Lossiemouth Church of Scotland

Sunday 15 January 2023 is the Second Sunday after the Epiphany. The main Bible reading for this week is Psalm 40.

U2 (the rock band, formed in the late 1970s) quickly established a reputation for excellent live performances.

On 26 February 1983 they performed in Dundee and, for the first time, chose as the final song of the show, ’40’, which was a quickly composed song; only really intended as an album filler.

However, it became very popular as a concert closer, and between its debut and January 1990, there were only a handful of U2 concerts
that did not feature “40” as the closing song. During live performances, two members of the band would swap instruments and then the band members would progressively leave the stage, until the crowd were left all alone chanting the song’s refrain, “How long…to sing
this song?” – long after the band had left.

It had a very powerful effect and, especially so, considering that thousands of people were left singing together the words of an ancient
Hebrew psalm that was speaking meaningfully into their lives today.

Below, you will find the full text of Psalm 40 from The Message version of the Bible – and today’s video recording of the service, including Geoff’s sermon about “40”.

[Read more…]

We were delighted to welcome Bill to preach at St. James’ on Sunday 08 January 2023.

Here is the video of the service (featuring also Elfriede with the Children’s Address, about things which do – and do not – go out of date):

The service for 01 January 2023 is led by Elders from the two Churches in our linkage: St. Gerardine’s High Church and St. James’ Church.

Below, you will find the main Scripture reading for today, the order of service, the video of the service and the text of the Talk (with some hyperlinks to other material).

We hope this year brings you peace, joy, and love. Happy New Year!

Main Scripture for this week

Hebrews 2:10-18 (New International Version)
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

[Read more…]

This week we have the normal Lectionary materials (provided for information) and the video is of the actual Worship Service of 9 Lessons and 9 Carols (no sermon) – a variation on the Lectionary suggestions.

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 7:10-16 & Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7 & Matthew 1:18-25

Call to Worship

‘A virgin will conceive and bear a son, and he shall be called Emmanuel’, a name which
means ‘God is with us’. Matthew 1:23

[Read more…]

Sunday 11 December 2022 is the Third Sunday of Advent.

This week’s main Bible reading

Matthew 11:2-14 (The Message Bible Translation)
2-3 John, meanwhile, had been locked up in prison. When he got wind of what Jesus was doing, he sent his own disciples to ask, “Are you the One we’ve been expecting, or are we still waiting?”

4-6 Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on:

The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.

“Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!”

7-10 When John’s disciples left to report, Jesus started talking to the crowd about John. “What did you expect when you went out to see him in the wild? A weekend camper? Hardly. What then? A sheik in silk pajamas? Not in the wilderness, not by a long shot. What then? A prophet? That’s right, a prophet! Probably the best prophet you’ll ever hear. He is the prophet that Malachi announced when he wrote, ‘I’m sending my prophet ahead of you, to make the road smooth for you.’

11-14 “Let me tell you what’s going on here: No one in history surpasses John the Baptist; but in the kingdom he prepared you for, the lowliest person is ahead of him. For a long time now people have tried to force themselves into God’s kingdom. But if you read the books of the Prophets and God’s Law closely, you will see them culminate in John, teaming up with him in preparing the way for the Messiah of the kingdom. Looked at in this way, John is the ‘Elijah’ you’ve all been expecting to arrive and introduce the Messiah.

Video recording of today’s service from St. James’

Am I really a disciple of the Messiah or has my life’s cause been a waste of time? Who among you here has not asked that question more than once? If we’re being honest … we know that we have asked, and still ask that question.

REV. GEOFF MCKEE

Find a previous version of this sermon on the website here: When you wonder if your life as a Christian has been a waste of time.