Sunday 2nd August 2020 ‘Zoom’ Sea Sunday
Worship for the congregation of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Murrayfield
Organ Voluntary: AD 1620 from Sea Pieces by Edward MacDowell, played by Thomas Murray Introit: Psalm 95 sung by Wells Cathedral Choir, chant by William Boyce
Welcome and Introduction
“The sea is his, for he made it and his hands have moulded the dry land.” Psalm 95: 5
‘Sea Sunday is when we have the opportunity to remember and pray for seafarers, their
families and all who support them. It is a day of remembrance, prayer and celebration, and
an opportunity to think about and thank those seafarers who work tirelessly throughout the
year bringing us goods we often take for granted.’ Seafarers are some of our key-workers
and this time of pandemic has reminded and sheen us all, just how inter-connected we all
are and how much we depend on others for the things we take for granted.
Sea Sunday has been a day set aside each year for the past 170 years for us to give
thanks to the seafarers (1.6 million today) who quietly, and often anonymously, transport
up to 95% of the world’s goods. Seafaring can be a dangerous, lonely and demanding job,
with little in the way of official support for the workers who keep the global economy afloat.
The Mission to Seafarers, whom we pray most especially for this morning, was set up to
cater for the welfare and pastoral care of seafarers, and Sea Sunday is one of the most
important dates in our calendar. It represents a chance to bring seafarers and sea-faring
ministries into the heart of our communities, and for us to celebrate all they do for us.’
With that in our hearts and minds we welcome to our worship the Rev’d Tim Tunley, the
Mission to Seafarers Chaplain based at Grangemouth. Tim will lead us in our intercessions
later in this service.
A Prayer for Seafarers
O Eternal Lord God, who alone spreads out the heavens and rules the raging of the
seas, receive into your protection all those who go down to the sea in ships and
occupy their business on the great waters of the world. Preserve them both in body
and soul, prosper their labours with good success, in all times of danger, be their
defence, and bring them to the haven where they would be. We ask this in the
name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN
Eternal Father, strong to save, whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, whose voice the waters heard, And hushed their raging at thy word, who walkedst on the foaming deep, and calm amid the storm didst sleep: O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
O Holy Spirit, who didst brood upon the waters dark and rude, and bid their angry tumult cease, and give, for wild confusion, peace: O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea.
O Trinity of love and power,
our brethren shield in danger’s hour; from rock and tempest, fire and foe, protect them wheresoe’er they go: thus evermore shall rise to thee glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Words by William Whiting 1825-78 Tune MELITA by John B Dykes 1823-76
Time to reflect
Heavenly Father we come together to bring our praises and love to you. We come to hear your word, to pray for the world that you have given to us and to ask your forgiveness for the times we let you down. We pray that your Holy Spirit will fill our hearts with love, that we may always praise you. Amen
For turning away from you, and ignoring your will for our lives
Father forgive us; save us and help us.
For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you;
Father forgive us; save us and help us.
For failing you by what we do, and think and say;
Father forgive us; save us and help us
May the God of love bring us back to himself,
Forgive us our sins and assure us of his eternal love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Bible Reading: Matthew 14: 23-33
23...After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the
waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he
came walking towards them on the lake. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the
lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately
Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ 28 Peter answered
him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29He said, ‘Come.’ So
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But
when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried
out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to
him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 32When they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
HYMN
Refrain
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my words to them. Whom shall I send?
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Words and music by Dan Schutte
Sailor's Paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my pilot, I shall not drift.
He lighteth me across the dark waters.
He steereth me in the deep channels.
He keepeth my log.
He guideth me beneath stars of his holiness for his name's sake. Yea, though I sail 'mid the thunders and tempest of life,
I shall dread no anger, for thou art with me;
Thy love and thy care, they shelter me.
Thou preparest a harbour for me in the homeland of eternity. Thou anointest the waves with oil
My ship rideth calmly.
Surely sunlight and starlight shall favour me on the voyage I take, And I will rest in the port of God forever.
Intercessions: The Rev’d Tim Tunley
The Lords 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. For ever and ever. Amen
HYMN
God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year.
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near.
Nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
From utmost east to the utmost west Where’er man’s foot has trod,
By the mouth of many messengers
Goes forth the voice of God:
‘Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.’
What can we do to work God’s work,
to prosper and increase
the brotherhood of all makind,
the reign of the Price of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
March we forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth may shine throughout the world;
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin,
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
Words by A. C. Ainger 1841-1919 Tune BENSON by Millicent Kingham 1866-94
Concluding prayer
Creator and Father of all, we pray for those who go down to the sea in ships and serve you upon the waters of the world. Bless them and those who serve their needs, that they may put their whole trust in you and find in you a strong anchor for their hopes, and so be filled with your peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Blessing
May God the Father watch over you; may the Lord Jesus smile upon you and be gracious to you, and may the Spirit of God help you to live justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with him, all the days of your life; and the blessing (+) of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, come upon you and remain with you and all whom you love and pray for this day and for ever more. Amen
Concluding music: March we forth in the strength of God, the Newsong Group