Newhaven, North Leith, and South Leith Parish Churches
Joint Service
Third Sunday in Lent
Leader: Rev Peter Bluett
Organist: Iain Mackinnon
South Leith Music Group
Welcome and Intimations – Anne Lamont, North Leith Session Clerk
Introit – ‘In the Lord I’ll be ever thankful’ – South Leith Choir
Call to Worship
Hymn 510 Jesus calls us here to meet him
1 Jesus calls us here to meet him
as, through word and song and prayer,
we affirm God’s promised presence
where his people live and care. Praise the God who keeps his promise;
praise the Son who calls us friends;
praise the Spirit who, among us,
to our hopes and fears attends.
2 Jesus calls us to confess him
Word of life and Lord of all,
sharer of our flesh and frailness,
saving all who fail or fall.
Tell his holy human story;
tell his tales that all may hear;
tell the world that Christ in glory
came to earth to meet us here.
3 Jesus calls us to each other, vastly different though we are;
creed and colour, class and gender
neither limit nor debar.
Join the hand of friend and stranger;
join the hands of age and youth;
join the faithful and the doubter
in their common search for truth.
4 Jesus calls us to his table rooted firm in time and space,
where the Church in earth and heaven
finds a common meeting place.
Share the bread and wine, his body;
share the love of which we sing;
share the feast for saints and sinners
hosted by our Lord and King.
Opening Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer – Tim Linford, South Leith
First Thoughts – ‘New Parish’ Update – Karen McKay, Interim Moderator, North Leith and Chair, New Parish Steering Group
Hymn 549 How deep the Father’s love for us (Music Group)
1 How deep the Father’s love for us,
how vast beyond all measure,
that he should give his only Son
to make a wretch his treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss;
the Father turns his face away,
as wounds which mar the chosen One
bring many souls to glory.
2 Behold the man upon a cross,
my sin upon his shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held him there,
my pardon he accomplished;
his dying breath has brought me life –
I know that ‘it is finished’.
3 I will not boast in anything,
no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ,
his death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from all of this?
I cannot give an answer;
but this I know with all my heart,
his wounds have paid my ransom.
Readings: Old Testament: Psalm 63: 1-8 – John Hodge, Newhaven
New Testament: Luke 13: 1-9 – Margot Hudson, North Leith
Hymn 553 Just as I am without one plea
1 Just as I am without one plea,
but that your blood was shed for me,
and that you call us, ‘Come to me’,
O Lamb of God, I come.
2 Just as I am – though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
3 Just as I am you will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because your promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
4 Just as I am – your love unknown
has broken every barrier down–
now to be yours, and yours alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
5 Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above –
O Lamb of God, I come.
Reflection – What does the New Parish mean to you?
Colin MacNeill (Newhaven), Stewart Lowe (North Leith),
and Gavin Booth (South Leith) will respond
Music for Reflection – South Leith Music Group
Doxology – spoken together
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Prayers for Others and Dedication
Hymn 547 What a friend we have in Jesus
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
oh, what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations,
is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged:
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness:
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Jesus is our only refuge:
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Blessing
Closing Voluntary – Trumpet Voluntary. Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services – North Leith welcomes all, and especially congregational members from Newhaven and South Leith, to today’s joint service led by Rev Peter Bluett. Please join us for tea/coffee in the hall after the service.
We send best wishes to Rev Iain May and Ann, who are currently self-isolating.
Next Sunday, 27 March, Rev John Tait will lead worship at North Leith.
North Leith Church Magazine – Contributions for an Easter magazine should be sent to the church office nlpc-office@btconnect.com by this Tuesday (22 March) morning.
Newhaven Annual Congregational Meeting – Newhaven’s Annual Meeting will take place in person in the church hall on Monday 28th March at 7.00pm.
North Leith Annual Congregational Meeting – This will take place on Sunday 3 April in the church after the morning service; copies of the Annual Report & Accounts will be available next Sunday and are available electronically at any time on request to the church office.
Sharing with other churches:
Lenten Bible Study: continues on Monday 21 March, 7:30 pm led by Rev Rob Mackenzie, based round the film Mary Poppins Returns. All welcome; speak to Anne to get more details andthe Zoom Link.
Thursday afternoon meeting at South Leith Halls – the next meeting will be this Thursday, 24 March, at 2:00pm.
Daily Prayer group: If you would like to join a local churches WhatsApp mobile phone group, organised by Rev John Tait, to receive a short daily prayer, please speak to your Session Clerk.
Monthly Prayer Diary: If you would like to receive a monthly prayer list, compiled by Newhaven Church, with contributions from other churches, please speak to your Session Clerk.
Weekly Bible Study: If you are interested in joining a Bible Study meeting organised by Newhaven and held on Wednesday evenings by Zoom please speak to your Session Clerk.
Helping Ukraine
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the recent North Leith retiring offerings for The Church of Scotland Ukraine Appeal. The amount raised, including tax recovery, was £512.
