Watchword for the Week

God, turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your

custom towards those who love your name.

(Psalm 119:132)

(Moravian Daily Texts 2017)

ORGAN PRELUDE

WELCOME and CALL to WORSHIP

(from the Iona Abbey Justice and Peace Service)

O God, who created the heavens

and stretched them out, we praise you!

You made the earth and all that lives here:

We praise you!

You give breath to all creatures

and your Spirit to your people:

We praise and thank you, O God!

That the eyes of the blinded be opened,

the poor hear good news,

the captives be brought out of darkness,

the wealth of the world serve the good of all,

your kingdom come, O God;

your will be done!

The let us sing God a new song.

With joy let us honour our Maker.

Hymn 126 * Let’s sing to the Lord

People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)

PRAYER of APPROACH

(from the Iona Abbey Justice and Peace Service)

WORDS of ASSURANCE

Creator of this world and all its people, we are

glad that all things are held in your hands.

You have not left us alone.

And we celebrate the work of your Spirit

encouraging people the world over

to work for justice and peace,

to speak for the voiceless

and always to anticipate

that the best is yet to come.

Blessed be your name. Amen.

CHILDREN’S TIME

Hymn 83 * I rejoiced when I heard them say

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

(Children may join the Kids’ Church programme)

SCRIPTURE READINGS

Genesis 29:15-28 OT p. 30

St. Matthew 13:31-35, 44-52 NT p. 20

People may stand for the Gospel reading.

The word of God: Thanks be to God!

Hymn 360 *1-3 Jesus Christ is waiting

SERMON Rev. James Brown

Hymn 188 Thou hidden love of God

(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)

(Hymn of the Month, July 2017)

DEDICATION / AFFIRMATION

(from the Iona Abbey Justice and Peace Service)

We believe in God

in whom is power and compassion.

We believe in the Creator

who gave birth to the universe,

set solar systems dancing in space,

shaped molecules and mountains,

and conceived beauty beyond our imagining.

God’s power topples tyrants

and brings down walls of separation;

God’s love embodies the tenderness

of a mother and father,

encouraging and caring for each of us.

We believe in Jesus,

born in obscurity in an occupied land;

a human being, vulnerable to hunger, thirst,

persecution and grief.

He understood the power of love

and confronted the powers of evil,

spoke the truth with courage and clarity,

forgave his enemies and changed lives.

In his living, dying and rising again

he showed love strong enough

to save the world.

We believe in the Holy Spirit

who sustains, comforts and empowers us,

opens the scriptures, opens our minds,

and illuminates earth’s darkness. Amen.

NOTICES and PRAYERS for OTHERS

God of justice: show yourself.

The LORD’S PRAYER (Arabic prayer shawl)

English words at: Hymn 652, Second Form (b)

(Please pray in your own preferred language / version.)

Hymn 360 *4-5 Jesus Christ is dancing

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE