Philippians 2:1-18

The week ahead No Monday evening Bible study until after the holidays. No Women’s bible study until after the holidays. Wed 21st Dec 7.30pm Midweek prayer meeting, church hall. No Rock Solid until after the holidays. Sat 24th Dec 7.30pm Christmas Eve service in the church. Please join us for carols and readings to remember the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Mince pies and tea/coffee will be served afterwards in the church hall. Everyone welcome. Services next Sunday 25th December 2016 11am Christmas Family service in the church. All welcome. No Sunday school until after the holidays. 6pm service in the church hall. Dates for your diary Tues 27th Dec 7.30pm Film night in the church hall. This month’s film will be ‘God’s Not Dead’ (PG cert). Friday 6th Jan 2017 Rock Solid starts back. Monday 9th Jan 2017 Evening Bible study 7.30pm Church hall. Everyone welcome. Studying characters in the Old Testament. Following last year’s successful collection for the local food bank we will be taking up a food collection again this year. Any donations can be brought to the church in the last two weeks in December ready for delivery in the beginning of January. 18th December 2016 A very warm welcome to our services of worship today. We pray that you will all know God’s blessing as we meet together. Worship this morning and evening is led by Rev Murdo Smith. Induction loops are fitted in both the Church and hall for the hard of hearing. Please set your hearing aid to position ‘T’. Recordings of all our services are available on our website www.crossnesschurch.com as free Podcasts. CD recordings are also made of the services and are made available free of charge to the housebound and elderly. Please ask one of the office bearers if you would like a copy. Crèche available by request. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eaglaisnis or via Google by entering ‘@eaglaisnis’ www.crossnesschurch.com for more information and audio content. If you would like information posted on the website, please contact Chris on 810112 or email the website crossnesschurch@gmail.com Cross Ness Church of Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity No.SC000991 11 o’clock service led by Rev Murdo Smith Praise: Psalm 95 v1-6 Praise: Hymn 55 ‘O Come, all ye faithful’ Praise: NEP 264 ‘To God be the glory!’ Praise: Hymn 46 ‘Hark! the herald angels sing’ Praise: Hymn 48 ‘O Little town of Bethlehem’ Reading: Matthew 2 v 1-12 (NKJV) 2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Tea/Coffee will be served after the morning service to which everyone is warmly invited No Sunday school until after the holidays. 6pm service – led by Rev Murdo Smith Praise: Psalm 45 v1-6 (1st version) Praise: Hymn 53 Praise: Hymn 388 Praise: Hymn 77 Please continue to pray for our congregation, that we would know the Lord’s blessing at this time. We continue to pray for all in our congregation and community who are in hospital or are ill in any way. If you know of someone who needs prayer at this time, please let one of the Elders know