Good day. The sound of these bells is a well known feature of life in Peebles They can be heard
a considerable distance off, and on a Sunday morning will be heard as they summon all who will
come to worship. The Old Parish through the bells sends a warm Christian welcome to you all.
And they are joined in this greeting by Eddleston and Stobo and Drumelzier Parish Churches.
Two of our churches are now open for in-person worship, but an online service continues in the
meantime. This online worship can be watched at any time during the week. These long months
of Covid restriction are - we hope - passing away.
Our service is led this morning by Revd John Smith, the locum minister.
The theme is one of the best known from the life of Jesus, when, in an act of compassion for
those who had followed him to hear him speak, he fed 5000 with a handful of loaves and fish.
When the bells fall silent, we shall hear, and join in if you can, our opening hymn. Praise, my soul,
the king of heaven.
HYMN: Praise my soul the King of Heaven
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9th Sunday after Pentecost
PRAYER
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.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
John 6: 1-14
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also
called the Sea of Tiberias.
A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he
was doing for the sick.
Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.
Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus
said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?"
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread
for each of them to get a little."
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what
are they among so many people?"
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal
of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he
distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as
they wanted.
When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the
fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost."
So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley
loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.
When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say,
"This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world".
HYMN: Jesus is Lord
Reflection
PRAYER
Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.
Gracious God,
we pray for the created world,
for those who rebuild where things have been destroyed.
For those who fight hunger, poverty and disease.
For those who have the power to bring change for the better and to renew hope.
We pray for the nations of the world struggling in the grip of Covid 19.
That in the midst of considerable difficulties, you will bring wisdom,
to those in the battle against the virus, courage and strength
in weariness to health workers, comfort to the bereaved.
We pray that nations may consider how the pandemic may be tackled
together. That peace may prevail in a troubled world.
And so we pray for all people in need;
those whose lives are clouded by death or loss,
by pain or disability, by discouragement or fear,
by shame or rejection.
We pray for those in the circle of friendship and love around us.
children and parents, sisters and brothers, friends and neighbours
and for those especially in our thoughts today.
Holy One,
hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
of the fragile bounty of this earth
so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. AMEN.
Hymn: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
And the blessing of God almighty
Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you this day
and in all the days to come.
AMEN.
Voluntary