Welcome to Craigmillar Park and Reid Memorial Churches, and to our service of worship for Sunday 10th October. This week we consider how God may place us in the right time and place to be a healing presence in the world. As we worship, either at home or together in a church building, may we be drawn closer to each other and to our Lord.

Call to Worship (Psalm 22: 27)
All the ends of the earth shall remember
and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
shall worship before him.
Let us worship God.

HYMN 110 Glory be to God the Father

(from St. Machar’s Cathedral, Aberdeen)

Prayer:

Let us pray:

Heavenly Lord,
we come before you this day
in praise and in hope.
We come before you
seeking to lift high your name.
Inspire us, we pray
that in our words and music,
in our silence and our song
we may lift each other’s spirits
bringing glory to you alone.

Heavenly Lord,
as we come before you this day
we are reminded of the state of the world.
We are reminded of its aches and pains,
its fears and regrets
and our part in them.
Have mercy on us, we pray.
By your light, guide us.
By your grace, uplift us.
By your love, restore us
and make us anew.

Heavenly Lord,
as we come before you this day
direct our actions
direct our thoughts
direct our words
that we may work for your kingdom
and bring healing to your world.

This prayer we bring,
in the name of the risen Christ,
in whose words we pray together:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Scriptures:

Psalm 22: 1-11
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and by night, but find no rest.

Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
they trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me;
they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
‘Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
let him rescue the one in whom he delights!’

Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
On you I was cast from my birth,
and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.


Esther 7: 1-10
So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, ‘What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.’ Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have won your favour, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me—that is my petition—and the lives of my people—that is my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king.’ Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, ‘Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?’ Esther said, ‘A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!’ Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. The king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined to destroy him. When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was reclining; and the king said, ‘Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?’ As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, ‘Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.’ And the king said, ‘Hang him on that.’ So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.

HYMN 14 The Lord’s my shepherd (Psalm 23)

(from the Chet Valley Churches)

Reflection:

Have you ever felt yourself to sometimes be in the wrong place at the wrong time? You know those occasions where being somewhere else would have been much better, perhaps as chaos erupts around you or as the world seems to grind to a halt. If you drive around the city bypass just think of those times where you have found yourself at Sheriffhall at 4pm on a weekday. It’s at a time like that you begin to wish you’d taken another route or stayed at home. But do you ever have those times where you realised that you were in the right place at the right time? Perhaps you have intended to be in one place and ended up in another. There, you meet a friend by chance and you chat. Somehow, something you say is what the friend needed to hear that day. It may have been information imparted, or a kind word that offered much appreciated encouragement. Rather than where you planned to be, you have found yourself in the right place at the right time.

But what if the need is somewhat greater; what if the need is a life-or-death issue. What does it mean, then, to be in the right place at the right time? In both of our readings today we find situations of despair. The writer of the psalm finds himself at the end of his tether; it’s as if his life is at an end. He needs relief, he needs support and encouragement to find a way ahead. He needs to find a reason to go on and live. Our reading stops well short of the end of the psalm; by that point he has found that he is not alone. The one who is in the right place and time for him is God.

In our reading from Esther we find a genuine life or death situation. Here, it is her people that are under threat of extinction; it is genocide that is planned. By some miracle this young woman is in the right place at the right time to act to bring salvation to her people. She acts wisely and faithfully to bring about the undoing of evil plans and then see her people flourish.

But, are we called to be in the right place at the right time? Are we called, as disciples of Jesus, to regularly find ourselves in places or situations where we may bring the healing presence of God to bear? What if the despairs we encounter are well hidden, perhaps because the source is embarrassing? What if it’s not mental despair on its own, or even threat of death, but something we would find acutely embarrassing? Thinks of things like hunger or debt for example. We live in a wealthy nation yet around us, in our city, are people who are regularly hungry. Around us, too, are people who are struggling with debt. These problems are often well hidden yet cause the same real sense of despair as was felt by the psalmist. Is Jesus calling us to be in the right place at the right time to make a difference for good?

This week the churches in our land have sought to engage with the government in respect of the up-and-coming environment conference. They have promised to act in practical ways for the healing and betterment of our world. This week has also seen the churches turn their focus towards the crisis of debt in our population. Perhaps these are easy things for bug institutions to say and do, but what about us as a congregation or as individual believers. As the church we are in a privileged position to be able to be the right people, in the right places, and at the right times to make a positive difference in our world. We can bring healing; we can bring light; we can bring hope to bear on our neighbours, both near and far. It may simply be through a kind word or simple gesture of support; it may be through a concerted effort and giving of time to work with others to eradicate hunger and poverty. Whatever it is, we all can play a role. We can live up to our calling from Jesus.
Amen.

HYMN 518 Lift up your hearts

Prayer:

Let us pray:

Let us pray to God in hope, looking for the coming of
Christ to every life.

Let us pray for all Christians, in all congregations,
thanking God for the special service to which each one
is called.
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

We pray for the nations of the world,
remembering before God those people especially who
exercise authority for good.
We pray for our own country:
for its industry, agriculture and commerce
in these challenging times.
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

We thank God for the many,
whose skills are exercised on our behalf,
praying that they may be sustained in their labours.
Let us take our stand before God
with those facing struggles in daily living,
remembering the hungry, those experiencing poverty,
and the forgotten of our land.
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

Let us focus our prayers on those known to us,
close to us or far away,
people who have asked us to pray,
people who have not asked,
who would not ask,
who need our love, in Christ.
Your kingdom come, O Lord, your will be done.

Let us entrust ourselves to God,
who can use our words and actions
in his answer to our prayers;
to him who can place us
in the right place and time
to do his will.
Your kingdom come, O Lord;
your will be done.
Amen.

HYMN 533 Will you come and follow me

(from Everingham Music)

Benediction:

Go from this time
in grace, love, and fellowship.
And as you go, may the blessing of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Be with us all, now and always.
Amen.

Sung Amen

Acknowledgements:
Bible Quotations taken from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

English translations of The Lord’s Prayer, © 1998, English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC), and used by permission. www.englishtexts.org

Second prayer based upon the first prayer of intercession, ‘Prayers for Contemporary Worship’, Church of Scotland , 1986

Welcome to Craigmillar Park and Reid Memorial Churches, and to our service of worship for Sunday 3^rd October. This week we look at where we find hope in a world that seems to be ever more challenging. As we worship, either at home or together in a church building, may we be drawn closer to each other and to our Lord.

Call to Worship (Psalm 95: 1-2)
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
Let us worship God.

SGP 86 O Lord my God! (How great thou art!)

(from Winchester Cathedral)

Prayer:

Let us pray:

God of light, lighten the day ahead of us
that we may see you more clearly.
Let us reach out with vision
praising your holy name
and serving your kingdom.

God of grace, show us your love this day,
that we may know the assurance of your presence.
Let us reach out in love
praising your holy name
and bringing healing to your world.

God of eternity, open our eyes this day
that we may see beyond the now.
Let us reach out with your Gospel
praising your holy name
and sharing your truth with the world around us.

God of mercy, to you we bow the knee
for you alone are worthy of our praise.
You made us and called us to be your own.
In Christ you renew us and strengthen us for your service.
May your holy name be praised!

Our prayers we bring, as ever,
in the name of the risen Jesus
in whose words we pray together, saying:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

Scriptures:

1 Thessalonians 5: 5-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.


Mark 13: 1-8, 24-27
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.


‘But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

HYMN 472 Come, thou long-expected Jesus

(from Red Mountain Music)

Reflection:

I wonder if you remember the television show, ‘Dad’s Army’ and, in particular, the character of Corporal Jones. I wonder, too, if you recall his often used phrase, “Don’t Panic Captain Mainwaring”. The phrase “Don’t Panic” has had something of a resurgence in recent weeks as various crises have affected the daily life of our country. We hear of shortages, and queues, and concerns for the future, and are told not to panic. The difficulty is that the phrase “don’t panic” is guaranteed to cause one thing to happen, panic!

Crises naturally give rise to feelings of anxiety, sometimes fear, and on occasion anger; all are perfectly natural. We know, too, that the Kirk has its own crises to attend to. Our scripture readings today come from times of panic within the early church. Most of the members of the church led subsistence lifestyles so shortages were no stranger to them. There was also anxiety because some believers had died and yet Jesus had not returned. Further, the church to which Paul wrote had experienced persecution for their faith. The church was anxious for a whole range of reasons. Anxiety, though, also presents a challenge to faith. If all that you hold dear is being threatened it becomes difficult to look forward positively, and in hope. Both the reading from Paul, and the passage from Mark’s Gospel, speak into such times and feelings. They seek to offer encouragement and vision for the future, our future, for eternity. They offer us timely advice.

Focussing on Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica we find a number of points that offer us something to hold on to as we journey through uncertain times in both our nation and in our church. Firstly, Paul looks to the future and the hope of the return of Christ Jesus. He reminds us that this will come as a complete surprise to the world at large and calls us to be alert so as not to get caught off-guard. We are to do this by remaining focussed on the goal of our faith, union with Christ.

Next Paul moves on to words that echo Jeremiah the prophet. He warns us against the false assurances of the world and its leaders, calling upon us to be wary of falling into the fashions and fake news of the day. Again, we are to remain focussed on the truth of the Gospel. Paul goes on to assure both his first hearers, and us, that we are children of light. He reminds us that in that we are special; he reminds us that this means, too, that we can see the truth and are blessed in so doing. He warns that things will be difficult but that we are not alone. Reminding us that we have true safety and peace he compares this to the armour worn by a soldier in battle.

Finally, Paul reminds us once more that we are blessed since, as disciples of Jesus, we are heirs to eternity. Eternity, it must be remembered is a gift and not something to be earned by us; it is also more than quantity of life, it is quality too. We are encouraged to encourage one another in our discipleship. We, after all, are the body of Christ in this time and place.

The Gospel text picks up on these themes of trouble leading to anxiety. It reminds us that Jesus will return, that there will be a day of the Lord’s justice. Yet this return of Christ is not something for us to be afraid of. Rather, we can look forward to its coming as a day of hope, a day of joy, a day of fulfilment. Yet note that in both passages today the focus is not on the institution of the church nor is it upon the individual congregation; neither is the focus on the individual disciple. Rather, the focus of scripture is on the union with God of the people of God. It is our union with him, in Christ, that makes hope and eternity possible.

In our times, just as in the days of the early church, there are many things to distract us from our calling just as there are many things that may make us anxious. But both then and now the antidote is focus on Christ and our relationship in him. It is there that we find not just the strength to carry on but we find eternity too.
Amen.

HYMN 500 Lord of creation, to you be all praise

(from Isle of Man Methodist Church)

Prayer:

Let us pray:

God of light,
we pray for a world where fear and lies prevail.
We pray for those caught up in the world’s crises
and for those with the power to make a difference.
May your light so prevail, that truth is seen
and darkness overcome.
May the world marvel in your light
and the hope that it brings.

God of love,
we pray for a world where anxiety and anger reign.
We pray for those caught in destructive patterns
and ask that your peace would break in.
May your love so prevail, that it is both felt
and lived by all day by day.
May the world rejoice in your love
and the healing that it brings.

God of eternity
we pray for a world so trapped in the moment.
We pray for a world that sees eternity as a dream,
seeking that your eternal joy may sweep over all.
May your power so prevail, that justice would reign
and peace come to dominate lives.
May the world know your eternal presence
and wonder at your being.

God of grace,
we pray for ourselves and those around us.
Where we are anxious may we know your peace,
and seek to share it with all around us.
May your grace so prevail, that hope would re-awaken,
and peace dwell within each heart.
May these prayers we bring be acceptable in your sight,
our Lord and our God. Amen.

HYMN 517 Fight the good fight with all your might

(from First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska)

Benediction:

May the grace of God go with us.
May the joy of God uplift us.
May the presence of God renew us.
And may the blessing of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Be with us all, now and always.
Amen.

Sung Amen

Acknowledgements:
Bible Quotations taken from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

English translations of The Lord’s Prayer, © 1998, English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC), and used by permission. www.englishtexts.org