Online Worship – Sunday 19 April 2020

 

Welcome! Please click on the play button (the triangle) in the sound file above to listen to worship from St Andrew’s and St George’s West, Edinburgh. You can download a PDF of today’s Order of Service here or just follow it below.

 

Welcome

 

Choir: Lift thine eyes

 

Opening Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Scripture speaks of ‘things beyond our seeing, prepared by God for those who love him’; and these are what God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

Let us pray:

Sung prayer response: Lord have mercy (CH4 648)
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy

Loving God, here in Scotland as elsewhere throughout the world, we are being faced with a series of unprecedented challenges that are having an impact on every facet of our lives.

In the aftermath of Easter, we are mindful that the experience of being abandoned and forsaken was felt in all its horror by your Son as he hung helpless and dying on the Cross. We know too that wherever we are and whatever we are faced with, underneath are the everlasting arms.

Loving God, you are with us in our journey from darkness into light. Hold us when we feel alone. Carry us when we lose our strength. And heal us when we are afraid. Cast out the darkness of our anxiety, fear and mourning, enfold us in your love and give us joy and hope this Eastertide.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us when we pray to say together:

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 for ever.
Amen.

Sung prayer response: Lord have mercy (CH4 648)
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy

The Peace

Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.’ The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be always with you.

New Testament Reading: John 20: 19-31

Jesus appears to his disciples

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’

Jesus appears to Thomas

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

The purpose of John’s gospel

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Hymn:  Earth, earth awake; your praises sing: alleluia! (CH4 Hymn 420)

Earth, earth awake your praises sing: Alleluia
Greet with the dawn your risen King : Alleluia
Bright suns and stars, your homage pay: Alleluia
Life reigns again this Easter day: Alleluia

All nature sings of hope reborn: Alleluia
Christ lives to comfort those who mourn: Alleluia
First fruit of all the dead who sleep: Alleluia
Promise of joy for all who weep: Alleluia

Winter is past, the night is gone: Alleluia
Christ’s light, triumphant, pales the dawn: Alleluia
Creation spreads its springtime bloom: Alleluia
Life bursts like flame from death’s cold tomb: Alleluia

Praise we the Father, Spirit, Son: Alleluia
Praise we the victory God has won: Alleluia
Praise we the Lamb who reigns above: Alleluia
Praise we the King whose rule is love: Alleluia

Meditation: Jesus comes when life is at its lowest ebb

 

Hymn: The Saviour died, but rose again (CH4 Hymn 425)

The Saviour died, but rose again
Triumphant from the grave;
And pleads our cause at God’s right hand,
Omnipotent to save.

Who then can e’er divide us more
From Jesus and his love,
Or break the sacred chain that binds
The earth to heaven above?

Let troubles rise, and terrors frown,
And days of darkness fall;
Though him all dangers we’ll defy
And more than conquer all.

Nor death, nor life, nor earth, nor hell,
Nor time’s destroying sway,
Can e’er efface us from his heart,
Or make his love decay.

Each future period that will bless,
As it has blessed the past:
He loved us from the first of time,
He loves us to the last.

Prayers of Intercession

Heavenly Father, Creator of the universe, Sustainer of this world that you love, when our cares and concerns threaten to overwhelm us, you are our rock, our hope, our source of comfort and strength.

We pray for all who are severely affected by coronavirus: for the sick and those struggling to hold onto life; for those who mourn a loss, or grieve the separation from a loved one in hospital or care home; for those whose income is cut off, who are fearful about how they will support their families;
for those whose home is not a safe place, with no escape from fear and violence; for parents stretched to the limit with children at home; for the anxious, the lonely, the vulnerable.
We bring them all to you, asking you to help, protect , comfort and encourage them.

In the name of Christ we pray.
Loving God, hear us.

We pray for those guiding our nation. May they make wise and just decisions.
We pray for doctors, nurses, researchers, and other medical professionals, that through their dedication and skills this disease will be stopped and many will be restored to health.
We pray for the workers who courageously serve us in ways that we used to take for granted: shopkeepers and cashiers, bin men and bus drivers, postmen and policemen and social workers, farmers and lorry drivers, and so many more.

Protect them and may they find real joy in service.

In the name of Christ we pray.
Loving God, hear us.

So many countries are affected. We thank you for cooperation between nations sharing knowledge and resources and the growing awareness that poorer countries need support if they are not to be devastated by this pandemic.

We pray especially for countries whose infrastructures and medical services are in tatters because of years of war, or because of recent climate disasters. We pray for refugees in camps where social distancing is not possible and handwashing a challenge.

You have a special place in your heart for the poor, and so we ask for you to protect those who cannot protect themselves. We pray for charities that are losing support from donors at a time when help is most needed – like Christian Aid, and the Mulanje Mission Hospital. Touch hearts to give, and multiply resources as you did with the loaves and fishes.

In the name of Christ we pray.
Loving God, hear us.

We pray for your church, both in our country and around the world. We thank you for this congregation and the many ways in which it is providing care, inspiration, delight, hope and a sense of community.

May we as your people reflect the compassion and light of Christ to those around us. Strengthen Rosie and Colin and others who lead us: keep them safe, guide them by your Spirit. May this be a time when people of faith everywhere minister your love to a hurting world.

In the name of Christ we pray.
Loving God, hear us.

Heavenly Father, You don’t want us to be anxious but to bring our concerns to you. You promise that our hearts and minds will be held steady with your “peace, which passes all understanding”. May it be so for us all.

Amen

Benediction

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the son of peace to you

And may the blessing of God, Creator Redeemer and Sanctifier be with you, this day and for ever more.

Amen

Sung blessing: The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
And give you peace.

 

Credits

Worship led by the Rev Colin Douglas

The Gospel reading was by Frances Cooper

The prayers of Intercession were led by Dorothy Tarrant

Vocal Ensemble: Eleanor Wilson, Caitlin McGillivray, Tim Cooper, Drew Crichton, Andrew Carvel

Pianists: Drew Crichton and Tim Cooper

Service produced by Andrew Carvel