Welcome to the online service of worship for the First Sunday after Christmas The YouTube playlist may be found here. Or view below.
Note: The Christmas Greeting can be found HERE
MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
EDINBURGH
Sunday Services of Public Worship
Online from 8.00am (onwards) Every Sunday
Sunday 27 December 2020
First Sunday After
Christmas
Loving the Presence in the present
Love people even in their sin,
for that is the semblance of
Divine Love and is the highest
love on earth. Love all of God’s
creation, the whole and every
grain of sand of it. Love every
leaf, every ray of God’s light.
Love the animals, love the
plants, love everything. If you
love everything, you will
perceive the divine mystery in
things. Once you perceive it,
you will begin to comprehend
it better every day. And you
will come at last to love the
whole world with an all-embracing
love.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
‘The Brothers Karamazov’
AS A DIVERSE PEOPLE, THE CHURCH GATHERS TO WORSHIP ALMIGHTY GOD
Welcome Anne Mulligan DCS
A warm welcome to all as we prepare to worship God at this Christmas time.
Once again, we are unable able to meet physically in the sanctuary of Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church.
But whether we are at home alone or with our family we are united in our faith that we are enfolded in the love of God. The one who comes to use through love and hope. Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
Let us be silent for a moment and prepare to worship him.
Silence
The stable in Bethlehem, the forgotten places, every corner of the earth and our own homes are enriched by the news of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. He has come among us. He is one with us, so we welcome him and rejoice in his presence.
Prayer
God of the stars and planets,
the One who dances in space,
the One who shines in the darkness,
you break into our lives in the child of Bethlehem.
You come to us, not in power and might,
but in humility and gentleness.
God of heaven and moon and sun,
the soles of your feet have touched the earth,
so that you might become one of us
that we might gaze into your face and find love.
Break into our lives today that we might hear the song of the angels
and like the shepherds of old,
journey to that stable to experience for ourselves
Immanuel, God with us.
So we receive the promise of intimacy,
of oneness, with God the Creator,
flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone,
born in us today and every day. Amen
Hymn 285 The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came
The angel Gabriel from heaven came
With wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.
‘All hail,’ said he, ‘O lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
‘For known a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee.
Your Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold,
‘Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head.
‘To me be as it pleases God,’ she said.
‘My soul shall laud and magnify God's holy name.’
Most highly favoured lady. Gloria!
Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ, was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn.
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:
‘Most highly favoured lady.’ Gloria!
Words by Basque Carol adapted by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834 – 1924)
Music by arranged by Charles Edward Pettman (1866-1943)
WE LISTEN FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE
Reading St Luke 2: 8 – 20 NRSVA Alastair MacGilchrist
The Shepherds and the Angels
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Reflection Anne Mulligan DCS
When I hear a story from the bible, I sometimes like to stop and think, “Who am I in that story? With whom do I identify?
Who or what are you in today’s Christmas story? (I’m sure you are not the donkey).
Are you an angel or a shepherd?
Who are the angels today?
Those with a story to tell
A story of love and goodness
and glimpses of God at work.
A story that takes cognisance
of all the darkness
yet draws out hope
that is buried within.
And who are the shepherds?
The ones going about their business
who were singled out
to witness the miracle of Incarnation
charged with spreading the good news
that God dwells among us.
Angels still pierce our darkness
Still bring us stories of love in action.
Still point us beyond the gloom to see the light.
While shepherds still carry on tenderly caring
witnessing everyday miracles
as they forge on with the work that is theirs to do,
treasuring amidst their hard graft
the presence of God hallowing their work.
And these are the ones
to whom the good news is still proclaimed today.
(Revd Liz Crumlish)
How many times have we sung the carol, O Little town of Bethlehem,
with the line in the last verse, “O holy child of Bethlehem, be born in us today”?
What do we think about when we sing it?
This is us committing ourselves to be part of the Christmas story.
Be born in us today.
Everywhere Jesus is born is sacred, whether that is in a dark, cold shelter, in a stable, or in the doorways of our city streets, or a refugee camp, a hospital ward, a care home. Or in ordinary people going about their everyday lives, trying in their own unique and faltering way to make God’s love become flesh and blood for others around them. Thus our daily lives are hallowed, blessed, our vulnerability is transformed. Christ waits to be born in our lives on Christmas day, today and every day.
***
And here is another thought to ponder. The German theologian, philosopher and mystic, Meister Eckhart says, “We are all meant to be mothers of God…for God is always needing to be born.” He also says “love works the likeness of God into the soul.”
I have to confess that I often struggle with mysticism, I’m more of a get your sleeves rolled up kind of Christian. We are all different, and God relates to us and works through us in many and unique ways. But I do believe that when we care for others, when we try to put love into action, even in, and probably especially in the midst of the messiness and sometimes brokenness of human life, God is there. God needs our Yes, as he needed Mary’s Yes. Then he comes to us. He is present within us. Love works the likeness of God into our souls.
RESPONSE TO THE SPIRIT OF GOD WITHIN
Hymn 324 Angels from the realms of glory
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
ye who sang creation's story
now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship
Christ, the new-born King.
Come and worship,
worship Christ, the new-born King.
Shepherds in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing,
yonder shines the infant Light:
Wise men, leave your contemplations;
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great Desire of nations;
ye have seen his natal star:
Though an infant now we view him,
he will share his Father's throne,
gather all the nations to him;
every knee shall then bow down:
All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to the eternal Three in One:
Verses 1, 2, 3 & 5, James Montgomery (1771 - 1854)
Verse 4, unascribed text in The Christmas Box,1825
Reading Come Christmas God Jean MacGilchrist
When it is cold and wet
and we long for the light
come Christmas God.
Come to bring warmth and joy
to innkeepers and travellers,
to shepherds and kings:
Come to bring hope and peace
to refugees and security forces;
come to comfort the lonely
and wipe the tear from the cheek of those who are sad.
Immanuel – God with us,
let your light shine
into the dark recesses
of our minds and our cities.
Let your warmth bring forth harvests of joy.
Let your peace
enter the hearts of those who struggle and plot
for power and advantage over others.
Come, Christmas God,
Christ-child of Bethlehem,
Spirit of wonder,
be born in us and in your world once more
that joy may be shared
peace proclaimed
and love abound. Kate McIlhagga
Voluntary Angels we have heard on high
Arr. David Cherwien Played by Kate Pearson
Prayers Anne Mulligan DCS
Lord, open our eyes and ears to find ways to love and serve you
AS WE LOVE AND SERVE YOUR WORLD
Even in the strangest of times there is good news to be found. There are people who love us and whom we love. There are people who enrich our daily lives and those whom we cannot see at present, but whose love still sustains us, and little ones, young ones who bring us joy on Zoom and Skype and WhatsApp. For all those who make your love real in our lives, we give our thanks and praise.
We give thanks for all those who serve, for carers and healers, for cleaners and drivers, for scientists and researchers who bring good news of vaccines and medicines. We think of all the workers we never see, but whose labours we cannot do without.
Lord, open our eyes and ears to find new ways to love and serve you
AS WE LOVE AND SERVE YOUR WORLD.
We give thanks for the good news of those who serve in all the places where God needs to be born today. As we remember the baby born in Bethlehem, who himself became a refugee, we pray for Christian Aid and their partners and all aid agencies who care for children, in refugee camps, in Ethiopia and Kenya, where locusts eat the crops, in Yemen, in Syria and Lebanon, the Rohingya children and all who live in places of violence, or where the climate emergency robs families of food and shelter. Strengthen all who work for change, for justice and peace.
Lord, open our eyes and ears to find new ways to love and serve you
AS WE LOVE AND SERVE YOUR WORLD.
Even in our midst there is need and so we pray for the church, for parishes serving in areas of multiple deprivation, for CrossReach, caring for tiny little ones and frail elderly ones, and those who struggle with addiction and homeless people and people with mental health problems. We ask for your strength and vision for all faith communities who reach out to the stranger and to the vulnerable and those in prison.
Lord, open our eyes and ears to find new ways to love and serve you
AS WE LOVE AND SERVE YOUR WORLD.
Hear us as in a moment of silence, we offer our very personal prayers for those whom we love, the ones whom we worry about and who worry about us…
We remember in our prayers -
the ones with sore hearts this Christmas…
the ones who are bereaved..
the ones in need of healing and all who care for them…
As we look back over this past year, we cannot fail to think of people in our church family who are no longer with us, but we give thanks for their witness and service and we rejoice that they are now part of the great company of saints in heaven and we unite with them and all the saints on earth as we say together Our Lord’s Prayer.
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, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Hymn 301 Hark! The herald angels sing
Hark! The herald-angels sing
‘Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled’
Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’
Hark! The herald-angels sing
‘Glory to the new-born king’
Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth:
Words by Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
BENEDICTION Anne Mulligan DCS
Let us bless one another
May the joy of the angels
the humility of the shepherds
and the peace of the christ child
be with us and all whom we love
today and always.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us all. AMEN
Copyright Kate McIlhagga
The Green heart of the Snowdrop
Wild Goose ionabooks.com
HYMN 825 Amen
Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen.
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INTIMATIONS
FORTHCOMING SERVICES AT MAYFIELD SALISBURY PARISH CHURCH
Sunday 3rd January - Revd Helen Alexander
8.00am onwards Online Worship: Website
8.00am onwards Phone Worship: Dial-a-Sermon
*** NO Morning Worship in the Sanctuary
Sunday 10th January - Revd Helen Alexander
8.00am onwards Online Worship: Website
8.00am onwards Phone Worship: Dial-a-Sermon
*** NO Morning Worship in the Sanctuary
CHRISTIAN AID RIBBON PROJECT Thanks to everyone who participated, and those who generously donated, in support of our Christian Aid ribbon project. We really appreciate every contribution, and hope you’ll agree that the result is both heart-warming and festive. Greetings have reached out not only to members of our congregation, but the wider community as well. The ribbons will be flying for a little while longer, so do take the opportunity to read the messages if you’re passing. Thank you!
The Christian Aid Committee
STAFF HOLIDAYS
KAY MCINTOSH DCS, Pastoral Assistant will be on annual leave from 25 - 31 December inclusive. Pastoral enquiries: please contact the Revd Neil Gardner on 0131 556 3515 during this time.
HILLARY LESLIE, Youth Worker will be on annual leave from 24 December - 2 January inclusive.
MIDWEEK PEACE AND PRAYERS
10.00am – 11.00am every Wednesday in the Sanctuary (not 30 December or 6 January)
- Have you been considering visiting the sanctuary for Five Minutes’ Peace on a Wednesday evening but are deterred by the dark and the cold?
- Are you missing Tuesday Morning Prayers?
If so, then we have good news! Mayfield Salisbury are launching a new midweek daytime initiative which will combine these two activities! During the winter months, members of the congregation will have the opportunity to spend a time of silent prayer/meditation in the sanctuary during daylight hours and also participate in worship and fellowship in communal prayers led by our Pastoral Assistant Kay McIntosh.
- 10:00 - 10:30am Prayers led by Kay McIntosh
- 10:30 - 11:00am Sanctuary open for silent meditation and private prayer
If you wish to, please feel free to bring along your own bible and pew cushion. Come along for either or both this Wednesday.
OFFERING The Church is very grateful to all those who continue to support it through their regular and one-off donations, now possible through standing order or the ‘give.net’ facility on the website give.net/20311853 So many members have kindly changed from Freewill Offering Envelopes to standing order that envelopes will not be distributed in future. Because of ongoing concerns regarding Covid19 it is not known when open plate offerings will recommence. If you wish to discuss the manner of your future offerings please feel free to contact me using the details shown on the last page of the Grapevine parish magazine. Hugh Somerville
CORNERSTONE BOOKSHOP
Recommended Daily Meditations: Fr Richard Rohr at www.cac.org Also, see www.pray-as-you-go.org
Books for the Journey
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Forthcoming Deadlines
Order of service for next week: Thursday at 6.00pm.
Next Grapevine: Friday 29 January 2021 at 6.00pm.
Please send submissions to the Church Manager, William Mearns.
Phone: 0780 801 1234 or email:
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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
Images – Some courtesy of Pixabay
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Social Media
www.facebook.com/MayfieldSalisbury
www.youtube.com/user/MayfieldSalisbChurch
www.flickr.com/photos/98063709@N06/
Scottish Charity Number SC000785