Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

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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Welcome to the virtual service for the 6th Sunday of Easter (17 May 2020).

Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon is below in audio format. It is based on John 14:15-21 in which Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

We set out all four Scriptures for this week from the Lectionary, including the passage from John’s gospel. You’ll also find the prayers and a choice of music at the end.

The following is taken from the Church of Scotland website for this week.

“In the days following the first Easter Sunday, the disciples of Jesus would have gone through any number of different reactions, from uncertainty and anxiety to joy and celebration, through incomprehension and fear to recognition and hope. If the Cross had robbed them of his presence, the Resurrection has restored his presence. Surely Jesus will continue to be with them always?”

“The Gospel of John (14: 1-21) portrays the disciples wrestling with the dawning reality that Jesus will not continue to be physically present to them. It would seem that they are again to be left bereft and ‘orphaned’. Uncertainty and anxiety threaten once more. In response, Jesus speaks into their incomprehension and fear with the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reassures them that they are not alone and that his spiritual presence will be renewed in this world through the Spirit. Jesus, through the Spirit, continues with us always as the assurance of God’s love for us.”

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