Sadly, this church is now closed for worship. From Easter Sunday please join us at North and South Leith Parish Church in the Kirkgate for Sunday worship at 11am
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us – so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Hymn 598 Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire
Prayer of Approach and the Lord’s Prayer (said by all)
First thought
Hymn 594 Come, Holy Spirit, come! – don’t have copyright for this hymn
Scripture Readings: Reader: Eileen and Kedison Njotu
Old Testament: Psalm 104, v24-34 New Testament: Acts 2, v1-21
Sermon
Hymn 608 Spirit of truth and grace – don’t have copyright for this hymn
Spoken Doxology
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.
Dedication of the Offering
Prayers for the World
HYMN 561 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Benediction and Threefold Amen
National Anthem
Closing Voluntary – March from “The Occasional Oratorio “. GF Handel (1685-1759)
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services – We are pleased to welcome Rev Dr Jessie Fubara-Manuel to lead our worship today. Next Sunday, 12 June, as part of Leith Festival, we are all invited to join in the ecumenical service at St Mary’s Star of the Sea at 11:30 (no service at North Leith that day). We look forward to worshipping together as Christ’s body in Leith and welcome all those who wish to join us.
Leith Churches Together Lunchtime service – The next lunchtime service takes place this Thursday, 9 June, in South Leith Halls at 1pm. All welcome. Remember to bring your own food for lunch after the service.
Songs of Praise Songs of Praise is coming to Canongate Kirk for a music recording of hymns on Friday 10th June, 18:30-21:30. To book your FREE tickets please contact SOPCongregations@avantimedia.tv or call 07734 030 888.
We are pleased to welcome Rev Iain May and Tim Linford to lead our worship today. Ebenezer UF church in Bangor Road will be resuming their annual Songs of Praise service for Christian Aid this evening at 6:30. All welcome.
Leith Churches Together Lunchtime service: The next lunchtime service is due to take place on Thursday 9 June at South Leith at 1pm. All welcome. Remember to bring your own food for lunch after the service.
On Sunday 12 June, as part of Leith Festival, we are all invited to join in the ecumenical service at St Mary’s Star of the Sea at 11:30 (no service at North Leith that day).
Leith Festival Gala Day: To let you know, it has not proved possible to have sufficient volunteers to organise a tea-tent on Saturday 11 June. The Foodbank, however, will have a stall, as will some individual churches.
‘On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.’ (Revelation 22:2)
Let us come to the river and be like trees planted by streams of water, putting our roots down deep into God’s word, bearing good fruit that will last not withering from fatigue, stretching out to receive and be a source of healing. Amen.
Hymn 124 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
Opening prayer
First thought
Hymn 685 For everyone born, a place at the table
Scripture Readings:Reader: Shirley Hopkins
Exodus 16: 1-5, 27-32 Matthew 7: 7-12 John 6: 25-39
Reflection
Hymn 543 Longing for light, we wait in darkness
Spoken Doxology
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, be glory, as it was, and is, and shall be evermore.
Prayer of Dedication of Offering and Prayers for the World (Tim Bell)
Hymn 167 Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
Benediction and Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services: We are pleased to have Jimmy Hudson leading our worship today. The service marks the beginning of Christian Aid week and is followed by a bread & cheese lunch in the hall in aid of Christian Aid. All are welcome to stay for the lunch. We are also pleased to welcome back Graeme Brownlee at the organ.
Next week, Sunday 22 May, will be the next joint service with Newhaven and South Leith congregations and will take place at Newhaven church at 10:30.
Coffee Morning: Saturday 28 May, 10am to 12noon in the Hall. Cost £2.50 per person. There will also be a One World stall – the first for a while so remember your shopping bag! All welcome – please come and enjoy a relaxed chat with old and new friends; members from the Newhaven and South Leith churches will also be invited.
Leith Festival:- We are pleased to note that the Leith Festival returns this year and Leith Churches Together is holding the joint ecumenical service on Sunday 12 June at 11:30am in St Mary’s Star of the Sea church.
The possibility of organising the tea-tent at the Gala Day the day before, Saturday 11 June, is being considered. This will depend on whether there are enough volunteers. If you are able to help, please speak to Michelle Doig.
In Zimbabwe, the climate crisis is causing aching hunger for families like Jessica’s. She shares her heartbreak: ‘My children crave a decent meal, but I can’t provide. It pains me to send them to bed hungry’. Drought has robbed Jessica of the power to provide for her children. Please help families like Jessica’s by donating to Christian Aid this week.
The world belongs to God The earth and all its people How good it is, how wonderful To live together in unity Love and faith come together Justice and peace join hands If Christ’s disciples keep silent These stones would shout aloud Open our lips O God And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
HYMN 15 (Psalm 23) The Lord’s my Shepherd (Orlington)
Prayer of Approach to God
First thoughts
HYMN 336 Christ be our Light (Highland Cathedral)
Scripture Readings: Psalm 23 and John 10: 22-30 Reader: Jenny Martin
Message
HYMN 356 Meekness and majesty
Spoken Doxology (all stand)
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, be glory, as it was, and is, and shall be evermore.
Prayer of Dedication of Offering
Prayers of Intercession (all sit)
HYMN 167 Guide me O thou great Jehovah
Benediction and Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary – Prelude in A minor. JS Bach (1685-1750)
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services: We welcome John Hodge, Session Clerk at Newhaven church, to lead our worship today. Next Sunday, 15 May, Jimmy Hudson will lead worship. The service will mark the beginning of Christian Aid week and be followed by a bread & cheese lunch in the hall in aid of Christian Aid. It would be helpful to know in advance approximately how many people are coming for the lunch. You can add your name to the sheet on the table on the way out or you can let Margot Hudson know by email. If you make a last minute decision on the 15th May, please come along. We will be very happy to see you. hudsonz@blueyonder.co.uk
Sunday 22 May will be the next joint service, and will be at Newhaven church.
Towards Our New Parish: We have a new website which contains information about the plans for our new proposed parish of Newhaven, North Leith and South Leith. Regular Steering Group updates will be found there. Please visit it https://towardsournewparish.com (It can also be accessed from our North Leith website https://northleithparishchurch.co.uk ) If you do not have internet access, a paper copy of the April update is available.
Session meeting: The Session will meet on Wednesday 11 May at 7:30pm in the Session House.
Leith Churches Together lunch time service: The next service will be on Thursday 12 May at 1pm in Pilrig St Paul’s church. All welcome. Remember to bring your own food for lunch.
Coffee Morning: Saturday 28 May, 10am to 12noon in the Hall. Cost £2.50 per person. There will also be a One World stall – the first for a while so remember your shopping bag! All welcome – please come and enjoy a relaxed chat with old and new friends; members from the Newhaven and South Leith churches will also be invited.
Sing praise to the LORD, O you, his faithful ones, AND GIVE THANKS TO HIS HOLY NAME For his anger is but for a moment, HIS FAVOUR IS FOR A LIFETIME. Weeping may linger for the night, BUT JOY COMES WITH THE MORNING. Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me. O LORD, BE MY HELPER. My soul will praise you and not be silent O LORD, MY GOD, I WILL GIVE THANKS TO YOU FOR EVER!
HYMN 172 Sing for God’s glory – don’t have copyright for this hymn
Prayer of Approach and the Lord’s Prayer
First thoughts
HYMN 550 As the deer pants for the water
Readings: Psalm 30 and St John’s Gospel Ch. 21: v1-19 – Annie Addison
Sermon
HYMN 532 Lord, you have come to the seashore – don’t have copyright for this hymn
Spoken Doxology
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the God whom we adore, be glory, as it was, and is, and shall be evermore.
Dedication of the Offering
Prayers for the World Kyrie Eleison (x3)
HYMN 458 At the name of Jesus
Benediction and Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary: Worthy is the Lamb. The Messiah. GF Handel (1685-1759)
Picture: Duccio, di Buoninsegna, -1319? Jesus Appears on Lake Tiberias, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
INTIMATIONS
Services: We welcome Jennifer Booth and Tim Linford from South Leith church to lead our worship today. Next Sunday, 8 May, John Hodge will lead our worship.
The following week, on Sunday 15 May, we will have a service to mark the beginning of Christian Aid week followed by a bread & cheese lunch in the hall in aid of Christian Aid. Please speak to Jimmy Hudson if you can deliver CA donation (delivery only) envelopes in a part of our parish. It would be helpful to know in advance approximately how many people are coming for the lunch. You can let Margot Hudson know at church or by email. However, if you make a last minute decision on the 15th May, please come along. We will be very happy to see you. hudsonz@blueyonder.co.uk
Towards Our New Parish: We have a new website which contains information about the plans for our new proposed parish of Newhaven, North Leith and South Leith. Regular Steering Group updates will be found there. Please visit it at https://towardsournewparish.com (It can also be accessed from our North Leith website https://northleithparishchurch.co.uk )
Session meeting: The Session will meet on Wednesday 11 May at 7:30pm in the Session House.
Leith Churches Together lunch time service: The next service will be on Thursday 12 May at 1pm at Pilrig St Paul’s church. All welcome. Remember to bring your own food for lunch.
The world belongs to God THE EARTH AND ALL IT’S PEOPLE How good and lovely it is TO LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY Love and faith come together JUSTICE AND PEACE JOIN HANDS If the Lord’s disciples keep silent THESE STONES WOULD SHOUT ALOUD God, open our lips AND OUR MOUTHS SHALL PROCLAIM YOUR PRAISE
Hymn 512 To God be the glory
1 To God be the glory, great things he has done! So loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice! Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory! Great things he has done!
2 O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; for every offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
3 Great things he has taught us, great things he has done, and great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son: but purer, and higher, and greater will be our joy and our wonder, when Jesus we see.
Prayer of Approach ending with the Lord’s Prayer
First Thought Tim Linford
Hymn 380 There is a green hill far away
1 There is a green hill far away, outside a city wall, where the dear Lord was crucified, who died to save us all.
2 We may not know, we cannot tell what pains he had to bear; but we believe it was for us he hung and suffered there.
3 He died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good, that we might go at last to heaven, saved by his precious blood.
4 There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin; he only could unlock the gate of heaven, and let us in.
5 Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved, and we must love him too, and trust in his redeeming blood, and try his works to do.
Scripture Readings: Psalm 126 and John 12: 1-8 – Diane Ratcliffe
Sermon Tim Linford
Hymn 392 When I survey the wondrous cross
1 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God; all the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
3 See! from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down; did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small; love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
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
Christ of the cross, we come to you
For you alone can make us whole
Hymn 159 Lord for the years
1 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided, Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.
2 Lord, for that word, the Word of life which fires us, speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze, teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us: Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.
3 Lord, for our land, in this our generation, spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care; for young and old, for commonwealth and nation, Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.
4 Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him, loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain; hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him: Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.
5 Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us, self on the cross and Christ upon the throne; past put behind us, for the future take us, Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.
Benediction Threefold Amen
Closing Voluntary
Picture ‘Anointed’, Pittman, Lauren Wright from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN
INTIMATIONS
Sunday Services – We welcome the Rev. Jennifer Booth and Tim Linford from South Leith who are leading our service today. We also welcome Graeme Brownlee who is at the organ today.
Next Sunday, 10 April, our worship will be led by Alastair Sutherland from Newhaven. The service on Easter Sunday, 17 April, will be a joint one and take place in Starbank Park at 10:30.
Annual Congregational Meeting – Please stay for tea/coffee and the annual meeting today after the service. Copies of the Annual Report & Accounts and the minutes of last year’s Annual Meeting are available in the church.
Church Magazine – Copies of the latest magazine are available today for distributors and others who do not get it electronically.
Sharing with other churches: Daily Prayer group: If you would like to join a local churches WhatsApp mobile phone group, organised by Rev John Tait, to receive a short daily prayer, please speak to Annie or Anne. Monthly Prayer Diary: If you would like to receive a monthly prayer list, compiled by Newhaven Church, please speak to Annie or Anne. Weekly Bible Study: If you are interested in joining a Bible Study meeting organised by Newhaven and held on Wednesday evenings by Zoom please speak to Anne or Jimmy.
A prayer for Passion Sunday 3 April from Christian Aid’s Prayers for Ukraine
God of all peoples and nations, Who created all things alive and breathing, United and whole, Show us the way of peace that is Your overwhelming presence. We hold before you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia, Every child and every adult. We long for the time When weapons of war are beaten into ploughshares When nations no longer lift up sword against nation. We cry out to you for peace; Protect those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones Be with those who are bereaved. Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression And fill leaders with the wisdom that leads to peace. Kindle again in us a love of our neighbour, And a passion for justice to prevail and a renewed recognition that we all play a part in peace. Creator of all hear our prayer And bring us peace. Make us whole. Amen
