Easter at the Church by the Loch – Remember, Reflect, Rejoice

The Easter weekend is the key weekend in the story of God’s love for the world and the salvation which He offers. It tells us of the self-giving love of His Son, Jesus, born as one of us, as God-with-us, though without sin. Yet Jesus offers himself as the willing sacrifice, to take on himself God’s judgement on the sins of the world. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, our sins are paid for, and death’s power is broken. It need no longer be the path to separation from God. Instead, for all who turn to Him and trust in Him, we have the wonderful privilege of knowing God through Jesus, now and for all eternity.

And that’s worth celebrating! So over Easter, Christians around the world remember this story, from the solemnity of the Last Supper, the injustice of Jesus’ trial, the horror of the crucifixion, and the glorious surprise of the resurrection.

We have a service on Good Friday, April 7th, at 7.30 pm, when we remember the Last Supper as we take communion together, and then reflect on the significance of Jesus’ death. The church is open for personal prayer and reflection on Friday April 7th and Saturday April 8th, from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm each day. And then on Sunday morning we gather at 11.00 am to celebrate the good news for all the world that Jesus is alive. You are welcome to join with us in any of these opportunities to remember, reflect and rejoice.

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Now there’s a view…

We’ve not posted about our Sunday Services for a wee while, so time to put that right. We’re thinking about views tomorrow. What’s your favourite? A mountain scene? A breathtaking waterfall, or an amazing beach? Views can inspire and lift our spirits. We’ve been spending the last couple of months exploring Paul’s letter to the Romans, and this Sunday, the 5th February, we’re going to think about a view that Paul gives us to inspire us and to encourage us to press on in hard times – a view of creation healed, restored and made new. You’ll be welcome to join us either in person or via Zoom – if you want to join us online just message us and we’ll send you the link.And speaking of views, sometimes there are some pretty amazing ones right on our doorsteps, if we know where to look…

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Our Christmas services

The light shines…

We celebrate the birth of Jesus this weekend. At the heart of Christmas is the wonderful truth that God has become man in Jesus Christ. He shares in our gladness and feels for us in our sadness. Because of his life among us, his death in our place, and His resurrection which opens the door for us to turn to our heavenly Father, everything is different, and both our present and our future can be filled with hope and joy. This is worth celebrating. So in the midst of our times with family, or with friends, or just quietly on our own, we take time to remember God’s great gift to us in Jesus. We will spend time in celebrating these tidings of hope and joy in our services on Christmas Eve at 11.30 pm, as we enter Christmas Day focussing on Jesus’ birth, and again on Christmas Sunday morning at 11.00 am, when we think about gifts – the gifts the Wise Men brought, the gifts we may bring to Jesus, and God’s gift of Himself to us. You are welcome to join us in these times of worship. And however you spend Christmas, we pray that it will be a precious time for you.

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Service of memories – Thursday December 8th

Christmas can sometimes be a time of sadness as well as joy, as we remember loved ones no longer with us, or as we reflect on all the difficulties of the last two and a half years. Before we find ourselves right in the midst of all the busy-ness of Christmas, you might like to find space and time to be quiet and to reflect on loss, to acknowledge that it’s okay to feel a bit sad, even in the midst of a time of celebration. If you would like to join us for a time, we are holding a Service of Memories, on Thursday December 7th, at 7.30 pm, in the church. This short service of readings, prayers and reflection lets us bring our sadness and loss to Jesus – the one who is “God with us”. You will be welcome to come and join us.

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Our new Friday drop-in launches

On Friday November 19th we launch our new Friday drop-in, The Cheery Cup. After the pandemic and in these difficult times, we all need each other. So we hope to provide a place where people can come and enjoy some tea and coffee, snacks and home baking. There’ll be board games to play if people would like to do that, or you can just sit and chat and relax. We’re on initally from 10.30 to 12.30 each Friday morning, and there’s a warm welcome for everyone.

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The Big Quiz is back

There’s something to test everyone…

On Saturday November 19th we’ll be hosting Tearfund’s Big Quiz. This is a multi-site quiz where teams from around the country in differnt places play the quiz more or less simultaneously. For the last couple of years because of you know what, we’ve done this online, but we’re delighted that this year we can do it in person. So if you’d like to join a team or bring a team, you’ll be welcome. As well as enjoying an evening of quizzing, the aim of the Big Quiz is to raise funds for some of the world’s poorest communities, so there’ll be an opportunity to donate to support the Tearfund’s development work.We start at 7.30 pm , and there’ll be snacks and homebaking at half-time as well. If you’d like to know a bit more about what’s involved, please get in touch.

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The passing of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second

We join with many, many people in our nation who are deeply moved and saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She has been a remarkable figure in so many ways. We give thanks to God for her life of service and dedication, inspired by her clear commitment to her own King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will have a time of reflecting on this significant event in the life of our nation at the start of our service this Sunday, September 11th. And we will be thinking more about the King whom she served, and of His own humble service for the world. We will also be celebrating communion, and we invite all who love the Lord Jesus to join us in this.

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Psalms for troubled people in troubled times

Over the next few Sundays we’re going to look at some of the psalms, these ancient poems and songs of worship which capture the range of human emotions and experiences – and which help us find God in the midst of them. This Sunday, June 26th, we’re looking at Psalm 8, which reminds us that however small, insignifcant or rubbish we feel, God tells us that we matter. We meet at 11.00, both in person and online, and you’re welcome to join us. If you’d like to join us via Zoom, please let us know and we’ll send you a link

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Happy Easter

This Sunday is Easter Sunday – the day we celebrate Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, the event that changes everything. You are welcome to join us at 11.00 am, in person or online via Zoom (just get in touch and we’ll send you the link). And wherever and however you celebrate it, may you have a blessed Easter.

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Holy Week

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.

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