Welcome to this Service of Worship from Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church
Fourth Sunday of Lent Sunday 27 March 10.45am
'Never cease loving a person, and never
give up hope for him, for even the prodigal
son who had fallen most low, could still be
saved; the bitterest enemy… could again
be your friend; love that has grown cold
can kindle.' Soren Kierkegaard
WELCOME TO MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
This congregation is part of the Church of Scotland:
we are Reformed in our understanding of Christian faith,
Presbyterian in how we form our community, and a
member of the worldwide family of the Christian Church.
Whether you are in regular attendance at worship or this
is one of your first visits, you are very welcome as part of
this community and today’s service of worship. God bless
you. If you would like to keep in touch, please complete
the Connection Card on the back page of the printed
order or email
AS A DIVERSE PEOPLE, THE CHURCH GATHERS
TO WORSHIP ALMIGHTY GOD
Organ Voluntary
Welcome & Church News
The Grace
Preparatory Silence for Worship
Introit - A Gaelic Blessing
Words: Adapted from an old Gaelic rune
Music: John Rutter (b.1945)
Introit - Ave Regina
Words: 12th Century Marian antiphon
Music: Györy Orbán (born 1947)
Ave Regina coelorum,
Ave Domina Angelorum:
Salve radix, salve porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta:
Gaude Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.
[Hail, O Queen of Heav'n enthron'd,
Hail, by angels Mistress own'd
Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
Whence the world's true light was born.
Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in Heaven they see,
Fairest thou where all are fair!
Plead with Christ our sins to spare.]
Call to Worship
One: In the name of God,
All: who formed and shaped us,
who holds us all creation in His hands
One: In the name of the Son
All: who became human beside us,
who brings us home to God
One: In the name of the Holy Spirit
All: who joins us with all Christians
who brings peace in our world
We worship together in thanks and praise.
Hymn 482 Come, let us to the Lord our God
(t. Kilmarnock)
Come, let us to the Lord our God
with contrite hearts return;
our God is gracious, nor will leave
the desolate to mourn.
His voice commands the tempest forth,
and stills the stormy wave;
his arm is sure and strong to smite,
but also strong to save.
Long has the night of sorrow reigned,
the dawn shall bring us light:
God shall appear, and we shall rise
with gladness in his sight.
Our hearts, if God we seek to know,
shall know him, and rejoice;
his coming like the morn shall be,
like morning songs his voice.
As dew upon the tender herb
diffusing fragrance round;
as showers that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:
So shall his presence bless our souls,
and shed a joyful light;
that hallowed morn shall chase away
the sorrows of the night.
Scottish Paraphrases (30),1781 (alt.)
Hosea 6: 1-4
Prayer of Approach, Confession & The Lord’s Prayer Reuben Addis
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.
Hymn 181 For the beauty of the earth
(t. Lucerna Laudoniae)
For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies:
Christ, our God, to you we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light:
For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind's delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight:
For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild:
For each perfect gift and sign
of your love so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven:
Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917)
Reading Psalm 32
Read by Anne Robertson
The Joy of Forgiveness
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding-place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Anthem - Lord, for Thy render mercy’s sake
Words: from J. Bull ‘Prayers and Holy Meditations’ (1568)
Music: Richard Farrant (d. 1580)
Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake,
lay not our sins to our charge,
but forgive that is past
and give us grace to amend our sinful lives;
to decline from sin and incline to virtue,
that we may walk in a perfect heart
before thee now and evermore.
Reading Luke 15:1 - 3, 11b - 32
Read by Anne Robertson
The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
15 Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This
fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
3 So he told them this parable:
11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of
them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will
belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days
later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant
country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When
he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that
country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country,
who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled
himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him
anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my
father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying
of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer
worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’”
20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father
saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around
him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned
against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the
best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his
feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24
for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”
And they began to celebrate.
25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached
the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and
asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your
father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and
sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came
out and began to plead with him.
29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been
working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command;
yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate
with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has
devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!”
31 Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is
mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother
of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’
Hymn 555 Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
(t. Amazing Grace)
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
John Newton (1725-1807)
Sermon
Reuben Addis
Hymn 166 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
(t. Slane)
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
be there at our labours, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace,
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
Jan Struther (1901-1953)
Prayer of Dedication and for Others - Reuben Addis
Hymn 624 In Christ there is no east or west
(t. St Stephen Newington)
In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find,
his service is the golden cord
close-binding human kind.
Come, brothers, sisters of the faith,
whate'er your race may be:
whoever does my Father's will
is surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north,
all Christ-like souls are one in him,
throughout the whole wide earth.
John Oxenham, pseud. (1852-1941)
William Arthur Dunkerley (1852-1941) (alt.)
Closing Responses
From words of Jim Burklo
One: Like the trees of the forest
All: May the peace of God surround us
One: Like the waves in the sea
All: May the peace of God refresh us
One: Like the sun in the sky
All: May the peace of God warm us
One: Like the gentleness of a breeze
All: May the peace of God soothe us
May the peace of God be with us all
Blessing
Threefold Amen
Organ Voluntary
Happy Mothers’ Day!
THIS MORNING’S CHAMBER GROUP MUSIC The introit, to an ancient
Marian text, “Hail Queen of Heaven” is an acknowledgement of Mothering
Sunday. György Orbán is a Romanian born composer who emigrated to
Hungary to become Professor of Composition at the Liszt Academy of
Music in Budapest. This setting is for voices in three parts.
It was not until the Seventeenth century that a documented source
attributed the Sixteenth century anthem to the composer and playwright,
Richard Farrant,, a contemporary of Byrd and Tallis, and it may be by the
older composer John Hilton. The opening is a hymn- like chordal setting
followed by a canon between men’s and ladies voices in the second part. It
concludes with an “amen” added in the eighteenth century.
NEWS AND INTIMATIONS
OPEN TO ALL Coffee will be served in the Bill McDonald Hall at the close
of this service. Everyone is very welcome. Single use bio-compostable
cups will be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own cup!
MIDWEEK PRAYERS You are most welcome to attend a time of peace,
prayer and reflection in the church sanctuary, this Tuesday at 10.00am.
PASTORAL CARE Our Pastoral Assistant, Kay McIntosh, is returning to work
in the week starting Monday 28 March. We are very fortunate to have a
team of twenty eight pastoral visitors. It’s a time for new beginnings, so if
you now would like to have a regular visit or phone call, please do contact
me and I shall arrange that for you. If you would like to be held in prayer or
be one of the people on our confidential prayer chain. Please do contact
me with your prayer request. Please contact Kay on 07587 043 191 or
LENTEN SWISHING What is this? Swishing is when you exchange unwanted
goods for someone else’s. During Lent the Eco Group would like to
experiment with this for clothes and accessories. Remember that sale
bargain you picked up and will never wear or that Christmas present that
is far too small. Well. if you have such an item, bring it along on Sunday
mornings during Lent and see if there is anything you might exchange it
for. All goods must be scarcely worn and clean and in good condition. If
there is something that catches your eye – please help yourself. No cost
is involved and all leftovers will be delivered to Bethany after Easter. So in
one fell swoop, you get rid of that unwanted item, save a trip to the charity
shop, reduce clothes manufacture and help with re-cycling and reducing
landfill. What could be better? Eco Group
UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND CHRISTIAN AID’S RESPONSE
We have all been appalled by recent events unfolding in Ukraine. As
conflict intensifies, more than a million people have fled their homes.
Leaving behind jobs, belongings and loved ones, they need shelter, food
and water.
Christian Aid is working with partner organisations in the ACT Alliance (a
global faith-based coalition), to offer assistance to Ukraine refugees fleeing
deadly violence. So far, one of their ACT partners has already distributed 28
tonnes of food supplies and other lifesaving essentials to people on the
Ukrainian borders. With your help, they can do much, much more.
Christian Aid is a member of the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee),
which brings together leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly and
efficiently in response to large-scale disasters. The UK government has
promised to match donations to the DEC’s Ukraine Appeal up to £20
million. You can reach them
https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
Disasters Emergency Committee, to donate online.
Thank you.
LENT AND HOLY WEEK The arrangements for joint services during Holy
Week are that there will be five morning services from Monday 11 to
Friday 15 April held at Craigmillar Park, for 15 minutes from 7.45am
followed by breakfast. There will also be two services in the evening at
7.30pm during Holy Week, being a Maundy Thursday communion service
on 14 April at Priestfield and a Good Friday Tenebrae service on 15 April at
Mayfield Salisbury.
Also on Good Friday there will be a Walk of Witness, with readings and
prayers, from Craigmillar Park to the Methodist Church in Nicolson Square
which will follow the morning service on 15 April.
On Easter morning, we will have a breakfast in the Bill MacDonald Hall at
8.30am, incorporating worship, and then a joint service in the sanctuary at
10.30am. On an entirely optional basis, there will also be a walk up
Blackford Hill for the sunrise on Easter morning at 6am.
YOUTH UPDATE
Youth Worship Sunday 27 March (7.00pm): We will be meeting in the Bill
McDonald Hall for a night of praise, prayer and reflection. All ages invited!
Youth Group Sunday 3 April We will be meeting in the Youth Room for an
evening discussing Sabbath and rest, exploring various spiritual practices
and prayer. P6-S1 from 6:00-7:00pm; S2-S6 from 7:15-8:30pm.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR NOREEN DOUGLAS It is with sadness that
I let you know that our longstanding member, Noreen Douglas, passed
away peacefully in hospital on Thursday 17 March after a short period of
illness. Please keep Noreen’s children and the wider family in your prayers.
Her funeral will take place on Friday 1 April at 1pm at Seafield
Crematorium. If you would like to attend Noreen's service, it is by invitation
- please contact the minister in the first instance.
PILGRIMAGE TO ST ANDREWS – MAIN DATE: SATURDAY 7 MAY
We’ll be completing the Fife Pilgrim Way to St Andrews in April and May,
having walked the first leg as a congregation from North Queensferry to
Dunfermline Abbey last September. The intention is to have another
congregational pilgrimage day on Saturday 7 May for the final leg from
Ceres to St Andrews, a distance of 9.5 miles. Once more, there will be the
option to walk a shorter section, or to simply join at the end, when we will
gather for a short service and then food and fellowship. In addition, the
minister will be walking the three preceding sections on Mondays in April,
and would welcome any fellow pilgrims along the way! The details are as
follows:
• Dunfermline to Cardenden (14 miles) – Monday 11 April
• Cardenden to Kennoway (15 miles) – Monday 18 April (Easter Monday)
• Kennoway to Ceres (8.5 miles) – Monday 25 April
• Ceres to St Andrews (9.5 miles) – Saturday 7 May
FOREST CHURCH ‘EMMAUS WALK’ SUNDAY 24 APRIL 2.30-5.00pm
We’ll be joining with the Penicuik churches in their Forest Church on the
Sunday after Easter, to explore God in nature and walk, talk and be
together. More details to follow, but save the date and any queries at
present, feel free to contact the minister.
EVENING OF PIONEER PRACTICE -JONNY BAKER THURSDAY 5 MAY 7PM
In the face of numerical decline in the traditional church denominations,
there is a renewed awareness of the importance of God’s mission in the
world. Do we just need to do the old things better or are we being
challenged to embrace the new: creative, innovative expressions of faith,
rooted in their context, in partnership with traditional forms?
Jonny Baker is Director of Mission Education at the Church Mission Society
in Oxford, and a renowned writer and inspirer on ‘pioneering’ forms of
mission and ministry. He is touring Scotland with musician and artist Gav
Mart – and working with local pioneers – to explore key themes of ‘Pioneer
Practice’, the name of his recent book. Mayfield Salisbury is hosting the
event for Edinburgh and the Lothians – all are welcome. Sign up on
Eventbrite here (cost £3 each) -
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-pioneer-practice-4-7-may-2022-tickets-272673472697
Floods, Fashion and Fabrics
We are now all well aware of the impact of fossil fuels. Perhaps it comes as
more of a surprise to learn that worldwide fashion uses more energy than
aviation and shipping combined, accounting for 8-10% of global carbon
emissions and nearly 20% of wastewater. But, like much of the information
around climate change, nothing is simple. Clothing has complex supply
chains that make it difficult to account for all the emissions that come from
producing a pair of trousers or a new coat. Then there is transport and
disposal of clothes no longer needed or wanted. It is also important to be
mindful of the conditions under which some factory workers are employed,
particularly in third world countries.
A few facts:
*The UN estimates that a single pair of jeans uses a kilogram of cotton.
And, because cotton tends to be grown in dry places, producing this kilo
requires about 7,500–10,000 litres of water.
*65% of our clothing is polyester based, using around 70 million barrels of
oil each year. From waterproof jackets to delicate scarves, it’s hard to get
away from the stuff. Part of this stems from the convenience: polyester is
easy to clean, durable and inexpensive. But a polyester shirt has double the
carbon footprint of a cotton one, producing the equivalent of 5.5kg of
carbon dioxide compared to 2.1kg.
*According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the average number of
times a piece of clothing is worn decreased by 36% between 2000 and
2015 while at the same time, clothing production doubled
*One survey found that nearly half of the clothes in the average wardrobe
are never worn. Continuing to wear a garment for just nine months longer
could diminish its environmental impacts by 20–30%.
What can’t be done?
*Switching to recycled polyester fabric can help to reduce the carbon
emissions: recycled polyester releases about a third of the emissions of
virgin polyester. But it isn’t a long-term solution, as polyester takes
hundreds of years to decompose and can lead to microfibres escaping
into the environment.
*There are ways to make denim less resource intensive. In general, jeans
composed of material that is close to the natural state of cotton use less
water and hazardous treatments to produce. This means less bleaching,
sandblasting, and pre-washing. But natural materials aren’t necessarily
sustainable either, if they require huge amounts of water, dye and
transport. Although organic cotton may be better for the farmworkers
who would otherwise be exposed to enormous levels of pesticides,
the pressure on water remains.
What can be done?
*Cutting down on washing can help reduce the carbon footprint of your
wardrobe, while also helping to lower water use and the number of
microfibres shed in the washing machine.
*How about buying less? Charity shops are full of clothing – take a look!
And, of course, for the next two or three weeks, join in the SWISHING
fun here.
*Don’t throw old clothes away – they will end up in landfill or being
incinerated which leads to more emissions - use for dusters, remove
the buttons (charity shops love these), be imaginative!
*Mend clothes; darn socks!
www.bbc.com/future/article/20200310-sustainable-fashion-how-to-buy-clothes-good-for-the-climate
OFFERINGS During this time when Church attendance is restricted, you
may continue to give offerings to support the work of the Church. Please
contact our Freewill Offerings Treasurer, Hugh Somerville on 0131 466 2446
or
have put offerings in the plate during the service to do so at the close of
the service. In the halls entrance and in the vestibule, you will find a bowl or
plate marked ‘Plate Collection’. Regular and one-off donations, are still
possible online through: www.give.net/20311853
Copyright Notices
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible:
Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church holds a CCLI Streaming License: #88916
Some images from Pixabay under licence.
Forthcoming Deadlines
Order of service for next week: Thursday at 6.00pm.
Next Grapevine: Friday 22 April at 6.00pm.
***
Welcome!
We are glad to see you worship with us today
and hope to see you again soon.
We would love to get to know you better!
If you like, please send an email to:
With your name, email address
We have several lists/ Let us know if yoiu would like to receive:
1 - A phone call/email from the Minister/ Pastoral Assistant
2- Information on house groups and ways of getting involved
3- Weekly news emails
4- Monthly parish magazines
www.mayfieldsalisbury.org
Scottish Charity Number SC000785
www.give.net/20311853