Worship resources for 24th January

Each Sunday we post online worship resources when Tier 3 restrictions only allow 50 people to attend church. However the church this week is completely closed for worship. So we provide these to stay in touch and stay safe. They are accessible after our live Zoom worship for those unable to access via this platform.

The links to the hymns can be accessed by clicking on “Click here” beside the hymn title. These take you to Youtube and we have no control over the adverts you see.

The prayers are taken from the Church of Scotland Weekly Worship.

There is a bonus track at the end of the worship to enjoy.

Opening prayer

Approach to God/Call to worship

Hovering Spirit,
because of You there was a beginning.
Heavenly Dove,
because of You there is a continuing.

Untameable Wind,
because of You there will be a completing.
From the emptiness before the birth of time
to the fullness of the new earth and heaven,

Holy Spirit, You breathe and blow,
dancing to our Creator’s tune,
in step with our Saviour’s purposes.

Fill our expectant hearts
as we stand on this threshold of a new year.
We have been here so many times;
and we have never been here before.

Source, Saviour, Spring of life,
refreshing and replenishing God,
all that pours from You is good and wise and true.
Soak us with the delight of Your surprising nearness
and let us splash in puddles of joy.

God in Community,
how privileged we are to be Your people,
chosen and known and loved by You,
here and now this morning
and in all our days gone by and still to come.
Amen

The First Hymn:

Ye servants of God Click here

Prayer of Reflective confession

Let us pray.

Dear God,
why do we sometimes make You so small?
Why do we behave as if You are as petty as we can be?
Why do we lapse into vengeance as the answer to wrongdoing?
Your ways are not our ways.
Teach us again Your answer to sin and suffering.
You don’t get mad; You get merciful.
You don’t punish; You pardon.
So don’t let us for another moment
go over our speech of self-recrimination
or insult Your grace with our grovelling,
because You are not listening.
Let us put down
what we need carry no longer,
and loosen our hold on the hurts we have received.
You know well our woundedness;
You understand and accept our regret.
Come close and tend to our pain and heal us,
for we long to be whole.
Extend Your love to those we are finding hard to love,
and set us free to love again.

And so we pray the prayer Jesus called us to pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever.

Amen

Bible Reading: John 2:1-12 Click Here

The Reflection: Click Here

Here is a link to a podcast called Grasping Joy that I refer to in the Reflection, which explores how we can find Joy in different ways Click here If you use Spotify Click here or Apple Podcast Click here

The Second Hymn: Take my life and let it be Click here

Prayers of Intercession

Let us pray.

Lord our God, faithful and kind,
You have always been our help.
With and without our asking,
with and without our recognition,
You are the wind in our sails,
the compass for our walking,
the firelight for our resting.
It is Your pleasure to help,
and for this we thank You.
You never neglect us.
Even when we blame or berate You;
even when we are too despairing to ask
or too weary to find words;
it is Your pleasure to help,
and for this we thank You.
So we seek Your help again.
Bring deep rest to those exhausted and spent.
Bring deep solace to those bearing loss upon loss.
Bring deep purpose to those plodding on in unceremonious conscientiousness.
Bring deep release to those glad to see the back of last year.
Bring deep wisdom to those leading and governing.
Bring to us all deep trust in what is possible in partnership with You.
For it is Your pleasure to help,
and for this we thank You, Gracious God.
Amen

Closing Hymn: In Christ alone Click here

Closing Blessing

Lead us on,
to learn willingly,
to love well
to live in trust.
Surround us with hope,
shield us from harm,
set us on our way rejoicing.
Through Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Amen

Bonus worship track from Chicago Church of Christ. Come Thou Fount Click here (When you put the kettle on allow a different style into your life of worship)

Thank you for time in taking part by using these resources. If you have any messages you would like to share with us, please connect with us below.

Stay in touch and stay safe. This is why we provide the above.