Author: Michelle Doig

Unfortunately there will be no recording of the Worship today.

Second Sunday in Advent

Minister: Rev. Mark Foster
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Air from Water Music.  GF Handel (1685-1759)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

MEN: With Isaiah, we welcome promise.
WOMEN: With Micah, we welcome hope.
MEN: With Mary, we welcome justice.
WOMEN: With Joseph, we welcome dreams.
MEN: With the Shepherds, we welcome good news.
WOMEN: With the Magi, we welcome new birth.
ALL: With this season, we welcome Christ’s coming.
With God’s promise, we welcome the future.

Hymn 473 ‘Thy kingdom come!

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

Lighting the Advent Candle

Hymn 282 Christmas is coming

                  Scripture Readings:  Reader: Tim Bell

Malachi 3: 1-4

 ‘I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the Lord Almighty.
² But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, ⁴ and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in years.

Luke 3: 1-8
John the Baptist prepares the way

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar – when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – ² during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. ³ He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
⁵ Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
⁶ And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Sermon

Hymn 334 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

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

Prayers for the World

Hymn 472 Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – March from Occasional Overture   GF Handel (1685-1759)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Mark Foster, minister at Pilrig St Paul’s church, to take our service today.
Mark will be back with us next Sunday, 12 December

Christmas gifts for The Citadel children and families will be collected today and next Sunday 12^th 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
This coming Thursday, 9^th December, 1pm at St Mary’s Star of the Sea. Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch. All welcome.

Advent calendar – Visit the Church of Scotland website to see a daily Advent message.
The Church of Scotland

See below for the prayer on 2 December from Rev Elsie Macrae the minister at Moffat: St Andrews, Kirkpatrick Juxta and Wamphray.

Father God,
this Advent we come before Your throne of grace,
we come with our brokenness,
we come with our fears, anxieties and worries, yes!
Lord, we come simply as we are.

Almighty God,
we have been overwhelmed with everything that is happening in our current lives,
especially this past year.
We indeed have been shaken, frightened and we now feel displaced with no grounding,
we are hurting as we struggle to hold on to something,
and yet find nothing to hold on to.

Father God,
forgive our ways.
We are continually searching for Your face, we ask you come down.
May we feel Your power move amongst us this Advent.
Make clear to us, Father, the meaning of Christ’s coming.
Come comfort Your children,
may your presence be felt in this frightened world we live in.
Hear these, our prayers, Lord,
Amen.
[Romans 15:13]

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

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 12^th 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, 9^th December, 1pm at St Mary’s Star of the Sea.   Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch.   All welcome.

Leader: Brian Drummond
Organist: Eric Turnbull

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship
(based on Deuteronomy 32: 2-4)
Lord God, may your teaching fall like rain.

Call to Worship (based on Deuteronomy 32: 2-4)
Lord God, may your teaching fall like rain.
May your words descend like dew,
like showers on new grass
like abundant rain on tender plants.
We proclaim your name, O Lord.
We praise your greatness, O God.
You are the Rock: your works are perfect
and all your ways are just.
You are a faithful God who does no wrong.
You are upright and just.

Hymn 21 Lord, teach me all your ways (Garelochside)

1 Lord teach me all your ways,
reveal your paths to me;
and lead me in your saving truth,
show me what I should be.

2 Remember, Lord, your love,
your care from ages past;
and in that love remember me,
in kindness hold me fast.

3 Forget my youthful faults,
forgive my sinful ways;
within the kindness of your love
remember me always.

4 God, who is just and good,
shows all who sin his way;
he leads the humble in right paths,
their teacher day by day.

5 All pathways of the Lord
are kindly, true, and sure
to those who keep his covenant
and in his ways endure.

Prayer of Approach ending with Lord’s Prayer

First Thought – How would you complete these sentences?             

 Reading the Bible is like …
All God’s ways are just, so in this world we should …

Hymn 190 Supreme in wisdom as in power

2 Supreme in wisdom as in power
the Rock of Ages stands;
though him thou canst not see, nor trace
the working of his hands.

3 He gives the conquest to the weak,
supports the fainting hearts;
and courage in the evil hour
his heavenly aid imparts.

4 Mere human power shall fast decay,
and youthful vigour cease;
but they who wait upon the Lord
in strength shall still increase.

5 They with unwearied feet shall tread
the path of life divine;
with growing ardour onward move,
with growing brightness shine.

6 On eagles’ wings they mount, they soar
their wings are faith and love,
till, past the cloudy regions here,
they rise to heaven above.

Scriptures:  1 Kings 16: 30, 32-33 & 17: 1-16 and Mark 12: 35-44 – Stewart Lowe

 Sermon
“Why …?”
Looking hard at the Bible and at the world

Hymn 537 We do not hope to ease our minds

1 We do not hope to ease our minds
 by simple answers, shifted blame,
 while Christ is homeless, hungry, poor,
 and we are rich who bear his name.
As long as justice is a dream
and human dignity denied,
we stand with Christ; disturb us still
till every need is satisfied.

2 We cannot ask to live at peace
in comfort and security
while Christ is tried in Pilate’s hall
and drags his cross to Calvary.
As long as hatred stifles truth
and freedom is betrayed by fear,
we stand with Christ; give us no peace
till his peace reigns in triumph here.

3 We will not pray to be preserved
from any depths of agony
while Christ’s despairing cry rings out:
God, why have you abandoned me?
As long as we have hope to share
of life renewed beyond the pain,
we stand with Christ all through the night
till Easter morning dawns again.

Doxology –spoken together
(based on Jude v 24-25)

To the Spirit who can keep us from falling
and bring us with joy to the Father,
to the only God, our Saviour,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be all glory and power for ever.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 453 Christ, of God unseen the image (Abbot’s Leigh)
         
1 Christ, of God unseen the image,
born before creation’s birth;
through whom all things were created,
all that live in heaven and earth-
realms and rulers, thrones, dominions,
powers great and forces small
through and for him made and fashioned –
he is in and over all.

2 Christ the firstborn of creation,
Christ in whom all things cohere,
all things’ Maker, seen and unseen,
low and lofty, far and near.
Christ the head of his dear body,
of his Church the living core,
risen from the dead before us –
him we gladly now adore.

3 Christ in whom the very fullness
of the living God is found,
Christ who reconciles creation
turning earth to holy ground,
Christ the home of God’s good pleasure
through whose blood is made our peace,
in whose cross, beyond all measure
is our freedom and release.

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Sigfried Karl Elert,  Now thank we all our God

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Brian Drummond, Reader in Training at South Leith, to lead our service this morning.
We also extend a warm welcome to Eric Turnbull at the organ.
Next Sunday, 14 November, Remembrance Sunday, Rev John Tait will lead our worship and the service will start at 10:50.

On Sunday 21 November there will be the annual Seafarers’ service at South Leith (no service at North Leith that day)

The Food Bank is running low on carrier bags; anyone who has an excess could they please donate to the Food Bank.

Kirk Session meeting – The Kirk Session meets on Wednesday 10 November. If you would like to propose a ‘home’ charity for this year’s Christmas Appeal please let the Session Clerk know, providing some details about your proposal by Tuesday 9 November at latest.

Leith Churches Together – Lunch Time Service – LCT is re-starting the monthly ecumenical lunch-time services this Thursday, 11th November, at 1pm in Duke Street URC.   Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch.   All welcome.

Seafarers’ Christmas Gift Bags – We are, as usual, collecting during November donations of money or sweets (wrapped chocolates, shortbread, fudge/ tablet, mixed sweets, and mixed nuts) for the Seafarers’ Christmas bags.
The gifts mean so much to a seafarer 1000’s of miles away from family and friends; many will have been on board for 10 months to more than a year. 

New Scots Christmas Hampers – If you might be able to deliver Christmas hampers to local refugees / asylum seekers at the end of this month please speak to Margot Hudson as soon as possible.

Fresh Start Festive Hampers – Fresh Start is collecting food for Festive Hampers and asking that donations are delivered to the warehouse by Thursday 2^nd December. Please see Ellen Lowe if you are interested in helping and for a list of the type of donations welcomed.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to see and hear the prayer
Pandemic prayers continue across the Church of Scotland | The Church of Scotland

“The One who sees beyond the outward appearance and looks on the heart is the One who knows the needs of all peoples and of all Creation. We turn to the One who gives life to all…”

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Agnus Dei.     WA Mozart (1756-1791)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (from Psalm 116: 12-14 & Psalm 30: 11-12)

What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.
You turned my wailing into dancing;
    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you for ever.

Hymn 111 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty

1 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
God ever living through eternity.

3 Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,
though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

Prayer of Approach

Scriptures:  Reader, Jenny Martin

Mark 14: 22-26
²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’
²³ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
²⁴ ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them. ²⁵ ‘Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’
²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luke 24: 13-20, 28-34
On the road to Emmaus
¹³ Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶ but they were kept from recognising him.
¹⁷ He asked them, ‘What are you discussing together as you walk along?’
They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, ‘Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?’
¹⁹ ‘What things?’ he asked.
‘About Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. ²⁰ The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further. ²⁹ But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.
³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’
³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, ‘It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’

Sermon

Hymn 252 As a fire is meant for burning

  Doxology –spoken together

We will not offer to God offerings that cost us nothing.
We will seek peace and justice.
Praise to the God who reigns above,
Praise to the Son who lived below,
Praise to the Spirit who moves among us,
and Glory be to almighty God
now and always, world without end.

Prayers for the World

Hymn 744 Hark how the adoring hosts above

1 Hark how the adoring hosts above
with songs surround the throne!
Ten thousand, thousand are their tongues;
but all their hearts are one.

2 Worthy the Lamb that died, they cry,
to be exalted thus;
worthy the Lamb, let us reply;
for he was slain for us.

3 Thou hast redeemed us with thy blood,
and set the prisoners free;
thou mad’st us kings and priests to God,
and we shall reign with thee.

4 From every kindred, every tongue,
thou brought’st thy chosen race;
and distant lands and isles have shared
the riches of thy grace.

5 To him who sits upon the throne,
the God whom we adore,
and to the Lamb that once was slain,
be glory evermore.

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Hymn 419 Thine be the glory

1 Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly, he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.

3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of Life;
life is naught without thee: aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Gloria in excelsis deo. WA Mozart (1756-1791)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome back Rev Ron Smith, retired minister from Leith St Andrew’s church, to lead our service this morning.
Next Sunday, 7 November, Brian Drummond, Reader in Training at South Leith, will lead our worship.

Church Family and Friends – The congregation will be sad to learn that our friend Rita Sutherland died peacefully last Saturday, 23 October.
We remember Rita with thanks for her life, example and fellowship, and hold her family in our prayers.

The ordination and induction of Rev Katherine Taylor took place on 28 October. The service is available to view via the Tranent Parish Church website.

The Food Bank is running low on carrier bags; anyone who has an excess could they please donate to the Food Bank.

COP26 Life and Work Special Supplement

Life and Work has produced a FREE four-page COP26 Special Supplement available now to all interested at https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/cop26-special-supplement.

Christmas Appeal – The Kirk Session meets on Wednesday 10 November. One of the items on the agenda will be our regular Christmas Appeal. If you would like to propose a ‘home’ charity to be the beneficiary of this year’s appeal please let the Session Clerk know, providing some details about your proposal (or contact the church office) by Tuesday 9 November at latest.

Leith Churches Together – Lunch Time Service – LCT is re-starting the monthly ecumenical lunch-time services on Thursday 11th November 2021 at 1pm in Duke Street United Reformed Church.   Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch.   All welcome.

National Giving Day – Thank you to everyone who has donated to this appeal for church funds. The appeal closes today.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Christians join in prayer in response to the Covid-19 pandemic | The Church of Scotland

“As the people of God embark on a journey that will take them to the threshold of the promised land, they hear proclaimed the commandment: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’
“These ancient words take us to the very heart of what it is to live in the presence of God, where life will flourish, in ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’, as the people of God hear and fulfil the commandment of God. In turn, successive generations will flourish as the commandment is received and embraced. (Deuteronomy 6: 1-9)
“The generation of which we are a part has the responsibility of passing to those who come after us the commandment to love God with heart and soul and strength.
“In similar fashion, we have a responsibility entrusted to us to pass on a land that will sustain the flourishing of human life.
“As those so entrusted, we pray to the One God, who is ‘the Maker of heaven and earth’…”
We pray:

Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear us as we seek to love You
With heart and soul and strength.
Hear us and our prayer for all Creation.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear us as we behold the beauty of the gift of Creation
And give thanks to You for Your many blessings.
Hear us as we sense the fragility of Your gift at this time.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear the voices of those from North and South,
And East and West, who cry out on behalf of a fragile creation.
Hear the voice of all Your people and answer their cry.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear the voices of those who journey as pilgrims
And long to know a land flourishing with good gifts.
Hear our voices as we share the pilgrim way.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord our God,
We turn to You as the maker of heaven and earth
And as the One who sustains all human life:
Hear our prayer that the creation may be set free
And no longer bound to the bondage of decay.
Hear the voices of those who rejoice in anticipation of that day.
Lord, in Your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship –  PsaIm 150

Praise the Lord.Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,    praise him with the harp and lyre,
 praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Hymn 132 Immortal, invisible, God only wise

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains, high soaring above
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

4 Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render: O help us to see
‘tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 43 O God, you are my God alone

1 O God, you are my God alone,
whom eagerly I seek,
though longing fills my soul with thirst
and leaves my body weak.
Just as a dry and barren land
awaits a freshening shower,
I long within your house to see
your glory and your power.

2 Your faithful love surpasses life,
evoking all my praise.
Through every day, to bless your name,
my hands in joy I’ll raise.
My deepest needs you satisfy
as with a sumptuous feast.
So, on my lips and in my heart,
your praise has never ceased.

3 Throughout the night I lie in bed
and call you, Lord, to mind;
in darkest hours I meditate
how God, my strength, is kind.
Beneath the shadow of your wing,
I live and feel secure;
and daily as I follow close,
your right hand keeps me sure.

Scriptures:  

Psalm 32
¹ Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
  whose sins are covered.
² Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them
  and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
  through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
  my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you
  and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, ‘I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.’  And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

⁶ Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;
   surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
⁷ You are my hiding-place; you will protect me from trouble
   and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no

understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle
  or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Luke 19: 1-10

Zacchaeus the tax collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’

⁹ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’

Sermon

Hymn 555 Amazing Grace!

1 Amazing Grace! how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace, my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Doxology – spoken together

Praise God, the Source of life and birth;
Praise God, the Word, who came to earth;
Praise God, the Spirit, holy flame;
All glory, honour, to God’s name.

 Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary –     Cantate Domino.  Giuseppe Pitoni (1657-1743).

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Ron Smith, retired minister from Leith St Andrew’s church, to lead our service this morning.
Ron will be back with us next Sunday, 31 October, when we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.

Opening the Church – The church building and garden are open to all on Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon.

The Food Bank is running low on carrier bags; anyone who has an excess could they please donate to the Food Bank

COP26 Life and Work Special Supplement – Life and Work has produced a FREE four-page COP26 Special Supplement available now to all interested at https://www.lifeandwork.org/resources/cop26-special-supplement.

There is a Climate Change Art Exhibition entitled Our Precious and Precarious World at St Cuthbert’s church (Lothian Road at the West end) this week from 26 to 30 October between 12 noon and 5pm.

National Giving Day – Thank you to everyone who has donated to this appeal for church funds. If you would still like to donate, you can do so up till the end of October, indicating ‘Giving Day’ on the envelope or bank transfer.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Call to prayer continues in response to the pandemic | The Church of Scotland

“Today, there are many voices crying out to be heard. The voices are of those who suffer and who are broken, and of those who are isolated and alone. These voices are intermingled with many others that cry out, whether for good or ill, and seek to be heard. Truly, there are many voices crying out to be heard.

“The Gospel of Mark records an occasion when Jesus heard a particular voice crying out to be heard. The voice was that of Bartimaeus who was determined to be heard even in the face of the crowd. The voice of Bartimaeus was raised in spite of the rebuke of those who told him to be quiet. As he is told to be quiet, he shouts all the more: “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Jesus hears his voice and calls him into His presence: “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus hears his voice and responds to the depth of his need: “Go… your faith has healed you.” (Mark 10: 46-52)
“From the depths of the crowd, Jesus hears our cry and wills to answer and to bring healing.”

We pray:

Lord, hear us,
Graciously hear us,
As we turn to You and cry for mercy:
Hear our voice today,
Even from the depths of the crowd,
And answer our cry.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, hear us,
Graciously hear us,
As we turn to You and cry for mercy:
Hear the voice of those who suffer,
Even in their brokenness,
And answer their cry.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, hear us,
Graciously hear us,
As we turn to You and cry for mercy:
Hear the voice of the lonely,
Even from their place of isolation,
And draw them into the community of Your people.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord, hear us,
Graciously hear us,
As we turn to You and cry for mercy:
Hear our voice today,
Even as You heard the cry of Bartimaeus,
And inspire in us faith and bring to us healing.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Rev. Rob Mackenzie
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

• 

Opening Voluntary

Prelude in B Flat.  Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (from  PsaIm 104)

Bless the Lord, O my soul.
O Lord my God, you are very great.
You are clothed with honour and majesty,
wrapped in light as with a garment.
O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all.

Hymn 336 Christ is our light!

1 Christ is our light!  the bright and morning star
 covering with radiance all from near and far.
 Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray
 into our hearts, into our world today.

2 Christ is our love!  baptized that we may know
the love of God among us, swooping low.
Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face
and see in you the light of heaven’s embrace.

3 Christ is our joy!  transforming wedding guest!
Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
as your disciples did in Galilee.

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought
 

Hymn 374 From heaven you came, helpless babe

1 From heaven you came helpless babe,
entered our world, your glory veiled;
not to be served but to serve,
and give your life that we might live.
This is our God, The Servant King,
he calls us now to follow him,
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

2 There in the garden of tears,
my heavy load he chose to bear;
his heart with sorrow was torn,
‘Yet not my will but yours,’ he said.

3 Come see his hands and his feet,
the scars that speak of sacrifice,
hands that flung stars into space
to cruel nails surrendered.

4 So let us learn how to serve,
and in our lives enthrone him;
each other’s needs to prefer,
for it is Christ we’re serving.

Scriptures:  Mark 10: 35-45 – Reader, Margot Hudson

The request of James and John

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him.  ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’
³⁶ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked.
³⁷ They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’
³⁸ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said. ‘Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?’
³⁹ ‘We can,’ they answered.
Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.’

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

Sermon

Hymn 502 Take my life, Lord, let it be

1 Take my life, Lord, let it be
consecrated, glad, and free;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of your love;
take my feet, that I may run
bearing news of Christ your Son.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my intellect and use
every power as you shall choose.

4 Take my will – your will be done,
may my will and yours be one;
take my heart – it is your own,
it shall be your royal throne.

5 Take my love – my Lord, I pour
at your feet its treasure-store;
take myself, and I will be
all for you, eternally.

Doxology – spoken together

Praise God, the Source of life and birth;
Praise God, the Word, who came to earth;
Praise God, the Spirit, holy flame;
All glory, honour, to God’s name.
(words from Hymn 809)

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 533 Will you come and follow me

1 Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you and you in me?

2 Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
in you and you in me?

3 Will you let the blinded see
if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean
in you and you in me?

4 Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound
in you and you in me?

5 Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary –  Credo.  Joseph Haydn (1732-1809).

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Rob Mackenzie from Leith St Andrew’s church to lead our service this morning.
Next Sunday, 24 October, the service will be led by Rev Ron Smith from Leith St Andrew’s.
We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday 31 October.

The Moderator of the General Assembly, Lord Wallace, is visiting Edinburgh Presbytery this month. A special service welcoming him to Leith will take place this evening, 17 October, at 7pm in South Leith church. A warm invitation is open to all the Leith congregations. 
For those who are not able to attend, the service will be streamed live and also available later on the South Leith church website.

Church Magazine – The latest magazine is available for distributors (and others) to pick up today. It will also be available on our website.

Opening the Church – The church building and garden are open to all on Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. If you are able to help with the rota for this please speak to Tim Bell.

National Giving Day – Thank you to everyone who has donated to this appeal for church funds. If you would still like to donate, you can do so up till the end of October, indicating ‘Giving Day’ on the envelope or bank transfer.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Christians join in prayer in response to the Covid-19 pandemic | The Church of Scotland

“The faith we share affirms that it was ‘for us’ that Jesus Christ ‘became truly human’. So, in faith, when we turn to God and pray through Jesus Christ, we do so knowing that the One who brings us into the presence of God has shared fully in the life we live.
“The life we live today is shaped by particular circumstances that weigh upon us collectively and personally. In the midst of life, we find opportunity and challenge, and we seek to discern the hand of God throughout it all. In the midst of life, we recall that Jesus has shared in our flesh and participated in the life of the world.

“The Letter to the Hebrews records: ‘In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears’. (Hebrews 5: 7) In so recording, the Letter affirms that the One who brings us into the presence of God has shared fully in the depths of human experience.
“There is no place in our experience at which God cannot meet us. As we cry out to God, the One who hears us is the One who has heard the cries of Jesus Christ.”

We pray:

God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hear the prayer we offer
In the name of the One who prays for us
And who has shared in the life of the world.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hear the prayer we offer
From the depths of our experience
And in the midst of the challenges of our day.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hear the prayer we offer
In the name of the One who prayed to You with cries and tears
And hear us when we do so also.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hear the prayer we offer
As we share in the life of the world
And in the depths of its suffering.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father
Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Hear the prayer we offer
In the name of the One who for us and for our salvation
Has become truly human and one with us.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.