epiphany 5

Welcome & Announcements

• We welcome all visitors to our services at Yetholm (10am) and Linton (11.15am) this 5th Sunday of Epiphany.

• There is no podcast this week. There will be one next week.
• The Craft group meet at Yetholm Kirk on Mondays at 2pm. All welcome.
• Weekly coffee morning as at Yetholm Kirk on Tuesdays from 10.30 -12 noon.
• The Prayer Service is on Tuesday at 1.30pm at Yetholm Kirk.
• Patrick Playfair Hannay sadly passed away. There will be a memorial service on Friday 24th February at 1pm at Morebattle Kirk.
• The Lent Study group will meet on Thursday mornings during Lent. Anyone interested in coming along should speak with Arthur or Colin for more details.

 
Call to Worship
We come into this space and time
to meet and worship God.
We bring our worries and our distractions
and lay them down before our God
We open our hearts and minds
to the promptings of God’s Spirit
We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.
Let us worship together in Jesus’ name.
 
Hymn 184 – Sing to the Lord a joyful song
Prayer
Amazing God, on the first day of creation you made light. A light that enables us to see the beauty of your creation. A light that enables plants to grow and flourish. A light that is part of the rhythm of our world and our lives. We thank you for light.
When creation was struggling, you sent your Son Jesus, the light of the world. His light illuminated the Scriptures, defeated the powers of sin, and led us back to you. We thank you for Jesus. In the light of flames you sent your Spirit into our world. The Spirit lights our path and shows us your will. She challenges and inspires us; we thank you for your Spirit. In joy and thankfulness we bring you our praise and worship.
 
Merciful God, we have often asked you to judge others while failing to acknowledging that we too have sinned. We have worshipped you with our lips but dishonoured you with our actions. We have prayed for you to end suffering but have not practiced compassion or generosity towards others. We have used our words to hurt and argue rather than testify to your love and grace. Forgive our self-centredness and show us how to love you and our neighbour. Bring us back into your light.
O God, your heart is full of mercy. May we hear and trust your words to each of us: ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ May we forgive each other and forgive ourselves. Thanks be to God.
Lord’s Prayer
 
All age Talk
 
Hymn 213 – Every new morning
 
Readings – 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (pg 1145)
                    Matthew 5:13-20 (pg 969)
 
Hymn 252 – As a fire is meant for burning
 
Weekly Prayer
Everlasting God send us out into the world, renewed by our worship and strengthened by your power to be a testament to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us to let our light shine before all we meet in order to bring healing and reconciliation to our wounded world. Amen.
 
Sermon
 
Choir Anthem
 
Prayers of Dedication and Intercession
Generous God, We thank you for all that you have given us. Receive these tokens of our love for you, along with our time and talents. Bless our offering for the work of your kingdom in our communities,
Loving and Gracious God, you call us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We give you thanks for your gifts and calling and pray that day by day we each may be renewed in your service. Help us to open our eyes to see your presence in our lives, even when we go through the most difficult times.
 
Loving and peace-making God, we pray for the parts of the world that live in conflict and struggle, that your light of hope may come into these struggles: We pray for Ukraine and Russia. We pray for the countries of the Middle East, in particular Palestine and Israel, in the violence that has swept across their land; for the conflicts across Africa, we think of West Africa and elections in Nigeria. May the light of your peace dawn across the world.
 
Loving and healing God, we pray for those who today are suffering stress in body, mind and spirit and find it difficult to see light in their time of darkness. We pray for children who are abused, for young people suffering from mental health issues, for those who find it difficult to find work because of their health issues. In a moment’s silence we name before God those known to us who are suffering.
 
Loving and creator God, we give thanks for your gift of this created world, and pray for a growth in the care for the climate and the environment. We pray for those making decisions with regard to green spaces in this country. May your light open our eyes to see your earthly gifts and take due care of this planet in which we live.
 
 Loving God, you brought the Church into being to be a sign of salt and light. We pray for the Church in her struggles with the faith in these challenging times, as we hear about the decrease of the Christian faith in the West. Give us the confidence, wisdom and courage to live out your light in the communities to which you call us to live day by day.
 
 Loving and eternal God, we remember those who have died, both recently and over the years, and give thanks for the light that they cast in your world. In a moment’s silence we remember those we have know who have passed. Silence. We give thanks for the example of those who have gone on before us, and pray for those who mourn their loss.
Into your hands, O God, we commend ourselves and all our prayers, both silent and spoken, in the name of Jesus Christ, who is salt and light for the world. Amen
 
Hymn 352 – O for 1000 tongues
 
Benediction