Category: Online Worship

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Air in B flat.  Eric H Thiman (1900-1975)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship
Oh, Christ, carpenter of Galilee,
We come to be shaped into instruments of your peace.
As you once called disciples at the seashore,
may we dare to follow you into the various seas of our world.
Make us fishers of men and women.
Point out your footsteps today that we can follow the right ways.
Teach us patience and wisdom in love.
Remake us in a nearer image of your love.
Help the church mend her torn nets
that she can really bring peace on earth and goodwill to all people.
Plant in our hearts a vision of your kingdom.
Hasten the day when all the world can rejoice to breakfast by the seashore with you the risen Lord.

Hymn 63 All people that on earth do dwell

1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.

2 Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

3 Oh, enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto:
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

4 For why? the Lord our God is good,
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 532 Lord, you have come to the seashore – we don’t have copyright for this hymn

 Scriptures:  Psalm 107: 23-32 and Matthew 4: 18-25 – Beryl Curlett

Sermon

Hymn 509 Jesus calls us!  O’er the tumult

Doxology – spoken together
Glory to God the Father,
the unbegotten One;
all honour be to Jesus,
his sole-begotten Son;
and to the Holy Spirit –
the perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer,
‘Amen, so let it be’

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayer of intercession

Hymn 543 Longing for light we wait in darkness – we don’t have copyright for this hymn

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Hymn 786 May the God of peace go with us – we don’t have copyright for this hymn

Closing Voluntary – Prelude in D.   James Anderson.  (1853-1945)

INTIMATIONS

Services – We are pleased to welcome back Rev Ron Smith to lead our worship this morning.
Next Sunday, 30 January, we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion with the service conducted by Rev Dr Martin Scott.
All welcome. We also look forward then to resuming refreshments after the service, at the back of the church.
From the Church of Scotland website:

Prayer for the week of 16 January 2022

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland

Creator of light,
illumine our path by the light of
Christ who moves before us and
leads us.
May he be a beacon for our
pilgrimage.
Enlighten us and dwell within us.
Guide us to discover a manger in our
hearts where a great light
still shines.

We thank you for the gift of that
unfading Star, Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Saviour.
Heal our divisions and draw us
closer to the Light that we may
find our unity in him.
Amen.

Unfortunately due to technical difficulties there is no recording of our worship

Minister: Rev. Douglas Paterson
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary
Adagio from first organ concerto.  Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1845)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

Great is your love, O God
In you we put our trust
We are sustained by your love
We are nourished by the Bread of Heaven
We are refreshed with the Water of Life
Great is your Love O God
Receive our thanks and praise

Hymn 125 Lord of all being, throned afar

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Thought for the Day

Hymn 252 As a fire is meant for burning – we don’t have copyright for this hymn

Scripture Readings:  Reader:  Jimmy Hudson

Psalm 36: 5-9

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast in the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

John 2: 1-11
Jesus changes water into wine

 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no more wine.’

⁴ ‘Woman, why do you involve me?’ Jesus replied. ‘My hour has not yet come.’
⁵ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’
⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from eighty to a hundred and twenty litres.
⁷ Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’; so they filled them to the brim.
⁸ Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’ They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realise where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.’
¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Hymn 336 Christ is our light!

Address

Hymn 700 As man and woman we were made

Doxology –spoken together
All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to the eternal Three in One.

Prayers for the World

Hymn 622 We sing a love that sets all people free

Blessing
May God keep us safe each and every day
May Jesus be our constant companion along life’s way
May the Spirit be our guide in all we do and say
So may we always know
the blessing of God the Three in One

Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Fughetta in F.  Georg P. Telemann (1681-1767)

Intimations

Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Douglas Paterson to lead our worship this morning.
Next Sunday, 23 January, we welcome back Rev Ron Smith to take the service.

Kirk Session – The Session will meet online this coming Wednesday evening, (19 January) at 7:30pm.

Church family: The congregation will be sad to hear that our former member Tom Wood died on 3 January at the age of 97. The funeral took place at Warriston Crematorium on Friday (14/01). Our thoughts and prayers are with Margaret and the family.

A prayer of adoration from the Church of Scotland website

Our loving God,
like the Psalmist, we have entered your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise. This is the day that You have made; we rejoice and are glad in it.
For You O Lord, are a good God and Your love endures for ever,
Your faithfulness continues through all generations.
On this Baptism of the Lord’s Sunday,
we recognise our connectedness with You, and with one another.
We praise You, Almighty God, for You establish the times and seasons.
This is a new month, a new year; it is a new beginning,
and You are still God in charge of Your world.
Blessed be Your holy name for ever and ever
through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

Joint Epiphany Service link https://fb.watch/aqUQUZZlC5/

There is no recording of this mornings worship

Second Sunday after Christmas

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Pastoral Symphony from the Messiah GF Handel (1685-1759)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship
Light looked down and saw darkness
I will go there said Light
Peace looked down and saw war
I will go there said Peace
Love looked down and saw hate
I will go there said Love.
So He, the Lord of Light, the Prince of Peace, the King of Love
Came down and crept in beside us.

Hymn 159 Lord for the years your love has kept and guided

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 318 Lord, you were rich beyond all splendour

Scripture Readings:  Reader:  Gerry O’Neil

Isaiah 60: 1-5 – The Glory of Zion

‘Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. ² See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. ³ Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

⁴ ‘Lift up your eyes and look about you: all assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
⁵ Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

John 1: 1-5, 14-18 –The Word became flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵ (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, ‘This is the one I spoke about when I said, “He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.”’) ¹⁶ Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Sermon

Hymn 331 Unto us a boy is born

Doxology –spoken together
Glory to God the Father,
the unbegotten One;
all honour be to Jesus,
his sole-begotten Son;
and to the Holy Spirit –
the perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer,
‘Amen, so let it be.’

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayer of intercession

Hymn 320 Joy to the world

Benediction 

Closing Voluntary – Trumpet Voluntary.  Henry Purcell. (1659-1695)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We welcome back the Rev. Ron Smith who is taking our service today.
Next Sunday, 9 January is the joint Epiphany Service at Pilrig St. Paul’s Church.

First Sunday after Christmas

Minister: Rev. Russell McLarty
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary
Jesu joy of man’s desiring  JS Bach (1685-1750)

Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
Hymn 306  O come, all ye faithful

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

Lighting the Christmas Day Candle

Hymn 282 Christmas is coming

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2: 1-21  – Stewart Lowe

The birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’
¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Hymn 320 Joy to the world

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
let earth receive her King;
let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

2 Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns!
let all their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.

A Story for Christmas

Hymn 300 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy

1 The Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
the Virgin Mary had a baby boy,
and they say that his name is Jesus.

He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.
O yes, believer! O yes, believer!
He come from the glory,
He come from the glorious kingdom.

2 The angels sang when the baby was born,
the angels sang when the baby was born,
the angels sang when the baby was born
and they sang that his name is Jesus.

3 The shepherds came where the baby was born,
the shepherds came where the baby was born,
the shepherds came where the baby was born,
and they say that his name is Jesus

Doxology –spoken together

‘All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
good will is shown from heaven above
and never more shall cease.’

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 301 Hark the Herald Angels

1 Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King”
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations rise
join the triumph of the skies,
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the new-born King’.

2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the Incarnate Deity,
pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel!

3 Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth:

Benediction 
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – And the Glory of the Lord –  from the Messiah   GF Handel (1685-1759)

Link to our live recording on facebook https://fb.watch/a886Lo55K4/

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – We welcome Rev Russell McLarty, our Interim Moderator, to take our service today, and we wish him well for his retirement.
Next Sunday, 2 January 2022, Rev Ron Smith, will lead our worship.

Christmas Appeal: This year’s Christmas Appeal is for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December. There is a retiring offering today for the appeal.
Please use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid. Cheques should be made payable to North Leith Parish Church. If you wish to use online banking please put ‘Christmas’ in the reference field.

Fresh Start is also currently looking for donations of curtains and small electrical items – kettles, toasters, irons and small table lamps.

Daily Prayer group: if you would like to join a local churches WhatsApp mobile phone group to receive a short daily prayer please speak to Annie or Anne.

A prayer from the Church of Scotland website:

Loving God,
we remember that from the very start,
the Good News of Jesus was not just for a select few,
but for all.

You were born and grew and lived on this earth.
Help us in the heights and depths of our lives,
to not only know where to look for You,
but to recognise You in our midst.

Help us to look into the difficult places of our lives,
and to know You present with us.

Help us to recognise You in all people,
welcoming, including and caring for all.

Help us to think and act beyond ourselves,
loving Your creation and making choices that are unselfish, generous
and compassionate toward all living things.

In our praying and singing,
speaking and listening,
giving and receiving,
may You be honoured and glorified,
and all people be dignified and acknowledged as Yours.

Amen

Fourth Sunday in Advent
Service of Lessons and Carols

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

Opening Voluntary
A Medley of Christmas Carols

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship
(Micah 5, Luke 1)

God has done great things for us!
God’s love is heralded in the promise of Christ.
Holy is God’s name!
God’s promises are fulfilled in the coming of Christ.
God’s mercy extends from generation to generation.
God’s salvation is offered in the gift of Christ.

ALL: The Lord blesses the generations. Holy is His name.

First Readings:  Isaiah 9: 6-7 & Isaiah 11: 6-9
The prophet foretells a new order                             Beryl Curlett

Carol 24:   O Come O come Emmanuel

Prayer of approach                

Lighting the Advent Candle (remain seated)

ALL: ‘Christmas is coming!’,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.

The first is for God’s promise
to put the wrong things right,
and bring to earth’s darkness
the hope of love and light.

The second for the prophets,
who said that Christ would come
with good news for many
and angry words for some.

The third is for the Baptist,
who cried ‘Prepare the way.
Be ready for Jesus
today and every day’.

The fourth is for the Virgin,
who mothered God’s own Son
and sang how God’s justice
was meant for everyone.

All: ‘Christmas is coming!’,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.

Second Reading:   Luke 1: 26-38  The Birth of Jesus Foretold –                                                                                       Annie Addison

Carol 17:  Of the Father’s love begotten

Third Reading:  Luke 2: 1-7 The Birth of Jesus         Jenny Martin

Carol 3:  O little town of Bethlehem

Fourth Reading:  Luke 2: 8-20 The shepherds and the angels                                                                                                  Lucy Mackenzie

Carol 25:  See Him lying on a bed of straw

Fifth Reading:  Matthew 2: 1-12 The Magi Visit the Messiah                                                                                                   Linda Mckee

A Christmas story        Tim

Carol 2:  It came upon the midnight clear

Christmas Appeal, Fresh Start Cookers at Christmas      

Sixth Reading:  John 1: 1-14 The Word Became Flesh
                                                                                       Margot Hudson

Carol 10:  Angels from the realms of glory

Doxology – spoken together

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures here below;
praise God, the Trinity of love,
before, beneath, around, above.

Prayer of Dedication of the offerings

Prayer of intercession
Leader: Lord Jesus
All: May your love bring light

Carol 15:  Love came down at Christmas

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary
We wish you a Merry Christmas
Arranged by Arthur Warrell (1888-1939)

Link to our live recording on facebook https://fb.watch/a88hG8zHdz/

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services – Thanks to Tim Bell and Jimmy Hudson who have put together today’s service of Lessons and Carols, to Brian Wilson from Fresh Start, and to all who have taken part, not forgetting yourself!
Next Sunday, 26 December, Rev Russell McLarty, our retiring Interim Moderator, will lead our worship.

Christmas Appeal: This year’s Christmas Appeal is for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December.
Today and next Sunday there is a retiring offering. Please use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid. Cheques should be made payable to North Leith Parish Church. If you wish to use online banking please put ‘Christmas’ in the reference field.
Many thanks to those who have already contributed.

Fresh Start is also currently looking for donations of curtains and small electrical items – kettles, toasters, irons and small table lamps.

Daily Prayer group: if you would like to join a local churches WhatsApp mobile phone group to receive a short daily prayer please speak to Annie or Anne.

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

Unfortunately there will be no recording of the Worship today.

Third Sunday in Advent

Minister: Rev. Mark Foster
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Opening Voluntary – Alma Virgo.  Johann N Hummel (1778-1837)

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

Hymn 474 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

Lighting the Advent Candle

Hymn 282 Christmas is coming

Scripture Readings:  Reader: Gerry O’Neil

1 Samuel 2: 1-10

Then Hannah prayed and said:
‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
² ‘There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you;
    there is no Rock like our God.
³ ‘Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
⁴ ‘The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.  ⁵ Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more.
She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
⁶ ‘The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. ⁷ The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.  ⁸ He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and makes them inherit a throne of honour. ‘For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them he has set the world. ⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. ‘It is not by strength that one prevails; ¹⁰  those who oppose the  Lord will be broken.  The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.  ‘He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.’

Luke 1: 39-55
Mary visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’

Mary’s Song
⁴⁶ And Mary said:
‘My soul glorifies the Lord ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me –holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants for ever, just as he promised our ancestors.

Sermon

Hymn 286 Tell out my soul

Doxology –spoken together

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures here below;
praise God, the Trinity of love,
before, beneath, around, above.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 295 Who would think that what was needed

Benediction
Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Gloria   Johann A Andre (1775-1842)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services: We are pleased to welcome back Rev Mark Foster, minister at Pilrig St Paul’s church, to take our service today.
Next Sunday, 19 December, will be a service of Lessons and Carols and will be led by members of the congregation.

The Christmas Magazine is now available on the website
https://northleithparishchurch.co.uk/december-2021
Printed copies are in the church for those who deliver, and for those who do not have internet access.

Christmas gifts for The Citadel children and families – many thanks to those who have brought gifts which will go to the Citadel this week.

Christmas Appeal: This year’s Christmas Appeal is for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December. Please put them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Appeal’; use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid. Cheques should be made payable to North Leith Parish Church. If you wish to use online banking please put ‘Christmas’ in the reference field.

Fresh Start is also currently looking for donations of curtains and small electrical items – kettles, toasters, irons and small table lamps.

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

Also from the CoS website:

Prayer of the Week 6 – 12 December 2021

Look, listen, wait, get ready –
for I bring you a hand-full of stories,
of angels and messages,
of Elizabeth and Mary,
of dreams and visions.
God of my looking,
help me look well for Your coming.

Look, listen, wait, get ready –
for I bring you a box-full of stories,
of lights and darkness,
of lamps and pathways,
of stars and stables.
God of my listening,
help me to listen well for Your coming.

Look, listen, wait, get ready –
for I bring you a cart-full of stories,
of gifts and travellers,
of donkeys and camels,
of preciousness and anticipation.
God of my waiting,
help me to wait well for Your coming.

Look, listen, wait, get ready –
for I bring you a Life full of stories,
of mangers and babies,
of shepherds and kings,
of a Saviour and Christmas.
God of my readiness,
help me to be ready for Your coming.

(By Tom Gordon, from “A Blessing to Follow”, Wild Goose Publications)

Unfortunately there will be no recording of the Worship today.

Second Sunday in Advent

Minister: Rev. Mark Foster
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

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

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

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

Hymn 473 ‘Thy kingdom come!

Prayer of Approach, ending with Lord’s Prayer

Lighting the Advent Candle

Hymn 282 Christmas is coming

                  Scripture Readings:  Reader: Tim Bell

Malachi 3: 1-4

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

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

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

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

Sermon

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

Doxology –spoken together

All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
good will is shown from heaven above
and never more shall cease.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 472 Come, thou long-expected Jesus

Benediction
Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

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

Christmas gifts for The Citadel children and families will be collected today and next Sunday 12^th December. Suggestions are: toiletries for teenagers (boys and girls); student materials such as pens, pencils, stationery sets, pencil-cases; and for older folk boxes of chocolates: e.g. After Eights, Selection Box

Christmas cards: If you’d like to have a look at the Traidcraft (Christian Aid etc) cards please let me know and I can give you a catalogue. I can order through the One World Shop as in previous years.
Thanks, Margot Hudson

Christmas Appeal: The Kirk Session has agreed that this year’s Christmas Appeal will be for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December. Please put them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Appeal’; use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid.

Leith Churches Together – Lunch Time Service
This coming Thursday, 9^th December, 1pm at St Mary’s Star of the Sea. Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch. All welcome.

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

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

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

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

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

Advent Sunday

Service led by KAILYARD

Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Theme:  Swords into Ploughshares

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship

Hymn 253 Inspired by love and anger

Prayer of Approach and the Lord’s Prayer

Lighting of Advent Candle

Hymn 282  Christmas is coming

All: Christmas is coming!,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.

The first is for God’s promise
to put the wrong things right,
and bring to earth’s darkness
the hope of love and light

All: ‘Christmas is coming!’,
the church is glad to sing,
and let the advent candles
brightly burn in a ring.

Hymn 281 People look East

1 People, look East. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the Guest, is on the way.

2 Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there:
give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.

3 Stars, keep the watch.   When night is dim
one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East, and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.

4 Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look East and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Scripture Readings:     Isaiah 2: 1-4 and Luke 21: 25-33 : Diane Ratcliffe

Reflection – Swords and Ploughshares

Music for Reflection – A Baby Changes Everything

Hymn 277 Hark the glad sound!

1 Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long:
let every heart exult with joy
and every voice with song!

2 He comes the prisoners to relieve,
in Satan’s bondage held;
the gates of brass before him burst,
the iron fetters yield.

3 He comes the broken hearts to bind,
the bleeding souls to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.

4 The sacred year has now revolved,
accepted of the Lord,
when heaven’s high promise is fulfilled,
and Israel is restored.

5 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
thy welcome shall proclaim,
and heaven’s eternal arches ring
with thy most honoured name.

Doxology – spoken together

All glory be to God on high,
and to the earth be peace;
good will is shown from heaven above
and never more shall cease.

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering and the World

Hymn 527  Lord, make us servants of your peace

1 Lord, make us servants of your peace:
where there is hate, may we sow love;
where there is hurt, may we forgive;
where there is strife, may we make one.

2 Where all is doubt, may we sow faith;
where all is gloom, may we sow hope;
where all is night, may we sow light;
where all is tears, may we sow joy.

3 Jesus, our Lord, may we not seek
to be consoled, but to console,
nor look to understanding hearts,
but look for hearts to understand.

4 May we not look for love’s return,
but seek to love unselfishly,
for in our giving we receive,
and in forgiving are forgiven.

5 Dying, we live, and are reborn
through death’s dark night to endless day.
Lord, make us servants of your peace
to wake at last in heaven’s light.

Benediction

Threefold Amen

Closing Voluntary – Postlude, Christian H Rinck (1770-1846)

INTIMATIONS

Sunday Services: We are pleased to welcome Kailyard, the music group from South Leith church, to lead our service this morning.
Next Sunday, 5 December, Rev Mark Foster, minister at Pilrig St Paul’s church, will take our service.

Seafarers’ Christmas Gift Bags: Today is the last day for collecting donations of money or sweets for the annual Seafarers’ Christmas bags. 

Christmas Magazine: Items should be sent to the church office by this coming Tuesday morning, 30 November, at latest.

Christmas gifts for The Citadel children and families will be collected next Sunday and Sunday 12^th December. Suggestions are: toiletries for teenagers (boys and girls); student materials such as pens, pencils, stationery sets, pencil-cases; and for older folk boxes of chocolates: e.g. After Eights, Selection Box

Christmas cards: If you’d like to have a look at the Traidcraft (Christian Aid etc) cards please let me know and I can give you a catalogue. I can order through the One World Shop as in previous years. Thanks, Margot Hudson

Christmas Appeal: The Kirk Session has agreed that this year’s Christmas Appeal will be for the Fresh Start Cooker appeal. Donations will be collected till the end of December. Please put them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Appeal’; use a Gift Aid envelope if you can give by Gift Aid.

Leith Churches Together – Lunch Time Service
Thursday, 9^th December, 1pm at St Mary’s Star of the Sea.   Those attending are asked to bring their own lunch.   All welcome.

Leader: Brian Drummond
Organist: Eric Turnbull

Welcome and Intimations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer of Approach ending with Lord’s Prayer

First Thought – How would you complete these sentences?             

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

Hymn 190 Supreme in wisdom as in power

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hymn 537 We do not hope to ease our minds

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

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

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

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

Benediction
Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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