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Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song 9 CP Today I Awake
Today I awake and God is before me, at night, as I dreamt, he summoned the day for God never sleeps, but patterns the morning with slithers of gold or glory in grey.
Today I arise and Christ is beside me. He walked through the dark to scatter new light. Yes, Christ is alive, and beckons his people to hope and to heal, resist and invite.
Today I affirm the Spirit within me at worship and work, in struggle and rest. The Spirit inspires all life which is changing from fearing to faith, from broken to blest.
Today I enjoy the Trinity round me, above and beneath, before and behind; the Maker, the Son, the Spirit together – they called me to life and call me their friend.
Gathering the Community (Prayers to Share)
Faithfulness is the mark of your people, O God,
The faith of Rahab, the faith of David, the faith of Samuel, the faith of the prophets
The faithful ones in times past blessed your name, O God, and worked I your way
It cost them persecution and torture; for some it cost their lives
We remember what faithfulness cost Jesus – abuse and a cross
And now we are called to be faithful
To run with determination the race that is before us
Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus as we do so.
It will not be easy, but you, O God, will deal gracefully with us.
Thanks be to you, O God
Prayer of the Day
For the warmth of the sun, the beauty of the lake,
We bring our praise to you, Creator God
For the inspiration of worship
We bring our praise to you, Holy God
For the joy in fellowship, the support of friends
We bring our praise to you, God of the Church
For the need that comes home to us, the challenge to serve
We bring our praise to you, merciful God,
God of our world, God of our church.
God ever present to each one of us,
we praise you. Amen
Glory to God, we give you thanks and praise;
Of heav’nly joy and earthly peace we sing.
We worship you, to you our hearts we raise,
Lord God almighty Father, heav’nly king.
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father’s only Son,
You bore for us the load of this world’s sin.
O Lamb of God, your glorious vict’ry won,
Receive our prayer, grant us your peace within.
Alone O Christ, you only are the Lord,
At God’s right hand in majesty most high:
Who with the Spirit worshipped and adored:
With all the heav’nly host we glorify.
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son. Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that all people may know the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet, Isaiah 5.1–7
Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watch-tower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!
The word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Psalm 80.1–2, 8–18 Refrain: Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your strength and come to help us.
Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
You have brought a vine out of Egypt; you cast out the nations and planted it. You prepared the ground for it; it took root and filled the land. The mountains were covered by its shadow and the towering cedar trees by its boughs. You stretched out its tendrils to the sea and its branches to the river.
Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
Why have you broken down its wall, so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes? The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven; behold and tend this vine; preserve what your strong hand has planted. They burn it with fire like rubbish; at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
Let your hand be upon the one at your side in honour, the one you have made so strong for yourself. And so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may call upon your name.
Rise up, O Lord; do not forget the afflicted.
A reading from the letter to the Hebrews 11.29—12.2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, without us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn 320 CP Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones, raise the glad strain, Alleluia! Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers, virtues, archangels, angels' choirs: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, lead their praises, Alleluia! Thou bearer of the eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Respond, ye souls in endless rest, forebears in faith and prophets blest, Alleluia! Alleluia! Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant, raise the song:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing, Alleluia! Alleluia! To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke 12.49–56
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
Affirmation of Faith Liturgies for the Journey of Life by D. McRae-McMahon
Let us affirm our faith together
We believe in God
whose breath brings the gift of life
whose creativity makes newness out of nothing;
who sent us the Christ;
whose solidarity accompanies our deaths;
whose power frees us to the resurrection;
whose spirt liberates us from powerlessness;
whose grace stands under all our being;
whose unity calls us to be the Church
and live out the hope of the kingdom. Amen
Prayers of the People
God of the ages, You have walked with Your people from the moment that first we walked on the earth. You heard our cry when we were oppressed, gave us strength and courage when doubt and despair threatened.
As we offer our prayer to You this day we respond Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
The earth has been divided and brought to destruction by human fear, greed and the lust for power. We, Your people, turn to You, knowing that only in You can we flourish and grow.
Where division has given rise to distrust, build bridges of understanding. Where greed pollutes and threatens life, open hearts to share and build in partnership.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of the present moment, Your love does not stop at borders. Your grace is given freely to those who are willing to hear and to trust.
People have lived too long divided and fearful for the future. Grant them the courage to believe that their cry has been heard. Where nuclear weapons have been used to threaten and keep apart, turn swords into ploughshares so that people may be fed and prosper.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all that is to be, with people across the world we pray for the end of war and the dawn of a new age.
Let all that threatens the earth with destruction be banished for ever. Let the voices of those opposed to nuclear threat, war and oppression grow in confidence and strength.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We will work together with partners across the world until division is overcome and hostility ended. We will walk together with You, our God, into a future where the whole created order lives in harmony.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of the ages, God of the present, God of all that is to be, alone we may stumble but together we pray Your kingdom come. Amen
Confession (Church of Scotland)
Gracious God, We know You to be generous and full of compassion but in our anxiety we have stumbled and lost our way. Called to be a voice for the voiceless we have been silent. Challenged to fight for justice we have turned away. Co-opted to the work of breaking down barriers we have been quick to judge and slow to welcome.
Forgive all the moments when we have neglected to seek out Your will and to follow it.
Silence
Grant us the courage to be Your faithful people that Your compassion may flow through us to heal a broken world. Amen
Assurance of forgiveness
God would have us be honest in all things. To cry out when we are in pain to seek guidance when we are lost and to trust in God's strength when we are afraid.
Give thanks that we are reconciled to God and free to be the people that God would have us be. Amen
The Peace
Offertory Hymn 278 CP Jerusalem the Golden
Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blessed,
beneath thy contemplation sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not what joys await us there,
what radiance of glory, what bliss beyond compare.
They stand, those halls of Sion, all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel and all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in them, the daylight is serene,
the pastures of the blessed are decked in glorious sheen.
There is the throne of David, and there, from care released,
the shout of them that triumph, the song of them that feast;
and they who with their leader have conquered in the fight,
forever and forever are clad in robes of white.
O sweet and blessed country, the home of God’s elect;
O dear and future vision, that eager hearts expect:
even now by faith we see thee, even here thy walls discern;
to thee our thoughts are kindled; for thee our spirits yearn.
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving God, you have adopted us to be your heirs. Accept all we offer you this day and give us grace to live as faithful children. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Eucharistic prayer (Anglican Eucharistic Liturgies p. 61)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Worship and praise belong to you, God,
in every place and at all times.
You made us, all the people of the world and everything that is.
You give us the daylight.
Your Word lights up our minds.
Jesus was born among us to be light in our darkness.
Your spirit lives in us
so that we can look at the world with your eyes.
One day we will be with you in heaven,
but already we laugh with the saints and the angels
and sing their joyful song
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one that comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the Highest.
God, you never forget us or turn away from us,
even when we fail you.
You sent your son Jesus who gave his life for us.
He healed those who were sick, cared for those who were poor,
and cried with those who were sad.
He forgave sinners and taught us to forgive.
For all your love we give you thanks
in the way that Jesus showed us.
On the night before he died
while he was having supper with his friends,
he took bread and offered you thanks.
He broke the bread and gave it to them saying
‘Take, eat. This is my body: it is broken for you.’
After supper he took the cup, he offered you thanks, and gave it to the saying:
‘Drink this all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant;
It is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in remembrance of me.’
So as we do what he told us, we open our hearts to him;
we remember how he died
and rose again
to live now in us.
Together with him we offer God these gifts:
in them we give you ourselves.
Send your Holy Spirit on us and on this bread and this wine,
that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ,
and that sharing your life,
we may travel in your company to our journey’s end.
Wit all your people we give you thanks and praise
through the Son and in the Spirit now and forever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread
The Communion
Prayer After Communion
Eternal God, we have received a token of your promise. May we who have been nourished by holy things live as faithful heirs of your promised kingdom, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Announcements
Closing Hymn: 505 CP Be Thou my Vision
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art-- thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true Word; I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, thine own may I be, thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.
Riches I heed not, nor the world’s empty praise; thou mine inheritance, now and always: thou and thou only, first in my heart, high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, when victory is won may I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Dismissal
Go in Peace to love and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia
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