Cruden Parish Church of Scotland
10.30am, Sunday 21 November 2021
‘Looking in the right place’
Click here to print out the Order of Service
LIVESTREAM
You can watch this service live on the Church YouTube Channel at 10 am on Sunday. A recording will also be availabe there for viewing later.
[CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW]
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.
Call to Worship
Come, let us give thanks to God together,
for our God always keeps His promises!
Let us sing songs and make music together,
for our God always keeps His promises!
Let us watch for signs of His presence among us,
for our God always keeps His promises!
Let us remember all the wonderful things He had done,
for our God always keeps His promises!
CH4 71: Psalm 107 - Give thanks unto the Lord our God
[Tune: The Rowan Tree CH4 540]
1. Give thanks unto the Lord our God.
How good and kind is he
whose tender mercy shall endure
through all eternity.
Let God's redeemed repeat these words
and give him thanks and praise
who rescued them from hostile hands,
preserved them all their days.
2. He gathered them from out the lands,
from north, south, east, and west.
They strayed in desert's pathless way,
no city found to rest.
Their weary soul within them faints
when thirst and hunger press;
in trouble then they cried to God;
he saved them from distress.
3. He made the way before them straight,
and he became their guide,
that they might to a city go
wherein they might abide.
Let all the children of the Lord
now praise him for his grace,
and for the works of wonder done
in every time and 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
Numbers 21:4-9
The bronze snake
They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.’ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
John 3:14-21
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Sermon: ‘Looking in the right place’
CH4 270: Put all your trust in God
- Put all your trust in God,
In duty’s path go on;
walk in his strength with faith and hope,
so shall your work be done.
Give to the winds your fears;
hope, and be undismayed;
God hears your sighs and counts your tears,
God shall lift up your head.
- Through waves, and clouds, and storms
he gently clears your way;
await his time; so shall this night
soon end in joyful day.
Leave to his sovereign sway
To choose and to command;
then you shall marvel at his way
how wise, how strong his hand!
- You see our weakness, Lord;
our hears are known to you;
give strength to every failing hand
and keep our footsteps true.
Let us, in life, in death,
your steadfast truth declare,
confessing, with our final breath,
your love and guardian care.
Paul Gerhart (1607-01676)
Adapted John Wesley (1703-1791)
Church News (Printed at the end of the Order of Service)
Prayers of Intercession
CH4 577: Christ be beside me
1. Christ be beside me,
Christ be `before me,
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart;
Christ be within me,
Christ be below me,
Christ be above me
never to part.
2. Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me
shield in the strife;
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising
light of my life.
3. Christ be in all hearts
thinking about me,
Christ be in all tongues
telling of me.
Christ be the vision
in eyes that see me,
in ears that hear me,
Christ ever be.
From St Patrick’s Breastplate, 8th Century
Adapted James Quinn (b1919)
Dismissal & Blessing
Go now, and proclaim that the Kingdom of God is near.
Travel lightly, and carry one another’s burdens,
and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Work for the good of all,
avoid temptation,
and pray that God will send more labourers
into the harvest.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
May God give you mercy and peace;
May Christ Jesus give you power over all that would harm you;
and may the Holy Spirit produce within you a rich harvest of joy and life.
Amen
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.
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.
Online Broadcast of Services
We have a new AV system to improve the quality and reliability of the church sound system and our online broadcast. Our services will now be relayed via YouTube. A link will be available via the Church Facebook Page and Website.
Help wanted!
We are needing to add one or two more volunteers who would be willing to help operate the AV system on a rota system. If you enjoy working with computers etc., this may be for you! Full training provided. For more info, please contact Sean 07791 755976
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.
Kirk Session
The Kirk Session will meet on Thursday 25 November via Zoom.
Shoe Box Appeal
Thank you for shoeboxes. 10 more shoeboxes have been received and 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.)
Events & Services for Advent and Christmas
- First Sunday of Advent- 28th November 2021
10.00 am A Service of Light - Second Sunday of Advent – 5th December
10.00 am The Coming of hope. - Third Sunday of Advent – 12th December
10.00 am The arrival of love & Sacrament of Baptism - Fourth Sunday of Advent – 19th December 2021
10.00 am The appearance of truth
5.00 pm, Community Carol Singing around Cruden Bay. Meet outside the Kilmarnock Arms at 5.00 pm, returning at 6.30 pm for refreshments. All ages & singing abilities welcome! Carol sheets provided. - Christmas Eve – 24th December
11.00 am The Cruden Christmas Caper (5K Charity Fun Run) on Cruden Beach in aid of Aberdeenshire North Foodbank.
6.00 pm Family Carol Service - Boxing Day – 26th December
10.00 am Christmas Worship