 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
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 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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