Live Stream

Pre-Service Music from 10.50am 
Introduction & Lighting of Candles
Introit: Organ piece
Call to Worship
Hymn 124 Praise to the Lord (Lobe den herren) 
Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Talk
New Testament Readings: Acts1:6-14 & I Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Anthem Ascendit Deus (Philips) 
Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11
Hymn 354 O love how deep (Eisenach) 
Sermon
Musical Interlude
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 438 The Head that once was crowned with thorns (St Magnus)
(Congregation only; no choir)
Benediction
Organ Voluntary

Hymn 124 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
praise God, my soul, for in him are your health and salvation:
come all who hear,
into his presence draw near,
joining in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord; who in all things is wondrously reigning,
shields you from harm and is gently yet firmly sustaining.
Have you not seen
how your hearts wishes have been
granted by God’s wise ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who with blessing and power will defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you;
ponder anew
what the Almighty can do:
God will for ever befriend you.

4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
sound from God’s people again;
gladly for ever adore him.

Hymn 354 O love, how deep, how broad, how high

1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high!
surpassing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

2 For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptations sharp he knew,
for us the tempter overthrew.

3 For us he prayed, for us he taught,
for us the lost with love he sought, 
by words, and signs, and actions, he
brought health and hope to set us free.

4. For us to wicked men betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in crown of thorns arrayed;
he bore the shameful cross and death,
for us at length gave up his breath.

5 For us he rose from death again,
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

6 To him whose boundless love has won
salvation for us through the Son
to God the Father, glory be
both now and through eternity.

Hymn 438 The Head that once was crowned with thorns

1 The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty Victor's brow.

2 The highest place that heaven affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings and Lord of lords,
and heaven's eternal Light:

3 The joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love,
and grants his name to know.

4 To them the cross, with all its shame,
with all its grace, is given;
their name an everlasting name,
their joy the joy of heaven.

5 They suffer with the Lord below,
they reign with him above;
their profit and their joy to know
the mystery of his love.

6 The cross he bore is life and health,
though shame and death to him;
his people's hope, his people's wealth,
their everlasting theme.

Readings for Sunday 24th May 2020

Acts1:6-14 

1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

1:7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

1:9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

1:10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.

1:11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

1:12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.

1:13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

1:14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

I Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

4:13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

5:8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour.

5:9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.

5:11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading: John 17:1-11

17:1 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,

17:2 since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

17:4 I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.

17:5 So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;

17:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.

17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

POETRY & SILENT PRAYER FOR EASTERTIDE

ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
24th May 2020, EASTER VII - ASCENSION 

BEFORE PRAYER
Take time to find a comfortable place to sit. A candle or a vase of flowers, or an object can be a helpful object for focus. Be aware of your body and breath. Silence - a meeting place where I am looking for God’s love and He is looking for mine.

OPENING PRAYER 
I weave a silence on to my lips
I weave a silence into my mind
I weave a silence within my heart
I close my ears to distractions
I close my eyes to attractions
I close my heart to temptations
Calm me as You stilled the storm
Still me, keep me from harm
Let all the tumult within me cease
Enfold me, Beloved, in your peace.

(THE EDGE OF GLORY by David Adam)

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 68:32-35
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

POEM
A sonnet for Ascension Day, Malcolm Guite
We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.
We saw him go and yet we were not parted
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted
Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings,
Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness,
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight,
Whilst we ourselves become his clouds of witness
And sing the waning darkness into light,
His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
Which all creation waits to see revealed .

TIME OF SILENCE (Try 4-8 minutes initially)

CLOSING PRAYER 
Almighty Father, in your great mercy you made glad the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord. Give us such knowledge of his presence with us that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life, and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BLESSING 
Word of Life, heal, forgive, comfort, bless. 
Be still, be glad, and be at peace. 
The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!
Happy Easter! Hallelujah! Amen.