Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

These are the materials for the service on 20 February 2022.

The main Scripture for today is Luke 6:27-38. It’s hard teaching for us to hear from Jesus… The temptation is to regard it as an unattainable counsel of perfection.

The setting used for today is from The Message Translation (rather than our usual New International Version) “just for a change”.

Main scripture for today

Luke 6:27-38 (The Message)
27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously.

31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

Video service

Musical Selection

“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” by Sebastian Temple was written in 1967. It has appeared in twenty-six hymnals. It is a musical setting of the well-known Prayer of Saint Francis of Assissi. This prayer has frequently been used during times of war to encourage peace throughout the world. It is also very much a prayer for our world today.

The text of this prayer is about transformation—the movement away from darkness to light, from despair to hope. The words of this prayer also have similarities to the writings of the prophet Isaiah in Chapter 61 .

This beautiful performance of Make Me a Channel of Your Peace is arranged by Mark Hayes and is sung by David Michael Moote and accompanied on piano by Elaine Choi.

You can find a previous, similar version of today’s sermon on this website here.

Sunday 13 February 2022 is the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.

The main scripture this week is Luke 6:17-26 – “the Sermon on the Plain” – a more “direct” version of The Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew’s Gospel.

In his sermon this week, Rev. Geoff McKee explains why Christians should take very seriously the call to live “simply”. You can tell a lot from how someone replies, for example, to a question such as “What would you say was the greatest moment in your life?”

[Read more…]

06 February 2022 is the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany and the main scripture today is from Luke’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus calls his first disciples – fishermen at the Sea of Galilee – to become “fishers of men”.

Below, you’ll find the main scripture reading in full, the order of Service, the video of the service conducted by Rev. Geoff McKee, and a musical selection from Kath, our Musical Director.

Principal Bible reading for today

Luke 5:1-11 (New International Version)
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

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Sunday 30 January 2022 is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany.

The main text today is Luke 4:21-30.

At an early stage in his public ministry, Jesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth. On the face of it, he is lucky to leave the place unscathed, or even alive.

Rev. Geoff McKee analyses the passage and challenges us with reference to three questions to which we might have a tendency to answer “Yes” –

• Is our faith centred on our own peace of mind – an inner peace – or is it centred in finding justice for the oppressed?
  
• Is our faith about protecting ourselves from other beliefs?
  
• Is our faith about resisting change?

[Read more…]