Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

For 21 June 2020, the Third Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Geoff McKee’s main Scripture comes again from Genesis.

It’s the story of Hagar and Ishmael.

Hagar was Abraham’s concubine and the mother of his son, Ishmael. Bought as a slave, in Egypt, she served as a maid to Abraham’s (at that time) childless wife, Sarah, who gave her to Abraham to provide an heir.

By the time of ‘today’s’ events, Sarah had given birth to a son, Isaac (as we discussed last week).

The story is not a happy one for Hagar and Ishmael, on the face of it. The lessons for us include our capacity to endure and persevere, as well as our ability to express feelings of hardship.

The Scriptures this week are Genesis 21:8-21 (Hagar and Ishnael), Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17,
Romans 6:1b-11, and Matthew 10:24-39, all set out below. There are prayers and a musical selection. Rev. McKee’s sermon is presented in audio format.

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14 June 2020 is the Second Sunday after Pentecost. Rev. Geoff McKee starts a series based on texts from Genesis.

Today’s story is about the visit of 3 strangers to the elderly Abraham and Sarah – and the ‘hilarious’ news they brought.

Sarah and Abraham may have failed in believing the wonderful, seemingly impossible, news from God but they did not fail in showing hospitality to their guests.

As Geoff explains, in a world of anti-immigrant sentiment, Christians must remember that, if we neglect our fellowship with the stranger, we are in danger of leaving God outside too. Openness to providing hospitality is essential.

Continue reading for all the Scriptures from the Lectionary for this week, prayers, a musical selection and Geoff’s audio sermon.

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Sunday 07 June 2020 is Trinity Sunday. It is the first Sunday after Pentecost and celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. In other words, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The readings this week are beginnings and endings. From the start of the Bible in Genesis to a couple of final sections from Books in the New Testament: Matthew and Second Corinthians. Rev. Geoff McKee picks up on this in his sermon.

You’ll find the Scriptures below, along with Prayers, the audio sermon and a musical choice. This week the music is chosen by Geoff. It’s a hymn which has ‘local connections’ for him.

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Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks.

The coming of the Holy Spirit is described in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-21).

Here we have the virtual service for 31 May 2020 – Pentecost – where the Scriptural basis for Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon from the Old Testament (Numbers 11:24-30) foreshadows a New Testament passage (Mark 9:38-41) – ‘Whoever is not against us is for us’.

The Spirit is like a wild goose, moving rapidly into unexpected places and transforming the lives of unexpected people too.

Below, you will find the 4 readings for this week from the Lectionary – including Numbers and Acts – prayers, a musical selection and the sermon.

Scripture

Numbers 11:24-30 (New International Version)
24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

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We have reached the week before Pentecost – the 7th Sunday of Easter (Ascension).

In the virtual service for 24 May 2020, you’ll find 4 readings, some prayers, a musical choice and Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon, based on Ephesians 1: 15-23.

Call to Worship

Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:9-10

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Almighty God, we draw near in worship this morning reminded of your greatness and glory, your sovereign power and eternal purpose, all expressed so wonderfully in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Risen and Ascended.

We thank you for the wonder of Ascension, that marvellous yet mysterious moment in the life of the Apostles which left them gazing heavenwards in confusion yet departing in joy.

We thank you for the way that it brought the earthly ministry of Jesus to a fitting conclusion; signifying his oneness with you, and demonstrating your final seal of approval on all that he had done.

We thank you that through his Ascension Jesus is now set free to be Lord of all: no longer bound to a particular place or time, but with us always – able to reach even to the ends of the earth. We thank you that through his departing Jesus prepared for his coming again: through his Spirit, his Church, and his coming again in glory.

Gracious God, forgive us for so often failing to grasp the wonder of Ascension, for living each day as though it had never been. Forgive the smallness of our vision, the narrowness of our outlook, the weakness of our love, the nervousness of our witness, our repeated failure to recognise the fullness of your revelation in Christ.

Give us a deeper sense of wonder, a stronger faith, and a greater understanding of all you have done, that by faith we may live each day to his glory and honour.
Amen.

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