Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

That’s a quote from George Mallory.

He was the famed mountain climber who may have been the first person ever to reach the top of Mount Everest (in 1924) and his story and legacy features in Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon this week.

The main scripture this week is from the Old Testament – Psalm 30 – where we find that God has met the Psalmist at the place of absolute weakness and helplessness and has brought deliverance (a “wild lament” turned into a “whirling dance” of joy).

The enduring impact of Psalm 30 for the Christian does not lie with the Psalmist. Instead, it points us to God. God has journeyed with the Psalmist to the point of death and found a way forward from it.

This has been an important week in Lossiemouth, with obvious steps taken towards a resumption of (joyful 🙂 ) access to the East Beach, last available in July 2019.

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24 April 2022 is the Second Sunday of Easter and where in our Bible Lectionary readings we reach the story of Thomas (set out below, from John’s Gospel).

Like Thomas, we learn to trust.

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The joyous news on 17 April 2022 – and every day after – is that it is always “the
third day”.

It is always the day of resurrection.

But how easily can we keep that front-of-mind on a daily basis?

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It’s Palm Sunday: 10 April 2022.

The main scripture this week is from Luke’s Gospel.

Jesus, our Saviour, comes to us humbly, riding a donkey and proclaiming a message of
peace.

On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus approaching Jerusalem. The “camera is on him” and he is fully in character. We are familiar with this story – like a movie, watching it in our mind’s eye. We can see it. But there’s a potential problem. We’ve seen the film before and so we’re no longer watching it very carefully…

Main Scripture this week

Luke 19:28-40 (The Message)
God’s Personal Visit
28-31 After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem. When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘His Master needs him.’”

32-33 The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, “What are you doing untying the colt?”

34 They said, “His Master needs him.”

35-36 They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God’s name!
All’s well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!

39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, get your disciples under control!”

40 But he said, “If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise.”

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