Pastoral Message from the Ministers
Beloved friends,
Your ongoing support of the gospel and of our ministry is greatly encouraging and much appreciated. We share your delight in being able to return to the use of our buildings for public worship. Even though some restrictions still apply in relation to the number we are able to accommodate and to congregational singing, we are thankful to the Lord for a reduction in Covid-19 infections and deaths nationally, thereby enabling us to gather for worship.
Although we have been thankful for the technology that has enabled us to maintain services virtually, it is important that we retain a sense of the importance Scripture attaches to the visibility of Christ’s Church in the world. The words kahal and ekklesia, used in Hebrew and Greek respectively to describe God’s people, literally mean an “assembly” or “a gathering”, with the idea of not only being “gathered together” but also being “gathered out from” the world. The visibility of the Church in the world is itself an aspect of the witness God bears to his love and grace as shown through his gathering of his people.
In the prayer of Jesus for his people recorded in John 17, an observable unity is clearly meant by the words “that they may all be one” (v. 21 and 22), because these words are closely connected to “that the world may believe that you have sent me” (v. 21) and “that the world may know that you sent me” (v. 23). The spiritual unity of God’s people is, of course, important, but it is through the visible unity of the gathered Church that God’s love is shown to the world. We have a similar emphasis in John 13 verse 35, “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.”
Read more about 'Pastoral Message from the Ministers'...Wednesday 21st April - Midweek Meeting
Join us tonight at 7:30pm for the midweek meeting online via Zoom or in person in the Seminary (booking required).
Rev Kenneth I Macleod will preach on ‘Peter Has a Lot to Learn’ from John 13:7-8.
Order of service:
Praise: Psalm 139:1-10 (Scottish Psalter)
Prayer
Scripture Reading: John 13
Prayers
Sermon: ‘Peter Has a Lot to Learn’ from John 13:7-8.
Praise: Psalm 25:4-7 (Scottish Psalter)
Benediction
The Zoom link remains the same as previous weeks. Information on booking to attend in person can be found here
Read more about 'Wednesday 21st April - Midweek Meeting'...
Midweek Meeting
CHURCH AT HOME
Wednesday 10th March7:30pm on ZoomRev Kenneth I Macleod will lead the midweek meeting and preach on 'Welcome and Esteem One Another in the Lord' from Romans 14:1-7.
This meeting takes place online via Zoom. The Seminary currently remains closed for church meetings due to lockdown restrictions. Get in touch if you require the Zoom link by sending an email to [email protected].
ORDER OF SERVICE
WelcomePraise: Psalm 115:12-end (Sing Psalms)Prayer
Reading: Romans 14
Prayers (2)
Sermon: Romans 14:1-7
Title : 'Welcome and Esteem One Another in the Lord' from Romans 14:1-7.
Psalm: Psalm 133 (Scottish Psalter) Read more about 'Midweek Meeting'...
In normal times, we would have been celebrating the Lord's Supper in February. Rev Kenneth I Macleod reflects on the Lord's Supper and what happens when we partake.
“And when He had given thanks, he broke it (the bread) and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:24-26
As a congregation we should have been celebrating the Lord’s Supper on Sunday. The Lord’s Supper is one of the great blessings the church has been given. There have been times when the church has been guilty of making too much of the supper, with the result that people who love the Lord Jesus, and should be at the table, are afraid to come. The bar has been set so high that they feel they will be sinning by even considering coming. That of course is so wrong. Other times, parts of the church have been so lax regarding the supper, that it is basically a free for all. Anyone can partake, as long as they come to church. A person’s love for and of the Lord Jesus, where they have accepted Christ as Saviour, is no longer the deciding factor. The church must always guard against either of these extremes. Read more about 'Pastoral Reflection: The Lord's Supper'...
Midweek Meeting
Wednesday 13th January
7.30pm on Zoom and in Seminary, Francis St
Join us for worship tonight when Rev Kenneth I Macleod will preach on 'Pressing on to Know the Lord' from Hosea 6:3.
Everyone is most welcome. If you require the Zoom link please get in touch. If you would like to book to attend in person then please do so by 12noon today. For details of how to book, click here
Service Details
Psalm 71:14-17 (Scottish Psalter)Scripture Reading: Hosea 6Sermon: Hosea 6:3, 'Pressing on to Know the Lord'Praise: Psalm 139:1-10 (Scottish Psalter)
Read more about 'Midweek Meeting'...Pastoral Reflection for December & January
Rev Kenneth I Macleod considers what lessons we may learn from Joshua and the Israelites crossing the Jordan, to encourage us as we step into 2021.
“Do not come near it (the ark), in order that you may know the way, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:4
As we move from 2020 into 2021, I thought that this verse was so appropriate. Whatever the situation or experience we are going through, there is always something in the Scriptures to guide and help us. The Book of Joshua is a thrilling and dynamic book. It’s a journey of progress, conquest and victory all undertaken by faith.
One of the key lessons in the book is discovering how important it is to follow God’s timetable and directions. It is a lesson that is absolutely essential for our journey of faith through this world. We have to learn to go at God’s pace and do just as He says. We want to do everything the way we want and when we want. However, that might not be God’s way.
Read more about 'Pastoral Reflection for December & January'...
Rev Kenneth I Macleod shares some more thoughts on Psalm 23 in this Pastoral Reflection for November.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me: your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil: my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:4-6
Last month we reflected on verses one to three of not only the best-known psalm, but one of the best-known sections of the Bible. This Psalm has been an inspiration, encouragement and balm to many a soul over the years. Now verse 4 tells us that the shepherding work of our Lord, who is the Good Shepherd doesn’t stop as life draws to a close - the shepherding takes over even in death. Death is the enemy that comes closer every day. We are powerless in its face and alone in its presence, as it closes round us, unless….we have the Shepherd. That is what makes “the valley of the shadow of death” so different for the Christian, because the Shepherd is with us. When all human care and support can no longer do anything for us, yet the Shepherd is still there.
Read more about 'November Pastoral Reflection on Psalm 23:4-6'...
Rev Kenneth I Macleod shares some thoughts on Psalm 23, The Shepherd's Psalm, in this Pastoral Reflection for October.
The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
I have preached frequently from this psalm and make no apology for doing so, as it is not only the best known of all the psalms but remains one of my favourites. It is short, simple, sweet and yet so deep with meaning, encouragement and assurance. There are many themes highlighted in the psalm but probably the three main truths that tie the psalm together beautifully are Provision, Direction and Communion.
Read more about 'The Shepherd's Psalm'...
Pastoral Reflection for September from Rev Kenneth I Macleod
“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands: you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” Psalm 8:4-9
Last time we saw how David was blown away by the concept of God’s greatness as he considers the marvel, glory and wonder of the creation. However, in v4 we find David quite simply cannot get over that God is mindful of us. “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” David is more or less saying, “Lord, why are you so mindful? What have we done to be so raised and elevated in this majestic creation that You should take such an interest in, and care of us?”
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“O Lord, our lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You set your glory above the heavens. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” Psalm 8v1,3,4
This psalm bursts with praise to both the glory and grace of God. David paints amazing pictures with his sense of awe and joy. We are taken back, above and beyond the heavens to the very beginning itself. Of course we know that behind the beginning is the God of Creation, Grace, Providence, and Redemption. We are not sure when David penned this psalm but I can imagine it’s after a night gazing into the starry sky. David is in absolute awe with the enormity and vastness of God’s creation and the minuteness of man in comparison. There have been times we too have gazed at the vast expanse of a star filled sky, aware that we are only seeing a fraction of what is there. Like the psalmist we say, What a God and “what is man?”(v4)
Read more about 'The Master Craftsman - Pastoral Reflection for August'...
