St James' Church of Scotland, Lossiemouth
For Christ, For You
The Lossie Singers will perform an Autumn Concert in the Church (Lossiemouth Church of Scotland, formerly St. James’ Church) – Prospect Terrace, Lossiemouth – at 2.30pm on Sunday, 06 October 2024.
Tickets priced £8.00 (refreshments included) are available from “Unique”, Clifton Road, Lossiemouth (close to the War Memorial) or at the door.
The programme is varied and wide-ranging and we hope to see you there.
25 August 2024 is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the main text for Rev. Geoff McKee’s preaching for this day comes from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
He tells them that that should pray on all occasions with all kinds of requests.
Ephesians 6:18: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
But, to pray “all the time”: how can you do that?
Is it even possible?
When we don’t know what to say to God.
When we don’t know how to put our feelings into words.
Maybe we’re feeling low or sad or depressed. What do you do then in those situations?
How on earth do you pray “ on all occasions”?
Often, a Holding Cross is made of olive wood.
They come with instructions!
“This cross is designed for holding when praying. Or, if you’re not able to pray, just to hold.”
If you’re not able to pray, just hold on.
This is what Paul is talking about when writing to the Church in Ephesus. How they must make sure that they are fully ready, by putting on the Full Armour of God.
He talks about things like helmets and shields and swords but, in the end, he says put it all on so that you can stand.
Not necessarily so that you can fight.
But so you can stand.
And, he says, so that you can keep on standing.
So that you can hold on and keep holding on.
We don’t have the thoughts even to be able to formulate something in our minds to offer to God.
It’s good during such times to know that our God understands.
He still hears our prayers even though we cannot speak them out or make any sense of them in our minds.
The Holding Cross is a great reminder of that fact
When there is absolutely nothing there for you to draw from: hold on. And hold on tight if you have to – because our God is faithful and He is not going to let you go.
18 August 2024 is the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Rev. Geoff McKee preaches today and his main Bible text is (from the New Testament) Ephesians 5:15-20.
The Apostle Paul is thought to have written his letter to the Church at Ephesus around AD 60 – so, within about 30 years of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The relevant part of Ephesians – from The Message Bible Translation – reads:
Ephesians 5:15-20 (The Message)
11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
[Read more…]As you will know if you follow this website and/or our Facebook page at all, we get a lot of benefit from materials produced by Out of the Box (Scotland) – who have also run several holiday clubs for us.
Their Intro Series is a great introduction to, and exploration of, the Christian Faith – for children and adults (though it’s designed primarily for children).
The Gospel is the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.
What is that Good News? Essentially, it is that, through Jesus, God can provide us with light, life and love.
Why not watch Glen Scrivener’s video on YouTube (see embedded video below)?
Or read the text of his Minute-and-a-half of breathless talking…
In the beginning, there was light and life and love.
There was a father loving his son in the joy of the Holy Spirit.
And everything has come from light and life and love.
And out of this has come a world that is destined to share in light and life and love.
But you know that this world is not like that.
I know this world is not like that.
Where has that come from?
[Read more…]