Luke 2:8-20 & Lamentations 3:21-24

16th December 2018 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 & Mr Chris Barrowman and this evening by Mr Iain Maclean. 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 or Anne MacDonald 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’ for more information and audio content. If you would like information posted on the website, please contact Chris or email the website www.crossnesschurch.com crossnesschurch@gmail.com Cross Ness Church of Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity No.SC000991 Joy to the World Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love. Prayer Sunday School Children - Christmas Hallelujah I've heard about this baby boy Who's come to earth to bring us joy And I just want to sing this song to you It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift With every breath I'm singing Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah A couple came to Bethlehem Expecting child, they searched the inn To find a place for You were coming soon There was no room for them to stay So in a manger filled with hay God's only Son was born, oh Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah The shepherds left their flocks by night To see this baby wrapped in light A host of angels led them all to You It was just as the angels said You'll find Him in a manger bed Immanuel and Savior, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah A star shown bright up in the east To Bethlehem, the wisemen three Came many miles and journeyed long for You And to the place at which You were Their frankincense and gold and myrrh They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah I know You came to rescue me This baby boy would grow to be A man and one day die for me and you My sins would drive the nails in You That rugged cross was my cross, too Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Talk 1 – Joy Reading - Luke 2: 8-20 (ESV) The Shepherds and the Angels 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Hark the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; with th’ angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!” Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’ incarnate Deity, pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!” Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give us second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!” Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us thy humble home; rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head. Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; stamp thine image in its place. Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in thy love. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King!” Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thine image in its place: Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man: O, to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!” Talk 2 – Hope Reading - Lamentations 3: 21-24 (ESV) 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” In Christ Alone In Christ alone my hope is found He is my light, my strength, my song This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease My Comforter, my All in All Here in the love of Christ I stand In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save 'Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious Day Up from the grave He rose again And as He stands in victory Sin's curse has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand 'Til He returns or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand Tea/coffee will be served in the Church hall after the morning service to which everyone is warmly invited 6pm Service – Church – Mr Iain Maclean. 6pm – Church Hall - Youth Alpha for S1-S6 8.30pm Clan Macquarrie Hall – Testimony night with D.J. Macarthur, Elder, Barvas Church of Scotland The Week Ahead Monday 17th December 7.30pm – Church Hall - Bible Study. Our study will be on Esther. All are welcome. Tuesday 18th December 6.30pm – Borve House – Men’s Christmas meal. If you need a lift please let Norman know. Wednesday 19th December - Church Hall 7 . 3 0 p m – Prayer Meeting. Friday 21st December – No Rock Solid until January 2019. Services next Sunday 23rd December 2018 11am – Church – Rev John Murdo Nicolson Special Christmas Sunday School after the children’s service. 6pm – Church Hall - Rev John Murdo Nicolson No Youth Alpha. Dates for your Diary Sunday 23 rd December 8.30pm – Clan Macquarrie – Testimony Night, Carol Service. Monday 24 th December 7.30pm – Church – Christmas Eve Carol Service – All are encouraged to bring family, friends and neighbours for a short service with Bible readings and carol singing to remember the real reason for Christmas. Tea/coffee and mince pies will be served after the service in the Church Hall. Monday 31 st December 5.15pm Cross War Memorial – Iolaire Remembrance - Wreath Laying Ceremony. 6pm Church of Scotland – Remembrance Service. Food Bank – Over the next few weeks we are organising a food bank collection of various items such as teabags, coffee, uht/dried milk, cereals, pasta, tinned food and biscuits. Any donations can be left in the Church hall and we’ll take them to the food bank towards the end of January. It’s good for us to remember to give as well as receive at this time of year. Many thanks. Audio/Visual Equipment - We have just completed the installation of new audio/ visual equipment into the church. It may take a couple of weeks to get this set up correctly, so please bear with us during this period. If anyone is willing to help out with the mixing desk please contact Chris, training is available and it’s very easy to use! Thank you to all who helped in any way with the children’s Sunday school Christmas party. The nomination committee would value the congregation’s prayers at this time for Gods guidance, wisdom and discernment as they continue to search for a new minister.