Belhelvie Church - Sermons

If you pay attention to yourself and to the people around you, it isn’t long before you start noticing what seems to be a universal truth about human beings. We’re wistful. We go on holiday, and we come back a little sad that it’s over and wistful for our next one. Or we find ourselves reminiscing about the past and being wistful for better times and a more simple life. Or we find ourselves wonder...

Part of life in the world is knowing that one day our life is going to end. How do we deal with that – our ‘perishing’? Is this the natural state of things, or is this not how things are meant to be? What hope is there in the face of our own mortality? Some answers, and reasons to hope today, from John 3:16. https://youtu.be/hzirUDQSPiM

This morning's service with Rev. Anthony Craig.

I believe it might rain today. I believe that the responsible thing to do at the moment is to wear a mask. I believe in you. I believe Scotland’s football team are going in the right direction. I believe in God. Tricky word, ‘believe’ – it can mean a whole lot of things to a whole lot of people. What does God mean when he calls us to believe in Jesus? Just believe that he exists? Believe things ab...

On Fathers’ Day we’re thinking about the things that kids can teach us like learning to really listen, practicing what we preach and making sure we prioritise the right things in life. You can join us at the link below. https://youtu.be/oPDJKs83aIc

A good gift says something about the heart of the giver. This is why fridge doors across the world are covered with substandard kids’ artwork (‘this is for you, mum!’) and why the gifts that mean most to us are often not the most valuable ones! Gifts are about relationships and the most valuable thing a person can give anyone else is themselves. That’s what marriage, parenthood, friendship and ser...

This Sunday is our annual Elders' service and is led by Carole Winter and Ian and Elizabeth Mackenzie. We also farewell one of our longstanding members Margaret Murison after 61 years living in our parish. https://youtu.be/mRYOomkY7tg

Psalms that talk about enemies, and the need to be delivered from them can leave us a feeling a bit disengaged. Life’s not like that for most of us. But fear, anxiety, despair, illness and guilt are enemies too – things that can have the power to overtake and stifle our lives. How does God help us when those things cast a shadow on our hearts? Psalm 59 tell us. https://youtu.be/MKu9NjfhYEI

This morning marks the start of Christian Aid week. We’ve all had a difficult year because of the pandemic, but we’re only now beginning to see how much more difficult it is in countries which aren’t blessed with the kind of infrastructure we have in the United Kingdom. Why should we care and why should we help? The simple answer is that as Christians we’re called to bless the world with the same...

Today’s reading from John’s gospel takes us into the world of our assumptions – the views and attitudes we hold without ever questioning them. “If we assume, we don’t have to get into the messy business of finding out the truth because we think we already know it. If we assume, we don’t have to ask or listen, or have our assumptions challenged because we think we already understand perfectly well....

What do you want?" Jesus asks two of John's disciples who start following him one afternoon. On the surface, it's an ordinary question that led to an afternoon of conversation. Looking deeper, it's a profound question that asks us what we're really looking for in life.   Love, security, happiness, purpose, and relationships are all good things in and of themselves, but when we make the p...

Paul's on holiday this weekend, so we hope you enjoy this alternative service curated by this year's Moderator, Rev Dr Martin Fair.

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So it’s Palm Sunday and after the tickertape parade ‘gentle Jesus meek and mild’ throws over the moneychangers’ tables and drives the animals sold for sacrifice out of the Temple Courts. Why was he so angry, and what was he trying to say?

You’re not called to live anyone else’s story. You’re called to let the light shine through YOU – your personality, your character – to God’s glory. John the Baptist, Isaac Newton, a famous album cover and a few signposts are pointing the way this Sunday as we continue our studies in John's gospel.

We know the score here in the North East – 3 days of sun and then the haar rolls in! We love the sunlight when it come, and we miss it when the clouds get in the way. John tells us that light came into the world in Christ – and today we’re thinking about what that actually means. What does Christ do for us as light, and how can we get in on it? For Kids – Jesus as the light of the world https://ww...

Our lack and our longings suggest that what we know of life isn’t all that there is to know. We sense that there’s more, somehow; but we don’t know where to find it. John tells us where to look - “In him was life” he says, “and the life was the light of all people”. He’s letting us know that the ‘more’ we’re looking for has a name. And you already know it……

This Sunday – Overtures and what it takes to say a Word, the Trinity, Stephen King’s Gunslinger, knowing you’re loved and remembering the face of your Father. All this and more from the first few verses of John. Hope to see you there.

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Today's is the last of three services led by the Moderator, Rt Rev Dr Martin Fair.

Morning folks. This is the second of three services led by the Moderator, Rev Martin Fair. With the feast of the Epiphany just past, we're thinking about the Wise Men and their finding Jesus in the most unlikely of places.

This year's Moderator, Martin Fair, is kindly providing three online services for use throughout the Church of Scotland at the turn of the year. This is the first.

A lighter bite this morning on our last service of 2020. A few tasty story morsels to enjoy. Happy New Year!

Such a shame we can't be together in the leisure centre as usual, but here's a wee service in the same spirit. Hope you enjoy it! Every blessing for Christmas and the New Year! Paul