Sunday February 22nd joint service at Crown Court Church for live stream go to https://crowncourtchurch.org.uk/
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ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET,
SUNDAY 1st March 2026 11.00 A.M.,
MORNING SERVICE, SUNDAY SCHOOL & BAPTISMS
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 608 Spirit of truth and grace (Down Ampney)
1 Spirit of truth and grace,
come to us in this place
as now in Jesus’ name God’s people gather.
Open our eyes to see
truths that will ever be,
and in communion draw us close together.
2 Spirit of joy and peace,
make all anxieties cease
with knowledge of the Father’s perfect caring.
Then may God’s children know
love that won’t let us go
and joy that fills each day, beyond comparing.
3 Spirit of life and power,
revive us in this hour
and stir our hearts to praise with true devotion.
Fill us with heavenly fire,
and every heart inspire,
that we may serve the world with your compassion.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Sacrament of Baptism: Douglas Thomas John Andrews,
Felix George Francis Grandison & William James Scrimgeour
Blessing {Sung by congregation} CH4 796
The Lord bless you, and keep you:
The Lord make his face
to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace. Amen
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.
Hymn 600 Spirit of God, unseen as the wind (Skye Boat Song)
{Our young people are invited to leave for Sunday School after the singing of the hymn. Visiting children very welcome.}
Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
gentle as is the dove,
teach us the truth and help us believe,
show us the Saviour’s love.
1 You spoke to us long, long ago,
gave us the written word;
we read it still, needing its truth,
through it God’s voice is heard.
2 Without your help we fail our Lord,
we cannot live his way;
we need your power, we need your strength,
following Christ each day.
Old Testament Reading 1: Genesis 12:1-4a
Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
So, Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Old Testament Reading 2: Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.
Anthem: Ecce quomodo moritur justus Händl (Gallus) 1550- 1591
Behold how the righteous dies
and no one takes notice.
The righteous are taken away
and no one pays attention.
From facing iniquity
the righteous is removed,
and his memory will be in peace:
his (resting) place is in peace
and his dwelling place in Zion,
and his memory will be in peace.
Ecce, quomodo moritur justus, et nemo percipit corde;
Viri justi tolluntur, et nemo considerat;
A facie iniquitatis, sublatus est justus
Et erit in pace memoria eius.
In pace factus est locus eius,
Et in Sion habitatio eius,
Et erit in pace memoria eius.
Gospel Reading: John 3:1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’
Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Hymn 616 There’s a spirit in the air (Lauds)
1 There’s a spirit in the air,
telling Christians everywhere:
‘Praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working in our world!’
2 Lose your shyness, find your tongue,
tell the world what God has done:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!
3 When believers break the bread,
when a hungry child is fed,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working, in our world.
4 Still the Spirit gives us light,
seeing wrong and setting right:
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!
5 When a stranger’s not alone,
where the homeless find a home,
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working, in our world.
6 May the Spirit fill our praise,
guide our thoughts and change our ways.
God in Christ has come to stay.
Live tomorrow’s life today!
7 There’s a Spirit in the air,
calling people everywhere:
praise the love that Christ revealed,
living, working, in our world.
Sermon
Anthem: Christus factus est Anerio (c 1560-1614)
Christ became obedient for us unto death,
even to the death, death on the cross.
Therefore God exalted him
and gave him a name
which is above all names.
Christus factus est pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.
Propter quod et Deus exaltavit illum, et dedit illi nomen, quod est su per omne nomen.
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.
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 622 We sing a love that sets all people free (Woodlands)
1 We sing a love that sets all people free,
that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
enfolds like earth, springs up like water clear:
come, living love, live in our hearts today.
2 We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
3 We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
a love that stands alone and undismayed:
come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
4 We sing a love, that, wandering, will not rest
until it finds its way, its home, its source,
through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.
5 We sing a burning, fiery, Holy Ghost
that seeks out shades of ancient bitterness,
transfiguring these, as Christ in every heart:
come joyful love, live in our hearts today.
Organ Postlude: “Fiddle” Fugue. JS Bach
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.
