Cruden Parish Church of Scotland

10.00am, Sunday 10 October 2021

Dealing with disappointment - the 'sign of Jonah'

 

Click here to print out the Order of Service

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

‘For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, '
Fear not, I am the one who helps you.’ (Iasiah 41: 13)

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. Our service this morning, takes on a nautical theme as we reflect on the story of Jonah and his 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the giant fish!

Call to worship

To know the warmth of love,
To have the assurance that someone cares,
To be confident of our worth,
To be bold to love in return,
To be washed over with grace,
To be accepted as we are,
To live the adventure of faith
This is to glimpse the mystery of God.

Let us worship God

 CH4 260 Eternal Father, strong to save

  1. Eternal Father, strong to save,
    Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
    Who bade the mighty oceans deep
    Its own appointed limits keep;
    O hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those in peril on the sea.

  2. O Saviour, whose voice the waters heard
    and hushed the raging at thy word
    And walked upon the foaming deep
    And calm amid the storm didst sleep:
    O hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those in peril on the sea.

  3. O Holy Spirit, who did brood
    Upon the waters dark and rude,
    And bid their angry tumult cease,
    And give for wild confusion peace;
    O hear us when we cry to Thee
    For those in peril on the sea.

  4. O Trinity of love and power,
    shield all of them in danger's hour;
    From rock and tempest, fire, and foe,
    Protect them where-so-e'er they go;
    Thus, evermore shall rise to Thee
    Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

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

Jonah 1: 17-2: 10  

Jonah’s Prayer
Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said:
“In my distress I called to the Lord,
    and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
    and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the depths,
    into the very heart of the seas,
    and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
    swept over me.
I said, ‘I have been banished
    from your sight;
yet I will look again
    toward your holy temple.’
The engulfing waters threatened me,
    the deep surrounded me;
    seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
    the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God,
    brought my life up from the pit.
“When my life was ebbing away,
    I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you,
    to your holy temple.
“Those who cling to worthless idols
    turn away from God’s love for them.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
    will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
    I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”
And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land

Matthew 12:38-40

The Sign of Jonah
Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

 

Sermon:    Dealing with Disappointment – the ‘sign of Jonah’

Hymn: Wide, wide as the ocean

Wide, wide as the ocean, high as the heaven above;
Deep, deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love.
I, though so unworthy, still am a child of His care;
For His Word teaches me that His love reaches me everywhere.

Church News

Hymn 737: Will your anchor hold in the storms of life

  1. Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, 
    When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? 
    When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, 
    Will your anchor drift or firm remain? 
    We have an anchor that keeps the soul 
    Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, 
    Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, 
    Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love. 


  2. Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear, 
    when the breakers roar and the reef is near? 
    While the surges rave, and the wild winds blow, 
    shall the angry waves then your bark o'erflow? 

  3. Will your anchor hold in the floods of death, 
    when the waters cold chill your latest breath? 
    On the rising tide you can never fail, 
    while your anchor holds within the veil. 

  4. Will your eyes behold through the morning light 
    the city of gold and the harbour bright 
    Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore? 
    when life's storms are past for evermore? 

 Dismissal and Blessing

May the Father’s hand
keep you from stumbling,
the footprints of Jesus
give you confidence to follow,
and the fire of the Spirit
keep you warm and safe
in your walk with God this day.
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 many of the Covid restrictions have been eased, we continue to appreciate your support in using the hand sanitiser on entering and leaving the building, the wearing of facemasks etc. 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. A copy of the Order of Service, which includes the words of the responses, readings, hymns, intimations etc., are available via the church website, Facebook page or on request via email.

London Marathon
Many thanks to the Rev Fred Coutts for conducting worship last Sunday. (More about Sean’s ‘experience’ of the London Marathon during the service!)

Walking for health and well-being
We meet this Tuesday at 10.00 am outside the St Olaf Hotel for our usual social walk!
Everyone welcome.

 Looking ahead to the Autumn/Winter

  • Evening Study Group – a new study & discussion group beginning on the 24th October will explore the mission and future shape of the church. More details soon.
  • Harvest Festival/Eco Sunday – 10.00 am Sunday 31th October – Family Service led by Mrs Janet Dick, Mission & Development Support Worker, Buchan Presbytery.
  • Remembrance Sunday - Sunday 14th November
  • 10.30 am Cruden Parish Church
  • 12.00 noon Hatton War Memorial