Welcome to this service from the linked charge of Eddleston and Peebles Old.
As we make our way through the Sundays of Advent today we pause to reflect upon the theme of the Second Coming.
As we prepare to welcome the Christ child for the first time so we are encouraged to reflect upon whether he comes again.
After the bells have stopped we will sing our first hymn ‘Lo he comes with clouds descending.’
2nd Sunday in Advent
HYMN: Lo, He comes with clouds descending
PRAYER
Almighty and eternal God
Thank you for today
For worship, for a time set aside to get our lives in balance once again,
To adjust our priorities and get our focus back on track.
Forgive us for the unpredictability of our faith,
Forgive us for blowing hot and cold and sometimes for not even blowing.
Forgive us for you have set out in Jesus
What it means to be human.
You have equipped us in full measure
With hands and heart, eyes and mind.
So enable us, Lord God, to use all you have given us to serve you in your world.
Accept now the worship we offer as we pray in the words of Jesus:
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
Mark 7: 31-37
Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went through
Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decap'olis.
And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an
impediment in his speech; and they besought him to lay his hand
upon him.
And taking him aside from the multitude privately, he put his
fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue;
And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him,
"Eph'phatha," that is, "Be opened."
And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he
spoke plainly.
And he charged them to tell no one; but the more he charged
them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has
done all things well; he even makes the deaf hear and the dumb
speak."
Reflection
HYMN: O come, O come Emmanuel
PRAYER
Almighty and eternal God
Come again into the hearts and minds of those who have grown a hard skin
Come again with your message of love, grace and forgiveness
So that even the hardest of hearts may yet be filled with compassion and love and what we ask for others we also ask for ourselves.
Come again with your healing hand upon
those whose lives are racked with physical or mental pain.
Through the good offices and gentle hands
Of doctors and nurses, carers and friends may it be your peace that floods their soul.
Come again with your vision of a peace the world can neither give nor take away to those areas scarred by war and violence.
Come to those communities divided against themselves
By reason of ethnicity or religious zeal
And raise their eyes that they may see
Your loving arms stretch out to embrace all your children as one family.
Come again, Lord God and raise us up to be disciples worthy of the name
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
HYMN: Mine eyes have seen the glory
BENEDICTION
And now may the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with you and remain with you
and all those whom you love
now and forever more
Amen