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Sunday 6th June 2021

Introduction by Fiona Fleming

Hello and welcome to our online service for this Sunday - two Sundays after
Pentecost.

Our total number of online services is around 80, and we have had close to
6000 visitors in the period since last year. Even although the prospects of
returning to open church on Sunday are increasing -  in fact our church at
Stobo is already functioning under Covid restrictions - online worship will
remain operative meantime each week.

Today our theme is “a word to the wise”. We are looking at some
memorable words of St Paul in his Second Letter to the Church in Corinth.
Paul is addressing one of the great questions of human living. What
happens next? As we grow older it’s often more frequently in our minds.

As you might imagine, today’s message, then, is a word of hope and
assurance.

That’s how we will be beginning our worship today. As the bells fade away,
we will hear the hymn “All my hope on God is founded”. The tune
“Michael”, was written by Herbert Howells, and named after his son, who
died in boyhood.

HYMN: All my hope on God is founded

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

Lord, today we recall your faithfulness.
Thank you that you walk with us every day, that you are with us always.
We proclaim that your promises are true and your goodness and love never
fail.

In this moment we come to you and lay our lives before you.
May we honour, worship and adore you with every fibre of our being.
Father, we proclaim that you are the Holy One, the Lord God Almighty, who
was and is and is to come. Your beauty and majesty are beyond compare.
On this day we join with all those who worship and confess you as Lord, from
generations past and present, and with all the angels that sing in heaven of
your greatness and splendour.

Lord we adore you.
Lord we love you.
Lord we bow down and worship you.

Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank
you that your favour has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime.
Forgive us for sometimes forgetting that you are acquainted with all
of our ways, that you know what concerns us, and you cover us, as
with a shield. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully
in your blessing and goodness today. We ask that your face would
shine on us.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

LESSON

Read by Ronald Ireland

St Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthians 4:13-5;1

But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance
with scripture--"I believed, and so I spoke" --we also believe, and so we speak,
because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise
us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to
more and more people, may increase thanksgiving,
to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting
away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal
weight of glory beyond all measure,
because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be
seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have
a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.

HYMN: Give to me, Lord, a thankful heart

Reflection

PRAYER

Said by Rev John Smith

O Lord our God,
source of all goodness and love,
accept the prayers of your people;
in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion
upon all who turn to you for help;
for you are gracious, O lover of souls,
and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

God of love,
turn our hearts to your ways;
and give us peace.

Living God,
deliver us from a world without justice
and a future without mercy;
in your mercy, establish justice,
and in your justice, remember the mercy
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule.

O God, who would fold both heaven and earth in a single peace:
let the design of your great love
lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows:
and give peace to your Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our dwellings,
and peace in our hearts
.

God of compassion,
your love for humanity was revealed in Jesus,
whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable
and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross:
we hold before you those who are homeless
.

Draw near and comfort them in spirit
and bless those who work to provide them
with shelter, food and friendship.

The poor and the earth are crying out.
O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life,
to prepare for a better future,
for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty. AMEN.

Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation

THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION

Said by Rev John Smith

Go on, then, with unflagging zeal,
to serve the Lord.

And the BLESSING of God Almighty.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
be with you, this day and always.
AMEN.


Voluntary

For any of our 'virtual congregation' who have difficulties accessing the individual recordings above, I have recorded the whole audio service for you here without a break.

4 thoughts on “Sunday 6th June 2021

  1. Elizabeth Parker

    Thank you everyone - thank goodness you moved inside for your reflection John, could hardly hear your for all the birds in your garden. You must feed them well!

    A very timely reminder - keep it simple - God’s love.

    Elizabeth & Bunty

    Reply
    1. Elizabeth Parker

      It has been pointed out to me that my above comment could be seen as a criticism of John’s reflection and I wanted to confirm that this was in no way the case.

      I always enjoy the service and teaching and I am truly sorry if this offended anyone.

      Elizabeth

      Reply

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