Sunday Service for 21 September 2025, harvest songs of praise
Sunday 21 September 2025 – Harvest songs of praise
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143
Email: TPeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
Email Charlene, Parish Assistant: CMitchell (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
Today’s service has no manuscript — it is a service of Celebrating Creation with Genesis 1, hymns chosen by the congregation, prayers, and poetry. enjoy!
Announcements
* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and Sunday worship is also online. If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door. If you feel unwell, please worship online, to protect both yourself and others in our community.
* We have two prayer groups — one meets in person on Sunday mornings in the vestry at 10:15, and the intercessory group prays at home for any concerns that are submitted to them. If you would like to join a prayer group, please send us a message and we will connect you to the coordinators. If you would like someone to pray for you or for a situation you are aware of, we can also connect you to the coordinators! Both groups keep all prayer requests confidential.
* 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.
* Starter Packs are in need of Bathroom/Kitchen Cleaner, Hand Wash/Soap, Shampoo, Deodorant.
The FoodBank are running low on tinned meat, tinned meals, tinned fruit, UHT milk, diluting juice, pasta sauces, and mens & ladies deodorant.
You can bring donations to the church and place them into the boxes in the vestibule. Thank you!
* The Contact Group starts the new session this coming Tuesday the 23rd of September, at 1pm when we will have a Pot Luck Lunch followed by a quiz and informal AGM.
All are welcome (both ladies and gentlemen).
Please bring a small item for a cold buffet or a dessert.
Note that this meeting will start at 1pm.
We have a great array of interesting talks arranged for alternate Tuesdays at 2pm. Our syllabus of events will be available today from Fiona Webster or Anne Armour. The syllabus donation of £5 will go towards our charity fundraising.
* Next Sunday the 28th will be a communion service. All are welcome at Christ’s table.
* 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. It is also possible to donate to the work of the parish assistant, speak to Anne Love about how to go about directing new donations to that item in the budget.
* 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 on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email.
* Wednesday Evening Bible Study is at 7:30pm in the Manse and we are reading Luke!
* Free period products are available in the church toilets for anyone who might need them, thanks to Hey Girls and Inverclyde Council.
Harvest Celebration
Join with the “fuzzy parish” (St John’s, OGA, St Margaret’s, St Ninians, Westburn, the Lyle Kirk) for a Harvest Celebration! There will be music, conversation, prayer, food, and service: a great night of worship and community!
Bring something to share for the potluck supper, and also something for the foodbank—so we can give thanks for God’s providence and also give to others who are in need in our community.
Wondering what to bring for the foodbank? Here is their current list of urgently needed items:
Tinned Fruit
Tea bags
Dried pasta
UHT milk
Breakfast cereals
And they have plenty of beans and sugar.
Can’t attend in the evening? You can bring your foodbank donations to our morning Harvest communion service and someone will take them over in the evening.
