Esther 4

th   26 November 2017 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 is led by Mr John Hebditch and this evening by Mr Iain Macmillan 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 via us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eaglaisnis or find us Google by entering ‘@eaglaisnis’ www.crossnesschurch.com for more information and audio content. If you would like any information posted on the website, please contact Chris at 810112 or email the website at crossnesschurch@gmail.com Cross Ness Church of Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity No.SC000991 Praise: Hymn 12 Praise: Psalm 119:33-40 Praise: Psalm 46: 1-5 & 8-11 Reading –Esther 4 (NIV) When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” 17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. Tea/Coffee will be served after the morning service to which everyone is warmly invited No Sunday school this week 6pm service – Mr Iain Macmillan The Week Ahead Tues 28th Nov - Chit Chat women’s group 8pm in the church hall. Donna Morrison and Murdo MacIver will be giving a talk on The Shed youth and community facility, Stornoway. All women most welcome. Wed 29th Nov 10.15am – Women’s bible study at Willina Macleod’s house, Gatehouse 18a North Dell. All women welcome. Wed 29th Nov, 7.30pm – midweek prayer meeting (church hall). Services next Sunday 3rd December 11am (church) Sunday school 6pm (church hall) Dates for your diary Sat 9th Dec Women’s Christmas meal, 6.30pm, Borve House Tues 19th Dec Men's Christmas meal, 6.30pm, Borve House Please pick up menus at the back of the hall, fill in your choices and indicate whether you need a lift or are able to provide a lift. Menu choices should be returned to Rachel Barrowman, 810112 (women's) and Norman MacLeod, 810364 (men's) by Sunday 3rd December.   CLAN MACQUARRIE COMMUNITY CENTRE FRIDAY 1st December 2017 7:30pm Service taken by Rev Paul Murray KINLOCH FREE CHURCH Door collection for Bethesda Hospice Bring a friend