Advent Sunday
Service led by KAILYARD
Organist: Iain Mackinnon
Theme: Swords into Ploughshares
Welcome and Intimations
Call to Worship
Hymn 253 Inspired by love and anger
1 Inspired by love and anger,
disturbed by need and pain,
informed of God’s own bias,
we ponder once again:
‘How long must some folk suffer?
How long can few folk mind?
How long dare vain self-interest
turn prayer and pity blind?’
5 God asks, ‘Who will go for me?
Who will extend my reach?
And who, when few will listen,
will prophesy and preach?
And who, when few bid welcome,
will offer all they know?
And who, when few dare follow,
will walk the road I show?’
2 From those forever victims
of heartless human greed,
Their cruel plight composes
a litany of need:
‘Where are the fruits of justice?
Where are the signs of peace?
When is the day when prisoners
and dreams find their release?’
6 Amused in someone’s kitchen,
asleep in someone’s boat,
attuned to what the ancients
exposed, proclaimed, and wrote,
a saviour without safety,
a tradesman without tools
has come to tip the balance
with fishermen and fools.
Prayer of Approach and the Lord’s Prayer
Lighting of Advent Candle
Hymn 282 Christmas is coming
All: Christmas is coming!,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.
The first is for God’s promise
to put the wrong things right,
and bring to earth’s darkness
the hope of love and light
All: ‘Christmas is coming!’,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.
Hymn 281 People look East
1 People, look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the Guest, is on the way.
2 Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there:
give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.
3 Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.
4 Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Scripture Readings: Isaiah 2: 1-4 and Luke 21: 25-33 : Diane Ratcliffe
Reflection – Swords and Ploughshares
Music for Reflection – A Baby Changes Everything
Hymn 277 Hark the glad sound!
1 Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long:
let every heart exult with joy
and every voice with song!
2 He comes the prisoners to relieve,
in Satan’s bondage held;
the gates of brass before him burst,
the iron fetters yield.
3 He comes the broken hearts to bind,
the bleeding souls to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.
4 The sacred year has now revolved,
accepted of the Lord,
when heaven’s high promise is fulfilled,
and Israel is restored.
5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
thy welcome shall proclaim,
and heaven’s eternal arches ring
with thy most honoured name.
Doxology – spoken together
All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
good will is shown from heaven above
and never more shall cease.
Prayer of Dedication for the Offering and the World
Hymn 527 Lord, make us servants of your peace
1 Lord, make us servants of your peace:
where there is hate, may we sow love;
where there is hurt, may we forgive;
where there is strife, may we make one.
2 Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
where all is night, may we sow light;
where all is tears, may we sow joy.
3 Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.
4 May we not look for love’s return,
but seek to love unselfishly,
for in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiven.
5 Dying, we live, and are reborn
through death’s dark night to endless day.
Lord, make us servants of your peace
to wake at last in heaven’s light.
Benediction
Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary – Postlude, Christian H Rinck (1770-1846)
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services: We are pleased to welcome Kailyard, the music group from South Leith church, to lead our service this morning.
Next Sunday, 5 December, Rev Mark Foster, minister at Pilrig St Paul’s church, will take our service.
Seafarers’ Christmas Gift Bags: Today is the last day for collecting donations of money or sweets for the annual Seafarers’ Christmas bags.
Christmas Magazine: Items should be sent to the church office by this coming Tuesday morning, 30 November, at latest.
Christmas gifts for The Citadel children and families will be collected next Sunday and Sunday 12th December. Suggestions are: toiletries for teenagers (boys and girls); student materials such as pens, pencils, stationery sets, pencil-cases; and for older folk boxes of chocolates: e.g. After Eights, Selection Box
Christmas cards: If you’d like to have a look at the Traidcraft (Christian Aid etc) cards please let me know and I can give you a catalogue. I can order through the One World Shop as in previous years. Thanks, Margot Hudson
Christmas Appeal: The Kirk Session has agreed that this year’s Christmas Appeal will be for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December. Please put them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Appeal’; use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid.
Leith Churches Together – Lunch Time Service
Thursday, 9th December, 1pm at St Mary’s Star of the Sea. Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch. All welcome.