Morning Service Sunday 25 February 2024

Welcome and Intimations

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.

CH4 161 O God our help in ages past

1. O God, our help in ages past,
   our hope for years to come,
   our shelter from the stormy blast,
   and our eternal home.
   

2. Under the shadow of Your throne
   Your saints have dwelt secure;
   sufficient is Your arm alone,
   and our defence is sure.
   

3. Before the hills in order stood,
   or earth received her frame,
   from everlasting You are God,
   to endless years the same.
   

4. A thousand ages in Your sight
   are like an evening gone,
   short as the watch that ends the night
   before the rising sun.
   

5. Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
   bears all its sons away;
   they fly forgotten, as a dream
   dies with the dawning day.
   

6. O God, our help in ages past,
   our hope for years to come,
   be our defence while life shall last,
   and our eternal home.
   

1. Psalm 22:23-31
2. Mark 8:31-38

Hymn CH4 600 Spirit of God, Unseen as the Wind

1. You spoke to us - long, long ago -
   gave us the written word;
   we read it still, needing its truth,
   through it God's voice is heard.
   

   Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
   gentle as is the dove:
   teach us the truth and help us believe,
   show us the Saviour's love!
   

2. Without your help we fail our Lord,
   we cannot live his way;
   we need your power, we need your strength,
   following Christ each day.
   

   Spirit of God, unseen as the wind,
   gentle as is the dove:
   teach us the truth and help us believe,
   show us the Saviour's love!
   

Scripture Union

Meditation

CH4 402 Take Up Your Cross, the Saviour Said

1. 'Take up your cross,' the Saviour said,
   'if you would my disciple be;
   take up your cross, with willing heart,
   and humbly follow after me.'
   

2. Take up your cross; let not its weight
   fill your weak soul with vain alarm:
   his strength shall bear your spirit up,
   and brace your heart, and nerve your arm.
   

3. Take up your cross, nor heed the shame,
   and let your foolish pride be still:
   the Lord refused not even to die
   upon a cross, on Calvary's hill.
   

4. Take up your cross, then, in his strength,
   and calmly every danger brave;
   it guides you to a better home,
   and leads to victory o'er the grave.
   

5. Take up your cross and follow Christ,
   nor think till death to lay it down;
   for only those who bear the cross
   may hope to wear the glorious crown.
   

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

CH4 533 Will You Come and Follow Me?

1. 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?
   

2. 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?
   

3. 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?
   

4. 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?
   

5. 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.
   

1987, Iona Community

Blessing