Laich of Moray Parish Church (formerly Lossiemouth Church of Scotland)

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?”

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.

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?

Our guest preacher, Murray Campbell, for this the Third Sunday after the Epiphany (23 January 2022), and looking ahead to the “Burns’ Week” ahead, focuses on how poetry and music enhance our worship.

Many of the hymns in the service are sung to well-known Scottish melodies.