Sunday Worship, 23rd August 2020

Contents   

• Welcome
• Hymn 63 All people that on earth do dwell Tune Old 100th (Church Hymnary 4th Edition)
• All age time
• Prayer
• Reading Matthew 16: 13-20 (Good News Bible)
• Hymn 498 Angel voices ever singing Tune Angel voices (Church Hymnary 4th Edition)
• Reflection
• Prayer for others
• Hymn 519 Love divine all loves excelling Tune Hyfrydol (Church Hymnary 4th Edition)
• Blessing

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Welcome

Welcome and let us worship God

‘We know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding to know the true God.’ 1 John 5: 20

Hymn 63

If the video above will not play, try the music version below:

1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.

2 Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

3 Oh, enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto:
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

4 For why? the Lord our God is good,
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.

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All age time (for ages 0-100)

Today’s Bible story

In today’s Bible story Jesus asks his friends what other people are saying about him, and who they think he is. They give a variety of answers. Then Jesus asks them who they think he is, and Peter gives the right answer

Something to do:

Let’s have a game of Guess who I am. You get 5 clues. Answers below

• I was born in Lithlithgow and died in England; I lived for a short time in Dumbarton; I had one son, called James; I was quite tall and had auburn hair; I travelled all over Scotland (or so the tourist boards like to say)
• I was born in New York and am still alive; I have five children; I do not drink alcohol, have not smoked cigarettes, and like fast food and French cuisine; I have quite a lot of money; I like playing golf
• I was born in Hong Kong; I have worked for Strathkelvin and East Dunbartonshire Councils; I have one daughter; I have an MSc from Glasgow University; I have a red VW car
• I am 91 years old; I wear red shorts, yellow shoes and white gloves; my first job was steering a steamboat; I have a girlfriend and pet dog; my name has been written on various American ballot papers when voters don’t like any of the candidates
• I work for a business that has been privatised; I have a pet cat; my job involves a lot of interaction with people; I am not particularly good at things mechanical, but Edward helps me when I’m stuck; living in a rural area, the weather can sometimes be a problem

Something to think about:

How would you answer Jesus’ question? Could you answer Jesus’ question?

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Answers

• Mary Queen of Scots
• Donald Trump
• Jackie Baillie MSP
• Mickey Mouse
• Postman Pat

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Opening Prayer

Lord

We give you thanks or all your goodness to us

 you know us, you notice us

 you are aware of what we are doing, thinking, feeling

 you want the best for us

 you have blessed us with good things

 you have given us friends and family

 people to care for, people to care for us

 you have given us food, clothing, shelter

 access to fresh water, sanitation, healthcare, education

 we have freedom to meet, to worship, to go to many places

 we can exercise some control over our lives

 our communities, our environment

 you have given us guidance on how to live

 you have shown us how to live

 you have given us your Son to be our Saviour

 so that we know we are loved, valued, forgiven, given new chances

But all too often we take you for granted

 we don’t say ‘thanks’

 we often don’t think about what you do for us

 or how poor our response to you is

Forgive us

Fill us again with glad and faithful hearts

 Ready to serve you in all that we do

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

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Bible reading

Matthew 16: 13-20

Jesus went to the territory near the town of Caesarea Philippi, where he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

“Some say John the Baptist,” they answered. “Others say Elijah, whilst others say Jeremiah or some other prophet.”

“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

“Good for you, Simon son of John!” answered Jesus. “For this truth did not come to you from any human being, but it was given to you directly by my Father in heaven. And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will be able to overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what to permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

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Hymn 498

If the video above will not play, try the music version below:

1 Angel voices ever singing
round your throne of light,
angel harps for ever ringing,
rest not day nor night;
thousands only live to bless you
and confess you
Lord of might.

2 Lord, we know your heart rejoices
in each work divine,
you did ears and hands and voices
for your praise design;
craftsman’s art and music’s measure
for your pleasure
all combine.

3 In your house our gifts we offer
from your love so free;
and for your acceptance proffer
all unworthily,
hearts and minds and hands and voices
in our choicest
psalmody.

4 Honour, glory, might, and merit
yours shall ever be,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
blessèd Trinity.
Earth and heaven join in praising,
voices raising
joyfully.

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Reflection:

In the summer of 2020 Jesus went to the area of the Golan Heights near Banias, where he asked his disciples, “What are the latest comments on social media about me? Who do they say I am?”

“Most have never heard of you. They don’t know your name or anything about you. Many are more interested in photos of their night out, their tan, or what they are having for lunch.”

“Some have heard of you, but think you are an invention of the American Government, designed to spread Western cultural and political influence through people joining your band of followers. There are also a few who link you to all sorts of weird conspiracy theories and quack remedies for healing illnesses.”

“Some say they like some of the things you say, but when they want help or advice on tackling life and its problems they are more likely to turn to their favourite Influencer. They say that the Influencers say the things they want to hear, whereas you say some hard things like ‘the last shall be first, go the extra mile, turn the other cheek’”

“Some say that they respect what you say, but you are just another human being like the rest of us, and actually they think that some other people have said more important things.”

“Some think you are a sad case, promoting the wrong kind of message – it’s all soft and wimpish. They say that the best philosophy for life is to push ahead and let nothing get in the way of achieving your goals. It may mean treading on other people, being ‘economical’ with the truth, spreading false rumours, making sure that you settle old scores, don’t worry about the poor and vulnerable, only mix with people who have wealth or influence, and never admit that you could be wrong. So they regard you and all who follow your way as utter failures.”

“What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say that I am?”

“You are my best and most reliable friend. You accept and love me for who I am, for what I can do – you do not judge me for what I am not, or cannot do. You help me to value and respect myself. When all goes wrong, I know that I can turn to you, and you will comfort and restore me. You help me to see the real priorities in life, to learn to respect and help others, to work to change my community, my country, the world for the better. I look at others and see lives struggling with no firm foundation. I believe that you not only bring me close to God, but are of the very essence of God.”

“Good for you!” answered Jesus. “I tell you: on this knowledge and conviction I will build my church – not as an institution, not as a club, but as my witness in the world, as a foretaste of life in the Kingdom of God, life in all its fullness. I will supply you with all that you need for this task of service. It will not be easy, but rooted on that solid foundation nothing will overcome it.”

Then Jesus ordered his disciples to tell people about him, what he meant to them, and to back up their witness with the way they lived and spoke.

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Prayers for others

Heavenly Father

You have given us brains to think things through

 to have our own ideas and opinions

 but we always have to accept that they may need to be changed

 in the light of experience or new information

There are some people –

 sometimes in families and schools

 sometimes in management or government –

 who feel that we don’t matter

 that our opinions don’t matter

 that they know better and can decide for us

Thank you that you value us

 and think that we matter

Thank you that you listen to the cries and concerns

 of those who have neither strong voice nor advocate

Help us to value ourselves

 to value others

 to listen to their voices

 their opinions, worries and concerns

 to engage with them, not dismiss them

We pray for all who are ill,

 those who look after them

 and those who worry about them

those waiting for or receiving treatment

 and those for whom there is no treatment

those who are lonely, feeling down, or grieving a friend or loved one

those who are worried about home, work or money

 a friend or a relative

those who are living with the after-effects of natural disasters

those who do not have enough to eat, or somewhere to call home

those who long to live in peace and safety

those who have fled from their homes seeking safety

We pray for the Queen, the Government

 all in positions of leadership in this and every land

We pray for your church

 our own congregation

 the wider church in Dumbarton

 the world-wide church

We bring to you our prayers for people and situations of special concern to us

And we sum up our prayers in the words of the prayer Jesus gave us

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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 debts,

 as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation;

 but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

 the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen

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Hymn 519

if the video above will not play try the music version below:

1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.

2 Come, almighty to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

3 Finish then thy new creation:
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee,
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

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Blessing

God the Father sends you out

 to be his witnesses wherever you go

 to work to bring healing and wholeness in all you do

and the blessing of God Almighty

 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

 rest and remain with you,  today, and every day, and for ever. Amen