Category: Online Worship

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

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

Welcome and Intimations

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

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

Hymn 111 Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty

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

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

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

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

Prayer of Approach

Scriptures:  Reader, Jenny Martin

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

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

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

Sermon

Hymn 252 As a fire is meant for burning

  Doxology –spoken together

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

Prayers for the World

Hymn 744 Hark how the adoring hosts above

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

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

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

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

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

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Hymn 419 Thine be the glory

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

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

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

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

Benediction
Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

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

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

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

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

COP26 Life and Work Special Supplement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minister: Rev. Ron Smith
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship –  PsaIm 150

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

 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Hymn 132 Immortal, invisible, God only wise

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

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

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

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

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought

Hymn 43 O God, you are my God alone

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

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

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

Scriptures:  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luke 19: 1-10

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

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

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

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

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

Sermon

Hymn 555 Amazing Grace!

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

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

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

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

Doxology – spoken together

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

 Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Benediction
Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We pray:

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

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

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

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

Minister: Rev. Rob Mackenzie
Organist: Iain Mackinnon

• 

Opening Voluntary

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

Welcome and Intimations

Call to Worship – (from  PsaIm 104)

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

Hymn 336 Christ is our light!

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

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

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

Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer

First Thought
 

Hymn 374 From heaven you came, helpless babe

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

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

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

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

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

The request of James and John

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

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

Sermon

Hymn 502 Take my life, Lord, let it be

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

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

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

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

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

Doxology – spoken together

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

Prayer of Dedication for the Offering

Prayers for the World

Hymn 533 Will you come and follow me

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

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

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

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

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

Benediction
Threefold Amen

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

INTIMATIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We pray:

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

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

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

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

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

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.