Pillar of Salt

Order of Service: Prestongrange Church

Time of Year: FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Date: 9 February 2025

Reading: Genesis 19: 12-29

Light Reflective Music

Bible Enters (Organ)

Welcome / Intimation (Rev. Bosch)

I greet you in the Name of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe - in the care of Christ Jesus.May it be that we receive mercy, peace and love.

Intimations, Funerals, Baptisms (remember to share this before Sunday Worship)

26th February, Wednesday, Prayer Workshop at 19:00 in the Hall.

World Day of Prayer, 7th of March, 14:30 at Cockenzie and Port Seton Parish Church

Alternative Service - 12 March (Sunlight)

Ladies Bible Study, Tuesday, 19:30

Prayer Breakfast, Saterday, 8:30

Then I would like to give an opportunity to Margo to share her experience during Mental Health Week.

Call to Worship: Psalm 78

Minister: Listen o people.

All: To God’s teaching.

Minister: Give your ears.

All: To the words of God’s mouth.

Let us worship God!

Hymn: CH513 - Courage, brother do not stumble

Declaration: Blessed be the name of the Lord now and evermore.From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name be praised. Let us pray:

Prayer of Approach and Confession (Rev. Bosch)

Lord, we have come into your presence and we know that you are holy. Everything you say and do is rightand we are overwhelmed by your glory, your power, and your majesty. We come to aware of us being relient upon your grace and goodness. We praise you, our Father, whose love is unconditional and whose grace, mercy, and peace are without end.

The Lord is our God and we will praise him. The Lord gave us life and he is our Father. The Lord is our hope and in him we have placed our trust. The Lord is the Lord over all things and for ever and he is the one alone whom we worship.

We are lost for words to express our joy in your presence and your faithfulness that goes with us to the end of every journey.

Lord, we come here in the name of Jesus, who alone can open the way into the presence of our King. It is only through his death and resurrection that we can be grace-cleansed and, by your Holy Spirit, empowered to worship the one who is Lord of all.

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Hymn: Calm Faith (Ian White)

(Children enter.)

Children’s Address: Do not look back!

Hymn: Give me oil in my lamp

(Children exit.)

Reading: Genesis 19: 12-29 Sodom and Gomorrah

Sermon: (Rev. Bosch)

Sodom and Gomorrah was a very sinful place. It was so bad that God decided to destroy the place. The narrative explains how God's wrath was building up towards annihilating the whole area. Even though God did not have any time for the evil practices of that place, He still managed to identify one family who was worth saving. In a very dark place, God identified some righteousness worth saving. 

There was a little bit of goodness left in Sodom and Gomorrah. In that evil place, God identified Lot and his family. I presume the reason for saving Lot was his willingness to give a home to God's messengers. 

I have to admit to the congregation that this story of Lot has many layers, making it a very rich read. The one point to make clear is that Lot and his family were in a very difficult position. To uphold righteousness as a foreigner in a strange land is not easy. Lot was in such a difficult place that only God was able to intervene and safe them.  

We have read: "As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” 

The intervention of God was drastic! Even though God stepped in to save them, it is mind-boggling to read the Lot lingered! It is almost as if Lot did not realise the seriousness of the situation. 

"So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”

We can clearly hear the intensity of the situation. This then becomes a very good example of God stepping in, showing extreme favour to a family! 

It then becomes obvious that a characteristic of God is to show grace epitomised through the Lordship of Christ. But the story also tells that even though he is gracious, he will not allow evil to flourish! God will destroy evil but still God had/s the ability to identify some goodness even though it is so little. 

It is very revealing the naivety of Lot when He negotiates with the messengers just before God unleashes destruction. It is unbelievable to think that Lot negotiated with the messengers just before all hell breaks loose. 

And Lot said to them, “Oh, no, my lords. Behold, your servant has found favor in your sight.. But I cannot escape to the hills, lest the disaster overtake me and I die.

Behold, this city is a little one. Let me escape there and my life will be saved!”

Didn't Lot realise the severity of the situation? Was he so blind! 

Once again, the reading demonstrates the mercy, grace and favour of God. 

 21 He said to him, “Behold, I grant you this favor also, that I will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken. 22 Escape to the small city  quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there.” 

It is clear in this narrative that God destroyed evil but will still showed his goodness to the blind and ignorant. 

When have God show to you and me his goodness and mercy?

When did God act friendly towards us when we tended to be like Lot (blind and naive)?

Have we been able to notice extreme grace when all evil was about to break loose?

The story turns out very sad (true drame) when Lot's wife did not make it. She died. Whilst fleeing, she looked back at the destruction and consequently turned into a pillar of salt.  

Lot's wife epitomises someone who did not take serious God's ability to destroy evil. This is not just about "letting go of the past" or "how unhealthy it is to be stuck in the past" as we hear so often. Rather, her death tells us not to take lightly the power and the grace of God in dark times. Do not take for granted and make light the saving actions of God. 

Do not belittle God's grace, especially when life pressure is there! 

Do not be nonchalant when God is truly graceful towards us - in Christ! 

When God gives us opportunities, take it, do not hold back. 

When God gives an opening, take it, do not hold back. 

When God gives clear direction, take it, do not hold back. 

This reminds me of the story of the two sailors whose boat was capsised. They drifted on a live raft for many days, praying to God to rescue them. After a week, a small fishing boat came past, and the captain offered to help them. The two sailors replied by saying no they are waiting for God's intervention. Another week passed, and a helicopter flowed over them, dropping a rescue line to them.  The sailors waved at the pilot, shouting No, thank you, we are waiting for God's intervention. This time, a couple of weeks went by. The sailor was on their last rations and water. They prayed, asking God to save them. Then, all of a sudden, a submarine came out of the water, the captain opened the latch, and shouted to the two sailors: "Come on board!"To which the two sailors replied: No Captain, thank you, we are waiting for God's intervention. The sailors died of male nitrition after a couple of days and went to heaven. The sailors were perplexed and asked God why He didn't answer their prayers.  God's responds to them amd said: Really! Are you serious? I have sent you a fishing boat, helicopter and submarine and then you ask me, "Why didn't I answer your prayers."

Do not overlook God helping hand, especially when we are desperate. Notice and respond to the grace of God during evil times, and do not make light His mercy even though it is very small!

Do not take for granted your second chance in life, health, finances, friendship or family. 

Do not take for granted when God gives us hope and an outcome. 

"So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived." 

The story of Lot teaches very simply that God's grace does intervene in difficult times. The onis is then on us to note and responding to that grace from God. 

Lot was really in a very difficult place, and yet God made a way. This makes us aware of the godly opportunities and a deep sense of gratitude for God’s guidance! Very grateful! 

May we in Prestongrange not underestimate God's resistance to evil and his readiness to act against it. God does not stand for evil, but God will not forget to be gracious. Let us pray and ask that God will help us to notice when he reveals His favour to us espessially in difficult times. Amen. 

Hymn: CH180 - Give thanks

Prayer for Others

Let us hold up before God the leaders of nations; those whose foolish greed, self-interest, and love of power are robbing their people of the hope and joy that should be theirs; and those who are taking seriously the responsibilities laid upon them. silence Let us hold up before God all judges, magistrates, and probation officers; those whose task is to apply the law to those who have acted foolishly, as they seek to balance justice and truth with mercy and hope, and those who find themselves seeking wisdom in the hardest places of all. silence Let us hold up before God the young people of our world; those who are just setting out on the journey of life and those who are uncertain which pathway they should take; those being drawn by peer pressure and the lure of a good time to foolishly sacrifice their health and their future. silence Let us hold up before God those in life’s later years; those who look back to opportunities foolishly missed and those are who still looking forward to new avenues to explore; those for whom their age is a barrier and their health a burden and those who see each day as the chance to walk wisely with God. silence Let us hold up before God homes and families near and far; those relationships that by jealousy, selfishness, and angry words are daily being undermined and the fragility of trust is put to the test; those whose only concern is to find food to fill empty stomachs and those where unconditional love wisely binds family together. silence Let us hold before God those for whom we are concerned; those facing times of stress, illness, or bereavement; those struggling to cope with loss of employment; those whose love of their Lord has grown cold and those whose experience of grace is daily renewed. silence Let us hold up before God ourselves and our lives of each day; the foolish mistakes we still grieve over instead of wisely accepting forgiveness; the things that hold us back from deeper commitment to one another and to God; the dreams we still have and the hopes we still hold that by the grace of God may yet come to fruition and bring him the glory and thanks he deserves. silence We have held up our prayers to the God who listens and answers and will now trust him and praise him in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Offering (The person at door duty brings the plate to the table.)

Prayer of Thanks

Hymn: CH110 - Glory be to God the Father

Rethink and Blessing (Rev. Bosch)

Do not take for granted your second chance in life, health, finances, friendship or family.  Do not take for granted when God gives us hope and an outcome. 

May we go and notice and responding to God’s goodness.

In the presence of the Holy Spirit, may the peace of God, 

which is beyond all understanding, 

guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen

Sing/Play Amen (Organ)

Bible Exits (Organ)