Welcome as you join us at peeblesold.online. The bells of the Old Parish Church convey to you on behalf of the people of God - in Peebles, Eddleston and Stobo and Drumelzier - our warmest greetings.
In previous weeks we have been concentrating on food - such as the manna provided for the people of Israel in the desert, and the feeding of the 5,000 in the miracle from the Jesus narrative, all from the loaves and fishes provided by a young lad in the crowd.
Today we’ll be considering what it meant when Jesus declared himself the Bread of Life.
When the bells finish, please join us in our first hymn - “Let all the world in every corner sing.
HYMN: Let all the world
11th Sunday after Pentecost
PRAYER
Righteous Father, the maker of heaven and earth, the God
of all flesh, you made all things according to the word of
your power and you made us the head of all creation. We
are here today to worship you. Make our praises and
worship accepted in thy sight. You made us understand that
you inhabit the praise of your people, come down Lord and
ride on the wings of our praise. In our gathering today let us
feel you, refresh us in you, renew us and make us grow in
you. As we start today, guide us through according to your
will.
You are worthy to be glorified, Jehovah is your name, accept
our praises today in Jesus name. You said if our sins are as
red as crimson, you would make us white as snow, we come
to your throne of mercy. Lead us from all sins and make
us spotless. We are gathered in your presence, we want
you to come and be with us, bind us with your chord of love
and unity, let everything we do today be pleasing in your
sight.
Amen
THE LORD'S PRAYER
LESSON
John 6: 35, 41-51
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am
the bread that came down from heaven."
They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father
and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from
heaven'?"
Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves.
No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me;
and I will raise that person up on the last day.
It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.'
Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from
God; he has seen the Father.
Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat
of it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of
this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the
world is my flesh."
HYMN: Lord of all hopefulness
Reflection
PRAYER
Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing, those in need within the church and the world.
We lift up those in our neighbourhood, and in our churches. Begin
with those who follow you, and help them influence others for good.
Let them be salt and light, pointing others to you. Deepen their love
for you and for the people around them. Guard them from hypocrisy
or from giving in to temptations that could harm the cause of Christ.
Raise up leaders who will serve you faithfully at all costs. Help
them to exemplify your values, and make them bold in their faith.
Strengthen our own families, and those closest to us, Lord. May our
love for you help us to love and forgive others and make a
difference in our world.
We pray for the lost, the sick, the hurting, the lonely, the bereaved,
and those who are imprisoned—behind both visible and invisible
walls. Send your comfort, and your calming presence to those who
are without hope. Protect the defenceless, and hold them close to
your heart.
We pray for all the millions in our world who are victims of
disease, famine, war, persecution. And we think especially of
those whose lives have been threatened by the Covid pandemic.
Give strength to the bereaved, rest to those who have succumbed,
and courage and resilience to all those who have dedicated
themselves to finding new treatments, and nursing the sick.
Hear our prayers, that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbours.
Amen
Hymn: God is love
THE BLESSING and BENEDICTION
Go forward, then to love and serve the Lord.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you all today, and in all the days to come.
AMEN.
Voluntary