 The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Second Sunday of Lent.
Notices: As we are all aware, we are in lockdown, and all churches are closed, though we have had a glimmer of hope this week. The podcast and video are available online. If anyone needs a printed copy of the service, please get in touch with Susan or Colin.
Passcode: 848548
Call to Worship We gather to worship the Lord our God, the maker of the stars, the one who calls us to follow. We gather united in our love for God and offer this time of worship. Hymn 482 – Come, let us to the Lord our God Prayers of Adoration and Confession Loving and holy God, Our Creator, Christ, and Guide, you speak the words of life to us. In you we find our hearts’ desire; by your grace we are saved. When the way forward is unclear, you shed light. When we are troubled, you give peace. When times are difficult, you stir courage and hope. Our deepest longing is to know you, and to be known by you. In these difficult days, we praise you for your faithfulness to us. Draw near to us in our time of worship, O God, and open the way before us, so that we may follow Jesus without wavering, trusting him to lead us. Although following you brings joy, O God, we confess the way is sometimes hard for us. There are times we get tired and would eagerly settle for an easier road. Some days we find the task of loving others hard. Sometimes we choose anger over forgiveness, or ignore the needs of our neighbours. Forgive us when our commitment to you wavers. Forgive us when we take that easier path. Stir the embers of our devotion and kindle a brighter flame. Strengthen our determination to follow where you lead and renew our energy to serve in Jesus’ name. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. By grace, we are forgiven and set free to find new life in Christ. Thanks be to God! Lord’s Prayer Readings – Genesis 17: 1-7.15-16 Mark 8: 31-8 Hymn 402 – Take up thy cross Weekly Prayer Loving God as you revealed yourself to Abraham in ancient days, reveal yourself to us in this present age. Make us into a faithful people ready to believe your promises. May we never be ashamed to take up our cross and follow you wherever you will lead us. Amen Reflection As you might expect, I have a number of crosses in my house. There is a Palm cross from the cathedral in Alexandria, which I bought just hours before it was bombed. I also have a wooden cross made by a refugee from Eritrea and a more decorative cross from a monastery in Egypt. I did have an Iona Cross, but must have given it away at some point. Some people have crosses they can hold in their hand; others have crosses they can wear round their necks. In fact, it rather became a fashion statement to wear a cross or even have a cross tattooed on your arm, and not necessarily for any religious significance. Of course, the cross has immense significance for us as Christians – Jesus died on the cross. But for people like the disciples living in 1st century Palestine, the cross was something to be feared. It was a gruesome symbol of execution; a thing of pain and shame and torture, a thing of death. And so when Jesus told the disciples to take up their cross and follow him, he was saying something profoundly shocking. Peter had been having his day in the sun. Jesus had asked them who people said he was, and Peter had replied, ‘the Messiah’ – the right answer. He was pleased with himself, top of the class! But it didn’t last, for when Jesus told them that, as the Messiah, he must suffer and die, Peter remonstrated with him. ‘Everything is fine, the people love you. What is all this talk of death?’ But Jesus put him firmly in his place and said that whoever wanted to follow him, must deny themselves and take up their cross. In other words, to be a follower of Christ would not always be easy, for it means a life of total service, as the Queen talked about earlier this week. There are no half-hearted measures. There would be many challenges but the disciples needed to learn to trust in God. ‘We all have our crosses to bear’ is a common phrase. Sometimes it refers to a long-term illness or to a neighbour or even a family member. It should be said quite strongly, however, that God doesn’t want any of us to suffer or be in abusive situations. But as human beings we can find ourselves in such situations, but can be given the inner resources to cope and even be strengthened. Earlier in the week I read an article about one of the Chibok girls. 270 mainly Christian students were kidnapped from Chibok boarding school in Nigeria by Boko Haram. Many are still held captive, but over the years, others escaped or were freed. Many were forced to convert to Islam, but the one I read about had refused and with her friends continued to pray and resist where she could, until ultimately she was released. In a difficult situation, she was given strength to cope – and to prevail. In our Genesis reading, Abram and Sarai had wealth and status, but what they didn’t have was a child. God had called them to leave their home town, promising that they would be parents of a great nation. God kept repeating this promise, but nothing seemed to happen. They were getting older, and took matters into their own hands, and Abraham had a son, Ishmael, by Sarai’s maid. In Chapter 17 God repeats the promise, and as a sign the promise would be kept, their names were changed to Sarah and Abraham. They had to learn to trust in God – and with the birth of Isaac, God fulfilled the promise. We are called into God’s service. It is a high privilege, but it is never an easy ride— and that is something to remember as the church finds itself in a new phase of its collective life, as restrictions are hopefully eased. But in all things, we put our trust in God and in God’s promises. Hymn 180 – Give thanks Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Lord Jesus, you challenge all your followers to give like you did, without counting the cost. Receive our gifts and bless them so that they may continue your ministry of healing in this hurting world. Bless us with your courage, so our lives speak to others of our love for you and for them. Loving God, we thank you for the vision you have for our lives, the promises you have made to us, and the journey you open before us. Today we remember with gratitude: The ways our lives are held secure in uncertain times by our trust in you; Moments in these months of pandemic that made us laugh or smile; Moments when we felt your gifts of courage and patience; The people who love us and give us encouragement; Gracious God, we are grateful for all these signs of your love in our lives. Thank you for the hope they bring us. Show us how to share this hope and love with others who are struggling in these difficult days. Faithful God, we pray for healing and restoration in the world We pray for people, places and situations deeply in need of your grace, especially as they face the fears and frustrations of coping with COVID-19; We pray for those who struggle to feed, clothe or house themselves and their families, and all those who worry about their economic future. We pray for the earth and its well-being, that areas and species under threat will be cared for; We pray for peace with justice in regions of the world facing turmoil: And we pray for all those offering leadership and service in these times of hope and anxiety; for those planning how to offer vaccines in our community, and for those uncertain about vaccination. May we be mindful of countries yet to begin vaccination, and countries who cannot afford the vaccines, and we ask that governments would enable fair distribution. When we begin to emerge from crisis, may we work to build a better world where the poorest are protected. O Christ, the Master Carpenter, who at the last through wood and nails purchased our whole salvation; wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your work bench may be fashioned to a truer beauty by your hand. Amen. Hymn 167 – Guide me, O thou great Jehovah Benediction Go in peace to walk the Way of Christ, sharing the Messiah’s good news, prepared to take up your cross, and to be God’s people, and may the blessing of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, be with you and those whom you love and those we are called to love, for evermore. Amen
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 The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this First Sunday of Lent.
Notices:
Call to Worship We begin our journey through Lent. Aware of God’s presence with us on the way. We come to find light in the shadows And strength in our weakness. We seek God’s mercy step by step, day by day. So let us worship God with grateful hearts! Hymn 153 – Great is thy faithfulness Prayers of Adoration and Confession Good and gracious God,Creator of storms and sunshine,of the sun and moon and stars,Maker of rainbows and raindrops,of all that is in the heavens and the earth,we praise you for the beauty of the created world,and for the hope of life with you now and always.We praise you for your faithfulness and loving kindness throughout all generations,for your compassion and redemption revealed to us in Christ Jesus.Receive our prayer and praise this day and teach us how to live by your love. O God, you made a covenant with us in faithfulness,but we confess we are not always so faithful to you.We grow tired and restless when things don’t go our way. We lose patience with others.We lack compassion for our neighbours in need,and even forget to express our love for those closest to us.Forgive us, gracious God.Lead us in the way we should go.Make us prisms of your love, making rainbows of your light, creating beauty and deepening hope wherever we go. Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid. I love you. You are forgiven. Go sin no more’ Lord’s Prayer Readings – Genesis 9: 8-17 Mark 1: 9-15 Hymn 5 – O Lord, O Lord (Psalm 10) Weekly Prayer Gracious God, help us to see this time of Lent as an opportunity to develop our discipleship and discipline. As your Son Jesus showed us how to reject temptation, fill us with grace to be faithful to his example. His baptism brought you pleasure and may you be pleased with us too as we seek to serve you and each other. Thank you for the rainbow reminding us of your promise. Amen Reflection One image associated with this pandemic, especially the first lockdown, has been the rainbow. You saw paintings of rainbows were everywhere -on windows, even on buses - as both a sign of support for the NHS, but also as a sign of hope that all would not be lost and that healing would come. The rainbow has always been an incredibly positive image and, with its different colours merging into each other, has been a sign of inclusion and welcome, and it was never a surprise that South Africans were called a ‘rainbow people’, as they came together after the horrors of apartheid. We read today the conclusion of the Flood story from Genesis. It is a story loved by children with its rainbow and all the animals going into the ark two by two. But it is a horror story really, as God realises just how flawed humanity is and decides to destroy the earth – But God sees that Noah is a righteous man, so he and his family and all the various animals escape the flood, safely in the ark. But when the floods abate, and they come out of the ark to make a new beginning, God makes a covenant, never again to destroy the earth. It was an agreement made, not just with Noah but with all creation; it was universal and unconditional, no strings attached. The rainbow was a sign of this covenant. It is a sign of a new beginning, a sign of hope and also of commitment. The commitment that God remembers us and is on our side. Even though Noah and his family were to prove to be as flawed as the others, God was still on our side, on the earth’s side, and nothing would change it, for the covenant was made. God is on our side, and that is the message from the Gospel as well. This is the first Sunday in Lent, and traditionally we look at the story of the temptations in the desert. Matthew and Luke go to town and give us a lot of detail of Jesus’ struggle with Satan. But Mark’s account is so spare – just a couple of sentences. The desert was a hostile environment, where nothing grew, where there was hardly any water; you wouldn’t volunteer to go there. But also, there were no distractions. Today we find it difficult to go anywhere without distractions. We become so used to having a mobile phone with messages pinging, even from the other side of the world. It was a good place, therefore, for Jesus to go to wrestle with what lay ahead, to prepare himself for his ministry. That involved a lot of inward struggle, but Mark tells us two things: Firstly, that the wild animals were with him. If a wild animal was near us, we would be very wary, if not terrified. But we don’t get that impression here; it is as if the vision of Isaiah is restored, with the lion lying down with the lamb. In fact, in several of the monasteries of the Middle east there are traditions of monks befriending lions by plucking a thorn from their paw, and the lions not leaving their side. But the other thing Mark tells us is that the angels were also with Jesus, ministering to him. Jesus was in this very hostile environment, but he wasn’t alone. We certainly have our trials and tribulations at present time, but just as Jesus was supported in the desert, so we are not alone, but God is a God who is committed to us and who always remembers us and wants the best for us – and the rainbow is the sign of that. Hymn 191 – Do not be afraid Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession As we enter into this holy season, Lord God, we give you thanks for your promise of new life that sustains us, especially as these months of pandemic stretch on. We thank you: For tiny signs of hope, even in a bleak landscape or on challenging day; For glimpses of beauty in a smile or a ray of sunshine; For scientific achievements that ease suffering in this time of pandemic; For the people who support and serve others in times of weakness or loss; For the chance to recover from mistakes, to begin again. Lord of life, sustain us with your presence and give us patience and perseverance as we await the future with you. Trusting your promise of new life, it is with hope that we pray: For anyone we have hurt by harsh words or careless deeds; (Hold a silence) For those known to us who are carrying heavy burdens; (Hold a silence) For those we work with or see daily; (Hold a silence) For all who are seeking employment or worry about their businesses; (Hold a silence) For teachers, students and school heads managing so many challenges this year; (Hold a silence) For troubled places in our world and those who work for reconciliation and understanding; (Hold a silence) For countries yet to begin vaccination, and countries who cannot afford the vaccines (Hold silence) For our congregation and all churches seeking new ways to minister in these months of distancing from each other; (Hold a silence) For the sick and those who mourn (Hold a silence) Renew our health and hope for the future you will bring us through the courage and compassion of Christ our Lord, Amen Hymn 513 – Courage brother Benediction May the mystery of God enfold us, may the wisdom of God uphold us, may the fragrance of God be around us, may the brightness of God surround us, may the wonder of God renew us, may the loving of God flow through us, may the peace of God deeply move us, may the moving of God bring us peace  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this Transfiguration Sunday
Notices:
Call to Worship God said, “Let light shine in the darkness!” Lord, shine your light into our lives. We see the glory of God in the face of Christ. The light of Christ is with us day by day. Let us follow the light of Christ together. Let us worship God with thanks and praise. Hymn 35 – O send thy light forth and thy truth Prayers of Adoration and Confession God of grace and glory, to this worried world, you reveal your presence in radiant glory and in gentle whispers, on mountain tops and in shadowed valleys, in classrooms and hospital beds, in homes and churches, in the quiet of nature and on busy streets. Yours is the presence that pushes past our fear to calm us; yours is the love that transforms our doubt with reassurance. We come to dwell in your goodness and offer you the praise you deserve. God of mercy and forgiveness, we confess that many things keep us from trusting fully in your love. We are often distracted by our own desires and disappointments. We cling to anger and resentment. We fear for the future rather than seek signs of hope. Forgive us. Shine your love upon us so that your glory may be seen in us, and give us courage to follow Jesus wherever he leads, for we pray in his name. To all who humbly seek the mercy of God. in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – 2 Kings 2: 1-12 Mark 9: 2-9 Hymn 557 – O love that wilt not let me go Weekly Prayer Almighty God, at the Transfiguration you showed Jesus in a new state of glory. In our worship together help us to get a glimpse of your heavenly kingdom as well as a deeper understanding of how your son, Jesus, can transfigure our broken and unfulfilled lives. Be with us as we move into the coming week, with our eyes fixed on Jesus only. Amen Reflection It has been marvellous this week to look out at the hills covered in snow, though maybe it was more difficult for those needing to make essential journeys, like going to be vaccinated. We live in a beautiful part of the world. Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are reputed to have gone for a hike in such countryside and come the evening, they took out their tent and camped. At some point during the night, Holmes woke Watson and said, ‘Look up. What do you see?’ ‘Millions of stars’, Watson replied. ‘What do you deduce from that?’, Holmes asked. Watson answered, ‘If there are so many planets, perhaps there is one like Earth and there could be life’. Holmes looked at him in exasperation and said ‘Watson…it means somebody stole our tent!’ Sometimes we just don’t see what is in front of us, though I must admit a sympathy with Watson. Like him, the disciples in our reading from Mark failed to understand fully what was before them, when Jesus took them up the mountain. But then the story of the Transfiguration is a difficult one for us too, with talk of Jesus’ clothes becoming dazzling white and with the appearance of the two heroes from the Hebrew Scriptures, Moses and Elijah. Like Moses at the Burning bush or Elijah and the Chariot of Fire, the Transfiguration is beyond our normal experience, but then it maybe speak to us of times when we are taken out of ourselves, when we are up a mountain or in a great cathedral or beside the sea, and we have the wow factor, or we simply feel close to God. The Transfiguration was a turning point. Just before it, Peter had confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, but then when Jesus had explained that he had to suffer, the disciples just couldn’t get their heads around it. They needed to have the mountaintop experience, to see Jesus in glory with Moses and Elijah beside him, representing the Law and the Prophets; they needed to hear the voice from heaven affirming Jesus as the beloved son. It was so much to take in, and perhaps that is why Peter suggests they build shelters and stay forever. When we have that ‘wow’ moment, we want to make it last, but often it is too fleeting. So it was with the disciples. The disciples needed that time on the mountain and maybe Jesus did too, knowing that the way ahead meant suffering and even death. But Jesus chose to come down the mountain: down to the crowds and their demands for healing; down to the religious problems of the day, the rivalries and jealousies; down to where the other disciples were and down to where we are; down to the discouragements; down to the frustrations of pandemic. Down to the way that led to the Cross. Jesus came down the mountain. That is at the heart of Christian faith, for God in Christ came down to be with us and for us, to walk alongside us, that we might know God and have life in abundance. It is always good to have the wow moments, but we too need to come down the mountain, but we find ourselves in the company of Christ, who cares for us, all our ups and downs, hopes and dreams – and, as the hymn says, doesn’t let us go. Hymn 448 – Lord the light of your love is shining Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession God of life and love, receive our gifts as tokens of our love. Bless them so they strengthen the service of love we undertake in Jesus’ name. May our lives shine with hope in these difficult days of wintertime, as we wait for healing and renewal. Ever loving God, we pray today for your church. As Christian communities all across Scotland and the World, face new challenges, pain and an uncertain future, we pray for the wisdom to see new opportunities for growth and renewal, even in these difficult times. We pray for the Church, as it continues to work for your kingdom, and to carry out your mission. God of glory, we thank you for the tireless effort of nurses, doctors and consultants, caring for patients, especially those who are suffering from Covid-19. We ask that you would give all medical staff peace as they care for the sick, and peace as many of them wait at the bedside of those who are at the end of life. We remember the work of hospital chaplains. We pray for all who have been kept apart from those they love; for those who have not been able to mourn for friends and family who have died, and we pray especially for relatives of people in care homes – surround them all with your healing presence. We remember people in our own communities who are suffering asking that you would lighten the pain and distress of daily life. Amen Hymn 519 – Love Divine Benediction May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Hymn786 – May the God of peace  The Lord be with you! Welcome, Cheviot churches and also those joining us from elsewhere. This is Colin, and I hope everyone is staying well and keeping safe. Come, people of God, let us worship together on this 5th Sunday after Epiphany.
Notices:
Call to Worship God has invited us to come. So we gather. God has spoken to the world. So we listen. God has given us glimpses of grace and mercy. So we wait, longing for healing, eager for hope. Hymn 103 – Fill your hearts with joy and gladness (1,4) Prayers of Adoration and Confession Creator God, Source of all life,in you all creatures are connectedand all creation redeemed and made new.Day by day you make yourself known to your people.In the beauty of the heavens we see your glory.In the bounty of the earth we know your generosity.In strength for our bodies and minds we experience your energy.Delighting in all that we have seen, and heard, we worship you, one God, Creator, Christ, and Spirit. Holy One, along with our praise, we offer you our confession.We have sinned against you and our neighbour in thought, word and deed. Consumed by anxiety, we forget to trust you.Discouragement seeps into our hearts in the cold of winter and we do not serve you with eagerness.Forgive us.Renew our energy for your purposes.Raise us up on wings of faith.May we walk by your light and not grow weary.May we run and not faint.In Jesus’ name we pray, To all who humbly seek the mercy of God. in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven. Be at peace with God, with yourself and with one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 40:21–31 Mark 1:29–39 Hymn 162 – The God of Abraham praise (1,3,5) Weekly Prayer Ever living God, our Creator and Redeemer, you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. With a word you created all things and so we pray as those whose hope is in the Lord, that you will renew our strength. Help us to soar on wings like eagles; to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. Amen Reflection Captain Sir Tom Moore died this week at the age of 100. At an age where he was entitled to sit back and rest, he suddenly shot to fame last Spring, when he started to raise money for the NHS by slowly walking round his garden each day. He raised a colossal sum, but far more than that, raised the spirits of the nation. At a time when so many were down and tired and confused by the pandemic, he was an inspiration, and he was knighted for his efforts. There were others: one lady in a care home played the piano each day for charity, but somehow it was Captain Tom Moore who inspired and helped a lot of people to face the future with hope. The Israelites didn’t have Covid to face: they had exile. They had been transported away from their home in Jerusalem to Babylon, and faced with years, decades in another country, another culture with temples to alien gods all around them, and they had grown tired and discouraged. The prophet Isaiah was one who inspired them. He encouraged them to rise above their troubles with the picture he painted of God. In fact, it was a gigantic canvas, for this God was huge, cosmic, universal; the maker of heaven and earth, the God who was in control of everything. Yet also a God who still cared for his people. And in the final few verses, the prophet reassures the people that God would revitalise the weary, that even though the young may falter and faint, ‘those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength and rise up with wings as eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint’. The Israelites in their long exile were given hope and inspiration. Earlier this week, I listened to a lecture on Zoom by John McCarthy. I don’t know whether that name means anything to you, but he was a young journalist sent to Beirut in 1986, and he had only been there a couple of months when he was kidnapped by a Palestinian group. It made headlines, as Terry Waite, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s envoy, was kidnapped at the same time. He was held hostage for over five years, during which time his mother died. It was like the Israelites in exile; he must have been so discouraged. He would somehow have to motivate himself to get through the days. How do you survive an experience like that? Well, he did. He wrote books, he presented programmes on radio and television and he returned to the Middle East and especially to Palestine. He rose above his dreadful experience and has been able to inspire people. We have been reading the first chapter of Mark’s gospel over the last few weeks, and in today’s passage we are not given the big canvas as in Isaiah 40, but rather 4 little vignettes, 4 snapshots of how Jesus brought hope to a dispirited people. Simon Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever, which is interesting because it shows at least some of the disciples were married. Jesus healed her, and immediately word got out and by sunset people were at the door, wanting to be healed, wanting peace and hope in their lives. Jesus could have stayed in Capernaum and had a successful ministry, but his message was not for one town alone, but for all people, and so he forewent the allure of popularity and went round Galilee bringing hope and healing. We are living through difficult times, when we can feel lethargic in body and spirit, but like the exiles in Babylon and the people of the Galilee, hope is there for us, and as the snowdrops break through the earth, so we wait for and trust in God, and truly Spring will come. Hymn SGP 72 – Lord Jesus Christ (1,4) Prayers of Dedication, Thanksgiving and Intercession Jesus touched so many lives in so many different ways. We ask that these gifts will touch many lives, too, with your healing and hope in these difficult days. Holy and loving God, we thank you for the story of Christ’s life among us, a pattern for the way we live. We give you thanks for moments of quiet and contemplation that restore us. Teach us to trust in your strength, so that we can live with confidence and courage even in the midst of stress and anxiety during these difficult pandemic days. God of love, you give power to the faint and strength to the powerless. Many of us are exhausted, juggling with school at the kitchen table, responding to demands of work or family life or dealing with isolation, joblessness and fear. Renew us, we pray. We pray for all church leaders. Encourage and strengthen them in their work, and give us all fresh vision for the future of church and renew our Imagination, creativity and wisdom. God of love, you restore what is broken and you bring together what has been split apart. Today we pray for Myanmar in the aftermath of a military coup. We ask for peace in a dangerous and fragile situation, where streets are once again full of fear. We pray that peace and prosperity will begin to flourish in all places facing war, famine, and disaster… God of all creation, you restore the face of the earth: stir us up to action to protect our planet. May our feet tread lightly on the earth and our actions and priorities bring healing to our battered world. God of love, you heal the broken hearted and you gather in all who are lost. We pray for all who are mourning the loss of family members or friends. We place before you all who are suffering in mind or body… asking for peace, and for your healing presence in their need. Send your blessing on all who are afraid or alone or hungry, on those whose lives are being destroyed by abuse or violence and on all for whom home is not a safe place. Amen Hymn 694 – Brother, sister, let me serve you (1,2,3) Benediction May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make His face to shine upon you, And be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. And the blessing of God Almighty, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Be among you and remain with you, Now and forever more. Amen |
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