Cruden Parish Church of Scotland
10.00am, Sunday 25 July 2021
‘Listening to the heart of God’
Part 3 - Escatology
ORDER OF SERVICE:
Click here to print out the Order of Service
FACEBOOK PAGE:
Click here to join the Service live on Facebook or to view a recording later.
Welcome to Cruden Parish Church! We are a congregation of the Church of Scotland serving the communities in and around the villages of Longhaven, Hatton, Cruden Bay and Whinnyfold. We also extend a special welcome to those unable to be physically present with us this morning and following the service online. Wherever you are and whatever your circumstances, we pray that you may know God’s blessing and presence during this time of worship.
Call to Worship
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 10)
Let us worship God
Hymn 189: Be still
- Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The holy One, is here;
Come bow before him now
With reverence and fear
In him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
The holy One, is here.
- Be still, for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire,
With splendour he is crowned:
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around.
- Be still, for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place:
He comes to cleanse and heal,
To minister his grace -
No work too hard for him.
In faith receive from him.
Be still, for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place.
Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your 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
Matthew 25:1-13
The parable of the ten virgins
‘At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
‘At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!”
‘Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.”
‘“No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.”
‘But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
‘Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!”
‘But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Matthew 24:36-47
The Day and Hour Unknown
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
Sermon ‘Listening to the heart of God part 3 Eschatology!’
Hymn 749: Soon and very soon
- Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Soon and very soon we are going to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we are going to see the King!
- No more crying there we are going to see the King,
No more crying there we are going to see the King,
No more crying there we are going to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we are going to see the King!
- No more dying there we are going to see the King,
No more dying there we are going to see the King,
No more dying there we are going to see the King,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah ,we are going to see the King!
Prayers of Intercession
Hymn 477 Lo, he comes with clouds descending
- Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Christ, the Lamb, for sinners slain;
thousand, thousand saints attending
join to sing the glad refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.
- Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him,
pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.
- Those deep wounds of cross and passion
Still his glorious body bears:
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshippers:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
See the day of God appears.
- Yea, Amen! Let all adore you,
high on your eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for your own;
O come quickly…
You shall reign, and you alone!
O come quickly, O come quickly;
alleluia! come, Lord, come.
Dismissal and Blessing
God invites us into his future,
where the one who makes all things new
has made his home among us.
We are called and chosen,
together embraced by the God in whom tears, mourning,
crying, pain and even death will be no more.
Remember God’s future, for this is our story.
Our Lord says, “See, I am coming soon!”
and we respond, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Amen.
Go in peace.
May the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit
Be with you all forever more.
Amen
CRUDEN PARISH CHURCH NEWS
Cruden Parish Church News
Although the church is now open, Covid restrictions are still in place. We appreciate your support in maintaining social distancing, the wearing of facemasks, and sitting in the marked spaces. Also, a special thanks to our volunteers on door duty and providing an enhanced cleaning regime.
The service will also be broadcast live via the Facebook Page and be available for later viewing. If you would like a copy of the Order of Service, which includes the words of the readings, hymns, intimations etc., please contact Sean.
Also due to the increased numbers of people wishing to attend church, the Kirk Session has agreed to make parts of balcony available. Like the main body of the church, social distancing is still required, and available seating will be appropriately signed.
‘On your marks!’ Summer Holiday Club
Our holiday club runs from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th August 2021 at Mill Park, Station Road, Cruden Bay. For more info, please speal to Sean (O7791 755976) or Jamet (07790 934031) for more info.
Also as the team will be very busy looking after the children, we wonder if there are any members or friends of the congregation who would be willing to supply sandwiches/light lunch of each of the days of holiday club. Donations of home baking would also be appreciated.
If you can supply some sandwiches etc, on either the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, please to speak to Sean or Janet.
Sponsored Walk for Christian Aid – 2.00 PM, Sunday 22nd August at Bennachie Visitor Centre
On the afternoon of Sunday 22nd August Magnus and Melville (Sean & Alison’s mischievous Westie and adorable Golden Retriever) will be doing a sponsored walk for Christian Aid up Bennachie. Dogs and well-behaved humans are also welcome! Why not bring a picnic? We meet up at 2.00 pm at Bennachie Visitor Centre (AB51 5HY)
You can support Magnus & Melville in church via the sponsorship form or on-line
at Sean Swindells is fundraising for Christian Aid (justgiving.com)
.