‘Hearing the masters voice!’
Introduction – our service tonight takes place over the internet using a software app called Zoom. If you would like to join us, please contact Sean for a copy of the link
If possible, please have to hand – a candle for the prayer of solidarity
Please feel free to join in the responses printed in bold & italic or simply listen and observe. We would appreciate if you could keep background noise (TV etc.) to a minimum.
There are a couple of hymns included in tonight’s service. However due to the time delay on some internet connections singing in unison is not possible.
Order of Service
Call to Worship
In the meeting of our lives,
be the focus of all that we are.
In the prayers that we shall make,
the reading of your Word
and the preaching of the same.
Speak to us, encourage and forgive us.
In the meeting of our lives, Lord,
be the focus of all that we are. Amen
Prayer of Solidarity
Sunday marks five consecutive weeks of joint calls by Scottish churches to pray at the same time in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Thousands of people across Scotland have been answering the call to join in prayer during this time of sacrifice, difficulty and bereavement.
We light a candle and pray together
Living God, speak into the depths of our experience,
Speak the word that stills our fears
And calms our anxieties: ‘Peace be with you.’
Speak your word to the lonely and to the broken,
To the bereaved and to those whose world has crumbled:
‘Peace be with you.’
Faithful God, speak to us behind locked doors
As we remember others, who risk their own safety,
In order to serve others: Peace be with them.
Carers and nurses, doctors and ambulance drivers,
Delivery drivers and shop assistants: Peace be with them.
God who inspires Hope, speak to us in the present
And speak to us of the future,
For though the doors are locked, in time they shall be open:
Peace shall be renewed.
For those who lead the life of our Nation: Our Queen Elizabeth,
First Minister and Prime Minister, and all who shape our common life,
For us all: Peace shall be renewed.
God whose name is love and whose gift is love,
Open our hearts to know you and to love you,
To love you and to love our neighbour
And as we do, to hear again: ‘Peace be with you.’
May we find our strength in you,
And hear again: ‘Peace be with you.’
Amen
Reflection Part 1 ‘Thunder, silence and hearing the masters voice’
I would like to begin with a question! What is the most remarkable thing you have ever seen or heard?
Bible Reading – read by Robert & Maureen Esson
1 Kings 19:1-18 - Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid[a] and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Reflection Part 2 ‘Thunder, silence and hearing the masters voice’
Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want
1. The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
2. He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.
3. And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.
Stuart Townend Copyright © 1996 Thankyou Music
Prayers of Intercession
Response:
L. Lord in your mercy, R. hear our prayer
Closing Prayer
Almighty God,
we thank you for the gift of your holy word.
May it be a lantern to our feet,
a light to our paths,
and a strength to our lives.
Take us and use us
to love and serve
in the power of the Holy Spirit
and in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
May the grace of God uphold you,
the peace of God surround you,
the love of God flow from you
and the strength of God protect
and bring you safely to the end of this day. Amen
Hymn The day you gave us, Lord is ended
1 The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your behest;
to you our morning hymns ascended,
your praise shall hallow now our rest.
2 We thank you that your church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night.
3 As o'er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor dies the strain of praise away.
4 The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
our brethren 'neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
your wondrous doings heard on high.
5 So be it, Lord; your throne shall never,
like earth's proud empires, pass away;
but stand and rule and grow forever,
till all your creatures own your sway.
(John Ellerton)
Church Notices
During the lockdown a new daily reflection consisting of prayers, Bible readings and a thought for the day is posted on the Facebook page and website.
The minister is avalble for any faith or pastoral matter – over the phone, via face time or zoom, or an outdoor meeting maintaining an appropriate social distance.
Church Internet Coffee Morning – takes place every Thursday morning at 11.00 am. Come along, chat or listen and catch up with friends. Again, please contact Sean for the link.
Worship – every Sunday at 7.00 pm during the lockdown.
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