Cruden Parish Church
(Church of Scotland)
‘Practical Christianity - Love one another!’
The Third Sunday of Lent
10.00am, Sunday 7 March 2021
[Watch this service on You Tube]
Welcome & Call to Worship
Come with your questions, come with your awe!
For the God who broods over the chaos
meets us in this place.
Come with your energy, come with your weariness!
For the God who breathes new life into the dust
meets us in this place.
Come with your sadness, come with your joy!
For the God who dared to become human
meets us in this place.
Let us worship God
Hymn 198: Let us a build a house where love can dwell
1. Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive;
built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome,
all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
2 Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God's children dare to seek
to dream God's reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God's grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
3. Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
A banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space,
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
4. Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they've known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God's face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
5. Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
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
Mark 8: 34-38
‘The way of the cross’
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’
John 15: 9-17
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Sermon ‘Practical Christianity - Love one another!’
Prayers of Intercession
Hymn 186: Father God, I wonder
Father God, I wonder
how I managed to exist
without the knowledge
of your parenthood and your loving care.
But now I am your child,
I am adopted in your family,
and I can never be alone,
‘cause Father God, you're there beside me.I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises forever more.I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises forever more.
A blessing for the season of Lent
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
fill you with radiance.
and scatter the darkness from your path.
Amen.
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
gladden your eyes and warm your heart.
Amen.
Christ, the Dayspring from on high,
draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Time for coffee…
CRUDEN PARISH CHURCH NEWS
Sunday Worship
According to the roadmap out of lockdown, it is anticipated that the church may be able to re-open from April 5th with numbers limited to 20 people. For Cruden Parish Church, this is subject to a decision by the Kirk Session. Until that or any other date is announced, the church is currently closed for Sunday Worship. 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 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
Reflection
Each day of Lent there will be a reflection posted on the church Facebook Page. Contributions from friends and members would be appreciated! For me details contact Sean. [Go to the Reflections Page]
Lent Discussion Group
Our 'online' Lent discussion group meets each Sunday in Lent at 7.00 pm. We will be continuing to explore the theme of God's help in times of crisis through selected readings from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. New participants to the group are always welcome.
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.
Easter Coffee Morning
Come and join our virtual Easter coffee morning on Thursday 1st April from 10.30 am to 12.00 noon. (No April fool jokes!)
Holy Week Services
Maundy Thursday Virtual Communion Service – 7.00 pm, Thursday 1st April. The link to the service will be available nearer the time.
More information, please contact
Sean @ sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk Tel. 07791 755976