheek? Love your enemies? If asked for our coat we have to give our shirt as well! See you in the poor and naked and hungry and imprisoned! You didn’t seem to please your base either – you were nasty to the Pharisees and often told Jewish people that gentiles were more righteous than them. You didn’t find a scapegoat for social problems did you Lord? Look where that ended you up. What type of leader are you Lord? The type of king, the type of priest, the type of leader, who would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey and not on a war horse, who could have summoned the people to mount the barricades, but rather presented peace. The type who would accept betrayal and denial of friends and still forgive, who would accept the taunts and jeers of soldiers intent on humiliating him, before carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem. The type who stretched out his arms wide as nails were hammered through flesh as he would hang on the Cross. The type who loved the world so much, he would go through even death for our sakes. ‘Amazing love, how can it be? That thou, my God, shouldst die for me!’ As we walk through Holy week, let us reflect on the passion of our Lord and how far he went for you and for me. Hymn 399 – My song is love unknown Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Eternal One, we ask you to bless our gifts, of time, talent, and treasure, that we may use them wisely, and that we may be freed from our need to worry, and come to trust You, who count every hair on our heads. God of courage and compassion, as we follow Jesus toward the Cross this holy week, we give you thanks that he faced his enemies with courage, not violence. We are grateful he loved us enough to die for us, bearing every pain and sorrow others inflicted.In Christ we trust that your love has power in every situation, even the most troubling or tragic. So hear us as we bring to you the people and places facing trouble and tragedy this day. Eternal One, before the ages You loved our world and all that is in it, you formed us from stardust, and set us in this place, giving us all that we need to sustain life and flourish. Teach us, O Most High, to live in harmony with creation, to cherish what You have given us, that we may understand and reverse climate change where we can and learn to live with a new climate where we can’t. In Your mercy, God, hear our prayer. Crucified One, we bring before all those who are tortured today, and those who torture; we pray for those humiliated, those who are condemned to death this day, and those who condemn them. Give us grace to understand your victory, that we may challenge the powers that seek to rule our world, and remind them, and us, that they stand defeated. In your mercy, God, hear our prayer. Powerful One, we bring before you the crowds and peoples of our age, swayed by social media, charismatic leaders, and corrupt politicians, as easily as the crowds in Jerusalem were so long ago. We think of those who protest for democracy in Israel. Help us to stand firm when we waver, help us to maintain truth when all around are lies, help us to love when the voices bay for hatred. In your mercy, God, hear our prayer. O Most High, in silence we bring to you places of pain and people in need…. Accept our prayers, Eternal One, for the sake of Your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ God of courage and compassion, thank you for your love that never lets us go. Amen Hymn 365 – Ride on, ride on Benediction Go with courage to face the days ahead. May the Christ who walks on wounded feet walk with you on the road. May the Christ who serves with wounded hands stretch out your hands to serve. May the Christ who lives with a wounded heart open your hearts to love.  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship With wisdom and generosity, God created us. With grace and compassion, Jesus embraces us. With ideas and inspiration The Holy Spirit transforms us. Let us worship God. Hymn 238 – Lord, bring the day to pass Prayer Creator God, maker of colour, sound, texture, movement, and the ceaseless beauty in living things, we bless you. Creator God, maker of granite and mustard seed, of grey cloud and starlight, of earthquake and heartbeat, we bless you. Creator God maker of all that is unseen, of all that has been, of all that words could never capture, we bless you. We, the children of your love, the beneficiaries of your kindness, the guardians of your creation, bless you. God challenges us, God encourages us. God confronts us, and God accepts us. God forgives. God works wonders in our midst and gives us eyes, hearts, souls, to cherish life. We are grateful, Creator God, for all the benefits extracted from land and sea, for all the people who have risked their lives for our comfort, our health, our wealth, our mobility. Yet we confess before you our lack of care for the earth, our exploitation of its resources, our pollution of its rivers, our lack of foresight for the future: Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us Help us to amend our ways and be good stewards of your creation. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Psalm 8 (pg 546) Luke 19: 11-27 (pg 1053) Hymn 181 – For the beauty of the earth Weekly Prayer O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! We thank you for your creation that surrounds us reminding us of our place in your plan, confident that all is safely in your hands. As we go out into the world, surrounded by your love and care, help us to be like the good servant in all that we do each day. Amen Sermon Wow, God! You did good making this planet! It’s beautiful, amazing – from tiny wriggly things, to trees and mountains, and people of all races, extraordinary people, Just sorry! For the mess we make. The whole me first, humans are tops thing; the rows, and the violence, no feeling for being part of something so much bigger. Help! Please! We can’t see how to do it, how to undo the mess we’ve made, how to work together. How to love your way, earth and sea and human, and how we fit together. We could? Find a gentle way, give stuff up, take things on; live a way of healing? Reminds me now of Jesus, his inclusive way of love. The Wow moment ….and then the realisation that we need to do much better. We get the Wow factor when we watch programmes like David Attenborough’s Wild Isles. For those who haven’t seen it, it focuses on the nature and wildlife of the British isles and presents stunning photography of orcas and squirrels and wood ants and murmuration of starlings, while the backdrop of the hills and forests and water has encouraged a surge in holiday bookings. The photography is painstaking, as weeks, months, even years are spent to capture that one shot. Of course, we have the Wow factor every day, living where we do, with hills changing colour, trees blossoming, plants growing, birds and pheasants and deer and some creepie crawlies as well. We are very fortunate. But we can never take it for granted, and our 5th mark of mission is to care for creation or, more fully, to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. We read Psalm 8, and we thrill at the majesty of God the creator, whose greatness can be seen in the wonder of the universe. We feel our insignificance as human beings in comparison with the rest of creation, but the psalmist affirms us as created in God’s image and who have been given the task, as mentioned in the first chapter of Genesis of looking after the earth, of being responsible for creation as good stewards. And that is where the Wow factor begins to fade, for we realise how far short we have fallen, what a mess we have made. In an Attenborough programme, the world looks stunning, but he is very cutting in his appraisal, as he notes the tiny percentage of the land given over to forests, of habitat destroyed and species dying out. He poses the question whether we have left it too late. In the parable of the talents, we read today, the master makes a journey and leaves his servants with a responsibility to look after his property and gives them so many coins. Against the odds he returns and summons the servants to give an account. One has invested the money and made ten times the amount, the next five times, but the third has dug a hole and hidden it, as he feared the master so much. He is condemned for failing to even put the money in the bank to earn interest. I always find this a difficult parable, as from an early age I sympathised with the third servant and still do today. He had obviously felt bullied and belittled by the master, and at least didn’t squander the money. But still he stands condemned. Does the master who becomes the king relate to Jesus, who at the end will ask to give an account of ourselves? There’s the rub. For the parable is about stewardship and how well we use the gifts we have for the kingdom and, in our context with our 5th mark of mission, how well we care for creation. Do we hide, not our money in the ground, but our heads in the sand? Are we fearful about climate change but do nothing about it, maybe because it doesn’t impact us to so great an extent? Yet the climate emergency is real, and the people who suffer most are those in countries in the Global South, who have done least to cause the damage to our world. In the Pacific with rising sea levels, in Mozambique with cyclones and rain causing chaos, in Pakistan with flooding or the Horn of Africa with drought, all of which are life threatening. Half the world’s population live in regions vulnerable to climate change. The call to care for creation is not about appreciating the wonder of the world but making an effort to do something about it, as individuals, as a community and as a church. Yes, we are good now at recycling. We have become more frugal, better at mending clothes and shoes rather than buying something new. We have become more conscious of our carbon footprint but need to do far more. We are called to be more energy conscious, as we aim for a low carbon economy. We have been indiscriminate in plundering the resources of the earth; we need to care for the earth more gently and, conscious that Holy Week approaches, acknowledge our responsibilities as Christians, without the need for a reminder from a crowing cockerel! Hymn 243 – Touch the earth lightly Affirmation We believe that this is God’s world and all that lives on it; We believe that living gratefully and giving generously are marks of faith. We believe that all of humanity should have equal access to the earth’s resources, And that every individual must now act to preserve this world so that the children of tomorrow will not be burdened by the mistakes of today. And so we commit ourselves to think globally, to trade fairly, to live responsibly, and to love this world as it is loved by God, who in Christ became one with creation. Amen. Prayers of Dedication and Intercession We place our gifts into your hands, O God. With the power of your Holy Spirit make them seeds of new life, springing up with hope and healing for weary souls. In Jesus’ name we pray. Generous God, You are the source of all that is, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the river of life for our thirst. You love the world so much that you sent your only Son. May we be filled with your breath, nourished by your food, renewed by your living water and sustained by your love. Creator God, we give thanks that we have heard the Spirit of God in the freshening leaves and the rush of water. So we pray for the creation which nourishes and sustains all that lives. Renew in us the sense of its value that we may not squander its riches, or so bend it to our will that we find we have destroyed it. We pray for all whose experience of water is not of blessing but of curse; as the monsoon rains fall relentlessly from the skies, as rivers burst their banks, bridges are swept away and dams crumble, as ice-caps melt and flash floods sweep down carrying destruction over innumerable miles, there is water everywhere, and none of it is clean. We see thirst that can find only filthy water to drink, waterborne and skin diseases, polluted with chemicals or rubbish. We pray for all in the horn of Africa caught up in drought, seeing their crops shrivel before their eyes. We think of those in Malawi and Mozambique caught up in a cyclone with torrential rain. For Pacific islanders worried about their future, as their homes sink beneath the waves. We pray for all who make important decisions about reducing greenhouse gases and being more ecologically friendly, that we may truly care for your creation. As always, we continue to pray for an end to the pointless war in Ukraine: we pray for those who stand and fight to defend their homes, land and way of life. we pray for those who have lost loved ones and we pray for those who have died. When a solution seems so far away, when men with power intimidate and bully for their own gain, when normal lives are destroyed so pointlessly, when posturing and self-adulation seem to fill the headlines: God of peace, we do pray for Your loving peace to bring hope to this dreadful mess. God of relationships: we bring to You those who are in fractured relationships, those who feel unsafe in their own homes, those who are excluded by the community they live in, those who have had to run for safety, those who find venturing out of the front door is just too much. We pray that You will be with them, and with us as we continue to live out your love. We pray for the communities we belong to. We see the challenges, the pains, the aching sadnesses - and we also see the joys and opportunities. You created a community founded in love, help us to make communities that are more Jesus-shaped. Loving God, we pray for ourselves and those we love. We also pray for those we struggle with – for those we avoid and cross the road so we don’t have to connect with. Loving God be with all of us – be in the challenges and the joys and give us Your peace. 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. Transforming God, accept these and all of our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen Hymn 533 – Will you come and follow me Benediction Now go in peace to enjoy the earth, and care for creation in partnership with God.  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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