Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon
Opening Voluntary
Salve Regina. Moritz Hauptmann (1792-1868)
Welcome and Intimations
Call to Worship – (Based on Psalm 138)
Thank the Lord with all our hearts,
We thank the Lord for his love and faithfulness,
The Lord answers when we call,
The Lord strengthens our souls,
The Lord comes close to the lowly,
The Lord delivers us from trouble,
The Lord will fulfil his purpose for us,
The steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Hymn 182 Now thank we all our God
1 Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2 Oh, may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
who reigns in highest heaven –
the Father and the Son
and Spirit – now be given:
the one, eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer
First Thought
Hymn 356 Meekness and majesty
1 Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity,
in perfect harmony – the man who is God:
Lord of eternity, dwells in humanity,
kneels in humility and washes our feet.
Oh, what a mystery – meekness and majesty:
bow down and worship, for this is your God,
this your God!
2 Father’s pure radiance, perfect in innocence,
yet learns obedience to death on a cross:
suffering to give us life, conquering through sacrifice –
and as they crucify, prays, ‘Father forgive’.
3 Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible,
love indestructible in frailty appears:
Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly,
lifts our humanity to the heights of his throne.
Scriptures: Readers: The Mackenzie family
Philippians 2: 1-18
Imitating Christ’s Humility
2Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death –
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Do everything without grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Sermon – Giving from gratitude
Hymn 540 I heard the voice of Jesus say
1 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me, and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast’:
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
and he has made me glad.
2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live’:
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright’:
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my Star, my Sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk,
till travelling days are done.
Doxology – spoken together
Praise we the Father, Spirit, Son,
Praise we the victory God has won,
Praise we the Lamb who reigns above,
Praise we the King whose rule is love.
Prayer of Dedication for the Offering
Prayers for the World
Lord, Giver of Life,
Hear our prayer
Hymn 500 Lord of creation
1 Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and power are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
2 Lord of all power, I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfil.
Your bondage is freedom, your service is song;
and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
3 Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind,
rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.
4 Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart;
your love to inflame me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to cheer me, whatever betide.
5 Lord of all being, I give you my all;
if I should disown you, I’d stumble and fall;
but, sworn in your service your word I’ll obey,
and walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
Benediction
Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary – Prelude in G minor. JS Bach (1685-1750)
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services
Services continue at 11 am. Please remember that some Covid-19 requirements are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.
Opening the Church
The church building and garden are currently open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. If you are able to help ensure that this continues after the end of this month please speak to Tim Bell.
National Giving Day
Please see the separate handout and join us on Saturday 25 September at 12 noon in the Hall for a snack lunch and a time of thanksgiving and fellowship. For catering purposes, please remember to let us know if you are able to attend.
Pastoral Care
There is a pastoral care meeting on Wednesday 22nd September at 2 pm in the Session House for all those who are interested in becoming part of the Pastoral Care team.
Newspaper collection appeal
Inverkeithing High School is collecting newspapers to make geodesic domes – they need a lot of them! If you would like to help, please recycle papers to Jenny Martin.
Foodbank Fundraising
Alison Roxburgh, General Manager of the Foodbank, is doing the Kiltwalk on Sunday 26th September to raise funds. Her target is £2,000 and she would appreciate any support from us.
http://www.justgiving.com/Scotlandskiltwalk2021-AlisonRoxburgh
or speak to Stewart or Ellen Lowe.
Prayer for this Sunday evening
Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Sunday prayers continue in response to the Covid-19 pandemic | The Church of Scotland
“‘Now, do you all understand what I have been saying?’ We might just recall these words, or similar, when in school, whether recently or a very long time ago. The teacher has led the class through a lesson and then turned to ask if everyone has understood. No one wants to admit that they did not follow the lesson and that they do not understand.
“In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus begins to teach His disciples about His forthcoming betrayal, death and resurrection. None of the disciples wishes to admit that they do not understand. Their response is one that we can identify with. Instead, the disciples turn to discussing something else: Who is the greatest among them? Jesus hears their discussion and, in response, declares: ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’
“Further, Jesus invites a child to stand amongst them and declares that whoever ‘welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me’. (Mark 9: 30-37)
“The response of the disciples is not recorded in the Gospel. Our response is to seek to follow the lesson in order that we might more fully understand the way of the Cross.”
We pray:
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We hear the call to take up the Cross
And to live in the light of the Resurrection.
Grant us faith to do so
And courage to confess when we do not understand.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We recognise that we turn too easily
To that which distracts and displaces.
Renew our focus that we might fix our eyes
On the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We hear the call to become servants,
As Christ Himself became on our behalf.
May we learn the lesson of servanthood
From the One who gave His life as a ransom for many.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Living God,
Whose way we discern
Through the Cross and the Resurrection of Your Son,
We recognise the children in our midst
Whose lives are a gift from Your Hand.
May we receive them within the community of faith
And so receive Christ in our midst.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
