Page 24 - Contact Winter 2015

Christma & New Yea events JOY Sunday 6 December 6.30 pm: All-Age & Local Community Carol service Dress for Christmas and join us for this family-friendly service! We will be exploring the Christmas story afresh with songs, dramas, readings and stories. Boys and girls in some of our local schools will also be participating in the service. Sunday 13 December 6.30 pm: Reflective Christmas Worship & Performances by the Streetlight Theatre Company We are delighted that the Streetlight Theatre Company will be returning to High Kirk to perform two As Christians we must engage with the 1. Be like the crowd and be in the right place. short Christmas plays. There will also be special refective Christmas music at this service to allow us the Bible always saying, so what now? Seek the presence of Jesus, His teaching and opportunity to refect on the heart of Christmas. work. Christians need the church, it feeds our As we read the Bible we must ask joy. The wrong place will sap our joy by the ourselves: So what now for my life? thoughts we allow in. Sunday 20 December 6.30 pm: Carol Service (Emmanuel: God with us) What must I change and work on, as I 2. Be like the boy and give our all. We gather as a church family to celebrate the birth of Jesus with familiar readings and songs. Our special apply the Bible to my life? Hold nothing back from Jesus, be that money Christmas choir will be leading us in worship. Remember to enjoy some mince pies in the church hall or habits and behaviours we enjoy. It feeds our afterwards! I have created a simple blog which I hope joy as we give our all to Jesus and as Jesus, will help people engage with my sermons and through the Holy Spirit, uses the little of our all Friday 25 December 10.30 am: Christmas Morning Family Service apply the word of God to their lives. for His glory. So please check out: 3. Be like the disciples and serve. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a If you’re not serving you’re not growing; as Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11. This short, family-friendly disciples we serve, even though we may not service is a wonderful opportunity to start your Christmas Day by celebrating Jesus’ birthday together. thesowhatnow.wordpress.com know the big picture. Doing as Jesus com- Come and join the celebration! mands feeds our joy. Sunday 27 December 10.30 am: Morning Worship (No evening service) 4. Be like Jesus and have compassion. Joy is a fruit of the spirit, but it’s something See the need (material and spiritual) and do Christians struggle with. As Christians, we are to We continue to meet on the Lord’s Day for corporate worship. Karen Orr will be leading this service and fnd our joy in what Jesus has done and won for something, compassion feeds our joy. Yes it Stephen Orr will be bringing us God’s Word (a children’s programme will also be available). us through the cross. will break our hearts, but that is what we need for this world. Saturday 2 January 8.00 am - 12.00 am: Day of prayer If we ignore the importance of joy, then 5. Be like Jesus and give thanks. I fear that the church will continue to Recognise that all we have and will have The prayer room will be open for New Year prayer and recommitment. Slots are available for 1 hour and decline, becoming increasingly irrelevant to the comes from God. This means we rely on God’s we encourage all our members to consider coming along to pray for the New Year. A sign-up sheet will world, because if they don’t see the diference grace and mercy. This keeps us humble and be available in the vestibule for a few weeks prior to this event. Jesus makes and the joy that He brings to our feeds our joy. lives, then why would the world want to listen to and engage with us? Sunday 3 January 6.30 pm: New Year Recommitment Service & Communion 6. Be like Jesus and pray. Jesus Feeding the 5000, helps us to see how we Spending time with God feeds our joy. Sadly many struggle with joy because they struggle This ‘Sanctuary-style’ service will include Communion and is a good can be more joyful. with prayer. opportunity for all of us to recommit ourselves to the Lord for 2016. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” Psalm 37:5 (ESV) If you struggle with joy ask yourself, so what now do I need to change in my life to be more joyful? Stephen Orr