Belhelvie Church - Sermons Belhelvie Church

Ever been on the receiving end of a ‘conversation’ that was one-way traffic?

Did you leave feeling like you’d were nothing more than a conveniently receptive pair of ears?

Have you ever wondered how God feels being on the end of all our prayers? All our talk?

What would prayer be like if we spent more time listening and less talking? And how do you even begin to listen for God anyway?

Some practical help with all of this in this morning’s service from Belhelvie.

Poppies are everywhere just now as we commemorate Remembrance. But do you know why they became the symbol for our national mourning? And did you know that growing vegetables and even flowers in gardens was a part of life in the trenches? And did you know that by ‘magic’ you can turn a flower into a mobility scooter?

One or two surprises in this morning’s annual Remembrance Service…..

https://youtu.be/tbK6UFqu6S4

Today, in response to COP26, we're reflecting on the climate crisis in the light of our faith.

Words can carry a lot of power.

Anyone ever notice something you were doing and thank you for it, or commend you for it?

How did that make you feel?

Anyone ever take you apart and leave you in bits because of something they said, or the way they said it? How did that make you feel?

These things stay with us because our words carry a lot of power.

Today we’re thinking about how to bless others with our words; using them to appreciate, encourage and support one another and not being afraid or embarrassed to say what ought to be said.

Counting our blessings is good thing to do. Blessing others through what we say is even better.

That’s this morning’s service in a nutshell. Hope you enjoy it.

We welcome Rev Ian Groves to Belhelvie this Sunday.

What makes for joy?

Psalm 122 shows us that joy in worship is at least as much about ‘horizontal’ relationships as ‘vertical’ ones. Community – real community where we laugh, play, share, confess and open up to one another – is where joy is found, and also where God is found.

So what can we do as church, to foster genuine community, and know more of that kind of joy in our gathering.

I asked the congregation that question this morning. And if you’re reading this, I’m asking you too.

And it’s not just about how you’d answer, theoretically. It’s about what you’re going to *do* to be the change that you want to see.