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SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 2025 11.00 a.m.
MORNING WORSHIP & HOLY COMMUNION , ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
(SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST)
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 500 Lord of creation, to you be all praise! (Slane)
1 Lord of creation, to you be all praise!
Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!
Your glory and power are beyond us to tell,
and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
2 Lord of all power, I give you my will,
in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfil.
Your bondage is freedom; your service is song;
and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
3 Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind,
rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find.
What eye has not seen and what ear has not heard
is taught by your Spirit and shines from your Word.
4 Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart;
I praise and adore you for all you impart;
your love to inflame me, your counsel to guide,
your presence to shield me, whatever betide.
5 Lord of all being, I give you my all;
if I should disown you, I’d stumble and fall;
but, sworn in your service your word I’ll obey,
and walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
Prayers of Approach
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
32The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. 2At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, 3where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, ‘Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
6 Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me: 7Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ 8Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. 11Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; 12and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, 14Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. 15For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
Hymn 468 Son of God, eternal Saviour (Blaenwern)
1 Son of God, eternal Saviour,
source of life and truth and grace,
Son of Man, whose birth incarnate
hallows all our human race;
great High Priest who, throned in glory,
for your own will ever plead,
fill us with your love and pity,
heal our wrongs, and help our need.
2 Lord, as you have lived for others,
so may we for others live;
freely have your gifts been granted,
freely may your servants give.
Yours the gold and yours the silver,
yours the wealth of sea and land,
we but stewards of your bounty
held in trust at your command.
3 Come, Lord Jesus, reign among us,
King of Love, and Prince of Peace;
hush the storm of strife and passion,
bid its cruel discords cease.
Yours the prayer, and yours the purpose,
that your people should be one;
grant from heaven our hope’s fruition:
here on earth your will be done.
New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 2: 1-7
6Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
13In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen. 17As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:19-31
19 ‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.* The rich man also died and was buried. 23In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.* 24He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” 25But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.” 27He said, “Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.” 29Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” 30He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” 31He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’
Anthem: Beati quorum via – C.V.Stanford (1852-1924)
Beati quorum via integra est: qui ambulant in lege Domini.
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Sermon
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
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.
Hymn 363 We have a gospel – Walton Fulda
1 We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a Saviour’s name:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
2 Tell of his birth at Bethlehem
not in a royal house or hall
but in a stable dark and dim,
the Word made flesh, a light for all.
3 Tell of his death at Calvary,
hated by those he came to save,
in lonely suff’ring on the cross;
for all he loved his life he gave.
4 Tell of that glorious Easter morn —
empty the tomb, for he was free.
He broke the power of death and hell
that we might share his victory.
5 Tell of his reign at God’s right hand,
by all creation glorified.
He sends his Spirit on his Church
to live for him, the Lamb who died.
6 Now we rejoice to name him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.
Celebration of Holy Communion
After the Elements of Bread and Wine have been set apart:
Minister: The Lord be with you;
Congregation: And also with you.
Minister: Lift up your hearts;
Congregation: We lift them to God
Minister: Let us give thanks to God our maker;
Congregation: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
During the prayers that follow:
Minister: And as one with your people on earth, north and south, east and west, we join our praise, singing the song of your eternal greatness.
Congregation: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he, who comes in the name
of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
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.
After the breaking of the Bread and the lifting of the Cup:
Minister: Jesus, Lamb of God
Congregation: Have mercy upon us.
Minister: Jesus, bearer of our sins
Congregation: Have mercy upon us.
Minister: Jesus, redeemer of the world
Congregation: Grant us peace.
Communion Anthem: O Lord, increase my faith, O.Gibbons (1583-1625)
O Lord, increase my faith,
strengthen me and confirm me in thy true faith,
endue me with wisdom,
chastity and patience in all my adversities.
Sweet Jesus, say Amen.
Intimations
Hymn 517 Fight the good fight (Duke Street)
1 Fight the good fight with all your might;
Christ is your strength, and Christ your right;
lay hold on life, and it shall be
your joy and crown eternally.
2 Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
lift up your eyes, and seek his face;
life with its path before us lies;
Christ is the way, and Christ the prize.
3 Cast care aside, lean on your Guide;
his boundless mercy will provide.
Trust, and your trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life, and Christ its love.
4 Faint not, nor fear; his arm is near;
he does not change, and you are dear;
only believe, and Christ shall be
your all in all eternally.
Benediction & Choral Amen
Organ Postlude: Sun Dance – Chilcott (Born 1955)
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