Cruden Parish Church of Scotland

10.00am, Sunday 13 June 2021

‘The dangers of sanctimonious piety!’

ORDER OF SERVICE:
Click here to print out the Order of Service

FACEBOOK PAGE:
Click here to join the Service live on Facebook or to view a recording later.

‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God’
Ephesians 2:8

Welcome & Introduction.

Welcome to Cruden Parish Church!  We are a congregation of the Church of Scotland serving the communities in and around the villages of Longhaven, Hatton, Cruden Bay and Whinnyfold. We also extend a special welcome to those unable to be physically present with us this morning and following the service online. Wherever you are and whatever your circumstances, we pray that you may know God’s blessing and presence during this time of worship.

Call to Worship

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.

(Psalm 66:1-4)

Let is worship God

Hymn 63: All people that on earth do dwell (Psalm 100)

  1. All people that on earth do dwell,
    sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
    him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
    come ye before him and rejoice.

  2. Know that the Lord is God indeed;
    without our aid he did us make:
    we are his folk, he doth us feed,
    and for his sheep he doth us take.

  3. O enter then his gates with praise,
    approach with joy his courts unto;
    praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
    for it is seemly so to do.

  4. For why? the Lord our God is good,
    his mercy is for ever sure;
    his truth at all times firmly stood,
    and shall from age to age endure.

Prayers of Approach & Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your 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

Isaiah 64: 1-9

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
    that the mountains would tremble before you!
As when fire sets twigs ablaze
    and causes water to boil,
come down to make your name known to your enemies
    and cause the nations to quake before you!

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
    you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
Since ancient times no one has heard,
    no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
    who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right,
    who remember your ways.

But when we continued to sin against them,
    you were angry.
    How then can we be saved?
All of us have become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
we all shrivel up like a leaf,
    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
No one calls on your name
    or strives to lay hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us
    and have given us over to our sins.

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord;
    do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look on us, we pray,
    for we are all your people.

Your sacred cities have become a wasteland;
    even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation.
Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you,
    has been burned with fire,
    and all that we treasured lies in ruins.
After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back?
    Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?

Ephesians 2:8

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves,  it is the gift of God.

Sermon   ‘The dangers of sanctimonious piety!‘

Hymn 528: Make me a channel of your peace

  1. Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there is hatred let me bring your love
    Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
    And where there is doubt true faith in You

    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console
    To be understood as to understand
    To be loved as to love with all my soul


  2. Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
    Where there is darkness only light
    And where there's sadness ever joy

  3. Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
    It is in giving to all men that we receive
    And in dying that we are born to eternal life

Church News

Prayers of Intercession

Hymn 555: Amazing grace

  1. Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
    That saved a wretch like me.
    I once was lost, but now I am found,
    Was blind, but now I see.

  2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
    And grace my fears relieved.
    How precious did that grace appear
    The hour I first believed.

  3. Through many dangers, toils and snares
    I have already come,
    'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
    And grace will lead me home.

  4. The Lord has promised good to me
    His word my hope secures;
    He will my shield and portion be,
    As long as life endures.

  5. When we've been there ten thousand years
    Bright shining as the sun,
    We've no less days to sing God's praise
    Than when we've first begun.

Dismissal and Blessing

So now we leave this space of worship.
As you go from here, remember this:
God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,
from generation to generation.
Just as a father has compassion on his children.
So God has compassion on those fear him,
who listen to his voice,
and who do his will.
Go out in the knowledge.
that the everlasting love of God goes with you.

Go in peace.

May the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit
Be with you all forever more.
Amen

 

CRUDEN PARISH CHURCH NEWS

Although the church is now open, Covid restrictions are still in place. We appreciate your support in maintaining social distancing, the wearing of facemasks, and sitting in the marked spaces. Also, a special thanks to our volunteers on door duty and providing an enhanced cleaning regime.
The service will also be broadcast live via the Facebook Page and be available for later viewing. If you would like a copy of the Order of Service, which includes the words of the readings, hymns, intimations etc., please contact Sean.

Update- following advice from the Church of Scotland and discussion at the Kirk Session we are delighted to announce that congregational singing is now permitted! This is still subject to social distancing and the wearing of facemasks. We would also request that people remain seated.

Also due to the increased numbers of people wishing to attend church, the Kirk Session has agreed to make parts of balcony available. Like the main body of the church, social distancing is still required, and available seating will be appropriately signed.

Walking for health and well-being
No ‘official’ health walk this week! Our next walk will be Tuesday 22nd June meeting outside the St Olaf Hotel at 10.00 am. Everybody welcome.

Online Songs of Praise service
Our Songs of Praise takes place tonight via Zoom at 6.30 pm. If you would like a copy of the link please contact Sean or Fred Coutts.
Many thanks for your many and varied hymn suggestions!

Summer Discussion Group
Starting later in June we will begin a series of occasional discussions on aspects of spirituality and faith. The themes will not be chosen by the minister, but by you the congregation! No topic is off the table. (Must be respectful.) The discussions will take place via Zoom on Sunday evenings. For more information or suggested themes, please contact Sean.

Our first online discussion takes at 7.00 PM, Sunday 27th June via Zoom.  The topic (which came up at the recent General Assembly) is The Westminster Confession of Faith.

The report to the General Assembly can be found here: https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/80303/10-Theological-Forum.pdf

‘On your marks!’ Summer Holiday Club
Our holiday club runs from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th August 2021 at Mill Park, Station Road, Cruden Bay. We are looking for volunteers to help in an assortment of roles, including crafts, refreshments, admin, organising games for the very young etc. Please speal to Sean (O7791 755976) or Jamet (07790 934031) for more info.

Christian Aid
Due to Covid 19 restrictions we have been unable to do our usual collection and fund raising for Christian Aid. However, support for the work of Christian Aid is desperately needed as they seek to support some of the most vulnerable groups and communities around the world. Whilst there is so no clear date for when we can resume events like the Buttery Morning at Hatton etc., one suggestion that has been made is a sponsored walk in Bennachie later in the summer! More details soon! Also, Sean will be joining the Christian Aid team on the Great North Run (September) and London Marathon (October), which were cancelled last year. Sponsorship details are available on request.

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