Morning Service Sunday 7 November 2021

Welcome and Call to Worship

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Hymn CH4 149 Let All Creation Dance

1. Let all creation dance
   in energies sublime,
   as order turns with chance,
   unfolding space and time
   for nature's art
   in glory grows,
   and newly shows
   God's mind and heart.
   

2. Our own amazing earth,
   with sunlight, cloud and storms
   and life's abundant growth
   in lovely shapes and forms,
   is made for praise,
   a fragile whole,
   and from its soul
   heav'n's music plays.
   

3. Lift heart and soul and voice:
   in Christ all praises meet
   and nature shall rejoice
   as all is made complete.
   In hope be strong.
   All life befriend
   and kindly tend
   creation's song.
   

© Brian Wren

1. 1 Kings 17:8-16
2. Mark 12:38-44

Children’s Address

CH4 608 Spirit of Truth and Grace

1. Spirit of truth and grace, come to us in this place
   as now in Jesus’ name God’s people gather.
   Open our eyes to see truths that will ever be,
   and in communion draw us close together.
   

2. Spirit of joy and peace make all anxieties cease
   with knowledge of the Father’s perfect caring.
   Then may God’s children know love that won’t let us go and joy that fills
   each day, beyond comparing.
   

3. Spirit of life and power, revive us in this hour
   and stir our hearts to praise with true devotion.
   Fill us with heavenly fire, and every heart inspire, that we may serve the
   world with your compassion.
   

© Ian D Cunningham

Meditation

Known Unknowns 35 The Beggar

Kingsfold 8686 D

1. I sit outside the rich world’s gate,
   I rake the rich world’s dross,
   and marvel that my poverty
   is what you call my cross
   

   Oh who has ears to hear my cry?
   And who has eyes to see?
   And who will lift my heavy load?
   And who will set me free?
   

2. My plea is for my starving child
   is want and hunger born;
   though seed is sown, the earth remains
   too barren to grow corn.
   

3. My work and wisdom and employed
   to harvest others’ wealth.
   A stranger on my native soil,
   I lose both heart and health.
   

   Oh who has ears to hear my cry?
   And who has eyes to see?
   And who will lift my heavy load?
   And who will set me free?
   

4. My image is on every face,
   my voice in every land;
   and yet I go misunderstood
   by those who “understand.”
   

5. I am the beggar called your Lord,
   the squatter called your King;
   I am the Saviour of the world,
   a torn and tattered thing.
   

6. So love or leave me as you wish
   but, if you seek my will,
   you’ll take my hurt into your heart
   and cease from standing still.
   

   Oh who has ears to hear my cry?
   And who has eyes to see?
   And who will lift my heavy load?
   And who will set me free?
   

© Known Unknowns, John L. Bell and Graham Maule, 2018, Wild Goose Resource Group

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

Hymn CH4 253 Inspired by Love and Anger

1. Inspired by love and anger, disturbed by need and pain,
   Informed of God's own bias, we ask him once again:
   "How long must some folk suffer? How long can few folk mind?
   How long dare vain self-interest turn prayer and pity blind?"
   

2. From those forever victims of heartless human greed,
   Their cruel plight composes a litany of need:
   "Where are the fruits of justice? Where are the signs of peace?
   When is the day when prisoners and dreams find their release?"
   

3. From those forever shackled to what their wealth can buy,
   The fear of lost advantage provoke the bitter cry:
   "Don't query our position! Don't criticise our wealth!
   Don't mention those exploited by politics and stealth!"
   

4. To God, who through the prophets proclaimed a different age,
   We offer earth's indifference, its agony and rage:
   "When will the wronged by righted? When will the kingdom come?
   When will the world be generous to all instead of some?"
   

5. God asks, "Who will go for me? Who will extend my reach?
   And who, when few will listen, will prophesy and preach?
   And who, when few bid welcome, will offer all they know?
   And who, when few dare follow, will walk the road I show?"
   

6. Amused in someone's kitchen, asleep in someone's boat,
   Attuned to what the ancients exposed, proclaimed and wrote,
   A saviour without safety, a tradesman without tools
   Has come to tip the balance with fishermen and fools.
   

© Wild Goose Publications, c/o The Iona Community

Blessing