Cruden Parish Church
10.00am, Sunday 27 September 2020
‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full’ John 10:10
Are you a Stradivarius or a CD holder?
Welcome & Words of approach to God
Whether you are joining us in the church or online you are welcome here!
A love that never ceases,
A creativity that designed the universe,
A hope that cannot be quenched,
A pursuit of reconciliation no matter the cost:
These are the things that are of God,
Then let us worship God.
Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
1. Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
Praise God, my soul for in him are your health and salvation!
Come all who hear, into his presence draw near;
Joining in glad adoration
2. Praise to the Lord,
Who in all things is wondrously reigning,
Shields you from harm and is gently yet firmly sustaining.,
Have you not seem how all your heart’s wishes have been
Granted by God’s wise ordaining?
3. Praise to the Lord,
Who with blessing and power will defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
God will for ever befriend you.
4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen Sound from His people again,
Gladly for ever adore Him.
Ajoachim Neander (Tr. Catherine Winkworth)
Prayers of Approach to God
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen
Bible Reading
John 10:1-18 - The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Sermon Are you a Stradivarius or a CD holder?
Church News (Intimations are the end of the Order of Service)
Prayers of Intercession
We bring before God our concerns for the people in our hearts at this present time, our church, community and world.
God of inclusive love,
You know each and every one of us.
You know –
that some of us are doing just fine,
others are freaking out,
while others struggle to breathe.
The weight of the moment
and the need for grace and mercy
are pushing some of us to our knees.
Help us all –
to pray honestly,
to speak truthfully and compassionately,
to act kindly and seek justice fervently.
Help us all –
to see You in the kindness of friend and stranger,
hear You in the laughter, cries and silence,
know You in the midst of our circumstances.
May Your Spirit be at the heart of all we do,
not on one side or the other,
but the very centre of our lives.
May Your Kingdom be made real in our communities,
through the work of Your church
guided by Your wild and untamed Spirit. AMEN
(Faith Nurture Forum – Church of Scotland)
Hymn :You are before me, Lord, you are behind.
1.You are before me, Lord, You are behind.
And over me You have spread out Your hand;
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
Too high to grasp, to great to understand.
2.Then from Your Spirit where, Lord, shall I go;
And from Your presence where, Lord, shall I fly?
If I ascend to heaven You are there,
and still are with me if in hell I lie.
3. If I should take my flight into the dawn,
If I should dwell on ocean's farthest shore,
Your mighty hand will rest upon me still,
And Your right hand will guard me evermore.
4. If I should say, "Let darkness cover me,
And I shall hide within the veil of night,"
Surely the darkness is not dark to You;
The night is as the day, the darkness light.
5. Search me, O God, search me and know my heart;
Try me, O God, my mind and spirit try;
Keep me from any path that gives You pain,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
(From Psalm 139) Ian Pitt-Watson
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
(Numbers 6:24-26)
Church News
Online Study & Discussion Group meets this evening at 7.00 pm. No previous knowledge is expected or required! Everybody welcome. For more details or a copy of the link, please contact Sean. 07791 755976 sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk
Pastoral Care- The latest Covid-19 guidelines include restrictions on visiting people in their homes. However, this does not affect pastoral visits by the minister or representative of the church where the purpose is to offer pastoral care or a religious rite (Home Communion, prayer etc.). However, these visits can only take place by invitation. For more information or to request a pastoral visit, please contact Sean, tel.07791 755976.
Walking for Health and Well-being – meet this Tuesday at 10.30 am outside the St Olaf Hotel, Cruden Bay. Everybody welcome. (This is a permitted activity under the current Covid-19 rules and will shortly become an officially recognised ‘Health Walk.’) Group members are requested to make use of the track and trace smartphone app.
Worship-we meet every Sunday at 10.00 am. In order to provide a safe environment, we are strictly following the appropriate rules and guidance, including social distancing. Members and visitors are asked to reserve seating by contacting Robert Esson either by phone on 01779 813049 or by email at robertesson@btinternet.com before 7.00pm on the Saturday evening prior to the service.
Facebook – our morning service will be broadcast live via the Church Facebook Page. In order to follow the service, you may have to reload the page just before the broadcast begins at 10.00 am.
Re-opening Cruden Parish Church
For where two or three gather in my name, there are I with them. Matthew 18:20
The Scottish Government have now granted permission for churches to open for worship under strict conditions and the Church of Scotland have issued guidance to congregations which need to be followed.
- The necessary risk assessments have been successfully completed and permission received from Presbytery to open the church.
- The Session have agreed that we will meet for Sunday worship at 10.00am on 13 September and every Sunday thereafter.
- The church will be cleaned midweek and again on Sunday mornings prior to worship with antiviral and antibacterial cleaning solutions.
- Seating in the church is limited to 30 due to the social distancing requirements.
- Members are asked to reserve seating by contacting Robert Esson either by phone on 01779 813049 or by email at robertesson@btinternet.com before 7.00pm on the Saturday evening prior to the service.
- Hand sanitisers will be available at both church doors for worshipers to use.
- It is planned to enter through the Welcome area and exit via the Vestry door
- The wearing of a face covering in the church is mandatory
- The seats in the church were worshipers can sit are clearly marked and a member of the welcoming team will advise where to sit
- There are a few areas in the church where two people from the same household can sit.
- Worshipers will be required to complete an attendance slip, which will be at their seats, to comply with Trace and Protect regulations. These will be collected at the end of the service and sealed in an envelope.
- Please try to maintain social distancing at all times.
- Stephen Calder will be present to play the organ before, during and after the service. Singing is however not allowed.
- The service will be broadcast live on the church Facebook page.
- We request that all worshipers comply with the above requirements which at the time of writing are either current regulations or best practice as advised by the Church of Scotland. These regulations will change to reflect any changes issued by the Government and or the Church of Scotland.