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SUNDAY 26TH OCTOBER 2025 11.00 a.m.
MORNING SERVICE , ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
(TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST)
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 52 How lovely is thy dwelling-place (Psalm 84)
- How lovely is thy dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts, to me!
The tabernacles of thy grace,
How pleasant, Lord, they be! - My thirsty soul longs vehemently,
Yea faints, thy courts to see:
My very heart and flesh cry out,
O living God, for thee. - Behold, the sparrow findeth out
An house wherein to rest;
The swallow also for herself
Hath found her place to nest; - Even thine own altars, where she safe
Her young ones forth may bring,
O thou almighty Lord of hosts,
Who art my God and King. - Blest are they in thy house who dwell,
they ever give thee praise.
And blest are they whose strength thou art,
In whose heart are thy ways.
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 465 Be thou my vision (Slane)
1 Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Be thou my Wisdom, be thou my true Word;
I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father: thine own I would be;
thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.
3 Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tower;
raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
4 Riches I heed not, nor earth’s empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou, and thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
5 High King of Heaven, after victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 14: 7-10, 19-22
Although our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
and we have sinned against you.
8 O hope of Israel,
its saviour in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveller turning aside for the night?
9 Why should you be like someone confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not forsake us!
10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them,
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.
19 Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
20 We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.
21 Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonour your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22 Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for it is you who do all this.
New Testament Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
16 At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Anthem: Beatus vir (Psalm 112) (part 1) – Monteverdi 1567-1643
Beatus vir qui timet Dominum:
in mandatis ejus volet nimis.
Potens in terra erit semen ejus:
generatio rectorum benedicetur.
Gloria et divitiae in domo ejus:
et justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi.
Exortum est in tenebris lumen rectis:
misericors, et miserator, et justus.
Jucundus homo, qui miseretur, et commodat:
disponet sermones suos in judicio:
quia in aeternum non commovebitur.
In memoria aeterna erit justus:ab auditione mala non timebit.
Paratum cor ejus sperare in Domino,
confirmatum est cor ejus:non commovebitur,
donec despiciat inimicos suos.
Dispersit, dedit pauperibus;
justitia ejus manet in saeculum saeculi:
cornu ejus exaltabitur in gloria.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth:
the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house:
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:
he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth:
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever:
the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:
his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,
until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness endureth for ever;
his horn shall be exalted with honour.
Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Hymn 517 Fight the good fight with all your mighty (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.
Sermon
Anthem: Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom – E. Farrar (1885-1918)
Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum.
Peccator videbit, et irascetur;
dentibus suis fremet et tabescet:
desiderium peccatorum peribit.
Beatus vir, qui timet Dominum.
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
Sicut erat in principlo, et nunc, et semper:
et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved;
he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away;
the desire of the wicked shall perish.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. 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.
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 706 For the healing of the nations (Triumph)
1 For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
2 Lead us forward into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.
3 All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span.
4 You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
Benediction & Choral Amen
Organ Postlude
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.
