Welcome to this service from the charge of Eddleston linked with Peebles Old.
The familiar sound of the bells reminds us that life goes on, faith remains undimmed. Our faith in Jesus still rings out and as a worshipping community we hold fast to that shared faith.
If life is different from what we would wish some things remain unchanged and our ability to find new ways to worship God separately yet somehow together encourages us all.
Please do join in the hymns throughout this short service. They come from a rich variety of traditions and remind us of the church that does indeed span the world.
After the bells stop we shall sing the hymn 'God whose almighty word'.
Let us worship God.
2nd Sunday before Advent
HYMN: Thou whose almighty word
PRAYER
In silence and in stillness we come before you, Lord God
Not because we can’t speak but because we daren’t.
Faced with the purity of your love
Confronted by the depths of your forgiveness
We, in comparison, have nothing to offer.
Yet you stretch out your hand to welcome us
You open your arms to greet us
You remind us that we are yours
For you tell us in Jesus Christ
We are all children of God.
So forgive us our failings
Pardon our misdeeds
And put a new and right spirit within us
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord
In whose words we pray together saying
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
Matthew 8; 1-4
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A
man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you
can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be
clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See
that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift
Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Reflection
HYMN: Dear Lord and Father of mankind
PRAYER
For those who only know touch from a clenched fist
For those who only know touch at the end of a boot
For those who long for gentleness and a soft caress
Lord God we offer our prayers.
Instil in all your people the love of Jesus
Who reached out to so many and left them all
That bit better and wiser.
Instil in all your people a faith
Which rises above the difficulties of these days
Because our eyes are fixed upon Jesus
The author and finisher of our faith
And because of whom
We shall continue to run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
We commend to your love all those who are near and dear to us,
Those with whom are lives are intertwined.
Enable us to be worthy of their love
That we might reveal your love.
All this we ask in Jesus’ name
Amen
HYMN: Through the love of God
BENEDICTION
And now may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be with you and remain with you
And all those whom you love
Today and for evermore
Amen