The Peace of Christ be with us all Let us Worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Prayer of approach
We humble ourselves in Your living presence, holy, merciful all-knowing Father.
We rest in Your presence gracious Jesus, Saviour, Lord and Creator of all that is.
We seek Your wisdom, guidance, presence and hope, Holy Spirit, Keeper of the Church.
Three but One, perfect in all things, we approach You in the mystery of Your being, seeking to offer You our worship, thanksgiving and praise.
Come, through Your Spirit to heal, inspire and renew us. In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen
Prayer of confession
In Your perfect love You lay down Your life for us Forgive us our sins and have mercy on us
We have sinned in our thoughts and imaginations Forgive us our sins and have mercy on us
We have allowed our emotions to lead us astray Forgive us our sins and have mercy on us
We have permitted our actions to be living contradictions of Your will Forgive us our sins and have mercy on us
Receive our penitence and transform it into repentance.
Amen.
Prayer of intercession
We continue, as we have just sung, for our needy selves and our needy world. Where there is discord in our nation and beyond, help us to be light and healing.
As Jesus was bold and confident in reaching out to others in their need, help Your Church to shine, to be healing hands and voices.
For those who hurt and grieve, help us to bring comfort and hope, friendship and peace.
For those suffering in poverty whether in this land or beyond, open our hearts to everything in our power to make a difference.
Where there is division within the Church and between Churches, humble us so that we might seek reconciliation and peace. For all present in this place, who need a touch of grace from Jesus, draw us to Him in confidence.
For those situations in the world today – take a moment in silence to name the situations and people known to us where only You can make a difference, act in powerful ways.
And all this and the unspoken words of our hearts and minds, we offer in faith and expectation, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Benediction
May the mind of the Father inspire and renew us. May the Word of Life invigorate us with new faith and hope. May the Spirit breathe fresh vision into expectant hearts. And, may the grace and the mercy, the peace and the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with and within us, this day and evermore.
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.
Song All creatures of our God and King
A gathering prayer
Creator, Son and Spirit, we gather together, online or in-person to seek Your presence in our time of worship.
WE ARE HUNGRY FOR YOU
Meet us at our point of deepest need. Connect us with the needs of others. Equip us to join in your creative work. Transform us more into your likeness.
WE ARE HUNGRY FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
We gather with Janet, Jessica and Jerina and their communities in Zimbabwe May their stories make us hungry for justice and even more impatient for change.
WE ARE HUNGRY FOR YOUR JUSTICE
We gather with all of creation; with the mountains and the hills. We shall burst into song, with the trees of the field we will clap our hands.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;(B) praise him in the heights above. 2 Praise him, all his angels;(C) praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(D) 3 Praise him, sun(E) and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens(F) and you waters above the skies.(G)
5 Let them praise the name(H) of the Lord, for at his command(I) they were created, 6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree(J) that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord(K) from the earth, you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M) 8 lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,(O) 9 you mountains and all hills,(P) fruit trees and all cedars, 10 wild animals(Q) and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, 11 kings(R) of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, 12 young men and women, old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(S) for his name alone is exalted; his splendor(T) is above the earth and the heavens.(U) 14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b](V) the praise(W) of all his faithful servants,(X) of Israel, the people close to his heart.(Y)
Praise the Lord.
Prayer of confession
Good God of creation, we sing praise to you. But even as we raise our voices we know we have faltered and failed. Walking on paths that turned our hearts inward, sitting with those who scoffed at the cries of the poor, mocking those on the margins, denying the earth in her distress. Too often our leaves have withered our branches are barren. We have failed to be pruned and the axe is now poised. Poised to cut down the excesses that crucify all creation, the systems that impoverish all people, the privileges that diminish our faith. But even now it is not too late. For in the face of judgment comes the offer of grace and the hope that deadwood can spring to life Where we have failed to bear good fruit and share your abundance for the earth
GOD HAVE MERCY
When our actions and intentions have been as chaff for the winds of heaven
GOD HAVE MERCY
Forgive us. Restore us. Inspire us now to delight in your purposes, to embrace your possibilities, to inhabit your promises, to flourish as fruit for the world you so love and bring healing for all the nations. AMEN.
Prayer of lamentation
Establish the work of our hands, O God.
WE CALL TO YOU, GOD OF CREATION
faithful to us by the trees of Eden;
WE CALL TO YOU, GOD OF REDEMPTION
faithful to us on the tree of Calvary;
WE CALL TO YOU, GOD OF FULFILMENT
faithful to us from the tree of life’s healing. We are your people so answer us, O God, from the streets of your city, from your river of life, from your throne in heaven.
ANSWER US NOW
in words of power and mighty deeds. Speak to our cries of ‘how long.’ How long will the bellies of children lie empty? How long will their mothers pray in vain? How long will temperatures rise beyond record? How long will the clouds fail to give rain? How long will the crop fields turn into dust? How long will the floods cover the plain? How long will so few live with far too much? How long will so many be denied what they need? How long before the healing of nations? How long will injustice and suffering remain? But heaven, we know, this is much of our making; our scapegoats, our alibis, they all know the truth: Our pointing the finger and prayers of ‘how long’ echo back on our piety and demand us to answer
HOW LONG, HOW LONG?
How long will indifference, inequality and injustice deny compassion, healing and fullness of life? Come and come soon Lord. Let the peoples rejoice, from Eden to Calvary, from heaven to earth. Lift every voice to sing, ‘Amen!’ Establish the work of our hands.
AMEN
Song When I needed a neighbour
Blessing
In the name of God who plants the seed of justice: Be hungry. In the name of Christ who hangs on the tree of love: Be fruitful. And in the name of the Spirit who inspires God’s will in our hearts and our lives: Be celebrated. You are Christ’s people, here and throughout the world now and forever. Amen.
In a world of ‘us and them’ God invites us to embrace
In a Church too often characterised by division Christ invites us to embrace
In our lives, full of petty grudges and neglected relationships The Spirit invites us to embrace
So come all you who yearn for deeper living Come and enter into Heaven’s embrace this day
Adoration and Confession
Wonderful Creator, Friend of the earth, all creation praises You. You have shown Your healing love to the people of every land, and You have filled the long centuries with new songs of happiness.
By the gift of faith, may the invigorating Spirit of the risen Jesus live within us and serve the world through us. Join our songs to all those who have gone before us and let memories of our joy inspire those who come after us.
Please remind us, loving God, that no person is too unimportant to receive Your attention, and no personal flaw or sin is too ugly or large to receive Your forgiveness and healing.
Remind us that our weaknesses are like hollows where sincere goodness can take root and grow tall.
Remind us that our ignorance is a wilderness which under the refreshing wisdom of Christ can blossom like a rose.
Remind us that our guilt for both small mistakes or grievous sins can, by God’s grace, become the compost for a fruit season not achieved before.
It is written: “Here is real love; not our love for God but God’s love for us in the giving of His Son to be the remedy for the corruption of our sins.”
Through the love of Christ Jesus, forgiveness and release is ours for the asking.
Therefore ask and receive, knock and let the door be opened to you.
Prayer of confession
Gracious and loving God, as we reflect on the wonder and glory of Your being, and the depth of Your love for us, we are conscious of our failure to learn from You and from the sacrificial love of Jesus.
So often our understanding of glory is linked with prestige and power and position. Jesus’ understanding of glory was linked to a love that was prepared to go to the uttermost limits of love.
Forgive us when selfish pursuit of glory takes precedence over Jesus’ command to love one another as He has loved us.
“As he has loved us”– we confess our lack of commitment to make Jesus’ self-giving love the truly identifying mark of our community of faith.
Forgive us when we put economic, racial, social or other boundaries on our love.
When we express His limitless love in all our relationships and dealings with people, both inside and outside the church – then – Jesus said, “everyone will know that you are my disciples.”
Remind us, O God, that even when our love falters, Your love remains constant. You have the power to make all things new.
Renew and rekindle our love for You and for one another. Fill our hearts and minds with Jesus’ selfless love so that, like Him, we glorify You in all we do and say. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Psalm 148
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He established them for ever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! 12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!
Prayers of intercession
May we increasingly become respectful caretakers of all that is, including the waters so easily enjoyed, disturbed, polluted, exploited, taken for granted. May we regard more highly the elements upon which our lives depend. Might we, with greater gratitude, enjoy and honour those refreshing gulps and glassfuls of water after a workout, during the day or on a quiet evening alone.
We remember the millions upon millions who do not have access to clean drinking water, a necessity of life. Might we challenge and change the systems we all enjoy that would bring about a transformation of our global systems – allowing more to be able to drink clean water … just a cup of cold, clean water. Might we literally and figuratively provide cold water to all who seek it – out of love, hospitality, care, generosity.
We pause now and lift up in sadness and hope all those who will die this day, this hour, due to unclean and polluted waters. Would we, with greater reverence, enjoy and preserve these life-giving elements that go so unnoticed. As a community of care, we commit this day to using less and enjoying more!
We remember others here and others not with us who are healing, those in hospital, those in jail, those depressed and discouraged. Might we initiate intimate connections with neighbours, friends, lovers, alike. May they know the love of their spouses and friends, the love pervasive in this universe and receive healing expertise from those making decisions about their care.
We yearn for the day when all tears are dried, all pain is abandoned … but today is not that day.
So our prayers are for those who weep this morning for whom the loss of someone they love or their battle with illness in body, mind or spirit or the adversities in their daily living weigh heavy, are perhaps too much for them to bear. Through the heartache and loss they need to sense the hope that comes from the words, “I am making all things new.”
We yearn for the day when nation will no longer fight with nation and young people will not be sent to die in war; when the animosity between peoples will come to an end. … but today is not that day.
So our prayers are for those who wage war: politicians, military leaders, those on the front lines and those civilians caught in the cross fire. Through the gunfire and the smoke may the cry for a different way of being still be heard, whispering over the hatred, “I am making all things new.”
We yearn for the day when every one of those who seek to follow Christ will be truly one, when theology and denomination and personal grudges will not divide the body … but today is not that day.
So our prayers are for those who struggle to love their fellow Christian who find it hard to accept the differences in belief they see, who wrestle with strong feelings of anger or revulsion for their brother or sister in Christ. Through the power struggles and the infighting, the cool receptions and stony silences we hear the words once more, “I am making all things new.”
For today may not be that day, when tears are dried, and wars are over, and God’s people are one, but it is coming and in us, through us, if need be despite us, we step ever closer to the day of a new heaven and a new earth when the universe reverberates to the song, “I am making all things new.” Amen
Blessings
We are the loved people of God. Together, in our gifts and in ourselves, we add beauty to life here and beyond us in a myriad of ways. Through the Spirit, we become part of the tree of life, for the healing of the nations. And the blessing of God, Creator, Son and Holy Spirit be with us all.
We still ourselves, and call ourselves to worship with the words that remind us of our Shepherd and Redeemer
CALL TO WORSHIP
We rejoice in the One who leads us beside still waters, And gives us refreshment of soul. Christ our Shepherd shows us the way we should go, So that the name of God will be glorified. Though all manner of evil befall us, we will not be afraid, For the Great Shepherd of our souls is with us. We are never away from the love and mercy of the Lord, And we shall be with him for ever and ever. Amen!
Lord Jesus Christ, we come together because You call us. Sometimes in the noisy bustle of life Your call sounds faintly, but somehow we have heard and we are here.
We come in our weakness and uncertainty, with our doubts and our sense of unworthiness, yet knowing Your voice and trusting that our hope will not be disappointed.
Draw us closer to You. Meet with us in our worship, and lead us through the coming week.
Living God, we worship You. We bless You for Your love which will not fail us.
As a shepherd gathers their flock so, Good Shepherd, You gather us here today to feed and refresh us.
Some of us come rejoicing because our path has led through green pastures; some come battered and bruised by life because our path has led through dark and frightening valleys. We need to know Your strength restoring our souls; some of us, like foolish sheep, come before You ashamed because we have wandered astray instead of following You and now we come seeking Your forgiveness.
Thank You that in Your grace and through the Lord Jesus You seek us out, You find us, You help us, and give us now joy and hope.
We hear Your call to care for others as You care for us, to love as You love, to give and go on giving, to heal, to feed, to nurture and reconcile.
Help us to show our thankfulness not only in our praise and prayers, but by following You in the way of self-sacrificing love, bringing others to give thanks and love You too.
Meet with us by Your Spirit. Make us one. Lead us in Your ways for Your glory. Amen
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Psalm 23 is one of, if not the best known and best loved texts in all of Scripture. It has brought comfort and strength to those on the battlefield, in the hospital, at a graveside, and to people going through almost any other kind of trial imaginable. It is also sung at weddings and times of celebration. It is a psalm for all seasons.
Intercession
We praise You for the living Christ the Shepherd who knows His sheep; not only those who are safe in His fold but all who are far away and have not heard His voice.
Today we pray for all who suffer and are not cared for – the old who die alone, the young who are neglected or cruelly treated, young and old whose weaknesses are exploited, and sensitivities abused, all who are led astray, all who are exploited, for the vulnerable who are taken advantage of and have no-one to stand by their side.
We pray for all who have grown hopeless in their hunger and homelessness – refugees from war and violence trapped at borders or in makeshift camps, those whose lives have been wrecked by conflicts they do not understand and cannot affect or change, victims of military aggression ethnic cleansing or political ideology.
In a world of so much suffering we pray too for the affluent, comfortable and cared for, who do not care; for those who know what they should do but do not bother; for those who close their eyes and minds and those who do not want to get involved. And we pray for those who do care; for those who accept the pain, cost and disturbance that knowledge brings; for those who want to help but cannot see how. Show them a way.
We pray for those who go Where there is trouble, pain and poverty, risking life and limb, facing danger and fear.
Father, as we pray, increase the depth of love in us that we might give ourselves to others, as You give Yourself to us.
Give us such joy that the sheep may be found; given health, strength, food and hope for the future and shown the way home.
Give us grace to follow You wherever You lead for Jesus’ sake, Amen
BELLSHILL: CENTRAL PARISH CHURCH OF SCOTLAND 