Presbytery of England Service of Introduction for Reverend William McLaren, Associate Minister
for Reverend William McLaren, Associate Minister
St Columba’s, Pont St l/w St Andrew’s, Newcastle
6pm, 8th July 2021
{Congregation stands as Bible carried into sanctuary & Procession of Presbytery}
Introit: In the name of Christ we gather, [From CH4 677] (unannounced)
Welcome & Call to Worship
Hymn 642 Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Abbot’s Leigh)
Prayer of Approach
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:1-7
New Testament Lesson: I Corinthians 1:18-2.5
Anthem: Cantate Domino, Pitoni
Sermon – “Christian Determination”, Revd Andrew Anderson,
member of Presbytery of England
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried, he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
Hymn 677 In the name of Christ we gather
(Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, Grafton)
Introduction of Revd William Mclaren to Congregation of St Columba's, Pont Street l/w St Andrew’s, Newcastle, by the Presbytery of England
Presbytery Clerk’s Narrative
Questions to Revd McLaren
Signing of the Formula & Prayer
Anthem: Gaelic Blessing, J Rutter
Questions to the congregation & Prayers for the Church
[Do you, the members and friends of this congregation, in receiving Mr William Mclaren as Associate Minister, offer him your welcome and promise him your encouragement and support? Response We do.
Do you each now agree to share with him the responsibility for Christian witness and Christian service? Response We do.
And will you give of your time, talents and money for the work of the Church in the world? Response We will.
Welcome from the congregation, Mrs Charlotte Bradford, Session Clerk, St Columba’s, Pont Street
Hymn 286 Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
Benediction & Sung Amen
{Congregation remains standing as the Bible is taken from the church}
Organ Postlude: Now thank we all our God, S. Karg-Elert
Hymn 642 Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Abbot’s Leigh)
-
Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
ye for whom a corner stone
stands, of God elect and precious,
laid that ye may build thereon,
see that on that sure foundation
ye a living temple raise,
towers that may tell forth salvation,
walls that may re-echo praise. -
Living stones, by God appointed
each to an allotted place,
kings and priests, by God anointed,
shall ye not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
tell the tidings of your birth,
tidings of a new creation
to an old and weary earth. -
ell the praise of him who called you
out of darkness into light,
broke the fetters that enthralled you,
gave you freedom, peace and sight:
tell the tale of sins forgiven,
strength renewed and hope restored,
till the earth, in tune with heaven,
praise and magnify the Lord!
Hymn 677 In the name of Christ we gather
(Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, Grafton)
-
In the name of Christ we gather,
in the name of Christ we sing,
as we celebrate the promise
of your servant’s offering,
here ordained to lead God’s people
at the Gospel’s beckoning. -
Sons and daughters of the Spirit,
we are called to teach and care,
called as were the first disciples,
Christ’s own ministry to share,
and in bread and wine and water
sacraments of grace declare. -
In our preaching, praying, caring
may your word spring into life;
in our time of doubt and challenge,
may its truth affirm belief;
and in days of pain and darkness,
may it heal our guilt and grief. -
Word of joy, enlivening Spirit,
more than lover, parent, friend,
born in Jesus, born in Mary,
born in us, that love extend,
grow within your chosen servant(s),
life of God that has no end!
Hymn 286 Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
-
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. -
Ye that know the Lord is gracious,
ye for whom a corner stone
stands, of God elect and precious,
laid that ye may build thereon,
see that on that sure foundation
ye a living temple raise,
towers that may tell forth salvation,
walls that may re-echo praise. -
Living stones, by God appointed
each to an allotted place,
kings and priests, by God anointed,
shall ye not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
tell the tidings of your birth,
tidings of a new creation
to an old and weary earth. -
ell the praise of him who called you
out of darkness into light,
broke the fetters that enthralled you,
gave you freedom, peace and sight:
tell the tale of sins forgiven,
strength renewed and hope restored,
till the earth, in tune with heaven,
praise and magnify the Lord!
-
In the name of Christ we gather,
in the name of Christ we sing,
as we celebrate the promise
of your servant’s offering,
here ordained to lead God’s people
at the Gospel’s beckoning. -
Sons and daughters of the Spirit,
we are called to teach and care,
called as were the first disciples,
Christ’s own ministry to share,
and in bread and wine and water
sacraments of grace declare. -
In our preaching, praying, caring
may your word spring into life;
in our time of doubt and challenge,
may its truth affirm belief;
and in days of pain and darkness,
may it heal our guilt and grief. -
Word of joy, enlivening Spirit,
more than lover, parent, friend,
born in Jesus, born in Mary,
born in us, that love extend,
grow within your chosen servant(s),
life of God that has no end! -
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice. -
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name, the Lord, the Mighty One. -
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!-
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name, the Lord, the Mighty One. -
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high. -
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!
Presbytery of England Service of Introduction
for Reverend William McLaren, Associate Minister
St Columba’s, Pont St l/w St Andrew’s, Newcastle
6pm, 8th July 2021
{Congregation stands as Bible carried into sanctuary & Procession of Presbytery}
Introit: In the name of Christ we gather, [From CH4 677] (unannounced)
Welcome & Call to Worship
Hymn 642 Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Abbot’s Leigh)
Prayer of Approach
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:1-7
New Testament Lesson: I Corinthians 1:18-2.5
Anthem: Cantate Domino, Pitoni
Sermon – “Christian Determination”, Revd Andrew Anderson,
member of Presbytery of England
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried, he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
Hymn 677 In the name of Christ we gather
(Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, Grafton)
Introduction of Revd William Mclaren to Congregation of St Columba's, Pont Street l/w St Andrew’s, Newcastle, by the Presbytery of England
Presbytery Clerk’s Narrative
Questions to Revd McLaren
Signing of the Formula & Prayer
Anthem: Gaelic Blessing, J Rutter
Questions to the congregation & Prayers for the Church
[Do you, the members and friends of this congregation, in receiving Mr William Mclaren as Associate Minister, offer him your welcome and promise him your encouragement and support? Response We do.
Do you each now agree to share with him the responsibility for Christian witness and Christian service? Response We do.
And will you give of your time, talents and money for the work of the Church in the world? Response We will.
Welcome from the congregation, Mrs Charlotte Bradford, Session Clerk, St Columba’s, Pont Street
Hymn 286 Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
Benediction & Sung Amen
{Congregation remains standing as the Bible is taken from the church}
Organ Postlude: Now thank we all our God, S. Karg-Elert
Hymn 642 Ye that know the Lord is gracious (Abbot’s Leigh)
Hymn 677 In the name of Christ we gather
(Tantum Ergo Sacramentum, Grafton)
Hymn 286 Tell out my soul (Woodlands)
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:1-7
Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
New Testament Reading: I Corinthians 1:18-2.5
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast i] the Lord.’ 2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters] I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Prayers for Revd William McLaren as he begins his ministry, prepared by the Congregational prayer Group
We pray for those who minister and preach,
that they may never find themselves rejected out of hand
as our Saviour Jesus Christ was in his home-town synagogue.
We pray especially for William as he joins us this week;
that his vocation and ministry may serve you in holiness and truth,
to the glory of your name,
and may help us here at St Columba’s to grow in faith.
Prayer for a new minister (Adapted from prayer by Kathleen Rolenz)
Spirit of Life,
known to us in beginnings and endings,
in possibilities and promises;
we give thanks for all that has led to this moment,
and all that is yet to come.
We give thanks for those who mentored us -
the women and men in our lives who were our teachers;
who said the turning words of encouragement
when we needed them the most.
We give thanks for this church
that has seen and embraced so much change,
and for all those who have sustained this community of faithv
for many years past and for generations to come.
We give thanks for William;
all that he has given, and will give,
to the living tradition we share.
May the words we have spoken,
and the dreams we have shared,
and the faith we have renewed today,
give him wisdom, comfort, and courage
for all the days ahead;
for the way is often hard,
the path is never clear,
and the stakes are very high.
But deep down there is another truth,
He is not, we are never alone. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:1-7
Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. 4 Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
New Testament Reading: I Corinthians 1:18-2.5
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength. 26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one] might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast i] the Lord.’ 2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters] I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
Prayers for Revd William McLaren as he begins his ministry, prepared by the Congregational prayer Group
We pray for those who minister and preach,
that they may never find themselves rejected out of hand
as our Saviour Jesus Christ was in his home-town synagogue.
We pray especially for William as he joins us this week;
that his vocation and ministry may serve you in holiness and truth,
to the glory of your name,
and may help us here at St Columba’s to grow in faith.
Prayer for a new minister (Adapted from prayer by Kathleen Rolenz)
Spirit of Life,
known to us in beginnings and endings,
in possibilities and promises;
we give thanks for all that has led to this moment,
and all that is yet to come.
We give thanks for those who mentored us -
the women and men in our lives who were our teachers;
who said the turning words of encouragement
when we needed them the most.
We give thanks for this church
that has seen and embraced so much change,
and for all those who have sustained this community of faithv
for many years past and for generations to come.
We give thanks for William;
all that he has given, and will give,
to the living tradition we share.
May the words we have spoken,
and the dreams we have shared,
and the faith we have renewed today,
give him wisdom, comfort, and courage
for all the days ahead;
for the way is often hard,
the path is never clear,
and the stakes are very high.
But deep down there is another truth,
He is not, we are never alone. Amen.