Welcome to this Service of Worship
Transfiguration Sunday
Sunday 19 February at 10.30am
Sacrament of Baptism
Maliyah Martyniuk Carty
and
Merrika Martyniuk Carty
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GATHERS TO WORSHIP ALMIGHTY GOD
Organ Voluntary
Welcome & Church News
The Peace
Preparatory Silence for Worship
Introit: O nata lux
Words: Office Hymn for the Service of Lauds
Music: Thomas Tallis (1505 to 1585)
O nata lux de lumine,
Jesu redemptor saeculi,
Dignare clemens supplicum
Laudes precesque sumere.
Qui carne quondam contegi
Dignatus es pro perditis,
Nos membra confer effici
Tui beati corporis.
[O Light born of Light,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
with loving-kindness deign to receive
suppliant praise and prayer.
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
for the sake of the lost,
grant us to be members
of thy blessed body.]
Call to Worship
Leader: Jesus Christ said: ‘Come to me! Follow me! Be my disciples!’
All: We come to this place, to this time, as Jesus calls us.
Leader: In a world where tragedy and cruelty are common,
All: We come to praise the God of Compassion.
Leader: In a world where despair threatens to overwhelm,
All: We come to praise the God of Hope.
Leader: In a world where indifference and apathy are near,
All: We come to praise the God of Love.
Leader: In the name of Christ, as his disciples,
All: We come to worship and praise God.
Hymn 543 Longing for Light, we wait in the darkness
(t. Christ Be Our Light)
Prayer of Approach, Praise, Confession and The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Sacrament of Baptism of
Maliyah Martyniuk Carty
and
Merrika Martyniuk Carty
The Aaronic Blessing – Hymn 796
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace
Hymn He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
He's got the whole world in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the tiny little baby in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got you and me brother in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got you and me sister in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got everybody here in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
He's got the whole world in His hands (x3)
He's got the whole world in His hands.
Reading Matthew 5:38 - 48 Deirdre Eustace (NT p4)
Anthem My eyes for beauty pine
Words:Robert Bridges (1844-1930)
Herbert Howells (1892 to 1983)
My eyes for beauty pine
My soul for Goddes grace
No other care nor hope is mine
To heaven I turn my face
One splendour thence is shed from all the stars above
Tis named when God's name is said
Tis love, 'tis heavenly love
And every gentle heart that burns with true desire
Is lit from eyes that mirror part of that celestial fire
Reading John 6:60 - 69
Deirdre Eustace (NT p94)
Hymn 336 Christ is Our Light! Bright and Morning Star
(t. Highland Cathedral)
Sermon – ‘Too Much to Ask?
Revd Dr Sandy Forsyth
Pause for Reflection
Hymn 465 Be Thou My Vision
(t. Slane)
Prayer for Turkey and Syria
Prayer for Ukraine on First Anniversary of the Invasion – from Christian Aid
& Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (said together)
God of all peoples and nations,
Who created all things alive and breathing,
United and whole,
Show us the way of peace that is Your overwhelming presence.
We hold before you the peoples of Ukraine and Russia,
Every child and every adult.
We long for the time
When weapons of war are beaten into ploughshares
When nations no longer lift up sword against nation.
We cry out to you for peace;
Protect those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety
Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones
Be with those who are bereaved.
Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression
And fill leaders with the wisdom that leads to peace.
Kindle again in us a love of our neighbour,
And a passion for justice to prevail and a renewed recognition
that we all play a part in peace.
Creator of all hear our prayer
Make us whole. And bring us peace. Amen.
Hymn 456 Christ is the World’s True Light
(t. Nun Danket)
Closing Responses
From Luke 19:1-10
Leader: You can heal,
All: Christ has touched you.
Leader: You can love,
All: Christ has sought you.
Leader: You can give yourself away.
All: Christ has called you.
Leader: You can break the barriers from which others suffer.
All: Christ has visited your house.
Leader: Christ is in you and around you.
All: Christ will set you free.
Benediction and Threefold Amen
Organ Postlude
THIS MORNING’S CHOIR MUSIC Thomas Tallis and William Byrd were the
foremost English composers of the sixteenth century . The survival of much
of their work may be partly due to the fact that Queen Elizabeth awarded
them a monopoly of publishing ‘Set Songe or Songes in Parts’ Tallis was
masterly in adapting his style through four reigns depending on the royal
preferences for Catholic or Protestant liturgies. The introit for five voices, of
1575 and therefore of Elizabethan Protestantism, is one of the office hymns
for Lauds, Vespers and Compline. It is largely chordal rather than
polyphonic, with a setting of one note for each syllable of text. There is a
very effective repeat of the last two lines of text.
The anthem has an atmosphere of longing which characterises much of
Herbert Howell’s choral compositions. The piece is largely in unison except
for a use of harmony to emphasise the climax at ‘tis Love, tis heavenly
Love.’ The irregular bar lengths, much with seven beats, adds to the feeling
of searching
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NEWS AND INTIMATIONS
1. INFORMAL SUNDAY SCHOOL CATCH UP All Sunday School aged
families are warmly invited to an informal catch up on Saturday 25
February, from 12.30pm – 3.00pm, at 9 Minto Street. There will be bread
and soup at lunch, plus cake and refreshments. Come for the afternoon, or
just drop in for a cup of tea. A chance to chat, and games for the kids to
play. RSVP helpful but not essential. Alexis (Eilidh & Angus's mum) 0778
470 5322 /
2. YOUTH GROUP Sunday 19 February 6.15pm to 8:30pm-all age. We are
having a film night and Lent discussion in the youth room, watching
Disney's Inside Out as we explore emotions, & the sadness and joy that
encompass Lent and Easter time.
3. PARISH UNION MATTERS Following the pancake breakfast fellowship
event after the service there will be a short meeting of the congregation
which we expect to start around 12.15 and be finished by 1.00pm. This
will be an informal meeting and will provide an opportunity for you to ask
questions and feed in your views. I attach a paper which has gone to all
three congregations. Of particular interest are: what we might name the
new congregation and what we might do with the buildings. The paper will
be available in hard copy tomorrow so please have a read and come along
to share your thoughts and pose your questions.
4. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE, 22 FEBRUARY we are joining together
with our friends at Priestfield and Craigmillar Park for a service to make the
start of Lent in the evening of Ash Wednesday. It will be at Priestfield Parish
Church at 7pm, led by Rev. Donald Scott and with Sandy contributing. All
are welcome.
5. ST COLUMBA’S JUSTICE AND PEACE GROUP. A talk by Ian Murray MP
on Poverty and Inequalities, postponed from 11 February, will be held on
the 25th in the Main Hall of St Columba’s. Teas and coffees from 10.00am
with the talk at 10.30am.
6. THURSDAY CLUB takes place every Thursday at 2.00pm in the Bill
McDonald Hall. This week, Ken Williamson will give a talk title - The
Caledonian Railway’s 1903 Leith New Lines, followed by tea and fellowship.
All are very welcome!
7. AFTERNOON SERVICE The first Short Afternoon Service of 2023 will
be held on Tuesday, 7th MARCH at 2.30pm followed by refreshments and
chat - until around 3.45pm. Everyone always made most welcome - please
join us! Our bi-monthly mid-week services are especially appreciated by
the less mobile in our parish community and those for whom Sunday
Services are rather more challenging to attend. We all remain seated at our
tables throughout the afternoon and there is time for conversation and
exchange of news.
For further information please contact our Pastoral Assistant, Kay McIntosh,
your own Pastoral Visitor (PV) or Anne Sturrock. Names would be
appreciated in advance (nearer the time) so that we can set up tables
allowing plenty of space, and to allow us to cater for all. Please contact Kay
on 0758 704 3191 if you are coming. We will also take leave - as this will be
Kay and Hillary’s last mid-week Service. [The following Afternoon Service
will be on Tuesday 16th May]
8. PASTORAL CARE If you would like to have a regular home visit or
telephone call from one of our pastoral care team, please contact me and I
will arrange that for you. If you would like to be held in prayer, or would
like us to pray for someone you know, please make your request to Kay. If
you would like to participate in our confidential prayer chain praying for
these requests, please get in touch; prayer chain emails are sent out once a
week. You can email Kay on 07587 043 191 or
9. CHRISTIAN AID EMERGENCY APPEAL On Monday 6 February, a
magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Turkey close to the border with
northern Syria. A second 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck 9 hours later,
with aftershocks following. Many thousands of men, women and children
have died or are injured in the aftermath.
Even before this devastating earthquake, there were over four million
people in need of aid in Northwest Syria. Nearly 3 million people have been
displaced by the long conflict in Syria, 80% of whom are women and
children. Now extreme weather events and the spiraling costs of food and
fuel prices due to ongoing conflicts are making the situation even worse.
People are facing crisis on crisis.
Christian Aid is already working with partners in Northwest Syria to provide
winter kits to people seeking shelter. It is not too late to save lives and give
people hope. Please donate what you can to support this urgent
humanitarian work. There will be a bucket collection after both services
this morning, or you can donate online at this website
www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/emergencies/dec-turkey-syria- earthquake-appeal
Every prayer, every gift, every action brings hope to
people hit by disaster. Thank you. Christian Aid is a member of the DEC, a
group of fifteen charities who each specialise in different areas of disaster
response. The UK Government is currently offering match funding for
donations to these charities. While match funds last, your donations will be
doubled. The Christian Aid Team
10. MARMALADE SALE We plan to hold our popular Christian Aid
marmalade sale soon. The long-awaited oranges have arrived in the shops,
so if you’re getting out the preserving pans please consider making a little
extra for our stall – we’d really appreciate it!
Details of the date of the sale, and when to hand in your contributions, will
follow shortly. In the meantime, if you need extra jars please contact Kate
O’Brien on 667 4362. We have plenty to spare! Thank you for your support.
11. COLLECTIONS I am very grateful to those who so far have donated
to mark Hillary’s departure and Kay’s retirement. These donations are very
much appreciated. With Hillary’s last service on 19 March and Kay’s on the
26th it would be very helpful if any contributions could be with William or
myself by Monday 13 March. Please contact the Church Office for more
information - 0131 667 1522.
12. GIVING – QR CODE Our Quick Response code is a handy way of using
your smart ‘phone or tablet’s QR app to link you to our Giving Page. Once
you have joined the Giving Page safeguards are still operative. PLATES:
Those who would have wished to use it may make use of the offering
plates situated in the vestibule and halls entrance, at the close of the
service. Regular and one-off donations are possible online at
www.give.net/20311853 (scan the QR code) or please contact our Freewill
Offerings Treasurer, Hugh Somerville on 0131 466 2446 or
13. UPCOMING CONGREGATIONAL PILGRIMAGE WALKS – DATES FOR
DIARY You will recall the two congregational pilgrimages in Autumn 2021
and Easter 2022, when we had very enjoyable days walking the first and last
legs of the Fife Pilgrim Way. This year, we will be walking on the Forth to
Farne Way, ending with a Saturday pilgrimage to the island of Lindisfarne.
We will be doing so in conjunction with the congregations of the Parish of
Traprain in East Lothian. Dates to follow for your diary – all welcome to be
part of each walk:
• Friday 24 March 2023 – East Linton to North Berwick (approx. 7miles)
• Monday 8 May 2023 – Circular walk from Coldingham Priory, via St
Abbs’ Lighthouse (approx. 7miles)
• Saturday 10 June 2023 – Beal Farm Cafe to Lindisfarne (approx. 5miles)
More information on the walks and the travel arrangements to follow soon…
www.mayfieldsalisbury.org
Scottish Charity Number SC000785
www.give.net/20311853