John 8:1-20

23rd 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 and evening is led by the Rev John Murdo Nicolson. 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 11 o’clock Service led by the Rev John Murdo Nicolson Special Christmas Sunday School after the Children’s service Praise Hymn 46 Hymn 51 Hymn 50 Hymn 55 Readings – Matthew 1: 18-25, John 8: 1-20 (NIV) Matthew 1:18-25 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. John 8:1-20 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come. Tea/coffee will be served in the Church hall after the morning service to which everyone is warmly invited 6pm Service – Church – Rev John Murdo Nicolson. No Youth Alpha until January 2019 Clan Macquarrie Carol Service has been cancelled. The Week Ahead Monday 24th 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. Wednesday 26th December – 7.30pm, Church Hall – Weekly Prayer Meeting. Services next Sunday 30th December 2018 11am – Church – Mr John Hebditch No Sunday School 6pm – Church – Mr Chris Barrowman Dates for your Diary st Monday 31 December 5.15pm Cross War Memorial – Iolaire Remembrance - Wreath Laying Ceremony. 6pm Church of Scotland – Remembrance Service. Monday 14 th January 7.30pm, Church Hall – Bible Study. study will be on Esther. All are welcome. Our 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! We pray that everyone would have a truly blessed Christmas this year, and that every home would know the peace, joy and happiness which comes through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 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.