Welcome to this service from the linked charge of Eddleston and Peebles Old.
Today is the last Sunday before Advent, a Sunday often designated Christ the King. If you wish to think of Christ as a King you will need to use your imagination and move past gilded carriages pulled by white horses, past golden be-jewelled crowns to something quite different. I’m sure you already have images in your mind of a donkey and a crown of thorns.
Imagination that’s the theme of our service today and after the bells have stopped you are invited to join in the hymn by Thomas Ken written when he was chaplain at Winchester College ‘Awake my soul.’
Let us worship God.
Last Sunday before Advent - Christ the King
HYMN: Awake my soul
PRAYER
Almighty and Eternal God
Apart and yet together
We come to understand the ties that bind us
As a community of faith.
Your love for us
Your belief in us
Your forgiveness of us
And your choice of us to be your church
Strengthens our resolve.
It reminds us that you never lay upon
Your servants more than they can bear
For you are beside us sharing the load.
Forgive us for ever doubting the strength of the gospel
Forgive us for ever doubting the power of your presence
Forgive us and continue to use us to share the good news
That Jesus is alive in the world where we live
As we say together his words
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval. By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
Matthew 13:31&32 and 44-46
Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it".
Reflection
HYMN: You are before me Lord
PRAYER
‘I have a dream a man once said
Where all is perfect peace,
Where men and women, black and white
Stand hand in hand and all unite
In freedom and in love.’
Lord God thank you for dreamers
For those who use the imagination of their faith
To work for a better, fairer, more just world.
We thank you for those who look upon the hungry and the homeless
The needy and the suffering
And allow their faith to drive them to action
To fill empty bellies
To put a roof over bare heads
To satisfy basic needs
And to alleviate the pain of living.
These are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Together we stand with the needy and the dreamer,
Bound by faith as children of the God who loves us all.
We pray for all who suffer at this time because of the Covid virus.
Bless our doctors and nurses and all who work in hospitals and care homes.
Bless those whose task it is to plan and formulate a way forward for us al.
Bless those who grieve and mourn for one whom they see no more if only for a while
Lord God
Thank you for the workers, the planners and the dreamers who bring the vision of your kingdom Just that little bit closer
Amen
HYMN: Who would true valour see
BENEDICTION
And now may the blessing of God Almighty
The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be with you and remain with you
and all those whom you love
now and forever more
Amen
Thank you everyone for another inspiring service.
A Beautiful service. Very inspiring
Guid gear gangs in wee book; thanks to everyone who has made these short services and transmitted them over the past eight months.