God Calls Us to Delight in Christ and to Share His Hope

welcome to

DINGWALL &

STRATHPEFFER

free church

God calls us to delight in Christ and to share His Hope.

Designated Scottish Charity: SC011143 - www.deep-river.co.uk

4th March 2012

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” Psalm 103:1 (ESV)

Welcome to our services today especially if you are visiting for the first time. The minister will conduct morning service at 11 am and evening communion 6 pm. Anyone wishing to discuss church membership or profession of faith is asked to contact the minister or any elder. This morning we welcome visitors from Children for Christ – Romania.

Tea and coffee is served after morning service.

Young people leave after the second singing for Sunday School. The Bible Class will meet upstairs. A crèche is also available for younger children.

Offering for Hall: The new toilets and improved kitchen in the church hall are almost ready. We are grateful to the tradesmen and several of our own congregation who have freely given of their time. We hold a special collection today towards expenses. Look out for a special offering box (or if it is more convenient leave a donation in a marked envelope in the plate at any service this month).

New to the congregation? Speak to the welcome team or give us your contact details on forms available from the team.

AVA FAITH MACLEOD

Very sadly MaryAnne and DJ MacLeod’s little girl passed away early last Sunday morning. The family are over in Lewis where we understand a funeral has taken place. Your prayers are much appreciated.

A GUIDE TO OUR EVENING COMMUNION

Jesus shared a final Passover meal with his followers on the evening before His death on the cross. He transformed the Passover meal into Communion, commanding the church to regularly share in bread and wine as a way to remember His willing sacrifice of his body and blood for us. By our eating we symbolise our trust in Jesus and our longing to take him as our Lord and feed on Him and his Word. In our refurbished church building we serve the bread and wine to all those seated downstairs. Those not taking part in communion are asked simply to pass the bread and wine along the row to those seated nearby. The Bible tells us to examine our life before we share in communion (1 Cor. 11:28). If you are a Christian (that is someone who trusts in Jesus) then this memorial meal is for you. It will strengthen your faith. If you are not yet a Christian you first need to find a living faith in Jesus. Ask Him to become your Saviour. Our sins are never a reason to stay away from the Lord, or from Communion. Instead we are invited to turn from our sins to Jesus: a process the Bible calls repentance. Those who repent find peace with God and so should come thankfully to share in communion. Christians visiting who are members in other churches are welcome to share with us in communion. Anyone wishing to profess faith or come into membership is asked to speak to the minister, an elder or the welcome team.

EVENTS THIS WEEK & UPCOMING EVENTS

“Identity” is a new course examining the purpose of life. It meets at 7.30 pm each Monday evening (until 26th March) in the Wyvis Conference Room at Strathpeffer Community Centre. The course explores John’s Gospel to clear up any confusion about who we are and who God is. This week also addresses a popular question: Why do we suffer? Your questions are also most welcome.

Prayer: There will be an hour of prayer for the course and other needs from 2 pm on Monday at the MacKenzie’s home, Langabhat, Kinnairdie Av. All are welcome.

Rosskeen Women meet on Monday 5th March at 7.30 pm in Rosskeen Free Church hall. Kenny Robertson (Inverness) will speak about his life, set free from addiction and crime, and his Road to Recovery work ministering to those in similar situations.

Monthly Joint Prayer and Bible Study: Our joint prayer fellowship with Castle Street Church is held in the church this Wednesday at 7.30 pm.

The OMF prayer meeting is at 10.30 am this Friday 9th at Christine Craig’s home, Fourways, 8 Gladstone Avenue, Dingwall (Tel: 864511).

Maryburgh & Urray Women for Mission host a Coffee Morning in Maryburgh Free Church Hall on Saturday 10th March (10.30 am – noon). Proceeds for Lakhnadon Christian Hospital in India.

Our Deacons will meet in the hall on Tuesday 13th March at 7.30 pm.

Monthly Home Groups will meet next on Wednesday 14th March at 7.30 pm.

The next Lunch and Chat is in the church at 12.30 pm on Thursday 15th March.

HTC: An Open Day Conference for those interested in the Access course and BA is planned at HTC on Saturday 17th March (10.15 am – 4 pm). Jason Maston will deliver a plenary paper on ‘The Kingdom of God.’ The day is for visitors, students and prospective students. An HTC Service will be held at InshesChurch on Friday 23rd March at 7.30 pm. Students and graduates will participate and talk about how HTC has prepared them for various forms of ministry.

The next YF is on Sunday 25th March, when Iain Alasdair MacDonald will give a testimony.

WFM: Women for Mission hold an open meeting for all in the congregation on Tuesday 27th March when Malcolm MacLeod from Steadfast Global will bring news of his recent work visiting and supporting members of the persecuted church.

Our Congregational AGM is in the hall on Wednesday 28th March at 7.30 pm.

OTHER NEWS

We congratulate Penny and Dan, who had another little boy a few weeks ago. Ace Hudson Patterson is a little brother for Fox. Dan will do a placement at St Columba’s Free Church this summer while their minister is on a Sabbatical.

Mr George MacGilvary the Gospel Hall passed away last week in his 105th year.

Jessie MacDonald is unwell in hospital. We pray for a good recovery.

Talk to Donnie MacRae (865998) if you would like to help with cleaning and redecorating the church hall over the coming weeks.

Hungarian Camp: Please see Andrew or Margaret Fraser (01349 862545) if you are interested in taking part in English Language Camps working with young people from the Hungarian Reformed Church. The dates are 23rd to 27th July 2012.

Foodbank: Donations for the Highland Foodbank can be left in the church porch. For their April Appeal they would particularly ask our congregation to provide tins of Potatoes, Long Life Fruit Juice, tins of Mince, and tins of Custard or Rice Pudding.

SERVING ONE ANOTHER

Welcome Team: 4th - F. MacKenzie; H and Cora MacKenzie; G & L Robertson; J Reid. 11th – A Mackay; M Mackay; J & A Warde; P Clark.

Nursing Homes: Wyvis House at 4 pm today.

Crèche: 4th - Anna Stirling & Joan Stewart. 11th - Julia Reid & Iona Forbes.

Minibus: All of March – Jonathan Warde (863636). Call the driver or Fred Lees (864297) to request a lift to church.

To Contact the Minister – Rev Angus MacRae: Free Church Manse, Firth View, Dingwall. ' 01349 862183. (Email: ).

Website: Sermons and news are at www.deep-river.co.uk - or find us on Facebook.

COME, LET US WORSHIP (4th March)

Morning Praise Evening Praise

How firm a foundation ¯ Holy, Holy, Holy ¯

146:1-6* (p. 191) 95:1-7* (p. 126)

All I once held dear ¯ When I survey ¯

130:1-8* (p. 173) 133:1-3* (p. 175)

(* = Sing Psalms version. ¯ = with musical accompaniment.)

How firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,

is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he has said,

to all who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

In every condition - in sickness, in health,

in poverty’s grip or abounding in wealth,

at home or abroad, on the land, on the sea -

as days may demand shall your strength ever be.

Since Jesus is with you, do not be afraid;

since he is your God, you need not be dismayed:

he’ll strengthen you, guard you, and help you to stand,

upheld by his righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters he calls you to go,

you will not be drowned in the rivers of woe;

for he will be with you in trouble, to bless

and work for your good through your deepest distress.

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,

his grace all-sufficient shall be your supply;

the flames shall not harm you: his only design

your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

The soul that in Jesus has found its repose,

he will not, he cannot, desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,

he’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

All I ONCE HELD DEAR

All I once held dear, built my life upon,

All this world reveres, and wars to own,

All I once thought gain I have counted loss;

Spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus,

Knowing You, there is no greater thing.

You’re my all, You’re the best,

You’re my joy, my righteousness,

And I love You, Lord.

Now my heart’s desire is to know You more,

To be found in You and known as Yours.

To possess by faith what I could not earn,

All-surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life,

And to know You in Your sufferings.

To become like You in Your death, my Lord,

So with You to live and never die.

Graham Kendrick © 1993 Make Way Music.

Holy, HOLY, HOLY

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song of praise shall be:

‘Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty,

God in three Persons, glorious Trinity!’

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore you,

casting down their golden crowns

around the glassy sea,

cherubim and seraphim falling down before you:

you were and are, and evermore shall be!

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide you,

though the eye of sinful man your glory may not see,

you alone are holy, there is none beside you,

perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!

All your works shall praise your name,

in earth and sky and sea:

‘Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty,

God in three Persons, glorious Trinity!’

Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

WHEN I SURVEY

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

save in the death of Christ my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down:

when did such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were an offering far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all!

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

All Copyright words used with permission. CCL Licence No. 1203197

Dingwall & Strathpeffer Free Church is a Designated Scottish Charity: SC011143