11th. September. 2022. Service.
Inverkeithing Parish Church linked with
North Queensferry Church
Worship 11th September 2022
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude: “I know that my Redeemer liveth”
Bible Introit Hymn 482 “Come, let us to the Lord our God”
Collect: O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Almighty God, our Queen is dead,
her long life is over, but You live forever!
Our Queen is dead, her long reign is over, but You reign forever!
Our Queen is dead, her loving service is over, but Your love lives forever!
We thank you that in Your life, she shaped her life; under Your sovereignty, she fashioned her reign; in Your loving heart, she found wisdom and peace.
Forgive us when we didn’t follow her example, nor recognized the power of humble, Christlike service. Strengthen our resolve to find our home in Your heart and to live with wisdom, humility, and grace. Lord,
Your kingship surprises for it is found in a manger and on a cross and in this light all earthly monarchs may find the wisdom to rule as Your servant, Elizabeth, did so memorably. Enable us to value her ministry in the way we serve one another
that she who reigned over us may live gloriously with You for aye through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord – Amen
Hymn 132 “Immortal, invisible, God only wise”
O God, you have searched us and known us.
You know when we sit down and when we rise up.
You discern our thoughts from afar.
Before a word is on our tongues, Lord, you know it completely.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for us, and we humble ourselves in worship.
In this hour, search us and know our hearts, O Lord, and lead us in the way everlasting.
Prayer
In time of light, in time of darkness, We gather in this place. Seeking the solace of faith, And to be found by the mercy of the living God. With tears and with laughter, With the memories of the long years, On this day we share that which is good And that which brings us comfort and hope.
Prayers of Confession and Petition
God most High, Monarch of a distant kingdom and yet now near to us through Jesus Christ, We come to share our sadness and our loss, and speak of things that weigh down our hearts. In the time of parting and sorrow, Your comfort reaches out towards us.
In the coldness of our loss, and our sense of things never returning to how they were, we seek You out, Your steadiness and Your comfort. In the emptiness, You fill us with love; In the darkness, You bathe us with light. Come, Holy God, take from us the burden of guilt and fear, that we may walk upon Your good earth
Confident of Your mercy, embraced by Your graciousness. forgive us, gentle God, for the words, and thoughts, and deeds Which have made this world a little bleaker, a little harsher, a little less humane. Take from us the things that cause us hurt or harm, Remove from us the impulse to selfish actions, Or unkind behaviour. Set us free today to live the life of hope and generosity you wish for all Your children. May the God of the open heart
And the Christ of the gentle joy and the Spirit of the embracing love rant you, each one, the forgiveness and freedom that enhances life and embellishes existence.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
When the shift of ages falls into our days, Give us the courage and the faith to trust, once more, in you. Establish us in your eternal Word, leading and directing us in the ways of your kingdom that we may come to the perfection of glory in heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord in Whom we pray…
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.
The Intimations
Coffee Mornings
Inverkeithing Tuesday 13th 10am – noon; North Queensferry Wednesday 14th 10:30am-noon.
Christian Aid
Thank you to everyone who supported the recent East Africa Appeal for Christian Aid. We have sent off a cheque for £295 to Christian Aid.
Doors Open Day
Next Sunday, 18th September the church will be open from 1.00-4.00 for Doors Open Days. We will have a display of old photographs, and anyone interested in the archaeological dig which took place in the Friary Gardens back in June can meet here and be escorted to the gardens for a talk from Dr Gavin McGregor the archaeologist In charge of the Dig. Light lunches will be available.
Volunteers
In Inverkeithing we are looking for volunteers to support the Children’s Church Saturday Fun Club which replaces Messy Church. The first of these will be held on Saturday October 1st from 10am-12noon. Please speak to any member of the Children’s Church leaders is you can help.
The Queen’s Funeral
Information about the opening of the churches during the coming week may be found on the Websites and Facebook:
http://www.inverkeithing-parish-church.org.uk/Welcome.html
https://nqchurch.uk/ https://en-gb.facebook.com/InverPCofS/
The Offering
In Jesus’ parable, a woman who found the coin she lost rejoiced over something precious. What we offer to God is precious to us. When we present it to God, God rejoices in our gifts. Let us bless God with our offering.
Prayer of Dedication
Lord God, receive our gifts offered in a spirit of generosity and humility. Bless and use them for the work that you long to do in the world in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
All Age Talk
Do you have any stuffed toys? They come in all shapes and sizes. Animals are my favourites. My children and grandchildren all had several, chimps, teddy bears, big dogs, kangaroos, koalas, and rabbits
How would you feel if you lost one of your stuffed toys? Would you go looking for it? Even though you might have a very large collection, every one of them will be very important to you and you would be very upset if one of them was lost.
That reminds me of a lesson that Jesus taught to a group of religious leaders one day. The religious leaders were very upset that Jesus was often seen associating with sinners. He was even sometimes seen eating with them. The religious leaders didn’t like that at all and were very critical of Jesus. Jesus told them a story to help them to understand.
“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and you lost one of them,” Jesus said. “Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine who were safe, and go and search for the lost sheep? And when you found the lost sheep, wouldn’t you joyfully put it on your shoulders and carry it back home? Wouldn’t you be so happy that you would tell all your friends about finding the lost sheep?” (Luke 15:3-6) imagine that all the religious leaders had to agree that they would do just as Jesus had suggested. Then Jesus said to them, “In the same way, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:7)
The Bible teaches us that we are like sheep and sometimes stray away from God. That makes God very sad, but he never gives up on us. He keeps searching for us and calling to us. He wants to draw us back into his arms. He even sent Jesus, his Son, to save those who are lost. Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t give up on his lost sheep? I am, because “I once was lost, but now I’m found!”
Dear Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd. We are thankful that you came to save those who are lost. Amen.
Hymn 142 “A small thing like a hazelnut”
Reading: Psalm 14
For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; here is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! Amen.
Hymn 141 “Oh, the life of the world is a joy and a treasure”
Luke 15: 1-10
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering round to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.’
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
8 ‘Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbours together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.” 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. ’Amen, this is the Word of the Lord, to Him be all glory and praise.
Hymn “The Lord’s my Shepherd” (Townend)
Sermon
I was rather taken by Iain Greenshields’ remarks in the newspapers about his encounter with the Queen last Sunday when he was her guest as Moderator of the General Assembly in Balmoral Castle. I was very glad for Iain that he was able to enjoy that privilege as part of his moderatorial year and be among the very last of the Queen’s weekend guests, given that she died only two days later. What impressed him above her personal vitality was her ability to focus so completely on her guests The newspapers reported: He said, “When I first saw her, I was struck by how frail she looked,” said Greenshields, who had dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday with the late monarch. “But as soon as she sat down, she was immediately into conversation, welcoming, and the whole atmosphere changed. You were aware that you were with somebody who was with you and with it 100%.”
The Queen’s faith and service are well known, and this is an example of how a Christian person ought to relate to others, particularly strangers. How many people did the Queen meet both in her younger years as a Princess and in the seventy years of her reign? We may assume that she consciously decided to focus on each one out of love and respect as commanded in scripture. In this she imitated Christ in the fullest possible way. Theologians talk about the Imitatio Christi, and often mean piety and devotion, but at its most fundamental it is this loving acceptance and welcome that is important.
In our parables today we have two illustrations of the love of Christ which emphasise the value to God of each soul and illustrate the lengths to which he will go to find and respect and elevate all of us.
To be lost is not much fun. I don’t recall ever being lost in the physical sense myself, but I do remember the parental panic when losing our daughter when on holiday in Spain when she was about three years old. She had decided to go up and down in the hotel lift by herself! Losing and being lost, I can assure you can be bewildering, frightening and awfully lonely.
To find and be found is an incredible joy. The fear and confusion and loneliness are banished by a kindly smile and loving arms.
Such is the joy that Jesus is emphasising in the parables of the one sheep, and the one coin, that were lost but were later found. Joy, not only on earth but in heaven, is the point he is making. Today the Gospel offers us again those famous words:
Come, rejoice with me for I have found the sheep which was lost. Come rejoice with me for I have found the coin which was lost.
Followed by:
And so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
Jesus specialised in finding the lost; those who knew they were lost and those who did not. Especially those whom we today who are often disparagingly called losers. And the other losers, the Pharisees. God’s children cannot be like the Pharisees who despised sinners and disparaged those who even acknowledged them as being tainted by association.
In the Gospels, we encounter a Jesus who has a burning compassion for those people who were relegated to the fringes of respectable community life. He reached out to what one preacher has called ‘the least, the last and the lost’. The ‘least’: like little children, or the mentally ill; or the woman under a taboo who dared to touch the hem of his garment.
The ‘last’: like the crippled man by the pool of Bethesda, or the man living naked among the tombs; or the lonely woman by the well.
The ‘lost’: like the despised tax collectors, or prostitutes, the bewildered Nicodemus, or the rich young man who went sadly away.
The God of the Gospels loves the least, the last and the lost. These are the special focus for Jesus ministry. Nothing gave Jesus more joy than seeing “losers “recover their dignity as the children of God.
Now let us look at the stories of lost sheep and the lost coin.
One lost sheep is not a newsworthy event in most people’s minds. There is nothing romantic about the way we treat sheep. For us they are just so many “head of sheep”, to be mustered by dogs that are directed (these days) by the men on a trail bikes. Many contemporary farmers give their sheep the best veterinary care out of compassion or just to preserve a commercial asset. Others leave them much of the year to fend for themselves. Many sheep end their days as a pathetic mob of trembling mutton that are packed like sardines on to a ship bound for the Middle East.
Biblical times could not be more different. Small flocks, often of 20-30, each sheep with a name, each shepherd living seven days a week with his flock. One lost sheep was a significant event. The shepherd would herd the rest of the flock into the safety of a fold, and then set out to look for the missing one.
In the parable of Jesus, one is missing from a very large flock. It numbered of 100. This fellow had sheep to spare! Yet the shepherd goes off searching for the wanderer until it is found, returning home with it on his shoulders (a picture often found in ancient art). So precious is the one sheep, that they throw a party. Just think of that! A party in the honour of one recovered sheep!
God is like that, said Jesus: And so I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety nine people who need no repentance.
One lost coin is not a newsworthy event, either. Have you noticed how our pound coins seem to have a highly developed aptitude for getting lost around the house? When one goes missing, we might look briefly, but if it does not turn up easily, we ignore it. Let it stay in the dust under the sideboard or in the cushions of a sofa where if we need one quickly, we might hope to find one. it will no doubt turn up some day when I’m not looking for it.
Of course, the woman’s coin was probably real gold, like a collectible sovereign today, so she immediately lights a lamp and goes searching. She does not give up until she has that solitary coin held tightly in her hand. Then she proceeds to go over the top! She throws a party in honour of the recovered coin. Nothing like an excuse for a party.
God is like that woman, says Jesus. There is joy among the angels of God over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
At this point I must pause and acknowledge some likely protesters. Some folk object to the thought of a God who rejoices more over the recovery of one lost sinner than over the 99 righteous people who do not get lost.
Their complaint goes like this: “It’s not fair? Here are all these good, righteous, God-fearing people who by considerable effort, don’t get lost. They apparently miss out on having a party in their honour. It does not encourage one to be righteous, does it? In fact, this seems like a severe devaluing of goodness.”
Why do the wilful and the stupid get all the attention? Why don’t the sheep that had the sense and the loyalty to stay close to the shepherd, not get given a party? Why can’t the coin that never falls away, but stays properly in the purse of the woman, get some applause? Where is the rejoicing in heaven when good, ordinary folk hang in there for God when others go wandering away or drop off?”
This argument compelling in an abstract way, but not in practice. You see, where do we find these 99 righteous persons?
In the whole of my life, I have not come across even one of them yet. Who are they, where are they? I have certainly not found them among the ranks of the ordained clergy, nor dear congregation, have I found them amongst the laity. Putting it bluntly, I am not going to worry about the hurt feelings of the righteous until I meet one. On the day when I meet a truly righteous person, then I will give the matter more thought.
With all respect, the people who protest about the unfairness of the joy in heaven are no more righteous than anyone else. And that’s not very righteous! Moreover, if there actually was one among us who was truly righteous, I have a strong hunch (based on Jesus) that they would be neither aware of their own goodness nor be jealous of God’s celebrations over the recovery of the lost. From the Bible viewpoint, we have all been numbered among the lost.
Our predicament may vary: some may end up dirtier than others, and some more bruised and torn, but in God’s eyes we are all his lost children. That is the tragedy of the universal predicament of humanity-: we all became lost in a world where God intended us to be at home.
We lose our sense of direction. We get confused by the intersections of life before us. We take the wrong turn. We nibble our way into trouble. We slip through fingers and end up in the dark and dust. Our faith is pathetic, our love is not like the love of our Good Shepherd. Who is there among us who has not at times felt a long distance from God?
Lost people bump awkwardly into each other, hurting those around them. Lost people make bad choices convinced that they are 100% right. The most brilliant mind is no more exempt than the humblest ordinary person What is more, we find it extremely difficult to admit we were wrong, even to those who are most dear to us. If you doubt me on this listen again to Psalm 14 The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; here is no one who does good, not even one.
As I see it, each of us should be extremely glad that God is like a shepherd, or a woman who will not rest until the lost is found. We should be most grateful that heaven throws a party when the lost are recovered. For that is our party. Ours!
This God of Jesus, who loves lost things, is the God I want to proclaim. God is out in the weather each day finding us. Sometimes it is a long journey. With some people it takes a lifetime before they allow themselves to be found.
Here is the story of a lost boy:
One long, summers day, when I was nine years old, I became lost in the country in the vicinity of an uncle’s farm. I did not even know whether I was missed; but of course, I was. My Dad, Uncle and the farm workers were combing the countryside, searching in water holes, and looking down wells. As the day wore on, I was one very bewildered, terrified, and desolate little boy.
When the sun was low in the horizon, I was found by one of the farm workers as he searched on a bicycle along the small county lanes. He lifted me up with his big sweaty, muscled arms, placed me high on his shoulders and rode triumphantly back to the farmhouse. Seventy decades later I can still remember my relief and joy, and that of my father and the searchers, when they all gathered back at the homestead.
That farm labourer, whose name I do not know, is metaphor to me of the God who will not let me go. This is a God of strong, muscled love; a God who can rejoice over the silliest sheep recovered, and the cheapest coin retrieved.
We are called to reach out as Jesus to the lost, that is every human being. To focus on everyone as the most important person who is before you. Remember the Queen’s example. She knew how important her recognition of every one of the possibly millions whom she met was to each of them. In the old theologies, a Christian monarch was in “loco Dei, representative. To be recognised by God is to be found. To be found is joy. Every Christian is in loco Dei! Amen.
Prayers of thanksgiving and intercession
Let us pray. Gracious God, we tender to you our gratitude for Queen Elizabeth and her exceptional reign, her deep affection for her people, her lifelong desire to serve the common good, her humility and grace, hard work and dedication, we thank You, Living Lord.
Be with the King and members of the Royal Family as they mourn the loss of a mother and grandmother as well as a friend and monarch – in the royal palaces, crown them with Your loving-kindness.
Be with our national leaders – the First Minister and the Prime Minister at this time of uncertainty and change – in the corridors of power, crown them with Your heavenly wisdom.
Be with her people in nation and Commonwealth as they mourn a monarch and peacemaker and rejoice in the cultural diversity celebrated under her reign – in the four corners of her realm, crown us with peace and goodwill.
Be with the hidden folk throughout the world who are struggling to make peace, longing for healing, grieving the loss of someone they love – in pain and grief, crown the nations of the earth with the light of Your love.
In silence, we remember with thanksgiving the life of Elizabeth, Your servant, and our Queen, that she may rest from her labours and rejoice in the One whom she worshipped as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
For us, this day, there is the shadow of mourning. Our loss is great, but we know that having trusted in you, our sovereign will not miss her reward, and so we are comforted.
And thus strengthened, we ask blessing upon those most nearly touched by her passing:
the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, the Duke of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge the Duke of Sussex and all their families.
And especially we pray for Charles our new King and the Duchess of Cornwall. Bless and fortify them, we pray, for their new responsibilities – and guide us also, that we may play our part in the building of a fit nation, ready to play its part in the fellowship of the world. And so on this day of thanksgiving and reflection, we pray, let Her Majesty’s example of dignity, integrity and service to others be our inspiration for the days ahead, and let us all dedicate ourselves to the task of continuing the noble legacy she has bestowed. We ask this in the name of Jesus, Our Lord.
Almighty God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, was crowned not with gold but with thorns and whose blood was shed to give life to the world – crown us with Your love that we may serve one another with humility and joy and Your Kingdom come with peace on earth, through the same Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit ever One God, now and for evermore – Amen.
Hymn 532 “Lord, you have come to the seashore”
The National Anthem
The Benediction
God’s blessing be yours
and well may it safely keep you.
Christ’s blessing be yours
and well may it ever heal you.
Spirit’s blessing be yours
and well may it thoroughly warm you.
Now and ever more.
Now and evermore. Amen!
May God’s blessing surround you each day
Postlude: “For all the saints”