Intimations

Thanksgiving and Intercession (Rev Professor Norman Drummond)

O God our loving heavenly Father

We thank you that you are closest to us when we are most in need of you and so it is to you that we turn at this time of sadness and earthly parting as we give thanks for the life and many contributions of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In the quietness of our hearts, we call to mind his several qualities which made him the person that he was in this life – his calmness and steadiness under fire, his wisdom and patience in the face of difficulty and uncertainty, his ability to deeply connect with people of all ages and backgrounds not least the young in whom he placed such hope and future confidence, his loyalty and devotion to Her Majesty The Queen and their Family of several generations and his unstinting courage and commitment to those things in life and science which really do matter and which will last.

In our mind’s eye we gratefully remember Prince Philip leading the way in several fields as well as ‘a step behind’ supporting The Queen in all her years of service to Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom and far beyond and not least to the Commonwealth of Nations. For all of his exceptional private and public service we give you thanks.

We pray for The Queen and all members of the Royal Family, those who knew and loved Prince Philip best and who will miss him most. In your loving kindness sustain them all and all those who mourn at this time.

Guide us all we pray to more deeply share in the quiet unassuming Christian faith which was his to the end that one day in your time we shall indeed be reunited with those whom we have known and loved and have gone on before us.

And for those of us who remain may your grace and mercy and peace surround and strengthen us all, enabling each of us to love you more dearly and to follow you more nearly.

May we in our turn walk in the footsteps of those who have inspired us because they knew you and were loved by you with your perfect love which casts out all fear.

In the abiding strength and comfort of your Holy Spirit, we make these our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, our constant companion on this voyage through life until we meet again. Amen.

Thanksgiving and Intercession (Very Rev Dr Susan Brown)

We give you thanks, Lord God, for each and every new day.
We give thanks to you as the Creator and as the giver of life.
We praise you that through Jesus, your Son, that life becomes eternal –
Through his Easter activity and his promise of life forever more,
and through faith in him.
We give you thanks for the people who enrich our lives,
They too are gifts from you.
For their friendship, their love, their companionship, we praise you.
And in a world where too many are isolated
We bring to you those for whom friendship and love
Are luxuries they don’t have.
We hold before you those fleeing their native countries
For safer ground
And who are left to feel unwelcome.

We pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down
Through warring, through violence, through grief.
We bring to you the governments of the nations of this world
and we pray, in your name Lord Jesus,
that they may know wisdom
and seek peace and justice above all else;
caring for all those who are their citizens
across nations and across borders.

We hold before you all who grieve
And we think particularly at this time,
Of the Royal Family
And of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, whose loss is so great
And who faces a gap in her life that can never be filled.
For all who mourn:
For all who mourn long-standing relationships
And relationships that were unable to be formed, we pray.
We hold each one before you
Asking Lord God, for your peace, your comfort,
For your strength, and for your courage.

We offer you the families of this world;
Those who have lost children unborn,
Those who have lost young people and adults, parents and friends.
Envelop all of them in your love this day and always.
These prayers we offer, Creator God,
Holding onto the promise of your constant presence with us
Throughout all eternity.
In the name of Christ. Amen

17 April 2021

You will no doubt be aware that under the current regulations from the Scottish Government the maximum permitted number of socially distanced worshippers at any church service is capped at a maximum of 50 persons.

Last Sunday, 28 March, we reached this maximum permitted figure.  While it was wonderful to have so many people returning to church it was a worry for the stewards on duty in case anyone else sought admission.

Members of the congregation should be aware that once the limit of 50 is achieved no other worshippers will be permitted to attend that service. 

This would be a regrettable situation, but members of our church family will we are sure appreciate the importance of adhering strictly to all the Covid guidelines and regulations.

To assist the stewarding Elders, we would respectfully advise those intending to be present in church –

• To arrive early – doors will be open from 10.30 am. This also avoids a build up of people waiting to give their contact details.
• Go directly to the seat to which a steward will direct you and remain there until the end of the service. Please do not stop to chat with others already seated.
• We respectively remind everyone that under the Church of Scotland and Scottish Government guidelines no singing (or humming) to music played is permitted. Similarly, the congregational chanting of the Lord’s Prayer and Benediction is not allowed.  Worshippers should instead silently mouth the words to themselves.
• At the end of the service people should remain in their seats until directed to the appropriate exit by a stewarding Elder.

We deeply regret these restrictions on our normal worship practices but are certain that all will appreciate that these regulations must be followed to minimise the risk of spreading the virus amongst our congregation.

We were delighted that the church re-opened as planned for worship this Palm Sunday, 28 March 2021.

Easter services will be as follows:

Friday 02 April (Good Friday)  at 7.00 pm  –  Preparatory Service.

Sunday 04 April (Easter Sunday) at 11.00 am  –  Communion Service.

Tuesday 06 April at 7.00 pm  –  Prayer Service.

Those wishing to attend the Communion Service on Easter Sunday are asked to bring their own piece of bread as we are not permitted to distribute bread as we did previously.  Individual disposable plastic glasses and a sealed container of Fellowship Cup will be provided at each seating place.

Due to continued restrictions we are unable to hold the sunrise service at The Lump again this year.

The requirement for the church to be cleaned and sanitised following each service means that only one service can be held each Sunday  –  there will, until further notice, be no evening worship.

The format for morning worship will be the same as that which operated from October to December last year i.e.

• A maximum of 50 worshippers, all wearing face coverings, can be accommodated.
• Socially distanced seating arrangements must be followed.
• No singing of praise is permitted.
• Worshippers will be directed to and from their seats by the Elders in attendance.

REOPENING OF OUR CHURCH FOR WORSHIP

You will be aware from the First Minister’s recent announcement that, subject to a maximum attendance of 50 persons, churches may reopen for services of worship from 26 March 2021.

Following a Kirk Session meeting where there was unanimous agreement that we reopen, and having received the necessary approval by Presbytery that all required safety procedures are in place, we are pleased to intimate that the church will reopen for worship on Sunday 28 March 2021.  The requirement for the church to be cleaned and sanitised following each service means that only one service can be held each Sunday  –  there will, until further notice, be no evening worship.

The format for morning worship will be the same as that which operated from October to December last year i.e.

• A maximum of 50 worshippers, all wearing face coverings, can be accommodated.
• Socially distanced seating arrangements must be followed.
• No singing of praise is permitted.
• Worshippers will be directed to and from their seats by the Elders in attendance.

The pattern of services will be as follows –

Sunday 28 March at 11.00 am  – Sunday Morning Worship.

Friday 02 April (Good Friday)  at 7.00 pm  –  Preparatory Service.

Sunday 04 April (Easter Sunday) at 11.00 am  –  Communion Service.

Tuesday 06 April at 7.00 pm  –  Prayer Service.

Those wishing to attend the Communion Service on Easter Sunday are asked to bring their own piece of bread as we are not permitted to distribute bread as we did previously.  Individual disposable plastic glasses and a sealed container of Fellowship Cup will be provided at each seating place.

We hope and pray that this is the first step towards a return to our normal style of worship and the ability for us all to worship our Lord in His own house.

Bill Marshall

Session Clerk