Cruden Parish Church of Scotland
10.00am, Sunday 7 November 2021
The abandonment of God & the mission of the church’
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We are living in challenging days. The Covid-19 pandemic is still with us. There is a cost-of-living crisis with spiraling prices, especially on heating and fuel. There are worries of shortages at Christmas. At COP 26 in Glasgow there are real concerns that world leaders will not the make hard and difficult decisions to limit global warming. And for the church there is the problem of secularism – the decline of faith and the abandonment of God. So how are we to understand the mission and role of the church in these challenging days? This morning we reflect on some of these issues!
Call to Worship
The voice of God gathers us this day;
The warmth of God brings us together as one people.
So we come, with joy and sorrow in our hearts,
With acts mighty and faltering,
With kindness and with selfishness,
With doubt and with faith:
So may we bring the fullness of our lives to God.
Let us worship God
Hymn 522: The Church is wherever God’s people are praising
- The Church is wherever God's people are praising,
knowing they're wanted and loved by their Lord.
The Church is wherever Christ's followers are trying
to live and to share out the good news of God.
- The Church is wherever God's people are loving,
where all are forgiven and start once again,
where all are accepted, whatever their background,
whatever their past and whatever their pain.
- The Church is wherever God's people are seeking
to reach out and touch folk wherever they are --
conveying the Gospel, its joy and its comfort,
to challenge, refresh, and excite and inspire.
- The Church is wherever God's people are praising,
knowing we're wanted and loved by our Lord.
The Church is where we as Christ's followers are trying
to live and to share out the good news of God.
(Carol Rose Ikeler)
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 16:13-20 Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Matthew 28:16-20 The Great Commission
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Sermon: ‘The abandonment of God & the mission of the church’
Hymn: Blessed be your name
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Chorus
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
(Stuart Townend)
Prayers of Intercession
Hymn 286: Tell out my soul
- Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
- Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age to same;
his holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One.
- Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
- Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and for evermore!
(Timothy Dudley-Smith)
Dismissal & Blessing
May your home always be too
small to hold all your friends.
May your heart remain ever supple,
fearless in the face of threat,
jubilant in the grip of grace.
May your hands remain open,
caressing, never clenched.
May your hankering be in rhythm with heaven’s,
when creation’s hope and history rhyme.
May hosannas lilt from your lungs:
God is not done!
Go in peace
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
CRUDEN PARISH CHURCH NEWS
Welcome
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.
Cruden Parish Church News
Although many of the Covid restrictions have been eased, we continue to appreciate your support in using the hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the building, the wearing of facemasks etc. Also, a special thanks to our volunteers on door duty and providing an enhanced cleaning regime. In order to reduce the burden of cleaning, we are now requesting people to sit in the centre part of the church, as the transepts will no longer be sanitised prior to the service.
The service will also be broadcast live via the Facebook Page and be available for later viewing. A copy of the Order of Service, which includes the words of the responses, readings, hymns, intimations etc., are available via the church website, Facebook page or on request via email.
Walking for health and well-being
We meet this Tuesday at 10.00 am outside the St Olaf Hotel for our usual walk around Cruden Bay. Everybody welcome, including 4 legged friends.
Harvest Festival/Eco Sunday/National Giving Day
A massive thankyou for everybody who organised and supported our special service last Sunday, especially Janet & Katherine for the service, crafts & activities; Betty, Jimmy & Ellis for decorating the church and everyone who supported the appeal for Aberdeenshire North Foodbank. The sum of £155.00 was collected plus a significant quantity of food, all of which will go to support families and individuals in need.
Shoe Box Appeal
Thank you for shoeboxes. Last Friday 10 more shoeboxes were sent to add to the 113 already delivered making a marvellous total of 123 people who will have a happier Christmas thanks to your generosity. Thank you to everyone who contributed with goods, paper, boxes and donations. (A special thanks to Romary Reid for organising this year’s shoebox appeal.)
Pastoral Care
A wee reminder that Sean and the pastoral care group would appreciate being advised of any member or friend of the congregation who may appreciate a visit or phone call.
Craft Group
Meets every second Tuesday in the Church Hall at 1.30 pm. The next meeting is Tuesday 16th November. For more details, please contact Mrs Margaret Kid., tel. 01779 841418
Looking ahead…
This year’s Act of Remembrance will take place at:
10.30 am Cruden Parish Church – Service of Remembrance followed by laying of wreaths at Cruden War Memorial, Cruden Cemetery & Remembrance Crosses at the War Graves adjacent to the church. Everyone welcome.
12.00 noon Hatton War Memorial
A short public Act of Remembrance followed by the laying of wreaths, will take place at the Hatton War Memorial, outside the public hall. Everyone welcome.
Any enquires, please contact Rev Sean Swindells, 07791 755976
Advent & Christmas (More details soon!
- First Sunday of Advent- 28th November 2021
- 10.00 am A Service of Light
- Fourth Sunday of Advent – 19th December 2021
- 6.00 pm, Community Carol Singing around Cruden Bay ending at the Kilmarnock Arms at 7.30 pm.