Kinlochleven Church - the next service is on Sunday 12 July at 10.00 am led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.
Duror Church - the next service is on Sunday 12 July at 10.30 am. led by the Rev. Malcolm Kinnear.
Nether Lochaber Church - the next service is on Sunday 19 July at 11.30 am led by the Rev. Ann Winning.
South Lochaber Parish :
Bible Study - on Tuesday 7 July at 10.45 in Jeremy's home, led Jeremy.
Sunday 5 July 2026
Hymn Come, let us sing of a wonderful love,
tender and true,
out of the heart of the Father above,
streaming to me and to you:
wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.
Prayer What I know not yet, dear Lord, teach me, what I have not yet, give me, what I am not yet, please make me; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Reading Matthew 11:16-19 Jesus said: ‘To what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, calling out to others: We played wedding music for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn’. For John came, he fasted and drank no wine and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom, however, is shown to be true by its results.”
Message Duncan Stewart 6th chief of the Stewarts of Appin, was all set to marry a beautiful maiden of the MacLeods of Harris. In Harris there was a poetess and singer, Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh. She wrote a song that expressed displeasure at the proposed marriage. She did not want the Stewarts of Appin to get their hands on any of the lands of the MacLeods. The Stewarts of Appin already had extensive lands in Glencoe, Nether Lochaber and across the Mamores. She sang this song, and the marriage did not happen, the people did not dance.
Jesus compared his generation to people who heard wedding music and refused to join in the dance. He was frustrated at how so many of the religious people found fault with John the Baptist, and with him. They criticized John for being weird in his lifestyle, his dress code and in his austerity. They complained that Jesus was getting too close to people who were of low standing, who they said were bad people.
There are some people who are never satisfied. Nothing is ever right. They complain about this and that, are always grumbling. Their mood is infectious. It is better to be people who see the good in others and appreciate the beauty around us. When I was a student I gave some violin lessons to the wife of a retired minister. She rarely found fault anywhere and often said how things were lovely. She was true to the words in scripture: whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.
Jesus said that you can judge something by the results. People need to consider the results of what Jesus did. He performed wonderful deeds, healing the sick, speaking forgiveness to those caught in sin, rescuing the disciples when they were in peril on the sea. His words have astounded and inspired people down the ages. The greatest sign was surely the miracle of his resurrection. Even so, some people may be motivated by a wilful, or mischievous attitude and reject even this. We must guard against such a hard heartedness.
Wisdom is shown by its results. The Jews found fault with Jesus for getting on easy terms with the disreputable people they looked down on, but Jesus was trying to reach them and win them for the Kingdom of God. That is why ministry to those who are rejected by society is important; for lives are won for Christ. I saw it happen in rehabs and in prison ministry. When Jesus comes into our hearts we discover a new life, a new goodness, and a power to live in a way that is pleasing to God, and a desire to live in a relationship with the living God. We do well if we can recognise the value of any church or Christian group that brings people closer to this, and to Jesus.
We are to consider, think about, things that are good and worthy of praise. Some things are better left to one side. By giving attention to those things of which God approves, we shape our minds to be more like his. We do well to focus on what is true and good in the other person. This way we achieve an inner peace.
Prayer You have given so much to us, Lord, now give us one more thing, a grateful heart. Amen.