Esther 5

3rd December 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 Chris Barrowman and this evening by Mr John Hebditch 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: NEP 12 Praise: NEP 155 Praise: NEP 23 Reading – 1 Samuel 22 (ESV) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men. 3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth. 6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” 11 Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob, and all of them came to the king. 12 And Saul said, “Hear now, son of Ahitub.” And he answered, “Here I am, my lord.” 13 And Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?” 14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, “And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house? 15 Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No! Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father, for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.” 16 And the king said, “You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.” 17 And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the Lord. 18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.19 And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword. 20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. 21 And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. 22 And David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. 23 Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping.” Tea/Coffee will be served after the morning service to which everyone is warmly invited 6pm service – Mr John Hebditch The Week Ahead Mon 4th Dec, 7.30pm - monthly prayer meeting (church hall) Wed 6th Dec, 10.15am – Women’s bible study at Dolina Murray’s house, 34b Lionel. All women welcome. Wed 6th Dec, 7.30pm – midweek prayer meeting (church hall) followed by Deacon’s Court meeting Fri 8th Dec, 7.30-9pm Rock Solid Christmas party in Spors Nis. Open to all P5-S2. This will be the last session for 2017. Sat 9th Dec, Women’s Christmas meal, 6.30pm, Borve House Services next Sunday 10th December 11am (church) – Mr Chris Barrowman Sunday school (church hall) for all P1-S2 children 6pm (church hall) – Mr Iain Maclean Dates for your diary 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.