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SUNDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2026 11.00 a.m.
MORNING WORSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL
(EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST)
Welcome
Call to Worship
Hymn 520 Ye who the name of Jesus bear (St Anne)
1 Ye who the name of Jesus bear,
his sacred steps pursue;
and let that mind which was in him
be also found in you.
2 His greatness he for us abased,
for us his glory veiled;
in human likeness dwelt on earth,
his majesty concealed:
3 Nor only as a man appears,
but stoops a servant low;
submits to death, nay, bears the cross,
in all its shame and woe.
4 Hence God this generous love to all
with honours just hath crowned,
and raised the name of Jesus far
above all names renowned:
5 That at this name, with sacred awe,
each humble knee should bow,
of hosts immortal in the skies,
and nations spread below.
Call to Prayer
Prayers of Approach
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
17 From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ Moses said to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?’ 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ 5 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.’ Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’
New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:1-13
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Shining as Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Hymn 458 At the name of Jesus (Camberwell)
1 At the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him
King of glory now;
’tis the Father’s pleasure
we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning
was the mighty Word.
2 Brothers, sisters, name him
with love strong as death,
but with awe and wonder
and with bated breath!
He is God the Saviour,
he is Christ the Lord,
ever to be worshipped,
trusted, and adored.
3 In your hearts enthrone him;
there let him subdue
all that is not holy,
all that is not true:
let his grace support you
in temptation’s hour;
and his will enfold you
in its light and power.
4 In his Father’s glory
Christ shall come again,
angel hosts proclaiming
his return to reign.
For all wreaths of empire
meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him
King of glory now.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:23-32
23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ 24 Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” 26 But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ 27 So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” 29 He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Anthem: Be thou my vision (Chillcott b 1955)
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
High King of heaven, my 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
Sermon
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 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.
Followed immediately by
Hymn 19 Ye gates lift up your heads on high (St George’s, Edinburgh)
7 Ye gates, lift up your heads on high;
ye doors that last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
8 But who of glory is the King?
The mighty Lord is this;
* even that same Lord that great in might
and strong in battle is.
9 Ye gates, lift up your heads; ye doors,
doors that do last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
10 But who is he that is the King,
the King of glory? who is this?
The Lord of hosts, and none but he,
the King of glory is.
Coda:
Alleluia! alleluia!
alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!
Amen, amen, amen.
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: Laudate dominum (Sweelinck 1562-1621)
Laudate Dominum omnes gentes;
Laudate eum, omnes populi.
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus,
Et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.
Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper.
Et in saecula saeculorum. Amen
O praise the Lord, all ye nations;
Praise him, all ye people.
For his merciful kindness is ever more and more towards us,
And the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.
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.
Intimations
Hymn 738 Glorious things of thee are spoken (Austrian Hymn)
1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou mayest smile at all thy foes.
2 See! the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage —
grace which, like the Lord the Giver,
never fails from age to age?
3 Saviour, since of Zion’s city
I, through grace, a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy Name.
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
and all boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion’s children know.
Benediction & Choral Amen
Postlude: Fiddle Fugue in d, (JS Bach 1685-1750)
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