Saint Columba’s
Scottish Episcopal Church, Largs

A warm welcome to all who are worshipping with us today. 
The Service is led by the Rev’d Mark Goodman,
Rector of St. Columba’s

23^rd Sunday after Pentecost 13^th November 2022

Hymns

630      Father Lord of all creation
702      Lead us heavenly Father lead us       

800      The Lord’s my shepherd, I not want (Communion hymn)

746      O God our help in ages past

Mass setting Macmillan.
Opening Voluntary; Nirmod, Elgar
Closing Voluntary; Spitfire Prelude, William Walton

Collect

Almighty God, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to be the light of the world. Free us from all that darkens and ensnares us and bring us to eternal light and joy; through the power of him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

A reading from Malachi 4: 1-2a

4  See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

A reading from 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13

Warning against Idleness

⁶ Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸ and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labour we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. ⁹ This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. ¹¹ For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. ¹² Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
[21: 5-19]  (Sung response)

The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

⁵ When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ⁶ ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

⁷ They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ ⁸ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them.

⁹ ‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ ¹⁰ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; ¹¹ there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

¹² ‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ This will give you an opportunity to testify. ¹⁴ So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; ¹⁵ for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all because of my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Post Communion Prayer

Gracious God, in this sacrament we have shared the body and blood of Christ. May we who have been nourished by holy things bear witness to his light, and share in his eternal priesthood; for he is Lord for ever and ever.  Amen.

From the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

Bishop Kevin Pearson

The Diocese of Brechin

Companions of Our Lady & St Mungo

Holy Name, Cumbernauld

St Matthew’s, Possilpark