Readings:
John 17: 20-26
Acts 2:44-47

This sermon series explores living long and living well! What are the factors that lead to a good, long life?

Today’s theme is Life Giving Community and in our bible reading from the book of Acts we hear about the immediate and spontaneous result of the Pentecostal experience, the forming of a thriving faith community.

This was an attractive community. People liked what they saw and joined in their droves. And so it is that this very first Church community set a pattern that people have been drawn to and found life in for the centuries to follow.  And people have found Christian church community life giving!

​Watch the recording of the sermon here:  https://youtu.be/qcPnbhAbn3g

Come, and praise God!
In the company of the God’s people,
let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Great are the works of God,
full of glory and majesty.
Our God is gracious and compassionate;
our God is merciful and forgiving
our God is faithful and trustworthy,
our God is just and good.
So come, let’s worship God together.
God’s praise will last forever

Readings:
Jonah 3:1-5
Mark 1:14-20
 
This week’s readings lead us to think about the theme of repentance – it’s the message God sent Jonah to Nineveh to deliver, and it’s the message that Jesus also began his ministry by proclaiming. In Mark’s gospel the first words Jesus speaks are: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The sermon, though, focuses on the call to holiness as part of discipleship. Watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/DoBantXfkBU

Readings:
Psalm 139
1 Samuel 3:1-20
John 1:43-51
 
We have come to worship God,
who loved us before we were yet born,
who knows us even better than we know ourselves,
whose presence never leaves us,
and whose love for us never ceases.
 
Today’s sermon considers the readings from Psalm 139 and from 1 Samuel 3. You can watch the recording of it here: https://youtu.be/SBmqX5Oudws

I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
his ear to hearken to my need;
The wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

In today's service Hamish introduces a new sermon series, that will begin in late January, called Living Long in the Land. This Sunday he will look at this using the case studies of Simeon and Anna from Luke 2.

You can watch the recording of the sermon here: https://youtu.be/KJwM_1Uhdm4