Cruden Parish Church
(Church of Scotland)
‘Responding to love, embracing grace, and choosing life!’
The second Sunday of Lent
10.00am, Sunday 28th February 2021
Watch this Service on You Tube
Welcome & Call to Worship
God of the open road,
God of the twisting path,
God of the narrow and upward way,
your people are gathered for worship!
In this hour, give us provision for the journey,
courage and faith and compassion.
Open our eyes to see you walking beside us,
protecting us, encouraging us, loving us.
We pray this in the name of Jesus,
Amen
Let us worship God
Hymn 549: How deep the Father’s love for us
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Prayers of Approach & The 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 Readings
Genesis 17:1-7
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”
Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Mark 8:31-38
Jesus predicts his death
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. ‘Get behind me, Satan!’ he said. ‘You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’
The way of the cross
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.’
Sermon ‘Responding to love, embracing grace and choosing life!’
Prayers of Intercession
Hymn 533 Will you come and follow me
- Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
- Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
- Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
- Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
- Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
A blessing for the season of Lent
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
fill you with radiance.
and scatter the darkness from your path.
Amen.
Christ, the Sun of Righteousness,
gladden your eyes and warm your heart.
Amen.
Christ, the Dayspring from on high,
draw near to guide your feet into the way of peace.
Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.
Time for coffee…
CRUDEN PARISH CHURCH NEWS
According to the roadmap out of lockdown, it is anticipated that the church may be able to re-open from April 5th with numbers limited to 20 people. For Cruden Parish Church, this is subject to a decision by the Kirk Session. Until that or any other date is announced, the church is currently closed for Sunday Worship. Our Sunday morning services will now be broadcast live via Zoom at 10.00 am every Sunday morning. For a copy of the link please contact Robert or Sean. (07791 755976)
Recording of Services
As we are now using Zoom the service can no longer be relayed live via Facebook. However, from this Sunday onwards, we will be recording the service which will be made available via the church website. If you do not wish your name or face displayed on the recording, please switch off your camera or change your name you use for the broadcast.
Pastoral Care
Please advise the minister if you know of anybody would appreciate a pastoral phone call. Sean can be contacted on 07791 755976 or sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk
Coffee & Chat
Takes place at the end of the service. Please stay online if you wish to participate.
Lent & Easter 2021
Reflections for Lent – each day of Lent there will be a reflection posted on the church Facebook Page. Contributions from friends and members would be appreciated! For me details contact Sean.
Holy Week Reflections- For each day of Holy Week (Palm Sunday - 28th March to Holy Saturday - 3rd April) there will be a video reflection, seeking to link the story of Jesus’ final week with places in and around the Parish of Cruden.
Holy Week Services – more details soon.
Lent Discussion Group
Our 'online' Lent discussion group meets on Sundays at 7.00 pm,
We will be exploring the theme of God's help in times of crisis through selected readings from the Old Testament book of Isaiah.
Everybody welcome - no previous Bible knowledge expected or required!
Members of other churches which may be currently shut due to the pandemic are respectfully invited to join the group.
Our discussions will be based on the book 'A way through the wilderness - experiencing God's help in times of crisis' by Paula Gooder. As the book is out of print a study guide will be provided.
More information, please contact Sean @ sswindells@churchofscotland.org.uk tel. 07791 755976
