Sunday service for 21 June 2026

Sunday 21 June 2026, Relationships Unmasked 5
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse phone: 632143
Email: TPeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

If the video doesn’t play, please click here to view it in our You Tube channel!

Sanctuary Prelude Music (organ)

Welcome and Announcements
*loop
*visitors
*tea/coffee

God-sightings

We Gather As God’s Family (As the Bible is brought in, we stand and sing)
A family gathered in love,
striving for justice and joy,
blessing the broken-hearted,
and sharing the hope of God’s kingdom.

Call to Worship
One: In the morning and the evening,
All: we call out to our God who saves.
One: Whatever the situation we find ourselves in,
All: we seek the God who promised to be with us.
One: Even when we don’t hear an answer,
All: we keep looking for God to turn toward us.

Sanctuary Hymn: God is For Me (praise band)

Prayer
Holy God, we come together this day as your Body, which you have knit together.
You call us into community, you give us your story, you show us your life,
and ask us to live it with you.
We bring with us all our own stories, our thoughts and histories and feelings,
our uncertainty and anxiety, our brokenness and our desire for healing,
our limited understanding and our often limited love.
We are not foolish enough to say we are ready to be changed,
but we seek your transformation nonetheless,
longing for your grace to fill us, open us, overflow in us.
You love beyond our deserving and ask us to do the same.
When we insist you must work according to our understanding, forgive us, Lord.
When we believe that your word is full of nice but impractical ideas, forgive us, Lord.
When we resist because you can’t possibly have meant that, forgive us, Lord.
When we condense your life into only your death, forgive us, Lord.
We confess that there are so many ways we refuse your call, hurt our neighbour,
and threaten the creation you entrusted to our care.
Have mercy on us, O God, in our brokenness.
Make us new once again, and teach us to know you so well that we cannot help but love you,
and to love you so much we cannot help but serve you,
sharing your good news in every place,
for it is in doing your will that we find perfect freedom.
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Online Hymn: God of Justice

Sanctuary Children’s Time

Scripture Reading part 1: Jeremiah 12.1-4
Today’s reading is from the prophet Jeremiah, chapter 12, and I am reading from the New Revised Standard Version, beginning at verse 1.

You will be in the right, O Lord,
    when I lay charges against you,
    but let me put my case to you.
Why does the way of the guilty prosper?
    Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
You plant them, and they take root;
    they grow and bring forth fruit;
you are near in their mouths
    yet far from their hearts.
But you, O Lord, know me;
    you see me and test me; my heart is with you.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
    and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
How long will the land mourn
    and the grass of every field wither?
For the wickedness of those who live in it,
    the animals and the birds are swept away,
    and because people said, “He is blind to our ways.”

Reflection Part 1: Are You Paying Attention?
Jeremiah asks the question many of us have been asking for….centuries, apparently. Millennia, even. I get asked about it all the time. Why does it seem like the bad guys get ahead, and the rest of us struggle? Why is there so much bad in the world, if God is all powerful? It isn’t even just the one bad thing, it’s the consequences that ripple out — Jeremiah even asks about the consequences for the creation, the land and fields and animals and birds that die off…is God not paying attention to any of it? How come God doesn’t kill the people who are going to do bad things, before they do them? How come God doesn’t rescue the people who are lovely and kind from the terrible tragedies? Wouldn’t the world be better if it was just good people and no bad ones, and couldn’t God make that happen, if God is powerful and loving and good?

In many ways it often feels as if the world is actually the opposite of Psalm 1 — there it says the faithful will flourish like trees planted by streams of living water, with deep roots and fruit in every season, and the wicked will be like chaff blown away by the wind. But instead as Jeremiah points out, we have the wicked deep rooted and flourishing, and it often feels like the good is just fleeting at best. And worse, it seems like God doesn’t care. The people who do evil things think they can get away with anything because God doesn’t seem to be paying attention — which might be the only thing that the wicked and good agree on. God doesn’t seem to be paying attention.

Perhaps that is a feeling you’ve had — either in your personal circumstances or because you opened the news for more than a few seconds.

We are people of hope, of course. Our faith offers us a vision beyond what we can see now, and a promise that in the end, love and grace and justice and mercy prevail, and wickedness does indeed blow away like chaff on the wind. And also, living in this world while trying to hold onto God’s big-picture vision can be exhausting. Knowing that there is pain now, that people are suffering now, that the creation is groaning now, that people are hungry while others are trillionaires now, that greed fuels war that costs thousands or millions of lives now…it’s hard sometimes. Even the prophet Jeremiah, who had a direct line and heard God’s voice clearly, lamented regularly — most of his book, in fact — that the world we live in does not align with God’s kingdom yet, and he was so impatient for it to hurry up and happen. And I often feel like that — I’m impatient for God’s kingdom to be visible in the here and now, as promised. Because I don’t think just saying “well it all works out in the end” is very helpful or hopeful when right now people are dying while it seems like the wicked are winning at everything.

If Jeremiah can take a minute — or many — to complain to God about this stuff and demand better, I think we can join him. We’ll be in good company. But we have to pay attention to how his complaint starts. He begins with “You will be in the right, O Lord, but let me put my case anyway.” I know you’ll have reasons, God, and they’ll be better reasons than my reasons. But even though you’re always right I just have to ask: what on earth is going on here and why haven’t you dealt with it yet?

This is the complaint of someone who trusts the promise. This is a moan from someone who is deep into this relationship with God and has no intention of leaving it. This is the kind of question we can ask when we know that there really is something better than this. This is the conversation that is rooted in “you know my heart is with you…” and the expectation that God’s heart will be with us in return.

It’s hard not to have an immediate answer to “why does it seem like God isn’t paying attention.” That feeling of the bad guys winning all the time can make our good news feel irrelevant and naive to the world around us. And also, with Jeremiah, we do our best to keep our eyes on the prize even while we lament: God will be in the right, there is more to this than we know right now, the promise is true…however slow it feels in coming.

John Bell has written a hymn about this very feeling, so we’re going to pause here and sing it before we hear the rest of the reading.

Hymn GWA180: When the Wheel of Fate is Turning (Sanctuary tune: Lux Tremenda) (organ)

Scripture Reading part 2: Jeremiah 12.14-16
The reading continues in Jeremiah, chapter 12, at verse 14.

Thus says the Lord concerning all my evil neighbours who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: I am about to pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again to their heritage and to their land, every one of them. And then, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, “As the Lord lives,” as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

For the word of God in Scripture
For the word of God among us
For the word of God within us
Thanks be to God.

Reflection Part 2
God answers Jeremiah’s complaint — but maybe not with the answer we were hoping for. It starts off strong, with “I will pluck up those evil neighbours” which is pretty much what we’d like to see, but then…also the chosen people at the same time. The consequences will be for everyone. And then compassion and the gift of a home will be given to…all of the above, at the same time. Every one of them.

Then God says something really interesting: God is going to plant the people we think of as the good guys and the people we think of as the bad guys together again in the same field, in hopes that just the same way that previously we have learned wickedness, now instead we can be learning and teaching goodness. Learn the ways of God, learn to be loyal to God, learn to trust God’s promise…and all together will be built up. Not that the bad guys will be uprooted and thrown into the fire…but that by learning from the faithful, they will also become faithful. By learning from the compassionate, they will also become compassionate. By learning from the just, they will also become doers of justice. Right there in the midst of the chosen people, these other people will grow and flourish too. As long as the faithful teach, that is.

We might want God’s judgment to be the last word, but instead it’s compassion that enables learning and teaching and mutual obedience. God knows that if we have learned evil before, we can learn good now. And when we have learned it, we can teach it. And so what looks like foolishness, planting weeds and wheat in the same field, becomes a vision of the promise: things can change. Not because weeds become wheat on their own, not because we have the ability to transform ourselves from the inside out, but because with God’s compassion and a faithful teacher, we can be changed from the outside in — learning the ways first, and then the heart’s allegiance following.

It’s easy to demand God weed the field, to take away the people we deem undesirable or evil or too different. It’s harder to hear God’s reply that faithfulness requires us to reach out to those people. It’s easy to lament the state of the world, and it’s harder to own our part in making it this way, or keeping it this way. It’s easy to ask if God is paying attention…it’s harder to answer when God asks if we are paying attention. As is always the case, it’s easy to complain and harder to be part of the solution.

God’s promise wasn’t that it would be easy, or that we could sit back and relax and wait for God to fix everything that we have messed up. God’s promise is presence, faithfulness, love that never ends, and a kingdom whose bigger picture is peace that passes all understanding. That gift comes with some assembly required…so once we have had our fill of lament and anger, it’s time we join God in the work: reaching out in the love of Christ, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to teach the way of compassion and grace even to those people we wish God would pluck up out of our community, those we feel justified in condemning…offering faithful love the same way God offers faithful love to us despite our wrongs and shortcomings. We know that hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that. God gave us that gift already, and taught us to pay it forward. Perhaps if we try that method instead, we will find that transformation we thought was impossible, that change we were sure would never come, is in fact possible with God.

May it be so. Amen.

Sanctuary Music for Reflection: I Heard An Owl (by Carrie Newcomer)
During this season we are invited to consider a reflection question, and to put a few words in answer to that question onto the post-it note you’ll find on the back of your seat. There are pencils in the book rack at the back of your seat as well. Today as we reflect on what the Spirit is saying to the church, I’m reminded of how I sometimes say “complaining equals volunteering” — have you ever lamented to God and found that God then offered you an opportunity in response? Big or small complaints, big or small opportunities to make a difference…they all count. What happened?
(To be collected and added to mind map)

Online Hymn 360: Jesus Christ is Waiting

Sanctuary Offering Hymn 343: The Reign of God (organ)

Sanctuary Offering Response: GWA148 chorus (organ)
I will sing a song of love
to the one who first loved me,
and I’ll sing it as a child of God,
who is named and known and free.
For the love of God is good,
it is broad and deep and long;
and above all else that matters,
God is worthy of my song.

Concerns of the Church
*Bible Study
*Hymn submissions for Pentecost 2
*Exploratorium volunteers — sign up sheets
*David LaMotte concert 1 July 7:30pm, tickets available on eventbrite or at the door
*prayer meeting next Sunday
*Clive’s funeral 4 July 10am crematorium
*prayer groups

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
You are our heavenly father, perfect parent,
guiding and providing and protecting and caring for us
even when we are unable to live up to your calling or expectation.
We offer you our praise and gratitude for your unending compassion,
not only for us but for all,
and we pray that it would transform us ever more into your likeness,
that we might reflect your image into a world desperate for good news.
And we give you thanks for those you have given us as earthly fathers,
those who have given their strength and support to us over the years,
those who have provided for us out of your abundance,
and shared with us your refuge and love.
We remember today those whose fathers have gone on ahead,
and those who are ill or struggling today,
those who long to be fathers or whose children have died,
and we remember too those whose own fathers were not a faithful representation of your love.
We ask your blessing on those who grieve as on those who celebrate.
May the glimpse of your goodness we see in those who nurture and support us
inspire us to offer more and more of your love to others,
for we know that your love transforms lives and even the world.
So we beg for your love to transform this world at war
into a world where justice, community, and compassion bring about peace.
We beg for your love to transform this world where greed causes immense suffering
into a world of equity and sharing, where all have enough and none hoard.
We beg for your love to transform this world of hatred and division
into a world where we no longer judge people on skin colour or accent or nationality.
We beg for your love to transform this world, O God,
even though we know that means first we must be transformed ourselves,
and then set about your work.
Encourage and empower us, make us not just ready but actually willing
to work for your kingdom to be visible and real in this time and place,
even now.
On the 21st day of the month we join our hearts as your St John’s family to pray
*For local community groups, those who put their time and energy and money and resources toward working for the good of our community here: for the Community Council, and other voluntary organisations (such as the Community Gardens, Literati, Scouts, Bookbug, the Bunny Park, Library, etc). We pray for the community to be strengthened and built up in friendship as we get to know one another and work together for the common good
*For the staff of St John’s.
*For the land, people, and governments of the nations of Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia, New Zealand, and the continent of Antarctica.

Gracious God,
may your foolish wisdom show us the way of truth and life,
that we may lay aside what we think we know,
and find ourselves open to your transformation.
We ask it for your love’s sake,
in the name of the One who poured himself out for an undeserving world,
Jesus the Christ,
who taught us to pray together:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 521: Children of God, Reach Out to One Another (tune: 159 Lord of the Years) (organ)

Sending
Go out into this life trusting that God does hear, and will be faithful — and to live faithfully, teaching the way of Christ in all you do, to all you meet.
And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you, to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Go in peace. Amen.

Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Sanctuary Postlude Music (organ)

Announcements

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and Sunday worship is also online.

* The first Sunday of the month at 11am is an all-age service, with different ways of encountering God’s word without a traditional sermon. All people — young and old, different personalities and learning styles, are welcome! You’ll find a more informal service with a variety of music, a Bible story, prayer, and some more interactive elements. The online service for the first Sunday will therefore also be different — there will still be a reading, prayers, and music, but usually not a sermon.

* There will be a time of prayer and reflection following the service on Sunday June 28th. The focus will be on family, relationships, loss and grief. It will include short readings to focus our thoughts and some time for silent, personal prayer. Please pick up a coffee and come back into the sanctuary after the service.

* We are excited to be hosting a concert by internationally renowned singer-songwriter David LaMotte on Wednesday the 1st of July at 7:30pm in the sanctuary. Tickets are now available on our website or at the door. Advance tickets are £12 or £7 for under-16s, at the door they’ll be £15/10. Click here for more info and tickets!

* Bowl & Blether is on the first Mondays of the month, with doors open from 11:30-1:30, and lunch served from noon. All are welcome for a bowl of soup, a toastie, a friendly chat in our warm hall! See you next month on the 6th of July.

* The Pentecost 2 team would like to include some of your favourite hymns and praise songs during their season (19 July – 6 September) — along with a few words from you about why it’s meaningful to you. If you would like to submit a favourite hymn, please write it down, along with your name and at least a few sentences about what it means to you and why it’s your favourite, and give that to Teri or to John Boyle (the elder facilitating the pentecost 2 team) by 19 July. Thanks!

* Registration is now open for the summer exploratorium: On Holy Ground, an Inverclyde Staycation, the week of 27 July! We are looking for some volunteers — especially in the kitchen, and in crafts, as well as in shepherding groups. If you would be interested in learning more about volunteering, please speak to Teri or Graham Bolster.

* Free period products are available in the church toilets for anyone who might need them, thanks to Hey Girls and Inverclyde Council.

* Did you know that the ministry we do at St John’s costs about £3000 per week and we are currently running about £500 short? Everything we do is funded by your generous giving — all our support for young people, older people, bereavement care, community outreach, worship, study, spiritual growth, and community work is because of your offering. If you would like to set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Teri and she can give you the treasurer’s details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received.

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email newsletter! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word and Theology Thursday on Youtube, get snippets of thought or inspiration following Teri on TikTok, and of course keep up with announcements and events on Facebook and our weekly email.