ST GILES’ CATHEDRAL The High Kirk of Edinburgh

Christian Aid Scotland 70th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service

Tuesday 10th November 2015

GATHERING Song:

IONA GLORIA, Scottish traditional

Welcome (from the Minister of St Giles’, Rev Calum MacLeod) Song:

IONA GLORIA (Reprise)

Call to Worship Leader:

We saw a stranger yesterday:

ALL:

WE PUT FOOD IN THE EATING PLACE, DRINK IN THE DRINKING PLACE, MUSIC IN THE LISTENING PLACE, AND WITH THE SACRED NAME OF THE TRIUNE GOD, SHE BLESSED US AND OUR HOUSE, OUR CATTLE AND OUR DEAR ONES

Leader: ‘

As the lark says in her song Often, often, often goes the Christ in the stranger’s guise’

Hymn: ALL ARE WELCOME, Marty Haugen © GIA Publications, USA. (ALL) LET US BUILD A HOUSE WHERE LOVE CAN DWELL AND ALL CAN SAFELY LIVE, A PLACE WHERE SAINTS AND CHILDREN TELL HOW HEARTS LEARN TO FORGIVE. BUILT OF HOPES AND DREAMS AND VISIONS, ROCK OF FAITH AND VAULT OF GRACE; HERE THE LOVE OF CHRIST SHALL END DIVISIONS: ALL ARE WELCOME, ALL ARE WELCOME, ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE. (Women) Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace: here as one, we claim the faith of Jesus:

(Men) Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat; a banquet hall on holy ground, where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God through Jesus is revealed in time and space, as we share in Christ the feast that frees us: (ALL) LET US BUILD A HOUSE WHERE HANDS WILL REACH BEYOND THE WOOD AND STONE TO HEAL AND STRENGTHEN, SERVE AND TEACH AND LIVE THE WORD THEY’VE KNOWN. HERE THE OUTCAST AND THE STRANGER BEAR THE IMAGE OF GOD’S FACE; LET US BRING AN END TO FEAR AND DANGER: (ALL) LET US BUILD A HOUSE WHERE ALL ARE NAMED, THEIR SONGS AND VISIONS HEARD AND LOVED AND TREASURED, TAUGHT AND CLAIMED AS WORDS WITHIN THE WORD. BUILT OF TEARS AND CRIES AND LAUGHTER, PRAYERS OF FAITH AND SONGS OF GRACE, LET THIS HOUSE PROCLAIM FROM FLOOR TO RAFTER:

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Leader:

Right Rev Angus Morrison, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Living Lord, whose presence on our daily road we often fail to see; warm our hearts with fresh confidence in your Word, so that, in making room for the stranger beside us, we find your hospitality awaiting us, and the reassurance of your presence to inspire us to tread the road again and to share the good news of your resurrection life. Amen.

God of grace, in all of us is a longing for a life that has not yet come, for a world that is free and just, a dream of hope for all people.

Sung:



We know our own failures in love, in generosity, in justice.



Help us to hold graciously those questions to which there are no easy answers.



Enable us to discern the inability to believe which comes from our unwillingness to obey, and in the pain and scarring of the world, help us to identify your hands, wounded among us.



O merciful God, who answers the poor, answer us; O merciful God, who answers the lowly in spirit, answer us. O merciful God, who answers the broken of heart, answer us.



(Silence)

KYRIE ELEISON

Leader:



ALL:

Spirit of the living God, you breathe in us, on all that is inadequate and fragile. you make living water spring even from our hurts themselves. and, through you, the valley of fears becomes a place of wellsprings. so, in an inner life with neither beginning nor end, your continual presence makes new freshness break through. Amen. O GOD, OPEN TO US TODAY THE SEA OF YOUR MERCY AND WATER US WITH FULL STREAMS FROM THE RICHES OF YOUR GRACE AND SPRINGS OF YOUR KINDNESS. MAKE US CHILDREN OF QUIETNESS AND HEIRS OF PEACE: KINDLE IN US THE FIRE OF YOUR LOVE: STRENGTHEN OUR WEAKNESS BY YOUR POWER AND BIND US CLOSE TO YOU AND TO EACH OTHER.

(Sri Lanka)

(Syria)

ENGAGING A Meditation on Psalm 107 – (Ps.107:1-3; 33-43) Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Many Troubles. (Please stand as you are able) Response:

OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, © WGRG, c/o Iona Community. www.wildgoose.scot OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR THE LORD ALONE IS GOOD.

Leader:

We turn to the North…

Reader:

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Response:

OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (Reprise)

Leader:

We turn to the East…

Reader:

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Response:

OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (Reprise)

Leader:

We turn to the South…





(ALL turn to face the North)

(ALL turn to face the East)

(ALL turn to face the South)

Reader:

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Response:

OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (Reprise)

Leader:

We turn to the West…

Reader:

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.

Response:

OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD (Reprise)

Readings: Isaiah 52, 3-10 Matthew 5, 43-48

(ALL turn to face the West)

Rev Iain Cunningham, Convener, Church of Scotland World Mission Council Rev Matthew Ross, General Secretary, Action of Churches Together in Scotland

Response: IONA GLORIA (Reprise)

Sermon: Dr Rowan Williams, Chair of Christian Aid

CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT, Bernadette Farrell © OCP Publications, USA.

Song:

Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to you. Make us your own, your holy people, light for the world to see CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT, SHINE IN OUR HEARTS, SHINE THROUGH THE DARKNESS. CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT, SHINE ON YOUR CHURCH, GATHERED TODAY.



Longing for peace, our world is troubled. Longing for hope, many despair. your word alone has power to save us, Make us your living voice.



Longing for food, many are hungry, longing for water, many still thirst. Make us your bread, broken for others, shared until all are fed.



Longing for shelter, many are homeless. Longing for warmth, many are cold. Make us your building, sheltering others, walls made of living stone.



Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come.

RESPONDING Prayers of thanksgiving Leader:

Rev Fiona Bennett, Minister, Augustine United Church

God, Life of life, we are secured by your love and surrounded by your abundance. Your grace and providence is a daily blessing and we bless you.

God of life beyond death, on the eve of seventy years of remembering the devastation of war, we give humble thanks for seventy years of Christian Aid. For your inspiring of costly reconciliation for your power to rebuild lives and communities for your call to journey on together in faith we bless you. For the faithful commitment of churches, communities and individuals, who have given their time, their talents and their care to raise money, join campaigns and cry out for justice and healing, we bless you. For the vision and resourcefulness of partners, the dedication and experience of Christian Aid staff, the unity of local ecumenical groups and the collegiality of alliances, we bless you. For seventy years of witness to another way, the way of faith, hope and love, we bless you, and we give thanks.

ALL: Leader:

ALL: Leader:

ALL:

For all the saints who went before us who have spoken to our hearts and touched us with your fire WE GIVE THANKS. For all the saints who live beside us whose weaknesses and strengths are woven with our own WE GIVE THANKS. For all the saints who live beyond us who challenge us to change the world with them WE GIVE THANKS.

Prayers of Intercession Leader:

ALL: Leader:

ALL: Leader:

ALL: Leader:

ALL:

Most Rev David Chillingworth, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church

And because you, God, love the world, because in Christ you walked it, we dare to pray: God, send your spirit: RENEW THE LIFE OF THE EARTH To awaken the minds of those in power to the realities of those they govern; to confront the arrogance of the privileged with the vulnerability of the poor. God, send your spirit: RENEW THE LIFE OF THE EARTH To engage the fragile state of the planet with those who carelessly abuse it; to let the pain of those who are hurting awaken the caring potential in the healthy, God, send your spirit: RENEW THE LIFE OF THE EARTH And since in Jesus You destined all to be changed and made new, enable us to be agents of your purpose. We pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

(As we sing the song below, we can - if we wish - move to one of the North, East, South or West sides of the chancel and there take a votive candle; then bring it to the communion table and there light it as a sign of prayer for a place, a situation or people for which you have an especial concern.

Each side/ compass point represents a different concern: the North … for the world’s refugees; the East … for those whose land or livelihoods are at risk; the South … for those who suffer because of their gender or sexuality; the West … for those suffering the impacts of climate change.)

Song:

COME WITH ME / HAMBA NATHI, South African traditional. PRAY WITH US FOR THE JOURNEY IS LONG. (x4) THE JOURNEY, THE JOURNEY, THE JOURNEY IS LONG. (x4)

Commitment (Please stand as you are able)

Morag Mylne, Christian Aid Trustee and Chair of the Advisory Group for Scotland

Leader: ALL:

We believe that God is present. WE BELIEVE THAT GOD IS PRESENT IN THE DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN; IN THE WAITING AND UNCERTAINTY, WHERE FEAR AND COURAGE JOIN HANDS, CONFLICT AND CARING LINK ARMS AND THE SUN RISES OVER BARBED WIRE.

Leader: ALL:

We believe in a with-us God. WE BELIEVE IN A WITH-US GOD, WHO SITS DOWN IN OUR MIDST TO SHARE OUR HUMANITY. WE AFFIRM A FAITH THAT TAKES US BEYOND THE SAFE PLACE: INTO ACTION, INTO VULNERABILTY AND INTO THE STREETS.

Leader: ALL:

We commit ourselves to work for change. WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO WORK FOR CHANGE AND PUT OURSELVES ON THE LINE; TO BEAR RESPONSIBILITY, TAKE RISKS, LIVE POWERFULLY AND FACE HUMILIATION; TO STAND WITH THOSE ON THE EDGE; TO CHOOSE LIFE AND BE USED BY THE SPIRIT FOR GOD’S NEW COMMUNITY OF HOPE. AMEN.

Hymn: THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD, Tune: ‘Brother James’ Air’, Scots traditional. (The last two lines of each verse are repeated) The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want, he makes me down to lie in pastures green, he leadeth me the quiet waters by. My soul he doth restore again and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness, even for his own name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale yet will I fear no ill for thou are with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still.

My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes My head thou dost with oil anoint and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me. And in God’s house for evermore my dwelling place shall be.

Blessing

Leader:

Living God, bless us … AS TOGETHER WE GO OUT BY ANOTHER WAY; EMPOWERED BY OUR LONGING, STRENGTHENED BY OUR SOLIDARITY, HUMBLED BY OUR NEED, TO LOVE AND SERVE THE WORLD. IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. AMEN.

Recessional:

HAMBA NATHI/ COME WITH US, South African traditional. COME WITH US FOR THE JOURNEY IS LONG. (x4) THE JOURNEY, THE JOURNEY, THE JOURNEY IS LONG. (x4)

(We leave the cathedral by the Eastern door into Parliament Square. The Lord Provost has graciously invited all for tea and coffee in the City Chambers, which is across on the northern side of High Street)

Christian Aid Scotland is most grateful to the following for their support of its 70th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service: Rev Calum MacLeod, Minister of St Giles’ Cathedral Michael Harris, Master of the Music, St Giles’ Cathedral The Kirk Session and staff of St Giles’ Cathedral The Wild Goose Resource Group and Wild Goose Collective The Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Edinburgh City Council