Sunday service for 26 July 2026

Sunday 26 July 2026, Bloom Where You’re Planted 2
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 on our YouTube channel!

Prelude Music (praise band)

Welcome and Announcements
*loop
*visitors
*tea/coffee
*practice There Is A Time?

God-sightings

We Gather As God’s Family (As the Bible is brought in, we stand and sing) (praise band)
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
1: From the rising of the sun to its setting
2: In the turning of the days and the seasons
3: In the fullest of full and the emptiest of empty
4: From the past we can no longer remember to the future we can’t yet imagine
All: We live in the presence of God who is alpha and omega, beginning and end.

Sanctuary Hymn 727: In the Bulb, There is a Flower (organ)

Prayer
Holy creator God,
you hold all things in your hand, in your heart—
all times and places, people and creatures, the whole of everything is yours.
We come together before you today
wanting to trust your purpose,
wanting to see your vision,
wanting to recognise your presence.
And yet we confess that we struggle…
we struggle to trust that you work all things together for good.
We struggle to see how we can ever get from where we are to where you call us to be.
We struggle to recognise you in the challenges we face.
We confess that we are having a hard time living in this world…
and if we are honest,
we don’t really want all the times and seasons of life.
We would prefer the nice and lovely times,
planting and dancing and laughing and healing and living in peace,
without the times of breaking down and weeping and losing and tearing apart.
Yet you have made this life of many times,
ups and downs, rhythms and balances, seasons of life coming and going and coming around again.
And through it all,
we are with you.
Forgive us when we think we have to walk the road on our own.
Forgive us when we think we have to face these seasons under our own power.
Forgive us when we would rather have half a life ourselves rather than fullness of life with you.
Hold us close in all these times,
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.

Sanctuary Children’s Time

Hymn 153: Great is Thy Faithfulness (organ) 

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 3.1-13
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover, he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

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.

Sermon: what to do with the time
The book of Ecclesiastes is famous for two things really….One is the phrase “vanity of vanities” which has worked its way through English language culture from the King James Bible to Shakespeare to today, though the word “vanity” doesn’t mean exactly the same thing now that it did then! And the other is this reading….to everything there is a season, turn turn turn…

The two are related, of course. The teacher who wrote Ecclesiastes used a lot of words to ultimately say “you can’t take it with you.” Vanity of vanities, all is vanity…all these things that we worry about — tearing and sewing, keeping and letting go, mourning and dancing, planting and digging up — in the end, they are not the thing. They are but a breath, they melt away like mist, they are chasing after wind, when seen from the bigger picture. Or, as Jesus would later say, “you are worried and distracted by many things…there is need of only one thing.”

Sometimes people say that Ecclesiastes is a bit depressing, it seems to say there’s no point to anything — after all, those things there is a time for all seem to cancel each other out: a time to be born and to die, to weep and to laugh, to love and to hate. And it certainly can be read that way. That in the end, it all adds up to zero — so to care about it and be invested in the stuff of this life is vanity of vanities.

I think, though, it can also be read the opposite way.

Life contains all these times. Birth and death. Laughter and tears. Planting and harvesting and pulling out. Silence and speech. Keeping and throwing out. And though we would rather it not be true….love and hate, war and peace.

That doesn’t mean that it’s all pointless, but rather that a full life is never all good or all bad, it’s always a mix. And when we try to construct a life that’s all one while avoiding the other, we end up with only half a life. The abundant life Jesus promised is not only full of perfection and light and loveliness…that abundance will also have things we might rather not experience. Love also comes with grief. Acquiring things also comes with getting rid of things. Growth also means outgrowing things that once served us but don’t anymore.

In the Lord of the Rings, there is a moment when Frodo says: “I wish this need not have happened in my time.” I think we’ve all had that thought! The response that Gandalf gives is: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. All these times will be given to us. If we’re always seeking the good without the shadow side, we’ll always be disappointed. The turning of seasons is more like a rhythm. Every piece of music has both melody and rests, some have harmonies that go quite dark and then brighten up, notes that are short and sharp and those that are smooth and connected. All of it is music. The same with life…it has all of it, in its turn, and only then do we have a complete symphony — which God can see, even when we can’t reason our way to the full picture. The Teacher of Ecclesiastes is trying to tell us is that we have to decide what we are going to do with them. Are we going to wish them away? Avoid them at all costs? Store up as many treasures as we can without thought for how that affects the world around us? Pursue our own goals and leave God’s business behind? Or try to use the gift God has given: to be happy and live joyfully and take pleasure in our work, whatever the time we are living through?

During a full and abundant life — whether our own life or the life of our community — many different times will come, they will ebb and flow. Or, to quote the Byrds…turn, turn turn. That’s what seasons do. They come and go, one gives way to the next. We may be in a horrible season — and seasons are temporary. It will give way to another season at some point, even though it feels like it’s eternal when we are in the middle of it. We may be having the time of our lives and wish it could stay this way forever — and seasons are temporary. This is human life, for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…all we have to decide is what to do with the times that are given to us.

We may wish to unravel the mystery of why abundant life comes with this kind of rhythm rather than another…but that knowledge is not given to us. God has shown us many things — stories of past and future, teaching about what is good, truths wrapped in parables and prophets and the human flesh of Jesus. But God has not shown us everything. We cannot find out the whole of God’s work just yet. Instead we see time after time, season upon season, rhythm that moves steadily onward to the One who holds all time in his hands. And we decide what to do with the times we are given, trusting God’s gift is for the good.

May it be so. Amen.

Silence for Reflection

Online Hymn 727: In the Bulb There is a Flower

Sanctuary Hymn: There is a Time (praise band) (music: Rodney Dillard and Mitch Jayne; new words: David Dees)
There is a time for joy and wonder
At God’s gifts both great and small.
The time is now and ever after
Our spirits soar, we bow in awe.

There is a light that shines within us
A deep reflection of God’s grace.
The light’s revealed in all creation
A glimpse of God in every face.

There is a call for servant leaders
To be God’s hands in bold new ways.
The call is clear, so is our answer
In all we do, in all we say.

There is a place to share the story
And the glory of God’s love.
The place is here and all around us
For where we go, we go with God.

There is a peace that we are offered
We need not solve God’s mystery.
The peace is Christ’s, His arms are open
Forever new, forever free.

Forever new, forever free.

Sanctuary: Thanks to Cameron

Sanctuary Offering and Response Hymn 231: For the Fruits of All Creation, v1
For the fruits of all creation,

thanks be to God;
for these gifts to every nation,
thanks be to God;
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,

future needs in earth’s safe-keeping.

thanks be to God.

Concerns of the Church
*Exploratorium
*prayer groups

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Loving God, you hold us all in the palm of your hand
and we give you thanks
for all the wonderful times —
for love and laughter and friendship,
for the wonder of growing in faith in the Body of Christ,
for the beauty of the earth,
for the millions of ways you reveal your goodness.
And we pray for the vision to hold tight to your promise
and trust the shadow of your wings
when we are walking through the darkest valleys.
We hold in your light today
all who are facing times of birth — of new life, new opportunities, new things growing.
And those who are facing times of death — of endings, goodbyes, and last breaths.
We hold in your light those who are facing times of mourning, and weeping, and loss…
and those who are in the midst of times of laughter, dancing, and building up.
We hold in your light today
all who are being broken down, torn apart, thrown away, or silenced..
and we pray for the season to turn to building up, healing, seeking, embracing.
We hold in your light today
those who suffer most from our insatiable desire for war,
those on the receiving end of hate,
those whose lives, wellbeing, or livelihoods are in danger,
and because you taught us to pray for our enemies we also hold in your light
those who dehumanise, injure, persecute, and hate others,
and so are dehumanised themselves too.
In all times and seasons we seek your presence,
we pray for the faithfulness to trust your promise,
and we ask for your Spirit to fill us with courage to pursue your purpose.
…
We also lift up before you today this coming week’s Exploratorium —
the children and their families,
the volunteers,
and everyone who makes it possible for us to share your grace and love with them.
May this be a week of deepening our relationship with you,
introducing young people to the truth of your Son Jesus,
and seeing the work of your Spirit here in this place in every moment.

On the 26th day of the month we join our hearts as your St John’s family to pray:
*For Gourock Primary School — for the children, the teachers, the staff, and the families.
*For the Contact Group and other fellowship groups at St John’s, that they may learn and deepen friendships together in your presence.
*For the land, people, and governments of the nations of Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent & Grenadines, Barbados, St Lucia, and Martinique

We offer you all the prayers of our hearts and minds,
whatever the time we find ourselves in,
through the power of the Spirit and in the strong name of 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 237: Look Forward in Faith (organ)

Sending
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…all we have to do is decide what to do with the time that has been given us — and God’s gift is that we might find joy and pleasure in all the business he has given us to be busy with.
As you go to live in the rhythm of God’s time, 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.

* This coming week is our summer Exploratorium — with 50 children signed up it promises to be a week of chaos and joy, sharing God’s love with them and their families! Please be praying for the children and families and volunteers! Next Sunday’s all-age service will be Exploratorium Sunday so you’ll get a chance to see what we’ve been learning and sharing.

* There will be a time of prayer and reflection following the service on Sunday the 16th of August led by Brian Ross. 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.

* 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! We will take August off, so see you next on the 7th of September.

* 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 TODAY.

* Starter Packs are in need of Bathroom/Kitchen Cleaner, Hand Wash, Washing Up Liquid, Ladies Shampoo, Face Cloths and Deodorant.
The FoodBank are short of diluting juice, biscuits, and pasta sauce.

You can bring donations to the church and place them into the boxes in the vestibule. Thank you!

* 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.