Advertise on podcast: Belhelvie Church - Sermons

Join us, and our local uniformed organisations,  for our Founder’s Day and Thinking Day service. We’re reflecting on the theme ‘Our World, Our Thriving Future’. What does it mean to thrive? Given all that’s going on in our world, is it even realistic to use that word of our collective future? What does God have to say about it? What part we might have to play in making a more thriving future? Lots of questions and maybe even some answers in today’s service!   https://youtu.be/hvP_oXWXup0

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a 2000 year old story, but the truths it brings are just as relevant now as they were then. What does God ask of us? Help people in need, regardless of who they are. Be willing to take a risk. Don’t let unhelpful social conventions get in the way of doing the right thing. Yes. You are your brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. So much in a few short lines. Join us as we take a modern look at an old old story this Sunday. https://youtu.be/u4s_PZjGv4k

Just a short story from Mark’s gospel this morning, but so much in it…. The need to take rest and know when enough is enough (even when you happen to be the Messiah); the hard reality that life rarely goes quite as we plan it; and the fact that whatever storms life throws at us, we don’t have to face them alone because God is with us. All that, plus a silly action song with the kids to enjoy. Another good morning at Belhelvie Church of Scotland. https://youtu.be/Vl-z4XpbhqM

What gives someone authority? Their job title or position? Their qualities as a person? Their age or seniority? In today’s reading, the crowds marvelled at Jesus teaching because he taught ‘with authority’. It wasn’t just wise words and good stories. He spoke and things happened; incredible things that pointed back to God as the source of his power. Today we’re remembering that actions speak louder than words and our profession, as Christians, will only have authenticity if it’s married with appropriate action. https://youtu.be/ejEHhF11gKE

A wee poetic reflection on the story of the Wise Men for this Epiphany Sunday. https://youtu.be/jGWjYxVPJpA

Some wee reflections to end the year, featuring the making of a Christmas Cake, a Christmas Song (or is it an anti-Christmas Song?) by Greg Lake, and a couple of seasonal poems by Tennyson.

‘When was it that we first forgot that questions help us grow?’ That’s a line from one of the hymns we sang this morning as we remembered the only story we have of Jesus’ life as a young man. Aged 12, having been to the Passover feast for possibly the first time, he stayed behind in Jerusalem - unbeknown to his parents – so he could hang around the Temple and have discussions with the scholars and priests there. Our question to the 12 year old Jesus this morning is ‘Why? What made you want to stay so badly that you forgot (or overlooked!) how worried your parents would be when they realised you were missing on the journey home?’ (Clue. It’s something about being in a community where genuine questioners and genuine questions are made welcome).

New year, new beginnings. What stars are you following as we move into 2023? Some thoughts on why the Wise Men were wise in our Epiphany Sunday morning service.

From the cradle to the grave, change is an unavoidable facet of life. How do we deal with it? How do we harness it for growth? Where is God in the middle of it? These are some of the themes we’ll be looking at this morning in our three cheeseboard stories.

Happy Christmas! A wee reflection on why we do Christmas Trees at Christmas, and a story about three particular trees long ago and how their dreams were fulfilled, but not in the way they might have expected.

We had a great time this morning reworking the ’12 Days of Christmas’ song to tell the Nativity Story and remind us why Jesus came to be with us all those years ago. You can join in with the fun by following the link below.

Christmas? It’s really for the children. Or is it? When you actually look at the Christmas story there are far more adults involved than children and if we focus on the baby who was born without remembering the man he became, we rob the incarnation of most of its meaning. This child who was born is the very same one they sent to the cross for challenging the powers of his day by bringing the message of God’s inclusive, radically forgiving love. That’s why we always celebrate communion during Advent. To help us remember that we can’t separate Christmas from Easter or the child in the manger from the man on the cross.