Christmas Services and Events in Lossiemouth Churches of Scotland 2023

December 10, 2023 by 2

St. James’ Church and St. Gerardine’s High Church will have Christmas Services and “Events” during December 2023 as set out below.

We would be delighted to welcome you to any, some or all of these services and concerts.

Normal Sunday Services will continue on Sundays 10th and 17th December – i.e. 10:00am at St. James’ and 11:30am at St. Gerardine’s High. There will be combined morning services on Sundays 24th and 31st December 2023, either at St. Gerardine’s High or St. James’ (see the table below for details).

The two Churches and Parishes will unite as one from 1st January 2024 and Sunday morning services will take place from then on (ordinarily) only at St. James’ Church (at 10:00am, until further notice).

Date	Service/Event	Time/Details
Sunday 10th December	Christmas Concert by The Lossie Singers	2:30pm at St. James’; Tickets £5 at door; Refreshments included – afterwards in the Hall
Sunday 17th December	Community Carol Service	4:00pm at St. Gerardine’s High
Sunday 24th December	Service of 9 Lessons and Carols	10:00am at St. James’
Sunday 24th December	Watchnight Service	11.15pm at St. Gerardine’s High
Monday 25th December	Christmas Day Service	10:00am at St. James’
Sunday 31st December	Elder-led Service	11:30am at St. Gerardine’s High

Light-Shines-In-The-Darkness-At-Christmas

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:2-10:19
New International Version

0 Shares

When you cannot even formulate the words to pray

September 1, 2024 By 2

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.

In the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letter to the Church at Ephesus, he talks about prayer.

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?

There are many occasions when we don’t know what to pray.

When we don’t know what to say to God.

When we don’t know how to put our feelings into words.

On other occasions, we don’t know how to pray – we’re so mixed up.

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”?

One solution might be to employ the use of a “Holding Cross”.

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.

Sometimes we go through things in this life that are very difficult and we don’t have words.

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.