Cruden Parish Church

‘Nurture or nature – the cloistered parrot of Nevers’

10.00am, Sunday 7 February 2021

Welcome & Call to Worship

Let us rid ourselves of all the clutter, that stand between each of us and the holy.

Let us take away those things we prefer to speak to, like some holy middle person, rather than directly to God.

And may we find faith enough to leave ourselves raw, exposed, fragile, pared, ready before God, as we really are, and find God before us, as God really is.

Come to the quiet centre where God is waiting.

Hymn 153 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow—
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Prayers of Approach & The Lord’s prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen

Bible Readings

Psalm 32 Of David. A maskil.

Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.

For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them.
You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.

Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Galatians 5: 22-26 ‘Life by the Spirit’

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.

Sermon ‘The cloistered parrot of Nevers!’

Church News (At the end of the Order of Service)

Prayers of Intercedssion

Hymn 519 Love Divine

Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliverl
l et us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

A Holy Land Blessing
May the babe of Bethlehem bring you peace;
May the child of Nazareth bring you joy;
May the man of Galilee bring you strength;
May the Christ of Calvary bring you courage;
May the risen Jesus bring you hope;
And the ascended Christ a foretaste of his glory.

Amen

Time for coffee…

CHURCH NEWS

Due to the latest lockdown caused by Covid-19 the church is closed for Sunday Worship until further notice. Our Sunday morning services will now be broadcast live via Zoom at 10.00 am every Sunday morning. For a copy of the link please contact Robert or Sean. (07791 755976)

Recording of Services
As we are now using Zoom the service can no longer be relayed live via Facebook. However, from this Sunday onwards, we will be recording the service which will be made available via the church website. If you do not wish your name or face displayed on the recording, please switch off your camera or change your name you use for the broadcast.

Pastoral Care
Please advise the minister if you know of anybody would appreciate a pastoral phone call. Sean can be contacted on 07791 755976 or sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk

Coffee & Chat
Takes place at the end of the service. Please stay online if you wish to participate.

Lent & Easter 2021
Reflections for Lent – each day of Lent (beginning on Wednesday 17th February) there will be a reflection posted on the church Facebook Page. Contributions from friends and members would be appreciated! For me details contact Sean.
Holy Week Reflections- For each day of Holy Week (Palm Sunday - 28th March to Holy Saturday - 3rd April) there will be a video reflection, seeking to link the story of Jesus’ final week with places in and around the Parish of Cruden.
Holy Week Services – more details soon.

Lent Discussion Group
Our 'online' Lent discussion group begins at 7.00 pm, Sunday 21st February, 2021.
We will be exploring the theme of God's help in times of crisis through selected readings from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
Everybody welcome - no previous Bible knowledge expected or required!
Members of other churches which may be currently shut due to the pandemic are respectfully invited to join the group.
Our discussions will be based on the book 'A way through the wilderness - experiencing God's help in times of crisis' by Paula Gooder. As the book is out of print a study guide will be provided.
More information, please contact Sean @ sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk
tel. 07791 755976