 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.
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 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  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We gather in this place to worship Yearning for the Holy Spirit to fill us We come among our fellow believers Trusting that God will touch our hearts That we might serve others And bring hope and healing to the world Hymn 112 – God whose almighty word Prayer Creator, Christ and Spirit you provide what we need to live, from the bounty of creation. God of mercy, you know us through and through and you love us. God of hope, you have an everlasting purpose for us. God of wisdom, you open our minds and teach and guide us. So we come to worship you, Source of Wisdom, Son of Mercy, Spirit of Hope, offering you our prayers and our praise, trusting you to offer us the gifts we need to thrive and to serve you in the world you love. O God, our great shepherd, tenderly you gather us as lambs, carrying us with your all-embracing love. Yet, like sheep, we wander from you; often following our own ways, sometimes ignoring your voice, at times distrusting your provisions. Forgive our wrongdoing, our hardened hearts, our lack of trust. Refresh us once again by your quiet waters of mercy and restore our souls by your redeeming love. Guide our paths, that we might follow you more closely Through Jesus Christ, our good shepherd, we pray. Receive the good news of the gospel: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Lord’s Prayer Readings –Philippians 2: 1-11 (pg 1179 ) Mark 10: 46-52 (pg 1015) Hymn 557 – O love that wilt not let me go Weekly Prayer Father God, in many ways you have taught us that we can always trust you, even when it might seem that you are far from us. Give us spiritual sight and help us to remember your humility, even to death on the cross for our salvation. May we feel your loving presence as we go from this time of worship, confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen Sermon A graduation is a big day, a celebration of years of study. Family and friends are dressed up to support the graduate. For Ryan it was such an achievement, but he reflected on his whole life and said, ‘If it hadn’t been for Rainbow House I wouldn’t be here today. I have got my family back, I have got my life back’. Ryan had been in a bad place. He lives in one of the housing estates on the periphery of Glasgow and had got involved with drugs big time. He became estranged from his family, as he spent everything to get his next fix. Fortunately the local church had a café providing cheap meals, which also doubled as a foodbank. The staff there had got to know Ryan and suggested he try to turn his life around and they mentioned Rainbow House which a Crossreach residential home in Glasgow for those suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. Coming off any addiction can be a nightmare (Halterburn). It wasn’t easy for Ryan and there were setbacks, but somehow he came through it. To the extent that he decided he wanted to help others in a similar situation, so he went through training and now he was graduating. His life had turned around and now he works at Rainbow House. Crossreach is the social arm of the Church of Scotland and has been around for 150 years. It is the largest non-statutory care provider in Scotland and does tremendous work, yet as a Church we don’t know enough about it. It offers such a range of services. The most well-known are perhaps the care homes for the elderly, which are all around Scotland, though I don’t think there are any in the Borders. However, Crossreach is involved in more than that, providing counselling services like the Tom Allan centre or supporting those coming out of prison or those with learning difficulties or those with dementia – such as an art project. The list goes on...! But it all stems from the Church reaching out to the vulnerable in society, to those on the margins. It is faith in action. We have been looking at the marks of mission, the five marks that the Church is using to define mission in the 21st Century, and today we are onto the 3rd mark which is Loving Service. Right from the earliest days the Church saw a need to tend the less fortunate. In the book of Acts, the Church quickly appointed deacons to take care of the practical side of church life, and that included helping the poor and sick. It was there right from the beginning – and why? Because wherever Jesus went, he was filled with compassion when he saw those on the margins of society crying for help, crying to be heard. Those with leprosy, the paralysed, the blind, those wracked with guilt. So often they were just ignored, just like today, but Jesus noticed and Jesus did something about it. The name Jesus is short for Joshua and means ‘he saves’. He certainly saved Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was blind and begged from passers-by on the road to Jericho. But he wasn’t content with his lot. He had heard of Jesus and the miracles he had performed, and so when Jesus passed by, he shouted out. People told him to be quiet, but this was his one chance and he was taking it. ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ He couldn’t see what the reaction was, apart from being told to stay in the margins, stay silent. Then Jesus spoke to him and asked what he wanted. Quick as a flash, he grabbed the opportunity and asked for his sight. He followed Jesus. Jesus saw people in need and responded. In the early church there was a hymn to Jesus, which we read in Philippians: how Jesus’ nature was to empty himself and give of himself to the world, even to the point of death. He gave of himself to all who came seeking his mercy, right up to walking the road to the cross at Calvary, where he gave himself for the life of the world, saving humanity, even though it was we by our sins that nailed him to the cross. Paul encourages the congregation at Philippi to have the same mind as was in Christ, looking to the interests of others rather than their own self-interest. He has a vision of the life of the Christian community being formed by the spirit of humility and servanthood and self-giving that Jesus embodied and so reach out to serve others. We are called to show that loving service and reach out to others who are hurting – and there are those who are hurting because of the Church and abuse they have suffered. In missions abroad the first things to be built were schools and hospitals; only after that were churches built. We show loving service through foodbanks and breakfast clubs and providing space for people to come together; through offering hospitality and giving lifts. The Guild does magnificently raising hundreds of thousands nationally for projects at home and abroad, while we raise money for Christian Aid and disaster appeals. As the Church we have to look beyond ourselves and to be part of our community and be part of our hurting world. As Jesus healed so many in body, mind and spirit, so we too are agents of healing and hope. Hymn 718 – We cannot measure how you heal Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious God, you have given us each a unique set of gifts: physical health and strength to some; to others wit and cleverness. Some of us are born leaders; some prefer to follow; some of us are good with words; others speak through our actions. Help us to use our gifts for good and not for ill. May we use our strength to help other people, not to hurt them; our minds to enlighten, not deceive; our words to serve the truth and not distort it, to heal and not to harm. We give back to you the gifts that you have given us. Help us to use them well. Living God, we turn to you now with our concerns for people, for places and for situations which are on our hearts today. As we long for your Kingdom to come and for fulness of life for all, we ask you to renew our trust and our hope and to show us how we can begin to answer some of our own prayers. We hold up to you those whose needs are most basic. Those who do not have clean water to drink or enough food to eat. Those who lack proper shelter or have no access to education, or health care. Those whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed by war, by natural disaster, or by the violence, power plays and greed of others. Those who do not have a safe place to call home or a stable family and friends with which to share their lives. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We thank you for the cool clear water that flows in mountain streams. We are conscious of the many ways in which humanity has polluted water courses, through overflows from industry, waste and treatment plants. Through plastic, chemicals, and rubbish. We know that many people have no clean water in which to bathe or even to drink and that pollution is destroying habitats and wildlife and choking the life from rivers, lakes and seas. We ask for a renewal of our habits leading to a renewal of habitats across our world. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We ask your blessing on all who are involved with Fairtrade, lifting before you the producers as they grow their crops and craft their works. Bless them in their endeavours and grant them wisdom and discernment as they make decisions about how to use the benefits of Fairtrade. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer We pray for the Church, that your Spirit may bring us close to Christ and closer to each other. We ask your blessing on the work of Crossreach, for the staff of all the various centres as they give care to so many. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer Be with all who are on the margins of society, all who struggle to have a voice and make themselves heard. Be with all who are sick in body or mind or spirit. Be with all waiting for operations. Bless all who have lost loved ones and are feeling lost themselves. We pray in silence for those whose names are on our hearts. Amen. Hymn 458 – At the name of Jesus Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We open our hearts to receive God’s welcome We open our hands to greet one another. We open our lives to God’s invitation To live in love and freedom. Let us worship God With heart and soul and mind Hymn 645 – I am not ashamed to own my Lord Prayer Holy One, we enter this holy space in awe of all that you are and all that we have yet to discover of you. We bow humbly before you and acknowledge our gratitude to you for the life we are given. You have created a universe for us to explore and to care for, a community to be part of and an unconditional love revealed in your son, Jesus. In this special season of Lent, we are reminded of how small a part we play in your bigger story. Each one of us is special and unique, no matter what we think, we are loved by you and given a wealth of people and gifts to help us on our journey in life. We rejoice that as part of the body of Christ we work together building your kingdom; as individuals we each have our part to play. No matter what part of the journey we are on we are meant to work together to encourage and teach each other. The gift of free will allows us to make choices that sometimes we regret, we come before you to confess our sins, for times when we have made poor choices for the times we have hurt anyone. Help us to be humble enough to apologise for our faults and failings and receive your forgiveness. Keep us humble, Lord, help us to be open to those who would guide us wisely, that we may grow daily into the people we were created to be. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 (pg 189 ) Matthew 28: 16-20 (pg 1001) Hymn 527 – Lord, make us servants Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, help us to love you with all our heart, soul and strength. May we show and share our love and our trust for you wholeheartedly today and throughout our Lenten journey. Amen Sermon In Matthew’s gospel, the risen Jesus addresses the disciples and gives what is called The Great Commission – Go and make disciples of all nations and baptise them and teach them to obey all I commanded. And there is the 2nd Mark of mission – to teach, baptise and nurture. During this season of Lent we are looking at the 5 marks of mission, which the Church of Scotland has adopted as a means to define what mission is all about in the 21st Century. Last week we looked at the first mark – to proclaim the gospel. This week we have the 2nd mark, which is really about discipleship. For a disciple is a student or follower, someone who over a period of time learns from his or her teacher. So we are followers of Christ, listening to his words, looking at his example, following the path he laid, living as he wants us to live. Jesus challenges us to live by a different set of priorities, one which requires us to love the lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind, as we read from Deuteronomy today. It is called the Shema, and often you do find it on doorposts to remember to love God. Jesus adds to that, to love our neighbours as ourselves, even the ones we don’t particularly like. That is radical. To be a disciple of Jesus means continually learning to be more Christlike and being disciplined in our choices. The good news is that we don’t have to do it by ourselves. We live our discipleship in a community, which is the Church. We do discipleship together, supporting one another, encouraging one another, rejoicing together. Those with more experience help those who are newer in the community. That is nurture. There was an interview on the radio earlier this week, and it was claimed that the secret to good health and well-being lay in having friends, people to relate to, people you can meet for coffee, people you could phone up in the middle of the night in an emergency. The point being made was that there are so many who don’t, and it affects their health. We all need to belong. That is the importance of village shops – people have someone to talk to. As the church we are a community of believers. We can rub each other up the wrong way at times, we have different backgrounds, different views, but so much in common and as a community of believers, we are there to support and encourage. That is why it is so important to welcome and to get involved. In the Early Church, people were attracted to the message of Jesus, and the apostles had to have a way of teaching people to be good disciples of the Jesus. People coming from Judaism knew the Law, such as the Deuteronomy passage we read earlier. They had heard the Old Testament stories and could find from them pointers to Jesus. They already knew the moral law and what was required of a believer and so the journey into Christianity was somewhat easier. For a Gentile, however, it was different, and they had to disassociate oneself from pagan faith and practice, with emperor worship and different moral standard. It was a bit of a battle in the early church over this, with some wishing to restrict membership of the Church to those from a Jewish background, but those like Paul who opposed this eventually prevailed with their message that all were one in Christ, be they Jew or Gentile, slave or free. All belonged. In the early church, those coming for baptism were adults and there was a long period of preparation. I have mentioned before that in Zambia there were 36 lessons before baptism or confirmation for adults. We are quicker in Scotland! But as we grow in faith, and we are always growing in faith, there is no retirement, we have to centre ourselves on God. That is what Jesus did. In the wilderness when he was being tempted, it would have been easy to succumb, but he was centred on God and on God’s word, and that helped him to resist. At the Garden of Gethsemane, he wrestled with what lay ahead, the way of the cross, but said, Your will, not my will be done. As disciples we keep God as our centre and have the community of believers to support us. We are invited, encouraged, challenged, and called to join a band of disciples going back centuries, who for 2000 years have boldly shared God’s vision for the world. May God give us the boldness and the wisdom to share the vision, the hope and the possibility of God’s reign of love here in this place in 2023. Be bold! Let love shine for all the world to see! Go make a difference in our community and in our world. Hymn 513 - Courage brother, do not stumble Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Generous God, giver of all things, receive our offerings today. As you poured out your love for us by sending Jesus, may we pour out our love for you by continuing to build the kingdom of which he spoke and taught, loving and serving, locally and globally. Eternal One, Majesty, Word, Spirit, we bring to You the needs of our world, of our nations, of our church and of our own lives, knowing You hear our prayers, give us grace and inspire us to make a difference. O God, ancient, yet ever young, we remember before you the places of pain in our world, countries at war, nations in chaos, leaders usurping power, the poor and the earth itself groaning with pain. We think of Israel and Palestine, of Yemen, of Nigeria. Bless with your wisdom those who work for peace. In particular we pray for those on the move this day, families fleeing war, terror and famine; youngsters fleeing repression and oppression, women seeking new lives for themselves and their children; open our hearts, our wallets and our borders to Your bedraggled people. (pause) O God, embodied in Jesus, flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone, we bring to you own nations, those who can’t afford to pay their bills, workers no longer earning enough to live, NHS staff who are exhausted and feel devalued. We pray for the governments in London and Edinburgh as hard decisions are taken. Grant wisdom. In this Fairtrade Fortnight, we pray for just and equitable trade between peoples, and that all may earn a fair wage for their work. We pray for the sick and those awaiting operations. For the anxious, the lonely and the bereaved. We pray now for those whose needs you have placed on our hearts at this time. We thank you for the saints who have gone before us, who are now with you in heaven. May they ever inspire us. Amen Hymn 644 – O Jesus I have promised Benediction  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship We are ambassadors for Christ Fill is with your love We are ambassadors for Christ Fill us with your joy We are ambassadors for Christ Fill us with your peace Hymn 159 – Lord for the years Prayer Almighty God, you spoke and the world came into being, putting chaos and darkness to flight. You have continued to speak through all the centuries, offering a lamp for our path and a faith to live by. We thank you for the ways you speak to us, stirring our imagination, kindling and nurturing our faith, confronting and questioning, yet also renewing and uplifting. Ever open our minds to what you would say to us and help us to listen. Merciful God, we are aware of all that you offer us and we see ourselves as we are: a mixture - of hope and despair, - of joy and sadness, - of love and hatred, - of self-giving and self-seeking. Forgive us when we have neglected your gift of creation. Forgive us when we have gone astray and not let your love flourish within us. Forgive us when we have given into temptation rather than wrestling with it. Forgive us for when we avoid difficult issues or forget to love our enemies. Forgive us when we fail to listen for your word to us. Forgive us and restore us to be the people you want us to be. Hear and believe the Good News: anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone, the new life has come. Know that you are forgiven and so, in Christ, forgive one another. Lord’s Prayer Readings – Isaiah 55: 1-13 (pg 742) Luke 10: 1-12 (pg 1041) Hymn 97- O God, you search me and you know me Weekly Prayer Merciful Lord, as we begin this season of Lent, help us to aim high as we seek to renew the discipline of our discipleship. Send us out with joy, and lead us as your people, like the disciples of old, to share your peace with all we meet. Amen Sermon For our bible readings we usually follow the lectionary, but through this season of Lent we are going to look at the 5 marks of Mission. These have been discussed in the ecumenical setting, in various denominations, as an attempt to define what mission is all about in the 21st century. The 5 marks are evangelism, discipleship, pastoral care, social justice and care of creation. Or, as some churches abbreviate them: Tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure. As Church of Scotland moves forward, we are encouraged to use these 5 marks as we look at how best to be the Church where we are. The first mark is to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom, to tell, to gossip the Gospel. But if we are called to tell we need to know what to talk about. We need to know the Word of God and, as Paul says in Colossians, let the Word dwell in us richly. Thus we are able to talk from experience we talk about Christ as a friend. For many centuries that Word was in Latin, and only a few could understand it. That’s why stained glass developed, so people could look at the bible stories in picture form. But that changed in the build up to the reformation., when Luther translated the bible into the vernacular, in his case, into German, and with the development of the printing press, it was able to be widely distributed. Influenced by Luther, William Tynedale translated the New Testament into English, but if you had a copy in your possession, you would likely be tortured or even killed and copies would be burned. But Tynedale famously wanted a simple ploughboy to know Scriptures better than the priests and for everyone to have the bible at their fingertips. He used easy-to-remember phrases that rolled off the tongue. It is estimated that 70% or more of the King James Bible, printed 75 years later, was taken from Tynedale. Phrases like ‘the writing on the wall, salt of the earth, thorn in the flesh, fight the good fight, the blind leading the blind, the powers-that-be’ are all from Tynedale and have enriched our language. Tynedale was caught and burned at the stake and most copies of his bibles were burned, but the power-that-be changed their mind, and soon there would be a Bible in the vernacular in every parish and people would be able to read it for themselves and treasure it. It is sad that today so few people read the bible and know the stories, given that so many fought and died for the chance to read scripture in their own tongue. We all have our different approaches to the Bible and its interpretation, but it is a rich treasure house of 66 books and can be our tool to share the good news. For this first mark of mission reminds us that what we are about is sharing Good News. In a world accustomed to bad news, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by all the negatives. Ukraine, earthquake, strikes, Covid, falling numbers at church. But the Gospel means Good news, and that is always something to share – by word and by action. In Isaiah we read that instead of the thornbush there will grow a pine and instead of the briars myrtle, and there is a sense of joy as the prophet invites the thirsty to come and drink and those without money, the poorest, the marginalised, to come and experience the good things of life, for God is the giver of life and wants us to live it to the fullest. In Luke, the disciples were sent out, 72 of them, and their task was to proclaim the Kingdom – the place where God’s reign is experienced, where earth becomes a little more like heaven, where people are affirmed and welcomed, where God’s justice takes root and love and peace, fairness and kindness flourish. They go out unsure and come back brimming with excitement. We are more reluctant to give the hard sell, more embarrassed to share our faith, because we live in a country where Christianity has become a minority and often viewed as somehow outmoded, but our first mark of mission is to proclaim the Kingdom, and we do that as we can. Maybe that means finding other and creative ways to get the Kingdom message across, which may mean going out of our comfort zones. But most of all, living it out in our lives. As a church we are conscious of falling numbers and ageing congregations. Yet there is so much good going on in the church, and we need to share it. The Church of Scotland website or Life & Work magazine are full of stories about what is happening. It is good to share what is good in our congregation with our friends elsewhere and to learn from them. But most of all, let Christ be in our hearts and inspire us to live out the kingdom values in our lives. Hymn 363- We have a Gospel to proclaim Prayers of Dedication and Intercession We offer to you ourselves and all that we have. We dedicate these gifts of money as a token of the dedication of our lives. Receive what we offer and all that we have, and bless us in your service We pray for places of pain and danger in our world, places where the dominion of death seems to reign. We remember the people of Turkey and Syria dealing with the ground moving beneath their feet, causing destruction and misery and finding ways to care for the survivors. Bless those digging, clearing, feeding and nursing. Give wisdom to those who govern and those who investigate why so many homes were built without real care. We remember the people of Ukraine, living with war, destruction, and danger, yet also with hope, determination and dedication. We thank You for audacious leadership, for alliances against aggression and for those who seek peace, even in the midst of war. We pray too, Loving God, for our own nation -that those who can’t afford to heat their homes will find relief, that those who feel they have no option but to strike find productive ways to negotiate. We pray for those in government in Edinburgh and in London that you may guide them, especially as the Scottish Government seek to appoint a new First minister. In this joyful season of Lent we pray for the Church; that we might be bold in proclaiming your kingdom ; that ways will be found to live in peace and unity with justice and loving obedience to Your call. May we delight in being your people. We bring before you all in need of your help -the sick and the anxious, those having operations, families who worry. The bereaved. Amen Hymn 249 – We have heard a joyful sound! Benediction Go and be bold in proclaiming the Gospel, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship Come as eyewitnesses of God’s majesty! We come and worship. Come and give honour to God in your praise and song We come and worship. Come and praise the one who rises in our hearts like a morning star. We come and worship. Hymn 510 – Jesus calls us here (1,3,4) Prayer Source of light and glory, we worship You. As angels adore You, veiling their eyes to Your presence, we bring You our praise. We yearn for Your justice to come, Your glory to fill the earth, and Your light to shine upon us. You cause the planets to spin around the sun, and the moon to spin around the earth. Time and seasons are marked by you, our rock and redeemer. Yet as we worship we are afraid. As we praise Your holiness we are aware of our sin. As we yearn for justice, we become conscious of the injustice we mete out to others. We long for the light but prefer the dark. You call us to see justice but we are afraid of your judgement. God, the true life of all, give to us, who both blossom and flourish, yet wither and decay, your love, grace, and peace; forgive us our love of the darkness and hatred of the light, our cravings for pleasure coming with the pain of the poor. Give us time, Ancient of Days, to repent. Give us time, Timeless One, to turn our lives around. Give us grace, Fountain of Love, to live in Your light. God is slow to anger and full of compassion. The Most High forgives all who humbly repent and trust in Christ’s faithfulness. There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We are a forgiven people! Amen. Readings – Exodus 24: 12-18 (pg 82) Matthew 17: 1-9 (pg 984) Hymn 448 – Shine, Jesus, shine Weekly Prayer Everlasting God help us, not to keep the secret, but to proclaim to all that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the week ahead may we reflect your love in our families, church and community, so that the world can see that we are transformed by Christ and thereby draw others into Jesus’ loving care. Amen Sermon ‘I have been to the mountaintop – I have seen the promised land’, so said Martin Luther King, the day before he was assassinated. There is something about mountain tops, especially on crystal clear days like we had at the beginning of the week. Maybe we climb up the mountain – sometimes we can drive up to a vantage point or even get a cable car up, but there are times when we look at the view and our breath is taken away. We are transported out of ourselves. A mountain top experience when we seem to see things anew. On the mountaintop we gain another perspective. Today is transfiguration Sunday when we remember how some of the disciples accompanied Jesus up a mountain and had this strange, weird, breathtaking, mind-blowing, certainly incredible experience, when Jesus was transfigured, became radiant with light. It had not been an easy time for Jesus and the disciples. They had been bombarded at every turn by people seeking healing or help, and also had begun to be questioned by the religious leaders. There was no place for rest or retreat. Into the midst of this crucible of questions and exhaustion, Jesus had asked his disciples who they believed he was. Peter had said that Jesus was the Messiah. The Lord. But even though Peter had used all the right words, it turned out he still hadn’t really understood what they meant. Because when Jesus began to talk about a cross, Peter crumbled. No longer a cornerstone but a stumbling block. How could someone save and liberate God’s people if he was killed? Peter wondered. It just didn’t make sense. Then Jesus had told his followers that the road to Jerusalem would be a difficult one. And that it would end in a cross. If they wanted to follow him, they too would have crosses to bear. He had been trying to tell his disciples who he really was and why he had come. He had been trying to tell them what it would mean to be the Messiah. But all Peter had wanted was for Jesus to stop talking. He had felt as if the Jesus he had known and loved was slipping through his fingers. Still, when Jesus began to make his way up the mountain in our text for today, Peter, James, and John followed him. It was while they were there, on that mountain, that everything changed. The three disciples had expected an intermission, a pause in the action, but instead they were thrown into a terrifying, mystical experience they could have never predicted and could never fully explain. All through Scripture, prophets and leaders meet God on the mountains. Moses, enveloped in clouds, is given the tablets of the law on Mount Sinai. Elijah hears God in the still, small voice, as powerful as a thundering silence there on a mountain. And here, in this story, Peter, James, and John encounter God as well. In the transfiguration, God knits together the law, the prophets, and the gospel, weaving them into a story and narrative of faith that finds its culmination in the person of Jesus. Moses and Elijah and Jesus stand together at the top of the mountain, clothed in white. It makes sense that Peter wants to stay there on that mountaintop, far away from the world below. Here on the mountaintop he isn’t distracted by the demands of other people and their needs. He didn’t have to think too hard about what Jesus might have meant when he began to talk about a cross and suffering and death. Here on the mountaintop he saw the glorified, victorious Jesus he had always wanted, shining in splendour and glory. So he says, “It would be good to stay here. Together, Jesus. Let’s pitch some tents and stay put.” But then God’s glory pulls back the veil between heaven and earth even more fully and begins to speak: “Look, here is my son. My beloved. Listen to him.” The cloud has dispersed. Moses and Elijah have disappeared. And it is almost as if everything is back to normal. But of course nothing will ever be the same. In the Gospel of Matthew, this moment of transfiguration—this revealing of God’s glory—on the mountaintop serves as a turning point. Jesus, who has been ministering throughout the countryside, now turns his face toward Jerusalem, ready to start down the road to the cross. And the disciples have a decision to make. Will they keep following him on this new leg of the journey? The transfiguration is also a turning point for us. We can look forward, seeing the rocky and winding path to Jerusalem. We can see, from this place the ways that Jesus will continue to open his arms up to the world, reaching out to each of us, until those arms are stretched out across the beams of a cross. At communion today we remember that broken body and shed blood. Like any experience of the divine, the transfiguration is shrouded in mystery—a burning bush that is not consumed; a still small voice; a cloud and pillar of fire—these are ultimately all “You had to be there” type of events. Even for Peter, James, and John, part of the story, part of the meaning eludes them. And they come back down the mountain not quite sure they know what just occurred, but they came down the mountain – somehow strengthened to get on with life. We too have our time of worship and share our communion meal, but are reminded that our journey of faith and our journey to faith are not yet over. There is still more to Jesus than we had allowed ourselves to imagine. There is an African proverb, “Beyond mountains, there are mountains.” And today that is true for us as well. For Jesus is already on his way back down the trail. Back into the crush of people waiting for healing, for vision, and for hope. Back into the middle of all that need and all those questions. Moving forward to what lies ahead. He has put his hand out to us and invites us to come and follow him once more. Statement of Faith Prayers of Dedication and Intercession God of love that transforms lives, we offer our gifts in gratitude for all we have received in Christ, your beloved Son. Take our gifts and transform them into acts of love that will bless the world in his name. Comforting God, We know that the news coming into our homes shocks us, we have watched the rising death toll in Turkey and Syria with a sense of disbelief and pain. We thank you for those who have worked tirelessly to find and help those trapped, we pray for you solace for those who are desperate for news. May those who have died rest in your peace, may those now building lives without them be comforted. Comforting God, we pray for your love. As we pray for the things which are in the headlines, we don’t forget those places and people whose stories are now second page news. We pray for those reliant on foodbanks: especially now the school holidays are here and need has grown. We pray for those who feel unsafe in their own homes, for those who have had to flee for safety - for refugees unsafe again in this country, for those intimidated and hurt for being who they are, for what they believe, for all they long to be. God of relationships and community, we pray for a world that is fairer. We are connected to so many people, locally and far away. In these moments of quietness, we offer to you our own private prayers for people and places needing your love. silence Transforming God, accept these and all of our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen Invitation to the Table Hymn 666 – Let all mortal flesh Prayer of thanksgiving Lord’s Prayer Communion Peace Prayer Hymn 518 – Jesus calls us here to meet him Benediction We have witnessed Christ, God’s Beloved, on the mountain in glory. Now, go into the world to shine the light of his glory with grace and compassion. May God’s beauty inspire you; May Christ’s brilliance restore you; And may the joy of the Holy Spirit empower you to shine in every place you go. Amen.  Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship How blessed are we when we meditate on God’s teachings; and when we desire God with our whole hearts. Let us praise God with attentive minds and eager spirits, for we are God’s servants, working and praying together. Hymn 127 – O worship the King Prayer God of all life and each life, You are the light of minds that seek to know you. You are strength for those who seek to serve you. You reveal truth to those who search for you. In worship, we pause in your presence, resting from our work and responsibilities, from our worries and distractions. We come to enjoy your presence and praise you for the gift of life in Christ and in creation. Receive our prayers and praise this day, for we open our hearts in love and loyalty to you, O God, our All in All. God who is all in all, you call us to choose life and walk in your ways, but we are tempted by short cuts and easy solutions. You ask us to turn from anger and settle our differences, but we cling to grievances and point fingers at others. You ask us to be true to our word, but we prefer not to rock the boat. Forgive us, O God; and give us courage to follow the paths you set for your people. Lord’s Prayer All age Talk Readings – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (pg 1145) Matthew 5: 21-37 (pg 969) Hymn 180 – Give thanks with a grateful heart. Weekly Prayer Everlasting God, we ask you to lead us into the coming week, help us to believe that you are close by us, keep us from making mistakes and help us never to disappoint you through our words and actions. As we have been reminded, we are to plant and water the seed, but only God makes things grow. Amen. Sermon People in Southern Turkey and Northern Syria went to bed at the beginning of the week, looking forward to a good night’s sleep only for disaster to happen, and some wouldn’t see daylight. The pictures on our screens have been harrowing, as we have seen the utter devastation earthquakes have brought to that part of the world. Over a wide area, blocks of apartments have collapsed, and while some have been pulled alive, so many more have died. In Northern Syria, the worst hit area is one where so many were refugees anyway with an infrastructure and a people weakened from years of conflict. The bitter cold in that area makes it all so worse. It was maybe 20 years ago that I had travelled in Eastern Turkey and finished in Gaziantep, near the epicentre. I remember a wonderful archaeological museum, but also a bustling town. It was an area rich with biblical associations. Nearby were monasteries of the Syrian Church and also Haran, associated with Abraham, and Antioch, where Christians were first given that name. But now so many people will have to pick up the pieces and somehow begin life again. Elsewhere in the news, there have been two missing people, but also the death of a family, who seemed to have everything going for it. The mother was head of a big private school, a highflier; the husband in finance, the daughter with so much to look forward to – we don’t know the reasons behind it, but the husband seems to have killed his wife and daughter, before killing himself. Somehow our own worries and anxieties are put into perspective when we see the suffering of others. In the Gospel reading Jesus is addressing the crowd gathered on the mountainside – the sermon on the Mount. He lists a number of the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not bear false witness, but then expands on them. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is encouraging his listeners to live the best life possible. In order to live your best, he was saying, it is not enough just to empty all the bad things from life. I don’t swear; I don’t kill; I don’t wash clothes on a Sunday. But rather we need to be proactive and fill our lives with so many good things – joy, the patience, the kindness, so that there is no room for pettiness or jealousy and spite. We have to live the best life possible, thinking of others, praying for others, giving to others, for we don’t know what may be round the corner. In doing this we glorify God. I had some good news this week. Firstly I had the news that the Syrian family I visit have a new baby boy. But also another friend from Israel had been visiting Scotland, though it coincided with my holidays. But I caught up with his presentation at a church in Perth on YouTube. Jamal is in his early 40s and heads an organisation called the House of Grace, and he and his family exemplify living life to its fullest and best. His father was Palestinian and his mother Swiss, but his father had a friend, an Arab, who had been put in prison for some offence. His mother was so affected by it, that she died, and the son, blaming himself, also killed himself in prison. It was tragic, but Jamal’s father was determined to reach out to prisoners and set up a halfway house, to introduce prisoners back to society again – and House of Grace was born. Jamal and his brothers and sister grew up with released prisoners in their home. They moved into an old church, renovated it, but also built a living space where they live along with up to 10 prisoners and also office space. They run youth activities as well for the Arab population. So often when we think of Palestinians we think of Gaza and the West bank, but there are many living in Israel with Israeli passports and citizenship but who feel 2nd class citizens. The young people are given a sense of self-worth and made to feel they belong. They run the equivalent of a Food bank and 2nd hand clothes facility, and it is all the different faith groups who support it – such is the respect in which House of Grace is held in the community. Jamal and his family, have created a real community, but a community which reaches out and takes risks and opens itself up to hurt, because that is what love does. Jamal’s father died, but his Swiss mother is still alive and is the real inspiration now, but for her and Jamal, they have dedicated their lives to helping others, but at Easter and at Christmas they send cards which proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus in the Gospels encourages his followers to have the best life possible – and that I think is one dedicated to the well-being of others. We are encouraged to keep the commandments, but more, to place others first and share the sacrificial love of Christ – and give God the glory in all that we do. Hymn 502 – Take my life and let it be Prayers of Dedication and Intercession Gracious and generous God, we bring our gifts to you in thanksgiving. Bless them and surprise us by all the Holy Spirit can accomplish with them. Bless our lives, too, so that our choices will always honour you for Christ’s sake Dear God, in the midst of the world’s need and our hopefulness, hear the prayers we share. As the wreckage of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria reveals and hides lives lost, communities destroyed, families traumatised and the magnificence of rescuers, help all who suffer. We pray for those searching and those grieving, for those organising aid and those tending the injured. Let help come and continue, we pray. pause As war continues between Ukraine and Russia, we pray for justice and for peace. We pray for those fighting and those dying, for those fleeing and those fearing, for those aiding and those searching for an end to conflict. As conflict scars Southern Sudan, we pray for all caught up and all losing much. We pray for the pilgrimage of peace by the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator of the Church of Scotland. We pray for those seeking safety and those planning violence, that hearts might be held and transformed through your love. As Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran and other nations seethe with unrest and persecution, we pray for liberation and for new beginnings. Strengthen all who risk so much to stand for something better, kinder, fairer. Guide the leaders of the nations and bless the work of the United Nations and all who devote themselves to building international community and collaboration in the face of dictatorship, nationalistic arrogance and suspicion. As communities here stagger under threats from rising prices, services at breaking point, work that is undervalued and streets that are unsafe, we pray for all who care for neighbours and seek a better day. We pray for people forced to strike and for people whose lives become even harder on strike days. We pray for negotiators and politicians, for those with power in their conversations and those who feel utterly powerless. As we bring our hopes and fears for those known to us and for ourselves, we pray for all who are sick, all who face fear, all who are lonely, all who long for happiness but bear with depression. We remember those we have lost and all who mourn. In silence together, we pray the prayers of our hearts… [silence] Dear God, in the midst of the world’s need and our hopefulness, hear the prayers we share. All these thoughts, all these words, all the prayers we cannot put into words, we offer in the name of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Hymn 519 – Love divine Benediction |
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