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Introduction by Graeme Coulthard  

Welcome to this service from the linked charge of Eddleston and Peebles Old.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent and it marks the beginning of a new church year. As we begin our preparations to welcome the Christ-child we will take time to measure our steps towards Christmas over the next four Sundays.

There are several themes associated with advent and today we reflect on the importance of waiting. Waiting for a birth, waiting for an end to upheaval, waiting for God to speak.
Waiting is a biblical theme and there is no better expression of it than in our first hymn which is a setting of the 40th Psalm, 'I waited for the Lord my God'.

Let us worship God.

Advent

HYMN: I waited for the Lord

PRAYER

Said by Revd. Pamela Strachan

The meaning is in the waiting….
‘They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength’
O Lord, we wait
We wait and wonder - will our strength be renewed?
Or will it fail us?
We wait - we worry - but we need not.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
God’s time is not our time. We wait -
With faith and patience and trust.
We are in God’s hands - as we await
The unfolding of the great mystery
That is the continuing Incarnation.
O Lord, we wait and wonder and approach you in
Renewed faith - in renewed strength - in renewed hope.
Forgive us our doubts and anxieties
Help us place our trust in You
And to rest - and wait….
Emmanuel
God with us
Amen

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

Read by Fiona Sinclair  
Habakkuk 1: 1-3 and 2: 1-4

Chapter one
The oracle of God which Habakkuk the prophet saw.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and thou wilt not hear? Or cry to
thee "Violence!" and thou wilt not save?
Why dost thou make me see wrongs and look upon trouble? Destruction
and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.

Chapter Two
I will take my stand to watch, and station myself on the tower, and look
forth to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my
complaint.
And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain upon
tablets, so he may run who reads it.
For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If
it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.
Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous
shall live by his faith.

Reflection

HYMN: Wait for the Lord

PRAYER

Said by Very Rev David Arnott

Almighty and Eternal God
It is you who waits patiently for us
To learn discipleship
To practice mercy
And to walk humbly.

It is you who waits for us to open our eyes to the needs of your world
To learn to pray for those whose hold on life is tenuous
because of a shortage of food,
a lack of medical care
or inferior housing.

No matter the language they speak,
the colour of their skin
or the land they inhabit
They are our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus
In your name we pray for them.

In the days that lie ahead help us to wait
before springing to judgement
before criticising without deliberation
before thinking we can ignore the needs of those around us
the vulnerable, the needy and the frightened.

Help us to wait for your love to seep into our hearts
your grace to direct our living
and your hope to fill our lives
So that joy may overflow as we look forward with confidence
To the days that lie ahead.
Because of Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

HYMN: Come thou long expected Jesus

BENEDICTION

Said by Very Rev David Arnott

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

Voluntary

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