St James' Church of Scotland, Lossiemouth
For Christ, For You
Sunday 15 December 2024 is the Third Sunday of Advent.
So far, during this Season of Advent, we have lit the candles of Hope, Peace and, today, Joy. These elements stand individually but are, crucially, stronger together.
This is how the Church works too. God knows and loves us all individually but the Church is a collective.
Rev. Christine McWhirter discusses this across today’s service and touches on the theme in both her All-Age address and the sermon.
Sunday 08 December 2024 is the Second Sunday in Advent.
The main theme for this Sunday in Advent is “Peace”. We light our second Advent candle.
Today’s service is led by Rev. Anne-Marie Simpson.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, in the Church, we often talk about people called “Prophets”.
Prophets were people who God spoke to directly. God gave them a message and then wanted the Prophet to take the message to the people – so that the people would know what God wanted them to do.
BUT – the people did not normally want to hear God’s message. And the people were often very nasty to the Prophets.
Sometimes, that’s because the people were scared by the message relayed to them by the Prophets. On other occasions, the people were angry at being criticised for their “bad behaviour”. At other times, the people did not believe the Prophet’s message – to the extent that they would laugh at the message apparently sent from God.
Most of the time, being a Prophet was a pretty awful job. They would carry out God’s will because it was God who was asking them – but, even then, sometimes God had to force the Prophet to do what God wanted.
One bit of news that various Prophets brought to the people over and over again was that God would send a Saviour.
For example, from today’s Lectionary:
The Master You’ve Been Looking For
3 “Look! I’m sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple—yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you’ve been waiting for. Look! He’s on his way!” A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
2-4 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance?
He’ll be like white-hot fire from the smelter’s furnace. He’ll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry. He’ll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He’ll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they’re fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness. Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.
In other words, the fact that Jesus was long-awaited and long-foretold.
When Jesus arrived, he did not behave as the people had anticipated (i.e. as a great warrior who would sweep all enemies aside). Instead, he came to heal the rift between God and his people and make us right with God again. God wanted to show through Jesus that God’s Kingdom was indeed “at hand”.
The all-age address in the service begins here.
The main sermon begins here.
01 December 2024 is the First Sunday of Advent.
In Christian communities the world over, Advent refers to a four-week season of remembering and celebrating the arrival of Jesus on Earth. This is the period leading up to Christmas.
Essentially, it is also the first Sunday of a new Church year. The First Sunday of Advent symbolises “Hope”. With the lighting of the “Prophet’s Candle”, we are reminded that Jesus is coming.
The main reading for today is from one of the several Old Testament prophets – in this case, Jeremiah – who foretold that a Messiah would be sent to save the world. The prediction is framed in terms that God “will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.” (NIV)
Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon is based on the Jeremiah text – see further, below, for the video of the service and the sermon.
Jeremiah 33:14-18 (from The Message Bible Translation)
A Fresh and True Shoot from the David-Tree
14-18 “‘Watch for this: The time is coming’—God’s Decree—‘when I will keep the promise I made to the families of Israel and Judah. When that time comes, I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David-Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right. That’s when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety. The motto for the city will be, “God Has Set Things Right for Us.” God has made it clear that there will always be a descendant of David ruling the people of Israel and that there will always be Levitical priests on hand to offer burnt offerings, present grain offerings, and carry on the sacrificial worship in my honour.’”
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.
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