Author: Michelle Doig

Unfortunately there is no recording of today’s worship order of Services and Intimations are bellow.

Minister: Rev. Jennifer Booth
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Prelude in D.  Frank Bridge (1879-1941)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (based on PsaIm 8)

O LORD our Sovereign,

How majestic is your name in all the earth!
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
The moon and the stars that you have established,
What are human beings that you are mindful of them;
Mortals, that you care for them?
Yet you have made them a little lower than angels,
And crowned them with glory and honour,
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
You have put all things under their feet,
O LORD, our Sovereign,
How majestic is your name in all the earth.

Hymn 229 We plough the fields and scatter the good seed

1 We plough the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above;
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
for all his love.

2 He only is the Maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the wind and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread.

3 We thank you, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good:
the seed-time and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food;
no gifts have we to offer
for all your love imparts,
but that which you desire now:
our humble, thankful hearts!

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought  Brian Drummond

Hymn 231 For the fruits of all creation
(Ar Hyd Y Nos)

1 For the fruits of all creation,
thanks be to God;
for these gifts to every nation,
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.

2 In the just reward of labour,
God’s will is done.
in the help we give our neighbour,
God’s will is done;
in our world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvest we are sharing,
God’s will is done.

3 For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.

Scriptures:  Mark 10: 2-16  Reader, Gerry O’Neil
  
Jesus teaches about divorce
² Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’
³ ‘What did Moses command you?’ he replied.
⁴ They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.’
⁵ ‘It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,’ Jesus replied. ⁶ ‘But at the beginning of creation God “made them male and female”. ⁷ “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife ⁸ and the two will become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. ¹¹ He answered, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.’Jesus blesses little children

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Sermon – The upside-down Kingdom – God’s inclusive Love

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

Hymn 233 Come, you thankful people come

1 Come, you thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest-home:
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, will provide
for our needs to be supplied:
come to God’s own temple, come;
raise the song of harvest-home.

2 All this world is God’s own field,
bearing fruit his praise to yield;
wheat and tares together sown,
are to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear:
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

3 For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take His harvest home;
from his field shall in that day
all offences purge away;
give his angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast,
but the fruitful ears to store
in his storehouse evermore.

4 Even so, Lord, quickly, come;
bring your final harvest home:
gather all your people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin;
there, for ever purified,
in your presence to abide:
come, with all your angels come,
raise the glorious harvest-home.

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary

Absoute.  Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Jennifer Booth and Brian Drummond, Reader in Training, from South Leith church to our service this morning.
Next Sunday, 10 October, the service will be led by Rev Jennifer Booth and Rev John Tait. We look forward to welcoming both of these ‘old friends’ back to North Leith.

The Moderator of the General Assembly, Lord Wallace, is due to visit Edinburgh Presbytery this month. A special service welcoming him to Leith will take place on Sunday 17 October at 7pm in South Leith Church. A warm invitation is open to all the Leith congregations. 

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.

Newspapers – Enough newspapers have now been collected.
“Thank you so much to all those who have helped me collect newspapers for my school. We are hugely grateful to everyone.”

With love,

Rena Brown (Jenny Martin’s daughter)

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

“What do we see? As we survey the day-to-day progress of life: What do we see? What we might prefer to see is a world that is coherent and ordered, with everything in its place and a place for everything.
“Equally, we might prefer to see a world subject to a guiding hand leading us on to a place of certainty. Whatever we might prefer to see, we may be certain that it is not yet the world as we see it today.
“The Letter to the Hebrews takes up the words of the Psalmist and pictures the ‘son of man’ as the One who has all things subject to Him. Indeed, the Letter affirms that: ‘God left nothing that is not subject to Him.’ Immediately thereafter, it states: ‘Yet at present we do not see everything subject to Him.’

“There is a vision of the world as it shall be and a realisation that the world in which we live is not yet aligned to that vision. What we see is the world as it is and not yet the world as it shall be in the providence of God.
“The place we inhabit is the point of tension between the world we see and the world as God intends it to be. In this place, and by the grace of God, ‘we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death’ and we resolve to live out our faith as we follow the One who is the author and pioneer of our salvation. (Hebrews 2: 5-12/Psalm 8: 4-6)”

We Pray

Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And we seek Your guiding hand
In the days in which we live.
Grant that we might discern Your guidance
And live faithfully in accordance with Your will.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And Your care for Creation
Overflows to all the earth.
Grant to us the resolve to care for Creation
In the place we inhabit and in the time You have given to us.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And You create us to reflect
The image of God.
Grant to us that we may see in our neighbour
A reflection of Your image and so value the lives of all.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world
And to all Creation,
And we see the world as it is
And know that it is not yet the world as You will it to be.
Grant to us faith that we might see Jesus and follow the One
Who is the author and pioneer of our salvation.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (based on Psalm 124)

The Lord is on our side
In our waiting and uncertainty,
The Lord is on our side
In our weariness and worry,
The Lord is on our side
Giving us security and hope,
The Lord is on our side
Leading us into freedom,
The Lord is on our side,
Our help is in the name of the Lord.

Hymn 172 Sing for God’s glory that colours the dawn of creation

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 774 Jesus, name above all names

Scriptures: Mark 9: 38-50 Reader, Tim Bell

Sermon – Widening the Circle

Hymn 694 Brother, sister, let me serve you 

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

Hymn 458 At the name of Jesus

Benediction

Closing Voluntary – Prelude in F major.  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.
Next Sunday, 3 October, we will celebrate Harvest and the service will be led by Rev Jennifer Booth. Gifts will be for the Foodbank, either money (by retiring Offering) or goods; food welcomed includes tinned meat (eg Fray Bentos Steak Pie) and fish, puddings; also toiletries (eg toothbrushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, deodorant.)

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 – Thank you to all who joined us yesterday in the Hall and for the donations received.
If you were not able to attend and would like to donate to the appeal, 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 encouraged to join together in prayer this Sunday | The Church of Scotland

‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.’ (Psalm 19: 14)
The Psalmist turns to God, as we ourselves do, in search of the One who will accept us as we are and who will be our strength in hard times. The times in which we live will feel to many of us like hard times. In these times, the Psalm speaks to us and for us.
We are conscious that the words we offer are but frail and we sometimes fear that they will not carry to God. Likewise, we fear that our hearts are faint. In these times, the Psalmist stands where we stand and calls upon the Lord as the One who is our rock and strength, and as the One who will bring us into the living presence of God. The words are offered from open lips and an open heart and rise into the presence of God. The words are offered trusting that they will be pleasing before God. In similar fashion, we offer our words from open lips and open hearts and we trust, that in these times, they will be heard by the One who is our Rock and Redeemer.

We pray:

O Lord,
You are our Rock and our Redeemer,
Hear us as we call to you
With open lips and open hearts.
Hear us and accept us we are.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

O Lord,
You are our Rock and our Redeemer,
Hear us as we call to you
In the times in which we live.
Hear us in hard times and answer us in your time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

O Lord,
You are our Rock and our Redeemer,
Hear us as we call to you
With the words that you have given to us.
Hear us with words hewn from the experience of life.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

O Lord,
You are our Rock and our Redeemer,
Hear us as we call to you
Though our words are often frail and our hearts sometimes faint.
Hear our words and accept the offering of our hearts.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

O Lord,
You are our Rock and our Redeemer,
Hear us as we call to you
And may the words we offer and the meditation of our hearts
Be acceptable in your sight.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

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.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (Based on Psalm 19)

God of sun, moon and stars
Your glory speaks in the heavens.
God of sea, rivers and lochs
Your glory speaks in the earth.
God of time, maker of day and night 
Your glory will speak to the world forever.
We worship and praise You, Lord of Creation.

Hymn 214 New every morning

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Scriptures:  Mark 8: 27-38 – Reader, Annie Addison

          Sermon – Who do you say I am?

Hymn 378 Praise to the Holiest in the height

Doxology – spoken together

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer

Hymn 555 Amazing Grace

Benediction

Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Gloria.  JA André (1775-1842)

Creation Panel – Beryl Curlett

Picture – Unidentified Artist. Gold Cross, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

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 open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

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.

Pastoral Care – Would you like to be involved in the pastoral care work of the congregation? This would mean keeping in touch with a few people either by visiting or by telephone. We are arranging a meeting of those interested to take place this month and if you would like to come along to find out more, please let Katherine or Anne know.

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 Lowe.

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

“Questions about identity are very much to the fore in our day and age. The asking of a question is, of course, very much easier than providing an answer and the result is that we have many more questions than agreed answers.

“At a pivotal moment in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus asks a question which might be said to be about identity: ‘Who do people say I am?’
“In response, the disciples harvest the many opinions that are in circulation: ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ There are many opinions, but no agreed answer.
“Jesus then asks the question directly to the disciples: ‘But what about you?…Who do you say I am?’ In response, Peter replies: ‘You are the Christ.’ Amidst all the opinions of the day, Peter provides an answer to the question of the identity of Jesus and he affirms that he is the Christ.
“In the midst of the many questions of our day, we affirm this answer for ourselves and resolve to follow in the way of the Cross. (Mark 8: 27-38)”

We pray:

God our Father,
You anoint Your Son
And send Him forth into the world.
We receive the gift of Your Son
As Your gift to Creation and to all peoples
And respond with gratitude and thanksgiving.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God our Father,
You anoint Your Son
And send Him forth into the world.
As we receive Your Son,
May we hear the questions He asks of us
And be willing to respond in faith and trust.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God our Father,
You anoint Your Son
And send Him forth into the world.
As we share the gift of Your Son,
May we listen to the voices of those beside us
That we might understand more fully the breadth of Your Creation.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God our Father,
You anoint Your Son
And send Him forth into the world.
As we listen to the many questions that are asked in our world
May we respond with grace and in truth,
And with shared silence to the questions that are hard to bear.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God our Father,
You anoint Your Son
And send Him forth into the world.
As we hear Your Son speak to us
May we humbly confess
That He is the Christ, the anointed One of God.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (Psalm 146: verses 1-6)
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever.

Hymn 93 Let us with a gladsome mind

 Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer
                                                           
First Thought

Hymn 685 For everyone born a place at the table

Scriptures:  James 2:1-10 and 14-17 and Mark 7: 24-37 – Beryl Curlett

Sermon – Plain Speaking

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Hymn 237 Look forward in faith

Benediction

Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Blessing Honour Glory and Power.  Louis Spohr (1784-1859)

Picture Stained glass window from the National Cathedral in Washington DC

INTIMATIONS

Congratulations – Many congratulations to Katherine who has accepted the call from Tranent Parish Church to be their new minister.

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 open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

Project Ecuador – The final total we raised was £404 and a letter of thanks has been received.

Kirk Session Meeting – The Session will meet on Wednesday 8 September 2021 at 19:30.

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.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Join the Church of Scotland in prayer this Sunday | The Church of Scotland

“’If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, you are doing right.’ (James 2: 8)

“Given all that we face today: How do we know we are doing the right thing? In our personal life and in our shared life, the challenge of doing the right thing is something that we continually face.
“As we reflect upon this, we recognise that knowing “the right thing to do” is not always easy. Nevertheless, throughout Scripture there runs an ancient thread that links the original call to love our neighbour to the summary of the Law given by Jesus. (Leviticus 19: 18; Mark 12: 31)
“The call to love our neighbour is described by James as the ‘royal law’ and is the surest guide we have as to knowing “the right thing to do”.

“As we face the challenge of renewing our society and, at the same time, continuing to face the ongoing pandemic, the need of a sure guide remains constant.
“The ‘royal law’ has been gifted to us by our Creator and renewed by the Lord Jesus Christ. We take it as our guide for these times.”

We pray:

Living God,
In the times in which we live
You reveal Your way to us through the royal law.
We turn to You as our Creator
And ask for grace and strength
To live according to that law.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
In the times in which we live
You reveal Your way to us through the royal law.
We turn to those beside us as our neighbours
And ask for wisdom that we might do to others
As we would have them do to us.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
In the times in which we live
You reveal Your way to us through the royal law.
We turn to face the challenges of the day
And seek to renew our society
That it might better reflect Your Kingdom which is to come.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
In the times in which we live
You reveal Your way to us through the royal law.
We turn to the world before us
And seek to do right in Your eyes
That we might bring glory to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Led by: Tim Bell and Jimmy Hudson
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (from Psalm 40)

I waited patiently for the Lord
He turned to me and heard my cry
He lifted me out of the slimy pit
Out of the mud and mire
He set my foot on a rock
And gave me a firm place to stand
He put a new song in my mouth
A hymn of praise to our God
Many will see and fear
And put their trust in the Lord

Hymn: Lord of the boundless curves of space

 Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Readings – Genesis 1, v1-8, 26-31 – Jenny Martin

Man’s place in creation, Tim Bell   

Hymn 5: O Lord, our Lord, throughout the earth

Music – With Verdure clad the fields appear.  Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

With Verdure clad the fields appear
Delightful to the ravish’d sense.
By flowers sweet and gay
adorned in charming sight.
The fragrant herbs give forth their scent,
here shoots the healing plant.
With copious fruit the spreading boughs are hung;
in leafy arches twine the shady groves;
o’er lofty hills majestic forests rise

 Matthew 7, v24-27

Hymn 191: Do not be afraid

Our response to climate change, Jimmy Hudson

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World, Stewart Lowe

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Hymn 167: Guide me O thou great Jehovah

Benediction

Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

Opening the Church – The church building and garden are open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

Project Ecuador – Over the last three Sundays we have been supporting this project by retiring offerings. Our donations will help to re – equip the local high school after all the equipment was stolen when the school was closed because of the pandemic.
We raised a total of £404. Many thanks to all who contributed.

Kirk Session Meeting – The Session will meet on Wednesday 8 September 2021 at 19:30 in the Session Room.

Climate Change Banner – One of the many Church of Scotland ideas to support the world climate change conference in Glasgow is for congregations to design and make patches from recycled materials which will be sewn together into banners which will be displayed on the outside of New College on the Mound. If you are interested in helping to do this, please contact Beryl Curlett.

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

“It is sometimes said of a person: ‘They can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk?’ When we hear it said, we know exactly what it means: Can that person translate their words into action? It is a question that could easily be asked on any number of occasions as we hear statements made by others. However, the challenge we face as those who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ is to ask the question of ourselves, rather than of others: Can we walk the walk?

“The Letter of James sums this up when it urges us to ‘be doers of the word, and not merely hearers’. (James 1: 22)
“The translation into action of the word we hear proclaimed in the name of the living Word; the Lord Jesus Christ, is the challenge we face on a daily basis. We are all too conscious of the occasions when we have failed to translate our words into action. Equally, we are conscious of the One who embodies what it is to ‘walk the walk’.
“As we walk with the living Word, we will better live out the call to ‘walk the walk’.”

We pray:

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your living Word has come amongst us
And embodies what it is to walk in the light of Your presence:
Grant to us a renewed sense of the presence of Your living Word.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your living Word comes to us full of grace and truth
And speaks to us even in the shadows and the dark places:
Grant to us that we may hear the word spoken to us today.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your living Word comes to offer forgiveness to those who stumble
And who fall short of the glory of God:
Grant to us forgiveness and the opportunity to begin again.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your living Word is for us the way, the truth and the life
And the One who calls us to be followers of the Way:
Grant to us that may walk the walk to which we are called in our daily lives.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome & Intimations

Call to Worship – (from Psalm 84)

How lovely is the house of the Lord!
We sing for joy to the living God
Happy are those who live in the Lord’s house
The Lord is our sun and our shield 
The Lord gives all good things
Happy are those who trust in Him.

Hymn 112 God, whose almighty word

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer
                                                           
First Thought 

Scriptures: Ephesians 6: 10-20 and John 6: 56-69  Reader, Linda McKee

Sermon – Standing Firm

Hymn 565 My life flows on in endless song

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Hymn 535 Who would true valour see

Benediction

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

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.
Next Sunday, 29 August, the service will be led by members of the congregation.

Opening the Church -The church building and garden are open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

Project Ecuador – There is a place for donations to be made on leaving the service to support this project which sponsors children’s education.   During the pandemic, children had to stay at home and their high school was unoccupied. Everything has been stolen – from computers to light bulbs-  and the teachers have asked for donations to help to re – equip the school.
Today is the last opportunity to donate to this. The total raised by us so far is £334. Many thanks to all who have contributed

Message from Betty Mackenzie – May I say a very warm “thank you” to all those kind friends in North Leith who remembered my birthday last week. I got a card and a lovely bunch of flowers from the Church. I also got many other lovely cards and good wishes from many of you and this is the easiest way thank you all. It is nice to know I am not forgotten after all this time.
My love and best wishes to you all.    

Betty

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

“To whom do we turn to find the answers to the many difficult questions that now confront us? The questions of the day are many and there are seldom easy answers to be found. In part, the challenge we face is how to live with the difficult questions whilst continuing to seek honest answers.
“In the Gospel of John, Jesus is recorded as having been asked difficult questions to which He then gave honest answers. The consequence of these answers is that some of those who had previously followed Him began to turn back. In turn, Jesus asks His twelve closest disciples if they also wish ‘to go away’. With characteristic boldness, Peter answers: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life?” (John 6: 68) In following Jesus, we soon discover that many of the difficult questions still remain.
“In continuing to follow Jesus, we recognise by faith that He is the One through whom God reconciles the difficult questions and continues to offer to us the gift of life.”

We pray:

Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to You
With the questions of the day.
We come that we might find One who will listen
And who will embrace our concerns.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to You
To seek answers to the questions of life
And we come in the company of others.
Grant that we may hear You speak amidst the clamour of the day.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to You
With the hard questions
And those that defy our attempts to resolve.
Grant us grace to live with the hard questions at this time.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Who reconciles all things through Christ,
We come to You
For You have the words of eternal life.
Grant us grace to believe
And to know that You are the Holy One of God.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship (from Psalm 111)
Come and Praise the Lord!
We thank the Lord together with our whole hearts.
We delight in the work of the Lord. 
The Lord is full of honour and majesty.
The Lord is gracious and merciful.
The Lord feeds his people and keeps his promises.
The Lord is holy and does wonderful things.
We can trust in the way of the Lord forever.
Praise the Lord!

Hymn 132 Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 599 Holy Spirit, hear us

Scriptures: Ephesians 5: 15-20 and John 6: 51-58 – Eileen and KedisonNjotuz

Sermon – The Gift of Time

Hymn 641 Seek ye first the kingdom of God

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 

Lord of Wisdom,
Guide us to life

Hymn 465 Be my Vision, O Lord of my heart

Benediction

Closing Voluntary – Andantino.  Harold  E  Drake (1888-1976)

INTIMATIONS

Opening the Church – The church building and garden are open to all on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10 am and 12 noon. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

Project Ecuador – There is a place for donations to be made on leaving the service to support this project which sponsors children’s education.   During the pandemic, children had to stay at home and their high school was unoccupied. Everything has been stolen – from computers to light bulbs-  and the teachers have asked for donations to help to re – equip the school.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (from Psalm 34: 1-8)

Bless the Lord at all times,
We continually praise the Lord.
Our souls boast in the Lord,
Let the humble hear and be glad.
Let us magnify the Lord,
Let us exalt his name together.
We seek the Lord and he answers us,
The Lord delivers us from all our fears.

Hymn 202 Stand up and bless the Lord

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer
                                                           
First Thought

Hymn 606 Lord, you sometimes speak in wonders

Scriptures:   1 Kings 19: 4-8 and John 6: 35, 41-51 – Jimmy Hudson

Sermon – Strength for the Journey

Hymn 577 Christ be beside me

Doxology – spoken together
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, praise be done;
may Christ the Lord upon us pour
the Spirit’s gift for evermore.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World 

Lord of Life,
Hear our prayer

Hymn 167 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah

Benediction

Closing Voluntary – Communion.  Louis Neidermeyer (1802-1861)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – Services continue at 11 am. Please remember that restrictions are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.

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
Sunday prayers continue across the Church of Scotland | The Church of Scotland

“Beware of Imitations!” We are, no doubt, aware of the saying and the implication that we should steer clear of that which is a copy of the real thing. Indeed, in many cases that is wise advice as certain imitations are but a pale shadow of the real thing. On the other hand, we see how a child learns by example and by imitating the behaviour of others. If the example is a good one, the behaviour that follows as a result of imitation will likewise be good.
In the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians, we are urged to become imitators of the good. Indeed, we are urged to ‘be imitators of God’. As those who, by the grace of God, have received the gift and seal of the Holy Spirit, we are called to ‘live in love, as Christ loved us’. As we do so, we become ‘imitators of God’ by the way in which we forgive others, ‘as God in Christ has forgiven’ us. (Ephesians 4: 25-5:2)

We pray:

Gracious God,
In Christ you offer to us forgiveness
And you seal us by your Spirit.
Grant to us that we might become
True imitators of the way of love revealed in Christ
And so represent you to the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,
In Christ you offer to us forgiveness
And you seal us by your Spirit.
Grant us strength
To put aside all that does not reflect your life
And to learn the ways of kindness and forgiveness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,
In Christ you offer to us forgiveness
And you seal us by your Spirit.
Grant us wisdom
To always build up that which is good
And to bring healing in a broken and divided world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,
In Christ you offer to us forgiveness
And you seal us by your Spirit.
Grant us integrity
To always speak the truth
And to offer words that are gracious to those who hear.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious God,
In Christ you offer to us forgiveness
And you seal us by your Spirit.
Grant to us that, at the last,
We have become true imitators of the way of love revealed in Christ
And so represented you to the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

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.