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SUNDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2025 11.00 a.m.
MORNING WORSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL , ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
(FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST)
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 73 Bless the Lord, O saints and servants (Psalm 113) (Chartres)
1 Bless the Lord, O saints and servants,
praise the might of God’s great name;
ageless, matchless, filled with wonder,
yesterday, today, the same.
When the dawn receives the sunrise
till the night returns its rays,
shall the glory of God’s goodness
be the theme of all our praise.
2 Who in heaven can be God’s equal,
who on earth with God compare?
Who can raise the poor from ashes,
lift the needy from despair?
God alone invites the helpless
with the strong to share reward;
barren women he makes fruitful —
happy mothers! Praise the Lord!
Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer
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,
and the power and the glory for ever, Amen.
Theme for the day for our young people
(Our young people are invited to join the minister at the front of the church)
Hymn 198 Let us build a house where love can dwell (Two Oaks)
1 Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive;
built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
All are welcome,
all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
2 Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
3 Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground,
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space,
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
4 Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
5 Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed
as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace,
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
Old Testament Reading: Amos 8: 4-7
4Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
5saying, ‘When will the new moon be over
so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,
so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
and practise deceit with false balances,
6buying the poor for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’
7The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 2: 1-7
1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For
there is one God;
there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
6who gave himself a ransom for all—
this was attested at the right time. 7For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Anthem: Love bade me welcome – Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack’d anything.
“A guest” I answer’d, “worthy to be here:”
Love said, “You shall be he.”
“I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.”
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
“Who made the eyes, but I?”
“Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.”
“And know you not,” says Love, “who bore the blame?”
“My dear, then I will serve.”
“You must sit down” says Love, “and taste my meat”:
So I did sit and eat.
Gospel Reading: Luke 16: 1-13
1Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” 3Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” 6He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” 7Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” 8And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.
10‘Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’
Hymn 474 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (Es ist ein Ros’ Entsprungen)
1 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed,
great David’s greater Son!
Hail, in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free,
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.
2 He comes with succour speedy
to those who suffer wrong,
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong,
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in his sight.
3 He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth,
and love, joy, hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth.
Before him, on the mountains,
shall peace, the herald, go;
and righteousness in fountains
from hill to valley flow.
4 For him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend,
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.
The mountain dews shall nourish
a seed, in weakness sown,
whose fruit shall spread and flourish
and shake like Lebanon.
5 O’er every foe victorious,
he on his throne shall rest,
from age to age more glorious,
all blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand for ever;
that name to us is Love.
Sermon
Anthem: O taste and see – Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
O taste and see how gracious the Lord is:
blest is the man that trusteth in Him.
Dedication of our Offerings
{If able, please stand as the offering is brought forward and the congregation sings}
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (CH4 807, Old 100th)
Dedication of our Offerings
{If able, please stand as the offering is brought forward and the congregation sings}
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (CH4 807, Old 100th)
Prayer of Dedication:
Minister: Father, Son, and Spirit Holy,
we give you thanks and praise:
Congregation: We dedicate to you
our thoughts, our words,
our gifts, our deeds,
the working of our hands,
the thinking of our minds,
the loving of our hearts. Amen.
A word about the Night Shelter Season 2025—26
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 502 Take my life, Lord, let it be (Nottingham)
1 Take my life, Lord, let it be
consecrated, glad, and free;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of your love;
take my feet, that I may run
bearing news of Christ your Son.
3 Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my intellect and use
every power as you shall choose.
4 Take my will — your will be done,
may my will and yours be one;
take my heart — it is your own,
it shall be your royal throne.
5 Take my love — my Lord, I pour
at your feet its treasure-store;
take myself, and I will be
all for you, eternally.
Benediction & Choral Amen
Organ Postlude: Vater unser im Himmelreich by Böhm (1661-1733)
Retiring Offering for the continuing life and ministry of St Columba’s. It is possible to donate via the website. We are most grateful for all that we receive.
