Unfortunately due to a technical glitch there is no digital service today.
Minister: Rev. Dr. Martin Scott
Organist: Iain Mackinnon
Opening Voluntary – Voluntary in F. Eric Thiman (1900-1975)
Welcome and Intimations
Opening Responses
Creator of all, we thirst for you
Send us your living water
Christ our companion, we long to be fed
Give us the bread of life
Spirit of truth, we struggle in darkness
Show us the light of the world
Creator, Christ and Spirit, we come with empty hands
Open our lives to your love.
Hymn 18 The earth belongs to God alone (from Psalm 24)
1 The earth belongs to God alone
and all that it contains;
the world and its inhabitants
God’s steadfast love maintains.
2 The Lord who brought the world to birth
laid earth’s foundations sure, and firm within the surging seas
established them secure.
3 Who, then, are those who shall ascend
the holy hill of God?
And who is fit to stand within
the presence of the Lord?
4 All those whose hands and hearts are clean,
with no room in their mind
for worthless vanities or vows
of a deceitful kind.
5 These are the people who receive
a blessing from the Lord,
and vindication for their ways
from God, their saving God.
6 O God of Jacob, help us all
who gather in this place,
to seek your presence with us now:
we yearn to see your face.
Prayer of Approach and Confession (Lord’s Prayer)
Scriptures: Reader,Stewart Lowe
Proverbs 9: 1-6 Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’
To those who have no sense she says,
‘Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.’
John 6: 24-35 – Jesus the bread of life
Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’
Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’
Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’
Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’
So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’
‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’
Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Hymn 622 We sing a love that sets all people free
1 We sing a love that sets all people free,
that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
enfolds the earth, springs up like water clear
come, living love, live in our hearts today.
2 We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
3 We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
a love that stands alone and undismayed:
come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
4 We sing a love that, wandering, will not rest
until it finds its way, its home, its source,
through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.
5 We sing the Holy Spirit, full of love,
who seeks out scars of ancient bitterness,
brings to our wounds the healing grace of Christ:
come, radiant love, live in our hearts today.
Sermon
Music for Reflection – Ave Verum. WA Mozart (1756-1791)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn 436 Christ triumphant, ever reigning
1. Christ triumphant, ever reigning,
Saviour, Master, King!
Lord of heaven, our lives sustaining,
hear us as we sing:
Yours the glory and the crown,
the high renown, the eternal name!
2. Word incarnate, truth revealing,
Son of Man on earth!
Power and majesty concealing
by your humble birth:
Yours the glory…
3. Suffering servant, scorned, ill-treated,
victim crucified!
Death is through the cross defeated,
sinners justified:
Yours the glory…
4. Priestly king, enthroned for ever
high in heaven above!
Sin and death and hell shall never
stifle hymns of love:
Yours the glory…
5. So, our hearts and voices raising
through the ages long,
ceaselessly upon you gazing,
this shall be our song:
Yours the glory…
Benediction
Closing Voluntary –Prelude in F. JS Bach (1685-1750)
Intimations
Sunday Services -Services continue at 11 am. Please remember that restrictions are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.
We are pleased to welcome again Rev Dr Martin Scott to lead our service today. Katherine is back at work tomorrow and will lead our worship next Sunday, 8 August.
Opening the Church – The church building and garden is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.
Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Kirk joins in prayer in response to the pandemic | The Church of Scotland
“‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’
“The words of the Gospel resonate in the hearts of all who have searched for spiritual sustenance in a dry land. They are words spoken to those who searched for Jesus and could not, at first, find Him. They are words spoken to those who are ‘looking for Jesus’. On finding Him, Jesus speaks to them of the ‘bread from heaven’ and in turn they ask: ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ In response, Jesus says: ‘I am the bread of life.’ (John 6: 24-35)
“It is to those who continue to seek the presence of Jesus in a dry land that He offers Himself as the ‘bread from heaven’. We stand with those who sing:
‘Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till my want is o’er.'”
We pray:
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we hunger
And cry out to the One who is the bread of life.
Renew us by Your gift and restore us by Your presence.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cry of all who hunger this day
And who long for the gifts that renew and restore life.
Renew our concern for Your Creation and for all who inhabit the earth.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear us when we thirst
And long for living water.
May all who thirst drink deep from the rivers of living water.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear the cries of those who long for clean water
And who live in parched lands.
May all who thirst find living water for daily life.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father,
Who gives to us bread from heaven,
Hear our cry to the One
Who is the bread of life:
Give us this bread always.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
