Live Stream
Order of Service
ST COLUMBA’S, PONT STREET
SUNDAY 9th AUGUST 2020
Introduction & Lighting of Candles
Call to Worship
Hymn 489 Come down, O Love Divine (Down Ampney)
Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer
Children’s Talk
Old Testament Readings: I Kings 19:9-18 & Psalm 85:8-13
Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing (Rutter)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Hymn 260 Eternal Father, strong to save (Melita)
Sermon
Musical Interlude
Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession
Intimations
Hymn 535 Who would true valour see (Monks Gate)
Benediction
Organ Postlude: WM Organ 1
Reader: Sheila Nicoll
Hymn 489 Come down, O Love Divine (Down Ampney)
Come down, O Love divine,
seek out this soul of mine,
and visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
within my heart appear,
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn,
till earthly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let your glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
my outward vesture be,
and lowliness become my inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the power of human telling;
for none can guess its grace,
till Love create a place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
Hymn 260 Eternal Father, strong to save (Melita)
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bade the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Saviour, whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at thy word,
who walked upon the foaming deep,
And calm amid the storm didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who did brood
Upon the waters dark and rude,
And bid their angry tumult cease,
And give for wild confusion peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
shield all of them in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire, and foe,
Protect them whereso'er they go;
Thus, evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Hymn 535 Who would true valour see (Monks Gate)
Who would true valour see,
Let him come hither;
One here will constant be,
Come wind, come weather
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound;
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright,
He'll with a giant fight,
He will have a right
To be a pilgrim.
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
He'll fear not what men say,
He'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.
Old Testament Reading I: I Kings 19:9-18
19:9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
19:10 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."
19:11 He said, "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
19:14 He answered, "I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."
19:15 Then the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
19:17 Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.
19:18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
Old Testament Reading II: Psalm 85:8-13
85:8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
85:9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
85:10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
85:11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.
85:12 The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
85:13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
14:24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.
14:25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.
14:26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."
14:28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."
14:29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
PRAYER RESOURCES FOR SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST 2020
(Prepared by the Congregational Prayer Group)
Scripture: Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Scripture: Romans 8:38-39.
For I am convinced that neither death or life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Verses from hymn, Strength will rise, Chris Tomlin.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord.
You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on the wings
like eagles.
From everlasting to everlasting
God, you are everlasting.
Some Ideas for Prayer:
- Think about Paul’s great promise in Romans and give thanks that nothing can separate us from God’s love shown in Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Think about the reading from the prophet Isaiah.
- Give thanks for Jesus who showed great compassion for the weak.
- Pray for the weakest in our society; especially for those most vulnerable to Covid.
- Think of our brothers and sisters who do not have the same right we have to worship God. In particular those in China who are persecuted for their faith. Give thanks that he renews their strength in difficult circumstances.
- Remember Joshua when he was 85 years old he was still going strong because of the strength God had given him and his faithfulness. But also, pray for the powerful . Particularly for those in Government and those in positions of responsibility that they will govern wisely and in the interests of everyone. Ask that God will raise up Godly people to represent us in national and local government. Remember Solomon’s prayer when he became king; he did not ask for wealth or privilege but he asked that he would govern wisely (see first I Kings:3).
- Think also of Mordecai in the book of Esther. He was prime minister in the time of King Xerxes (see Esther 10). He was commended by the people because he worked for the good of all the people.
- Give thanks for the many ordinary people who have served us at this time. Those in the NHS, local authority workers and those on public transport. Shop staff.
- Give thanks for renewed strength.
- Ponder upon waiting on God. Sometimes God does not act immediately. He is not bound by time. But God’s timing is perfect.
Concluding blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars for their healing light to you.
Deep peace of Christ the Light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.