Holy God maker of heaven and earth.
Hear us.
Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
Heal us.
Holy Spirit Giver of Life,
Help us.
Holy and Blessed Trinity,
Hear our prayers.
We pray for those who hunger for food; those who hunger for clean water; those who hunger for a safe home; those who hunger for a peaceful life.
Lord, hear us.
We pray for those who are fearful for the future; those who are anxious for the present; for those whose past is a painful and a constant burden.
Lord, hear us.
We pray for those who lead, countries and communities; for those who lead industry and judiciary; for those who ensure our health service, fire brigade, police force, social work and education institutions are fit for purpose.
Lord, hear us.
We pray for those whose bodies ache; for those for whom age is taking its toll; for those whose minds are troubled. We give thanks for all those who care for the sick and vulnerable, grant them strength and patience.
(You may wish to pause at this point to bring before God names of those you know in need of prayer.)
Lord, hear us.
We pray for the Church throughout the world; for all those who serve in congregations and the wider community; for those who doubt; for those for whom faith in you is new; for those who are persecuted for faithfully following you.
Lord, hear us.
We remember before God all those who we love but see no longer, praying that they may know the joys of heaven and we too may know those joys when this life ends.
(You may wish to pause at this point to remember before God those you miss.)
Lord, hear us.
Let our fasting turn us to attend to the needs of others, and not our own hungers.
Help us Good Lord.
Let our charity be a sign of your generosity, not an occasion for pride.
Help us Good Lord.
Let our prayers make us witnesses to your grace and lead us to acts of justice.
Help us Good Lord.
Let our sufferings make us one with Christ, who suffered for our salvation.
Help us Good Lord.
Let our lives be consecrated to your will, as this Lent leads to Easter’s new life.
Help us Good Lord.
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
This year’s Lent Course will take place on Tuesday evenings in the St Andrew’s Chapel. They will begin at 7pm and conclude at 8pm with Compline. The theme will be God’s instruction to Moses: ‘Take off your shoes for you are walking on Holy Ground.’ A booklet containing Compline and the readings for the whole course will be available on the web site or in hard copies in the Church.
For those who are unable to attend in person both the course and the service of Compline will be available via zoom.
This year’s service will be held on Friday 4th March in the Salvation Army in Hallcraig Street. The service begins at 2.30pm. The theme for this year is.
‘I know the plans I have for you.’
This year’s service is written by Christian women of England, Wales & Northern Ireland
Currently in Church, until Lent, there is an art installation called Breath you can see it during any of the times the church is open for services, or by request at another time.
Echoing the rays from the dove in the East Window this installation is a commentary on preaching and the breath of Holy Spirit working through it. The strings that stretch out and over the congregation are in yellow, orange and red colours often used for the Holy Spirit.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Yahew, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
The process of sermon construction involves distilling lots of information. The readings, illustrative stories, history, background, scene setting, biographies, current news, etc. We can not do that distillation without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
We come with our human cacophony of ideas and understanding, and the Holy Spirit distils and hones them into God’s message for those gathered.
Most preachers can tell stories about the times they thought a sermon was totally awful, yet someone spoke with them after saying something akin to. This week has been bad, I wasn’t going to come to church but I am so glad I did, that sermon was just what I needed to hear. The Holy Spirit works through sermon preparation and also the words people hear.
Members of the congregation discussing and interacting with ‘Breath’
There are times when getting to church on a Sunday can be difficult, illness or circumstances can mean we would love to be present but physically can’t be. Now you have the option of joining in on zoom. You will be able to hear and see the service and join in. The details below will be used for all services from St Paul and St John the Evangelist, so regardless of whether it is a Sunday morning Eucharist or Week day Morning Prayers, Compline on a Tuesday evening or a feast day service; these are the only details you will need.
The smoke curled up, high up,
reaching for God, somewhere beyond:
Unseen, unfleshed, hidden _ expect
for those and such as those, behind the veil.
The smoke curled up.
To offer thanks,
to beg for mercy,
to ask for cleansing,
to reclaim, redeem, renew.
The smoke curled up.
Precious grains, as if glass,
in hues of ochre and umber_
gave up their fragrant offerings
enriched by prayers.
Aromas layered with the
pyres of finest of meat.
Its crackling and spitting
augmenting the cacophony of other noises,
growing the sacrifice,
searching for the perfect cord _
the ultimate offering.
In each babies cry and exciting children’s chatter.
In the prayers of old men and young men’s dreams.
In the new bride’s hopes and widows remembrances.
In their offerings of smoke, and heart, and word
echoed sometimes faintly
sometimes steadier,
the prophets call.
Words of old, now spoken;
there in the midst of all those people,
hoping, searching praying.
There in the midst of all that devotion.
One man.
One woman.
They alone see through the smoke
to the glory others pass by,
and The Word is proclaimed ...
and touched.
There is a new initiative, being promoted by the North West Regional Council. Les Ireland, Rector of St Cyprian, Lenzie and instigator of the idea writes:
The North East Regional Council, of which we are all part, is planning to try out a joint Monthly Sunday Evening service on zoom only, at 7.00pm. It’s not just for council members, or even members of the churches in the NERC, anyone and everyone is welcome to join us. The first service is on the 30th January, and then on the last Sunday of the month into the future. I guess the service will last about 45 minutes.
Zoom link details are below and will be the same for; 26th Feb; 27th March; 24th April; 29th May; 26th June.
The Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion. The North East Regional Council is part of the diocese, and the service is run by clergy and members of the council, anyone from anywhere can join in the service. You do
If you want to know more, or want the access codes personally, just email Les Ireland at Rector@stcyprianslenzie.com
We all know the story. The Magi arrived with their gifts via Herod’s Palace, Herod asked them to return and let them know where the infant king was. In a dream they were warned to go home another route, which they did. Joseph in another dream was told to flee to Egypt as Herod wanted to kill the Babe of Bethlehem. All this to fulfil a prophesy about the Messiah coming out of Egypt.
We all know this older story too. The Hebrews enslaved for many years in Egypt finally freed. The act that brought about that freedom, the Passover. When the Passover was instigated the Hebrews were told to mark their doorposts and lintels with the blood of the lamb they were to eat that night.
Centuries later; we aren’t sure, when, how and where, but that doesn’t really matter; centuries later the two stories collided and chalking the lintels became a custom. In more recent years it has reached these shores. Usually happening at Epiphany, probably because of the Orthodox Churches celebration of Epiphany being a bigger festival than Christmas and New Year and it being present in those lands before these. It is a time set aside to ask for God’s continual blessing upon our homes and lives.
At the service on Epiphany chalk was blessed and the church was marked, those present were able to take home a piece of chalk to chalk their own homes. Geoff will explain the custom to those who attend Church on Sunday 9th January and you too will have the opportunity to take home a piece of chalk and join in. There is a gallery of members of the congregations chalking below, please feel free to send in your own photo to be added.
Mark the lintel of your door, or your door post, or porch step as follows:
20 + C + M + B + 22
The Blessing itself is encompassed in the year, The C M B stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat – Christ bless this home, the + are the symbol of blessing.
You may use this prayer afterwards if you wish.
May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the year. Visit, O blessed Lord, this place with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who worship and visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
It was a bit too windy, dark and slippy to get up to the lintel of the church door so the door post was chalking instead.
Our Friends at Holy Name also chalked the church and their homes.
Amid the shadows of unwelcome,
glory breaks through.
Amid the poverty of used straw,
the glory of life glistens.
Amid the sighs of essential work,
glory is birthed.
Amid the coverings for protection,
glory rests.
Inside, safe and secure with anticipations hope
glory resides.
Meanwhile, outwith_
Amid the melancholy of not being elsewhere,
glory spills.
Amid the chill of roofless nights,
glory is sung.
Amid the warmth of a few companions
gathered round a fire
glory is felt.
Amid the last minute gifts of love
glory is proclaimed.
Glory seeping through every crack it can find.
And still_
Amid fleeing refugees,
one eye looking anxiously back,
glory travels.
Amid the disquieting of the unfamiliar,
glory waits in silent presence.
Amid souls and bodies contracted with pain,
glory sparks.
Amid those who feel dark encompassing them
glory knocks.
The glory of the One and Only
the glory of the Word
the glory of a Baby’s cry
the glory of Hope realised.
The glory of a star proclaiming
a glorious new beginning for the world.
Members of the diocese recorded this into a video for Christmas Day 2021.
