St James' Church of Scotland

25 April 2021 is the Fourth Sunday of the season of Easter.

The main scripture comes from the New Testament book of Acts (of the Apostles). There is always a Lectionary reading from Acts throughout the Sundays of Easter in the Church of Scotland. Here’s the background to today’s Bible story…

Easter has seen the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John, have healed a man who had been lame since birth and can now suddenly walk.

The Jewish authorities, afraid of the threat this amazing miracle may pose to their enduring power over the people, have Peter and John put in jail overnight. On the following day, the two disciples face questioning from the religious leaders, no doubt fearing that some form of force will be used against them. And this is the point where today’s reading begins.

In his speech to the rulers and elders of the people, aided by the Holy Spirit, Peter quotes famous words from the Old Testament book of Psalms (Psalm 118:22), referring to Jesus as follows:

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”

[Read more…]

It’s the Third Sunday of Easter – 18 April 2021.

This is the time in the Christian calendar when the main scriptural readings all come from Acts (of the Apostles – i.e. the actions of the followers of Jesus in the immediate aftermath of his death and resurrection).

Ths week it’s Acts 3:12-19. The other Lectionary readings for this week are: Psalm 4;
1 John 3:1-7; and Luke 24:36b-48.

With the resumption of face-to-face services at St James from 04 April 2021, we are in a period of ‘hybrid’ services with an in-person element and a video/remote element via this website. For the video service, which you will find below, we post the main reading from Acts, the service of readings, prayers and the sermon (led by Rev. Geoff McKee), and a Musical Selection from our director of music, Katherine Robertson.

The main reading from Acts.

Acts 3:12-19 (New International Version)
12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

[Read more…]

The Second Sunday of Easter is 11 April 2021. The main scripture is Acts 4:32-35.

Acts 4:32-35 (New International Version)
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Videoed Service

The service was recorded in St James’ Church on the morning of 11 April 2021.

[Read more…]

Sunday 04 April 2021 is Easter Sunday.

The Lord Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Main scripture for this week

Mark 16:1-8 (New International Version)
Jesus Has Risen
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

[Read more…]

Good Friday 2021 – Friday 02 April.

Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. Christians commemorate the suffering (“passion”) and death on the cross of Jesus Christ.

Normally, there is an in-person Good Friday evening service in St James’ Church and St Gerardine’s High Church – in alternate years – but this year Rev. Geoff McKee offers this online video reflection for Good Friday.

Immediately below, you will find the lengthy passage from John’s Gospel (All of Chapter 18 and the following Chapter up to verse 42) which tells the story from the point of Jesus’ arrest through to his burial, following the Crucifixion.

Today’s scripture

John 18:1-19:42 (New International Version)
Jesus Arrested
18 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

[Read more…]