Service ~ 19 March 2023
The congregation are asked to stand
as the Bible is placed into the pulpit
Welcome & Intimations
Call to Worship
Hymn: CH4 104 The Lord of Heaven Confess
1. The Lord Of Heaven Confess,
on High His Glory Raise.
Him Let All Angels Bless,
him All His Armies Praise.
Him Glorify
Sun, Moon, And Stars;
Ye Higher Spheres,
And Cloudy Sky.
2. From God Your Beings Are,
Him Therefore Famous Make;
You All Created Were,
When He The Word But Spake.
And From That Place,
Where Fixed You Be
By His Decree,
You Cannot Pass.
3. Praise God From Earth Below,
Ye Dragons, And Ye Deeps:
Fire, Hail, Clouds, Wind, And Snow,
Whom In Command He Keeps.
Praise Ye His Name,
Hills Great And Small,
Trees Low And Tall;
Beasts Wild And Tame;
4. All things that creep or fly.
Ye kings, ye vulgar throng,
all princes mean or high;
both men and women young,
even young and old,
exalt his name;
for much his fame
should be extolled.
5. Oh, Let God’s Name Be Praised
Above Both Earth And Sky;
For He His Saints Hath Raised
And Set Their Horn On High;
Even Those That Be
Of Israel’s Race,
Near To His Grace.
The Lord Praise Ye.
All Age Talk
Children’s Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Hymn: God’s Love is Deeper Than The Deepest Ocean
1. God’s love is deeper than the deepest ocean,
God’s love is wider than the widest sea,
God’s love is higher than the highest mountain,
Deeper, wider, higher is God’s love to me
2. God’s grace is deeper than the deepest ocean,
God’s grace is wider than the widest sea,
God’s grace is higher than the highest mountain,
Deeper, wider, higher is God’s grace to me
3. God’s joy is deeper than the deepest ocean,
God’s joy is wider than the widest sea,
God’s joy is higher than the highest mountain,
Deeper, wider, higher is God’s joy to me
4. God’s peace is deeper than the deepest ocean,
God’s peace is wider than the widest sea,
God’s peace is higher than the highest mountain,
Deeper, wider, higher is God’s peace to me
Deeper, wider, higher, deeper, wider, higher,
Deeper, wider, higher is my God to me
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Reading: John 18:28-40
Read by Elizabeth Johnston
28 Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man?’
30 ‘If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’
31 Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’
‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ they objected. 32 This took place to fulfil what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die.
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
34 ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’
35 ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’
36 Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’
37 ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate.
Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’
38 ‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release “the king of the Jews”?’
40 They shouted back, ‘No, not him! Give us Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.
Hymn: CH4 405 – We Sing the Praise – 4 verses (omit vs 4)
1. We sing the praise of him who died,
of him who died upon the cross;
the sinner’s hope let men deride,
for this we count the world but loss.
2. Inscribed upon the cross we see
in shining letters, ‘God is love’;
he bears our sins upon the tree;
he brings us mercy from above.
3. The cross! It takes our guilt away:
it holds the fainting spirit up;
it cheers with hope the gloomy day,
and sweetens every bitter cup.
4. It makes the coward spirit brave,
and nerves the feeble arm for fight;
it takes its terror from the grave,
and gilds the bed of death with light:
5. The balm of life, the cure of woe,
the measure and the pledge of love,
the sinner’s refuge here below,
the angels’ theme in heaven above.
Sermon:
“St. John’s Passion – The Substitute”
Hymn: CH4 382 O Sacred Head! Sore Wounded
1. O sacred Head! sore wounded,
with grief and shame bowed down!
O Kingly Head, surrounded
with thorns, thine only crown!
How pale art thou with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that face now languish,
which once was bright as morn!
2. O Lord of life and glory,
what bliss till now was thine!
I read the wondrous story;
I joy to call thee mine.
Thy grief and bitter Passion
were all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but thine the deadly pain.
3. What Thou, my Lord, has suffered
was all for sinners’ gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favour,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
4. What language shall I borrow
to praise thee, heavenly Friend,
for this, thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
O make me thine for ever,
and, should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.
5. Be near me, Lord, when dyin;
O show thy cross to me;
and, my last need supplying,
come, Lord, and set me free;
these eyes, new faith receiving,
from thee shall never move;
for they who die believing
die safely through thy love.
Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Hymn: CH4 392 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Benediction
Threefold Amen
May the God of peace go with us
As we travel from this place.
May the love of Jesus keep us
Firm in hope and full of grace.
The congregation are asked to stand
as the Bible is removed from the pulpit