Online service for Sunday, 29th November 2020

Prepare the way

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I want to suggest that you use the comments section for prayer requests so that members of our congregation can pray for one another, family, friends and neighbours. Please do place your prayers of intercession there too.

May God bless you and keep you. Stay safe, Wayne

Virtual Service 29 11 20

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Praise:

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
Tender to me the promise of his word;
In God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age to same;
His holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight
The hungry fed, the humble lifted high

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
To children's children and for evermore!

 picture  by Doris Alston 

Prayer:
Our great and gracious God, our loving heavenly Father, may we truly delight in your greatness. In the greatness of your Name; in the greatness of your might; in the glories of your Word. Come, Emmanuel. Make your power and presence known to each one of us this day. Adorn our lives with your graces that we may worship you with new hearts and right spirits as children together in the New Covenant.

As we enter the season of Advent may we come with a real sense of anticipation and expectation as we await the fulfilment of promise. For to us a child was born. To us a Son was given, who is the Hope of the nations and Light of the world. Shine Jesus shine into our lives. Flood us collectively with the light of your grace, love, and mercy.

Forgive us for every transgression of your law of love and for our failure to hear and heed your commands. Receive and revive us for the sake of Jesus who was born at Christmas and who lived, died, and rose again for our sake.

Help us by your enabling grace to seek first the kingdom of God and your righteousness. Help us to do your good will. Move and motivate us by the Holy Spirit to trust you with all our heart. That we might not lean upon our own understanding but in all our ways that we might acknowledge you that you in turn might make our paths straight.

Help us to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking. Strengthen your church. Be with your people and add to our number. Advance your kingdom and cause among us. Help the helpless. Heal the sick. Feed the hungry. Comfort the bereaved. Befriend the lost and lonely. Bless the merciful and peacemakers. Be with family and friends. Minister to each as they have need. Be gracious to our neighbours and our land. Continue with us and hear us for the sake of our Advocate with the Father, even Jesus, who taught us to say:

Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

Reflections

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A fun little song I wrote about an event in the Outer Hebrides that was made famous in book and film. From gloom to joy....

Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

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Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
6 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Sermon: Prepare the way!

Prayer of Intercession by

Alison Paterson

Dear Lord and Father of all mankind

Hear our words of gratitude this morning as we give thanks that we are able to meet and worship together. Our praise and thanksgiving may be silent but our hearts shout out to you.

We thank you for our health and ask for your blessing on all who work in even the humblest of roles for our well being.

We give thanks for the work of the scientists who have developed the vaccine the world is waiting for. We ask that the words of caution from our governments will be heeded and that as we enter the time of Advent the true meaning of preparation and waiting for the birth of the Christ child is what will be most important this year. This year the season of Advent Is doubly full of hope, the hope of the light of the world, your son Jesus Christ coming among us and a vaccine which will eventually let us live in a more normal way without the fear of the virus. Open our eyes and ears and hearts to the fact that we could and should and must change for the better how we treat the world you provided for us and our fellow man throughout the world.

Today we pray in solidarity with the poor of our world.

We pray for and commend the work of charities that are supporting refugees, those facing drought, those affected by the Aids Virus epidemic and those who have lost their crops to the locust swarms in Africa.
At this time when we face the Pandemic let us remember that to so many, the virus only comes on top of their struggle to survive poverty, hunger, tyranny and war. We pray for them Lord. We give thanks that through the endeavours of others we have been able to send tokens of kindness and love in shoeboxes to Eastern Europe and in our own community, our gifts to the Angel Tree. Bless these gifts, Lord; bless the donors, the recipients and the organisers.

Be with us God as we go into a Christmas very different from what we have grown to expect. Let us appreciate that we have technology to help when we cannot gather together in person. Be with us as we let go of some Christmas traditions, when we cannot hug family and friends and when we cannot sing carols together.

Forgive us our sins and renew in us love, hope and joy so that we may have a hopeful Advent and a comforting Christmas.
Amen

Praise:

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O come, O come, Emmanuel

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
who mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God draws near:
Rejoice, rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, true Wisdom from on high,
who orders all to mind and eye:
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in her ways to grow.
Rejoice, rejoice!...

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might
who long ago on Sinai's height
gave all your tribes the ancient law,
in cloud and majesty and awe:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

4 O come, true Branch of Jesse, free
your children from this tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save
to rise victorious from the grave:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

5 O come, strong Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home;
upon our journey give relief,
and close the path to pain and grief.
Rejoice, rejoice!...

6 O come, bright Daystar, come and cheer
our spirits by your advent here;
dispel the long night's lingering gloom
and pierce the shadows of the tomb:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

7 King of the Nations, come, embrace
and unify the human race;
command our sad division cease
and be for us the Prince of Peace.
Rejoice, rejoice!...

Benediction: And the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. AMEN.

Virtual Service PDF  for Sun 22 Nov 

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 for   Sunday 22  Nov

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 for Sun 15 Nov 

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