Millerston Church – The Church by the Loch

As we move towards our celebration of Easter, each morning this week, Monday to Friday, we are having a short time of prayer and reflection on some of the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. You can join us in person in the church, or via Zoom, at 10.30 am, for about 15 minutes. And if those times are not suitable, then we can send you a link to the recording, so that you can take a wee while to pause and think about the significance of Easter at a time that is convenient to you. Please get in touch if you would like a link, either to the Zoom gathering or to the recording.

We gather together on Good Friday evening, April 15th, in the church at 7.30 pm for a communion service and a time when we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, and all that it accomplished for us and for the world, and then at 11.00 am on Easter Sunday, April 17th, to celebrate Jesus’ glorious resurrection. Both of these are also accesible via Zoom – just let us know if you’d like a link to either of these services.

As we head towards Easter, we’re continuing to look at some of the stories from Luke’s Gospel which help us see who Jesus is. Luke tells us stories of Jesus teaching, showing his power over the natural world, healing people, setting them free from evil spirits, forgiving people, and calling them to follow him. When you first read these stories they can seem a bit random. But actually, Luke is giving us a series of dots for his readers, including us, to join. And as we join the dots, we begin to see the picture emerge. We begin to see what the Kingdom of God looks like…and we begin to see Jesus as the King. The question is, once we recognise the King, what will we do?

You’re welcome to join us any Sunday morning at 11.00 am, either in-person or online, or at any of our other activities which you’ll find detailed on the website. If you would like a Zoom link for our our Sunday morning service, just drop David Miller, the minister, an email at david.millerstonpastor@gmail.com and we’ll send the link over to you.

In our Sunday services betwen now and Easter, we’re looking at stories from the Gospel of Luke. We’ll be thinking about some of the things that Jesus did and some of the things that he said, especially things that he did and said that point to the Kingdom of God. We’ll meet some of the people whose lives were transformed by an encounter with Jesus – and we will also, I hope, see how our own lives can be transformed by a similar encounter, and see how the Kingdom of God is still growing today. Our services are in person in our church building, but you can still access them and join us online if you’d prefer. Just contact us and we’ll send you a link.

…so if you’d like to take some time to reflect on the heart of Christmas, the gift of God’s Son to the world, why not join us this Christmas Eve at 11.30 pm for our watchnight service. You can join us in person or online, via Zoom, and you’ll be very welcome to do either. If you’re coming in person we’d ask you to do a lateral flow test before you come, and you’ll need to wear a mask, just to help keep each other Covid-free over the Christmas period. If you’d like to come in via Zoom, just get in touch and we’ll send you the link.

And we hope that, however you spend it, you will have a joyful and peaceful Christmas

This Sunday, December 19th, is the fourth Sunday in Advent, and we’ve entered Christmas week. It’s our family Christmas service, and we’ll be thinking about gifts, and about wrapping.
As COVID cases rise, we’ll continue to follow government guidelines and do all we can to keep each other safe, so we’re encourageing people to take a lateral flow test before they come. We wear masks during the service and while moving around, and there is plenty of hand sanitiser available. And as with all our services, if you’d prefer you can join us online instead, via Zoom. If you’d like to do that, please send an email to david.millerstonpastor@gmail.com and we’ll send you a link. So, whether you join in person or online, you’ll be very welcome.

This Sunday, December 12th, is the third Sunday in Advent – that season when Christians reflect on Christ’s first coming and on his return. We’re thinking about the theme of “Presence” this week in our service. (And yes, I have spelt it correctly – we’ll think about “Presents” next time.) If you’d like to join us in person or online, at 11.00 am, you’ll be very welcome. If you want to join us on Zoom just contact us and we’ll send you the link.

As Covid cases in the country increase, we continue to take care as we worship together, wearing masks through the service, hand sanitising, and respecting distance between us. We’re also encouraging folk to take a lateral flow test regularly, so that we can help keep each other as safe as possible.

This Thursday, December 9th at 7.30 pm, we are holding our annual Service of Memories. Although many people look forward to Christmas as a time of celebration and joy, for some it can be mixed with sadness. Memories of loved ones recently lost or long away can be particularly strong at this time. So each year we hold this service to give a time for quiet reflection, when we can bring our memories and our sorrows to Jesus. This is a service of readings, prayers, carols and times of silence for anyone who may be feeling sad or down over the Christmas period. Whether you have a church connection or whether you are just looking for a place to be still, you are welcome to join us.

As we enter December, we enter also the time that Christians call Advent, when we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, as a baby, and look towards his second coming, as the one who comes to bring justice to the world, and salvation to all who trust in Him. You are welcome to join us at any of our Sunday morning gatherings, and especially at our various Christmas services. You can find out more about them here.

This Sunday, November 14th, is Remembrance Sunday, and we will be reflecting on the theme of sacrifice. “Greater love has no man than this…” Our service starts at 10.50 am, and we will have a two-minute silence and an act of remembrance at 11.00. You are welcome to join us in person or on Zoom. If you wish to join us online, please contact us and we’ll send you the link. We’ll also be singing this great modern hymn

Well, when we see a picture like this, of course we’re going to answer “yes”. But we’d be fooling ourselves if we said it was all good. Our twin environmental and climate crises are taking their toll. So, with COP26 in full swing, this Sunday, November 7th, we’re going to be thinking about the wonderful world which God has made…and which we’ve managed to mess up more than a wee bit. Our theme is “From the garden to the city”, and we’ll be thinking about how the good news of Jesus, crucified, risen and returning, is absolutely the foundation for all our creation care, and our source of hopeful action in the face of climate change. As usual now, we meet in person and on Zoom at 11.00 am, and you’re welcome to join us. If you want to join us online, let us know and we’ll send you the link.