The bells of Peebles Old Parish Church have rung out through the long time of the Covid pandemic.
The message doesn’t change. An invitation into fellowship with the people of the Old Parish,
and our brothers and sisters in Stobo and Drumelzier and Eddleston.
This week finds two major things of which to be aware.
We are able to announce that Eddleston Parish Church reopens for public worship next Sunday at 11:30 am.
Also to say that the service today will be the last in our series of peeblesold.onlline services,
which have lasted for 17 months and kept worship alive for us during the pandemic.
Our highest number of viewers at one point came just short of 300.
It may well be that another online worship package will come along soon.
We will try to let you know if and when.
But what about today? Some serious questions about family justice
and the nature of wealth are put to Jesus by the crowd,
and he begins to tell them a parable. “The land of a rich man produced
abundantly…..” And as usual with parables, Jesus takes us to the
heart of the ordinary where we find a divine message.
So let’s see.
In this last service - at least for now - our hymns are chosen from those
that have been particularly favourably commented on by our regular
viewers, and when the bells stop we can join in “O Worship the Lord in
the beauty of holiness."
HYMN: O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
14th Sunday after Pentecost
PRAYER
Creator God, we glimpse your beauty in setting sun, mountain top, eagle’s wing.
We sense your power in thunder crash, lightning flash and ocean’s roar.
Creator God we praise you.
Precious Jesus, we see your love stretched out upon a cruel cross.
We stand in awe at your sacrifice, pure love poured out for humankind.
Precious Jesus we praise you.
Holy Spirit, we see your power in lives transformed, hearts on fire.
We listen for your still, small voice, comforting, guiding, calling.
Holy Spirit we praise you.
From the moment we awake to face the day ahead,
you are with us, through good times and bad.
Your presence enough for our needs.
Every day we will praise you and extol your name for ever.
Lord God, your love for humankind present in the beginning of all things,
extends throughout history and touches even my life.
Your love sees failings and forgives.
Your love feels pain and wipes away our tears.
Your love knows grief and comforts the sorrowful.
Your love sees sin and still loves the sinner.
Forgive us when we fail to live lives that reflect your love.
Forgive us the many times when we take for granted
all that you have done for us.
Transform us, through your Spirit, and empower us to serve you,
this day and all days.
Amen
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
Psalm 107; 1-9 & 43
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love
endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from
trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited
town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them
from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.
Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful
works to humankind.
For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider
the steadfast love of the LORD.
Luke 12; 13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to
divide the family inheritance with me."
But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator
over you?"
And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds
of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions."
Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly.
And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to
store my crops?'
Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for
many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'
But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being
demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not
rich toward God."
HYMN: Lord for the years
Reflection
PRAYER
Lord of heaven and earth, of all nations and peoples,
all faiths and no faith, reveal yourself to those who are suffering,
reveal yourself to all who are refugees,
reveal yourself to those who are powerful,
reveal yourself to all who are powerless,
reveal yourself to ordinary people in their everyday lives,
that this world might reflect your love and your glory.
We pray for all whose lives have been touched by tragedy,
whether by accident or a deliberate act.
For those who mourn, immerse them in your love
and lead them through this darkness into your arms, and light.
For those who comfort, be in both the words they use
and all that's left unspoken; fill each heart with love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, whose own suffering brought us life,
here and for eternity.
The Psalmist says
Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence
of death. When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O LORD, supported
me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my
soul.'
(Psalm 94:17-19)
Amen
Hymn: To God be the glory
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
Go forward, then to love and serve the Lord.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you all today, and in all the days to come.
AMEN.
Voluntary
Thank you for being with us today. This was the final Worship Online Sunday service for now. It is hoped a new form of Online Sunday Service will be produced with a new team in the near future. We, as the outgoing team (John, Willie, Sarah, Andrew and all others who have contributed) wish you well. This and all previous services remain available via the Worship Online icon on the TOPCOP Website; scroll to the end of each service and see "Previous Services" for the recent ones, or use the red numbers and/or "Next page" arrow to navigate to older ones.