Category: Online Worship

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.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship  (From Psalm 145: 10-18)

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
He is gracious in all his deeds,
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
He raises up all who are bowed down,
The Lord is just in all his ways,
He is kind in all his doings,
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
He is near to all who call on him in truth,
We speak the praises of the Lord.

Hymn 147 All creatures of our God and King

1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing
alleluia, alleluia!
Bright brother sun with golden beam,
clear sister moon with softer gleam,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

2 Swift rushing wind, so wild and strong,
high clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, alleluia!
New-breaking dawn, in praise rejoice,
and lights of evening, find a voice:
O praise him …

3 Cool flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for your Lord to hear,
alleluia, alleluia!
Fire, with your flames so fierce and bright,
giving to all both warmth and light:
O praise him …

4 Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfolds God’s blessings on our way,
O praise him, alleluia!
All flowers and fruits that in you grow,
let them his glory also show:
O praise him …

7 Let all things their creator bless,
and worship God in humbleness,
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One:
O praise him …

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 187 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
like the wideness of the sea;
there’s a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty.

2 There is no place where earth’s sorrows
are more felt than in God’s heaven:
there is no place where earth’s failings
have such kindly judgment given.

3 For the love of God is broader
than the grasp of mortal mind;
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.

4 If our love were but more simple,
we would take him at his word;
and our lives be filled with glory
from the glory of the Lord.

Scriptures – Ephesians 3: 14-21

Hymn 600 Spirit of God, unseen as the wind

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove;
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love!

1 You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;

we read it still, needing its truth
through it God’s voice is heard

Chorus

2 Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live His way;
we need Your power, we need Your strength,
following Christ each day.
Chorus

Scriptures – John 6: 1-21

Sermon –Food for the Heart

Hymn 553 Just as I am without one plea

1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that your blood was shed for me,
and that you call us ‘Come to me’,
O Lamb of God, I come.

2 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.

3 Just as I am, you will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because your promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.

4 Just as I am – your love unknown
has broken every barrier down–
now to be yours, and yours alone
O Lamb of God, I come.

5 Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above –
O Lamb of God, I come.

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  
Lord of life,
Hear our prayer

Hymn 562 Through the love of God, our Saviour

1 Through the love of God, our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour;
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.

2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.

3  We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.

Benediction

Closing Voluntary – Et Resurrexit. WA Mozart. (1756-1791)

Picture
Tanner, Henry Ossawa, 1859-1937. Disciples See Christ Walking on the Water, 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 restrictions are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.
Katherine is off again from tomorrow and we will welcome back Rev Dr Martin Scott to lead our service next Sunday, 1^st 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.

 Our Trees Project – The Church of Scotland is inviting us to take part in a joint project with Citizen Science to survey trees on church land. The survey is in progress and will be completed by the end of July.

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

 “Within the community of which we are a part, we are called to reflect the One in whose image we are made and whose hand is open towards us.”

We pray:

Living God,
You open your hand towards us
And offer to us good gifts.
We accept your gifts with gratitude
And respond with thanks and praise.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You open your hand towards us
And offer to us the gift of life.
We acknowledge that we made in your image
And recognise your image in the life of each person upon the earth.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You open your hand towards us
And offer life to the world.
We receive your offer
As a sign of your faithfulness towards us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You open your hand towards us
And offer your gifts to all.
We resolve to share the gifts we have received
And not to close our hand towards others.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You open your hand towards us
And offer to us signs of your kingdom.
We pledge to bear witness to your enduring kingdom
And to your abundant grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister:  Martin Scott
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Opening Responses

Hymn 201 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness

Prayer of Approach and Confession(concluding with)

God in heaven,
Your name is to be honoured.
May your new community of hope
be realised on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the essentials of life,
release us from our wrongdoing
as we also release those who wrong us.
Do not test us beyond our means,
save us from all that is evil;
for you embrace justice, love and peace,
now and to the end of time.   Amen.

Scriptures: Amos 8: 11-14 and Luke 15: 1-10 – Annie Addison

Hymn 43 O God, you are my God alone

Sermon

Music for Reflection – Lord remember David.  GF Handel (1685-1759)

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Hymn 565 My life flows on in endless song

Benediction
Closing Voluntary – Et Vitam Venturi.  Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

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 Rev Dr Martin Scott to lead our service today. Katherine will be leading worship next Sunday.

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.

 Our Trees Project –The Church of Scotland is inviting us to take part in a joint project with Citizen Science to survey trees on church land. If you are interested in joining in or know someone else who may, please get in touch with Katherine or the Church Office. The survey needs to be completed by the end of July.

Prayer for this Sunday evening –Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Kirk joins in prayer ahead of restrictions easing in Scotland | The Church of Scotland

“Where do we find ourselves today? Does the light of the day still shine and does the way ahead seem clear and certain? Or, does darkness fall and the way ahead seem uncertain and hidden in the shadows? In whatever situation we find ourselves, the Psalms speak to us and the Psalms speak for us. They speak to us, and for us, in every situation of life.
“Perhaps there is nowhere that this is more evident than in the 23^rd Psalm. The resonance of the ancient, yet immediately present, words of the Psalmist can be sensed; such that even now we can hear those words speaking into the depths of who we are: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd… Even though I walk through the darkest valley… Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me.’ (Psalm 23)
“To read and to hear the words evokes a response in the very depths of our being. We are addressed by God and the Psalm offers to us words of response: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley… I fear no evil.’ ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me… and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.’ Wherever we find ourselves today, the Lord speaks to us and graciously offers us words of response.”

We pray

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us to the place of Your presence
And speak to us Your word that brings life.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us to the place of still waters
And restore our troubled souls.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us on the paths of righteousness
And deliver us from evil.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us through the valley of shadows
And bring us to the place of safety.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us to the place where the table is renewed
And the cup overflows for all.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord
And faithful Shepherd,
Lead us to the place where goodness and mercy abide
And to the house of the Lord forever.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship      (From Psalm 24)

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
The Lord has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
They will receive blessing from the Lord.

Hymn 132 Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Scriptures: Mark 6: 14-29 – Reader, Gerry O’Neil

Sermon – Bad news and good news

Hymn 253 Inspired by love and anger

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

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

Hymn 742 Rejoice in God’s saints

Benediction

Picture
Umlauf, Charles, 1911-1994. John the Baptist, 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 restrictions are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.
Katherine is on holiday for the rest of this week returning on Monday 19 July. The service next Sunday will be led by Rev Dr Martin Scott.

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.

Our Trees Project – The Church of Scotland is inviting us to take part in a joint project with Citizen Science to survey trees on church land. The purpose is to study trees in sacred spaces and to create a database.   It would be good to have a North Leith response and if you are interested in joining in or know someone else who may, please get in touch with Katherine or the Church Office. The survey needs to be completed by the end of July.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Sunday prayers continue as Kirk members grapple with ‘uncertainty of the times’ | The Church of Scotland

“What is the future shape of the society in which we live? To ask the question is to invite any number of different answers and many of the answers will reflect the uncertainty of the times.
“In all of our lives, there is perhaps a greater element of uncertainty than there has been in previous years. Each of us will respond to the challenges of our times in different ways and many will ponder the question and ask: What does the future hold?
“The Apostle Paul lived within the society of his time and offers us a vision of our place within the world. That vision is shaped by an understanding of how we share in the purpose and plan of the ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’. We share in that understanding as those who have received the ‘promised Holy Spirit’. Within this vision, we find that we are adopted as the children of God and discover our place according to the purpose and plan of God. (Ephesians 1: 3-14)

“If we cannot yet describe the future shape of our society, we know that, whatever the future holds, we live as those whose destiny is shaped by the purpose and plan of God.”

We pray:

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You adopt us as Your children
And include us within Your purposes.
May we find our place in the world and purpose for our lives
As we respond to Your gracious initiative in Christ.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You adopt us as Your children
And offer to us forgiveness.
May we know the healing power of forgiveness
And offer forgiveness according to the measure that we have been forgiven.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You adopt us as Your children
And make known Your intention
To gather together all things in heaven and earth.
May our lives on earth reflect the life of the world that is to come.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You adopt us as Your children
And make known to us the word of truth.
May we always speak according to the truth
And may our words reflect the One who came to us full of grace and truth.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You adopt us as Your children
And seal us with the promised Holy Spirit
May we rediscover our place in the world and renew the purpose of our lives
As we receive the gracious gift of Your Spirit.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome, Call to Worship and Prayer of Approach

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 123)
We lift up our eyes to the Lord,
The Lord is enthroned in the heavens,
The Lord rules the world with mercy,
We live in the service of the Lord,
The Lord’s hands protect and care for us,
We look up to the Lord, our God.

Hymn 124 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Scriptures: Ezekiel 2: 1-5 and Mark 6: 1-13

Reflection – Keeping Faith

Hymn 469 Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name!

Prayers for the World

Hymn 166 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy

Blessing

May the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us all, now and for evermore.  Amen.

Picture

Hall, Sarah. Living Cross, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville,

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – Services continue at 11 am. You are very welcome. 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.

One Church for Leith Bible Study Group – Christianity and Climate Change
Continues on Monday Evenings by Zoom 7.30 to 8.30 pm
New members are very welcome.

Leith Churches Summer Holiday Club – Jungle Adventure
Thanks to all those who contributed to the success of the Holiday Club this past week.

Church Magazine – We plan to have a magazine in July. Please send contributions to the church officenlpc-office@btconnect.com as soon as possible.

Prayer for this Sunday evening – Visit the Church of Scotland website to hear the prayer
Kirk Moderator encourages Christians to continue joining in Sunday prayer | The Church of Scotland

“At certain times in our experience we are especially conscious of our strengths and, at other times, of our weaknesses.
“In our times of perceived strength, we are confident of our capacities and abilities. In our times of perceived weakness, it is often otherwise. We might easily imagine that it is in the former situation that God is especially close to us. However, the experience of faith and of the grace of God suggests otherwise.

“The Apostle Paul discovered this in the course of his own spiritual experience and came to realise the sufficiency of the grace of God in his life. This discovery is made in the times when he senses that he is at his weakest and not in his times of perceived strength. (2 Corinthians 12: 9)
“In the spiritual journey that each one of us makes, the sufficiency of God is often known when we come to the end of our own strength and discover the ever-renewed grace of God.”

We pray:

God, whose grace is revealed,
In the One who embraces the Cross,
May we know the sufficiency of Your grace
In the times of our deepest need.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God, whose grace is revealed,
In the One who embraces the Cross,
May we walk in the company of those who suffer
And so share in the grace that You provide.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God, whose grace is revealed,
In the One who embraces the Cross,
May we experience the strength You provide
In the times of our greatest weakness.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God, whose grace is revealed,
In the One who embraces the Cross,
May our lives be renewed as we live out our response to Your grace
And so share in the community of grace.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God, whose grace is revealed,
In the One who embraces the Cross,
May Your grace, sufficient in days past,
Be sufficient in all the days that are to come.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Russell McLarty
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 121)
We lift up our eyes to the hills – from where does our help come?
It comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth:
the One who neither sleeps nor slumbers
and who keeps us from all evil.

Hymn 441 Blessing and honour and glory and power

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

Scriptures: Gospel Reading – Mark 5:21-43 – Reader, Tim Bell

Hymn 497 Almighty Father of all things that be

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15

Sermon – Our love gift

Hymn 182 Now thank we all our God

The Lord’s Supper
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord,
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes
In the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!

Jesus, Lamb of God,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
grant us peace.

Doxology from Ephesians 3: 20-21– spoken together

‘Now to him who by the power at work within us
is able to accomplish abundantly
far more than all we can ask or imagine,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations
for ever and ever. Amen.

Closing Voluntary,    Gloria.  WA Mozart (1756-1791)

Intimations

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

Opening the Church –The church building 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.

One Church for Leith Bible Study Group Christianity and Climate Change
Continues on Monday Evenings by Zoom 7.30 to 8.30 pm. New members are very welcome.

Leith Churches Summer Holiday Club – Jungle Adventure –The club meets outdoors Monday to Friday mornings this week. A number of people from our church are helping. Please remember the children and their families, the leaders and helpers in your prayers.

Church Magazine – We plan to have a magazine in July. Please send contributions to the church office nlpc-office@btconnect.com

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

“The Gospel of Mark records the story of a woman who reaches out to Jesus and does so from the depth of her suffering. She does so because she ‘had heard about Jesus’ and longed to find healing.
“The Gospel describes how a large crowd was following Jesus ‘and pressed in on him’ and it is from the midst of the crowd that the woman reaches out. In the moment that she does so, Jesus senses ‘that power had gone forth from him’. In response to his question: “Who touched me?”, the woman comes ‘in fear and trembling’ and tells ‘the whole truth’. In response, Jesus affirms that her faith has yielded wholeness and peace. (Mark 5: 21-43)
“In times of suffering, we may find ourselves worn out and uncertain as to the strength of our faith. Whether from the depths of the crowd, or in the loneliness of our isolation, Jesus invites us to reach out and experience the healing and peace of God.”
We pray:

Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to reach out to your presence revealed in Jesus.
When we are fearful,
Calm our fears and bring us safe into your presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to reach out to the One who inspires faith.
When we sense our faith ebbs low,
Renew our faith and reassure that your faithfulness abides forever.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to the place of healing.
When we are broken,
Lift us up and remake us in your image.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to the place of peace.
Where peace seems absent,
Fill the place of absence with your abiding presence.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Living God,
Move among us
And invite us to step out of the crowd.
Where we are hesitant to do so,
Reassure us that you see us and know us and accept us as we are.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Minister: Katherine Taylor
Organist: John Riley

Welcome & Intimations

Call to Worship (based on PsaIm 9)

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed
The Lord is a protector in times of trouble
We know the name of the Lord
We put our trust in the Lord
The Lord never leaves those who look for Him
We praise and worship the Lord

Hymn 161 O God, our help in ages past

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 522 The Church is wherever God’s people are praising

Scriptures: Reader – Margot Hudson
2 Corinthians 6: 1-13 and Mark 4: 35-41

Sermon – True Safety

Hymn 544 When I needed a neighbour

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 – Jimmy Hudson

Creator God,
Lead us to life

Hymn 251 I, the Lord of sea and sky

Benediction

Closing Voluntary – Improvised Toccato on ‘I, the Lord of sea and sky’

Hymns from CH4. Copied under CCLI Licence No. 186514
Picture: Peterson, Kathleen. Tempest, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.

Intimations

Sunday Services
Services continue at 11 am. You are very welcome. Please remember that restrictions are still in place; please arrive by 10:55 at the latest.
We will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion next Sunday, 27 June 2021. The service will be led by our Interim Moderator, Rev Russell McLarty, and will be followed immediately by a short congregational annual meeting.
Copies of the 2020 Annual Report & Accounts are available in the church this Sunday and next.
For anyone not able to attend, please refer to the treasurer’s update in the March church magazine and if you wish to have a copy of the report and accounts please contact the church office.

Opening the Church
The church building is open on Tuesday and Friday mornings between 10am and 12 noon to welcome anyone who would like a quiet space to be in. Please add your name to the rota in the church vestibule if you are available to help.

One Church for Leith Bible Study Group
Christianity and Climate Change
Monday Evenings by Zoom 7.30 to 8.30 pm
New members are very welcome. The Zoom link is available from Katherine KTaylor@churchofscotland.org.uk

Prayer for this Sunday evening
“‘We’re all in this together!’ When we hear such a statement, it implies that we share together in the difficulty being faced. No one is exempt and we all have to face up to the challenge that confronts us. There are times, of course, when we wonder if this is entirely true.
“Nevertheless, the last months have brought home to us the fact that, in facing up to the challenge of the pandemic, no one is exempt.
“In the Gospel of Mark, the disciples find themselves in a boat one evening with Jesus. They have left the crowds behind and are in a situation in which they might have said: ‘We’re all in this together!’ Except, Jesus is asleep even as a storm arises ‘and the waves beat into the boat’ and the boat seems set to be overwhelmed.
“The disciples are all in this together, but what about Jesus? The disciples ask him: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” In response, Jesus rebukes the wind and calls to the sea: “Peace! Be still!” He then asks the disciples: “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” It is as if he is asking them: ‘Did you think that I was not in this together with you?’ (4: 35-41)
“The challenges of these last months have left us with many questions. However, we may be sure of this: In all we face, Jesus is with us in the boat in the midst of the storm and we can say: ‘We’re all in this together!’”
We pray:

Lord of the winds and of the sea,
Be with us today
As we turn to You and listen for Your voice.
Whether in the midst of quiet or of storm,
Speak to the depths of who we are.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord of the winds and of the sea,
Be with us today
As we leave behind that which is past
And face the challenges of this day:
Speak Your word to us in this present moment.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord of the winds and of the sea,
Be with us today
As we sense the depth of the challenges we face
And fear that we shall soon be o’erwhlemed:
Speak to us in the still, small voice of calm.
Lord, in Your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord of the winds and of the sea,
Be with us today
As You have been with us
In all the days that the storm has raged:
Speak the words that calm the storm and cease the rage.
Lord, in Your mercy