Fillan (Faelan, Fulan), a common Irish name, was borne by several saints. The eighth-century Fillan was of Irish birth, became a monk and accompanied his uncle Congan (Corrigan) to Scotland. He was a solitary at Pittenweem, Fife, where he was chosen as abbot. After some years he resigned and retreated to Glendochart. His name is associated also with Lochalsh, Renfrewshire and Strathfillan in the vicinity of Killin and Crianlarich, where an abbey bearing his name was built. A well with his name has long been associated with cures for mental ailments. His memory was held in great affection, and relics, especially his staff and bell, played an important part in later Scottish history.
Kershaw, Simon. Exciting Holiness: Collects and Readings for the Festivals and Lesser Festivals of the Calendars of the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church in Wales . Hymns Ancient and Modern Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Holy One, open our lips:
and we shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to God, Source of all being,
Eternal Word and Holy Spirit;*
as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Variable Psalms
Saturdays: From Psalm 150 Laudate Dominum
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord in the holy temple; *
praise God in the firmament of divine power.
Praise the Lord for mighty acts; *
praise God for excellent greatness.
Praise the Lord with the blast of the ram’s-horn; *
praise God with lyre and harp.
Praise the Lord with timbrel and dance; *
praise God with strings and pipe.
Praise the Lord with resounding cymbals; *
praise God with loud-1clanging cymbals.
Let everything that has breath *
praise the Lord. Hallelujah!
CLOSING Isaiah 40
The Lord is the everlasting God,*
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
who does not faint nor grow weary,*
whose understanding is unsearchable,
who gives power to the faint,*
increase of strength to those who have no might.
Even youth shall faint and be weary;*
the young shall fall exhausted.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;* they shall mount up with wings like eagles.
They shall run and not be weary,*
they shall walk and not faint.
READING: Numbers 13:31 – 14:25
Then the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we are.’ So they brought to the Israelites an unfavourable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, ‘The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size. There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.’
Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, ‘Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?’ So they said to one another, ‘Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.’
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites. And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the Israelites, ‘The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only, do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’ But the whole congregation threatened to stone them.
Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.’
But Moses said to the Lord, ‘Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them, and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O Lord, are in the midst of this people; for you, O Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say, “It is because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.” And now, therefore, let the power of the Lord be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,
“The Lord is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.”
Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.’
Then the Lord said, ‘I do forgive, just as you have asked; nevertheless—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord— none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.’
Silence
PRAYERS
We have not put the voice of the voiceless first.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
We have colluded with the structures of greed.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
We have put money first, loving it too much.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
SATURDAYS:
With the prophets and all who have prepared your coming, Lord,
we bless you. Glory to you, O Lord.
With the Virgin Mary, our soul magnifies the Lord.
Glory to you, O Lord.
With the apostles and evangelists, Lord, we give you thanks.
Glory to you, O Lord.
With the martyrs of the faith, Lord, we consecrate our lives to you.
Glory to you, O Lord.
With all the holy witnesses to the Gospel, Lord, we worship you.
Glory to you, O Lord.
With your entire Church, spread across the world, Lord,
we sing your praises. Glory to you, O Lord.
Lord’s Prayer
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.
Do not bring us to the time of trial,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
COLLECTS
Saturdays: God of all eternity, Savior of every life, in the footsteps of the holy witnesses to Christ down through the ages, from the apostles and the Virgin Mary to those of today, enable us to dispose ourselves inwardly day by day to place our trust in the Mystery of the Faith. Amen.
Almighty God, by whose grace Fillan, kindled by the fire of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: inflame us with the same spirit of discipline and love, that we may ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
God most holy, we give you thanks for bringing us out of the shadow of night into the light of morning; and we ask you for the joy of spending this day in your service, so that when evening comes, we may once more give you thanks, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
The Lord bless us and preserve us from all evil; and bring us to life eternal. Amen.
St Ternans Banchory 