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Introduction by Chris Nicoll (Peebles Old)

Good day and welcome to the sound of the Bells of Peebles Old Parish announcing to the world a
call to worship. The people of the Old Parish, along with their partners in Eddleston, Stobo and
Drumelzier invite you to join us. After the voluntary at the end of the service you are invited to
look at a short video about the future of the online worship.

In today’s service, we shall be considering the nature of God as seen through the eyes of the
Psalmist, so both our readings will be from the Psalms, and we shall also be singing hymns from
the psalms.

There is a word used 72 times in the Psalms of the Hebrew Bible “Selah:” The thing is that no
one is exactly clear what it means. One possible interpretation would be “Pause, and stand firm”.
It might be a musical direction, or a textual encouragement to the singers.

So we say, Selah - because we are about to hear - as the bells fall silent - our first hymn. It is a
paraphrase of Psalm 98, 'Sing to God new songs of worship'.

HYMN: Sing to God new songs of worship

13th Sunday after Pentecost

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

God our Father,

Your love is at work in all that you have made. Son of God, in your
likeness we are made new.

Holy Spirit, you touch our lives with hope.
Receive our worship, claim us for your service set us free to honour
you today.

Giver of light and grace we have sinned against you
and against our fellow men and women,
through ignorance through weakness, through our own fault.

We have belittled your love and betrayed your trust.

Forgive us all that is past and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.

Jesus died and rose again for you in humble penitence
accept his pardon, receive his peace. Amen.

Fill us with joy in your promises and make us the bearers of your
peace.
Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

Read by Marion Henthorn (Peebles Old)

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart
and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King
and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the
highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in
Zion.
O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
Selah
Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I
would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents
of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favour and
honour. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk
uprightly.
O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my
thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted
with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it
completely.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot
attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your
presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you
are there.
If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of
the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold
me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around
me become night,"
even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the
day, for darkness is as light to you.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my
thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.

HYMN: The Lord's my Shepherd; Ps23 (sung by the Choir of Peebles Old Parish Church)

Reflection

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

Friends in Christ,

God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear
to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbours as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church
and the world.

God of love and power.
We pray for your Church in our towns and villages and throughout
the world.
That, through the courage and faith of your people, your word may
be preached and lived.

We pray for our Queen, and those who seek to govern in
Westminster and in Holyrood.
In the fulfilling of their duties they may be guided by your Spirit and
upheld by your grace.

We pray for our world, disturbed and threatened by bitterness and
strife.
For all those whose lives are diminished by pandemic, and by
disease, famine, poverty, war or terrorism. May the nations of our world be
strengthened in these dangerous times, and seek ways of justice,
truth and peace. And today we pray for all those caught up in the
struggles in Afghanistan.

We pray for all in trouble.
That those who are sick may be cared for,
those who are lonely sustained, those who oppressed
strengthened, those who mourn comforted.
Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the
tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your
saving deeds to all the world.

Amen

Hymn: You are before me, Lord, you are behind

THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION

Said by Rev John Smith

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another,
in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ.

And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you this day, and in all the days to come.
AMEN.


Voluntary

Thank you for being with us today. Before you leave, please watch this important video message.

Click HERE to view it.

For any who are unable to access all the above links, I have, especially for you, recorded the audio for the whole service here.
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