Morning Service Sunday 19 November 2023

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 85 Now Let God’s People, Let God’s Israel

(Psalm 124)

1. Now let God’s people, let God’s Israel
   witness the truth and gratefully proclaim:
   when evil folk against us made their claim,
   we would have drowned beneath their violent tide
   if God the Lord had not been on our side.
   

2. If God the Lord had not been on our side
   and thus maintained the justice of our cause,
   we would have died, devoured by evil jaws,
   where kindled anger lusted after blood
   while vicious torrents raged beneath the flood.
   

3. Blest be the Lord both now and evermore
   who did not grieve us on the evil day,
   who did not leave us as an easy prey
   destined to be so mercilessly torn
   by savage teeth and unrelenting scorn.
   

4. Just as a bird escapes the fowler’s snare,
   we leave our broken trap and are set free.
   Now we are saved and now, as one, agree
   our help is in the name of God our Lord,
   maker of heaven and earth, eternal Word.
   

John L.Bell, WGRG / The Iona Community

1. I Thessalonians 5:1-11
2. Matthew 25:14-30

CH4 598 Come Holy Ghost

1. Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire,
   let us thine influence prove:
   source of the old prophetic fire,
   fountain of life and love.
   

2. Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by thee
   the prophets wrote and spoke;
   unlock the truth, thyself the key:
   unseal the sacred book.
   

3. Expand thy wings, celestial Dove,
   brood o'er our nature's night;
   on our disordered spirits move,
   and let there now be light.
   

4. God, through the Spirit we shall know,
   if thou within us shine,
   and sound, with all thy saints below,
   the depths of love divine.
   

Meditation

CH4 502 Take My Life and Let It Be

1. Take my life, Lord, let it be
   consecrated, glad, and free;
   take my moments and my days,
   let them flow in ceaseless praise.
   

2. Take my hands, and let them move
   at the impulse of your love;
   take my feet, that I may run
   bearing news of Christ your Son.
   

3. Take my voice, and let me sing
   always, only, for my King;
   take my intellect and use
   every power as you shall choose.
   

4. Take my will -- your will be done,
   may my will and yours be one;
   take my heart -- it is your own,
   it shall be your royal throne.
   

5. Take my love -- my Lord, I pour
   at your feet its treasure-store;
   take myself, and I will be
   all for you, eternally.
   

Offering

Prayer of Intercession

CH4 468 Son of God, Eternal Saviour

1. Son of God, eternal Saviour,
   source of life and truth and grace,
   Son of Man, whose birth incarnate
   hallows all our human race;
   great High Priest who, throned in glory,
   for your own will ever plead,
   fill us with your love and pity,
   heal our wrongs, and help our need.
   

2. Lord, as you have lived for others,
   so may we for others live;
   freely have your gifts been granted,
   freely may your servants give.
   Yours the gold and yours the silver,
   yours the wealth of sea and land,
   we but stewards of your bounty
   held in trust at your command.
   

3. Come, Lord Jesus, reign among us,
   King of Love, and Prince of Peace;
   hush the storm of strife and passion,
   bid its cruel discords cease.
   Yours the prayer, and yours the purpose,
   that your people should be one:
   grant from heaven, our hope’s fruition:
   here on earth your will be done.
   

Blessing